Festivals and Events by Region

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Hokkaido

Otaru Tide Festival - Otaru （July 26-28)
Winter Festival - Otaru （Beginning of February）
Dogsled Race Japan Cup - Wakkanai
Minato (port) Nankyoku (southpole) Festival - Wakkanai City
Wakkanai Snow and Ice Festival - Wakkanai City
Chitose Airport Festival - Chitose City
Hokkaido Beer Festival - Chitose City
Indian Water Mill Festival - Chitose City
Kushiro Mist Festival - Kushiro City (Early July)
Kushiro Ice Festival - Kushiro City (Early February at Sakaecho Heiwa (Peace) Park and at Pastel Town)
Kushiro Port Festival - at Kushiro Port and at Kita Ohdori (Early August)
Kushiro Marshland Fair - by the Kushiro River (Late September)
Sapporo Snow Festival - Sapporo (beginning of February)
Sapporo Lilac Festival (the end of May)
YOSAKOI So-lan Festival -　Sapporo　(the beginning of June)
Pacific Music Festival (PMF) (July - August)
White Illumination (the end of November - the beginning of January)
Hokkaido Jingu Sai Festival (the middle of June)
Sapporo Summer Festival (the end of July - the end of August)
Toyohira-gawa River Fireworks Festival (the end of July - the beginning of August)
Susukino Festival (the beginning of August)
Sapporo International Festival (the end of July - the end of August)
The Clock Tower Festival (the middle of September)
Sapporo Marathon (the beginning of October)
Sapporo Chrysanthemum Festival (the beginning of November)
Sapporo International Ski Marathon (the beginning of February)
Hokkaido Heso Matsuri (Naval Festival) July 28 -29
Furano Wine Budo Matsuri (Wine Grape festival) mid September
Ski Matsuri (ski festival) mid February
Hakodate Goryokaku Festival (mid May)
Takadaya Kahei Festival (late July)
Hakodate Port Festival (August 1 - 5)
Hakodate Nocturnal View Day (August 13)
Hakodate Outdoor Theater (late July - mid August)
The Goryo Star Fantasy (January 15 - February 14)
KodaKWinter Festival (February 1 - 14)

Tōhoku

Miyagi

Tanabata Festival - Sendai

Fukushima

Drum Platforms - Kitakata City
Playing the Drums - Kitakata City
Toka-ichi - Aizuwakamatsu City (January 10)
Aizu Winter Festival - Aizuwakamatsu City (1st weekend in February)
Aizu Higan-jishi - Aizuwakamatsu City (March 18 - 24)
Ohi-ichi - Aizuwakamatsu City (July - August)
Higashiyama Bon Odori Festival - Aizuwakamatsu City (August 13 - 20)
Aizu Autumn Festival - Aizuwakamatsu City (September 22 - 23)
Hatsu-kompira Festival - Iwaki City (January 10 at Yumoto)
Numano-uchi Mizukake Festival - Iwaki City (January 15 at Taira)
Sakura Festival - Iwaki City (from April to May)

-1.Nakoso-no-seki (Nakoso district)

-2.Matsugaoka-koen Park (Taira district)

-3.Tomigaura-koen Park (Onahama district)

-4.Miyukiyama-koen Park and Kannon-yama-koen Park (Yumoto district)

Kumano-jinja Shrine - Chigo-dengaku Dance - Iwaki City (July 31 and August 1 at Nakoso)
Fireworks Festival - Iwaki City (the first Saturday of August at Onahama)
Jyangara - Iwaki City
Ryuto-e Celemony - Iwaki City (August 20 at Taira)
Yabusame Rites - Iwaki City (September 14 and 15 at Iinohachiman-gu Shrine)

Aomori

Nebuta Festival - Aomori City (at the beginning of August)
Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival - Hirosaki Park (April 23 - May 5)
Hirosaki-jo Castle Autumn Festival - Hirosaki Park (early November)
Hirosaki-jo Castle Snow Lantern Festival - Hirosaki Park (February 9 - 12)
Enburi - Hachinohe City (February 17 - 20)
Hachinohe Sansha Taisai - Hachinohe City (July 31 - August 3)

Iwate

Hanamaki Festival (September 5 - 7, city center)
All Japan Noodle Eating Contest - Hanamaki City (February 11, Hanamaki Municipal Gymnasium)
Takamura Kotaro Day - Hanamaki City(May 15, Kotaro's Cottage)
Miyazawa Kenji Day Hanamaki City(September 21, Kenji Memorial Stone)
Ichinoseki Summer Festival - Ichinoseki City (held first Friday, Saturday, Sunday in August)
The Spring Fujiwara Festival - Ichinoseki City （May 1 through May 5）
Motsuji Temple Iris Festival - Ichinoseki City (June 20 through July 10)

Akita

Noshiro Nebu-nagashi - Noshiro City (August 1-7)
Onagori Festival - Noshiro City (the 2nd Saturday in September)
Yome-mi Matsuri - Noshiro City (bride marching festival)

Yamagata

The Sakata Festival - Sakata City (May 19-20)
The Port Sakata Festival - Sakata City (August 2-3)
Hanagasa Festival - Yamagata City(August 5-7)
Snow Covered Trees Festival - Yamagata City(February 1-2)

Kantō

Tochigi

Musha-sai Festival - Nikko City (January 4)
Nikko Hyosetsu Festival - Nikko City (from late January to early February)
Gohan-shiki - Nikko City (April 2)
Yayoi Festival - Nikko City (April 17)
An open season for trout fishing at Lake chuzenji-ko - Nikko City (April 20 - September 15)
Tosho-gu Spring Festival - Nikko City (May 17 - 18)
Oku-Nikko Park Marathon Tournament - Nikko City (late June)
Walk in Nikko - Nikko City (early July)
Mt. Nantai-san Tohai Festival - Nikko City (July 31)
Nikko Kekko Festival - Nikko City (late September)
Toshogu Fall Festival - Nikko City (October 17)
Kodomo Gohan-shiki - Nikko City (November 25)

Gunma

Spring Festival - Takasaki City (cherry blossom season/ Gunma Music Center City Gallery)
Takasaki Festival - Takasaki City (the first Saturday and Sunday in August/ city street)
Mt. Kannon-yama Fire Festival - Takasaki City (the fourth Saturday in July/ Mt. Kannon-yama)
Daruma-ichi Market - Takasaki City (January 6 - 7/ Shorin-zan Daruma-ji Temple, Hanadaka-machi)
Takasaki Takigi-Noh - Takasaki City (mid October/ Mt. Kannon-yama)
A fete in honor of Ebisu Market - Takasaki City (the end of November/ Miho-okuni Jinja Shrine and the market street)

Ibaragi

The Gion Festival of Yasaka Shrine - Ryugasaki City (July 25 to 27)
The Tsukumai Event - Ryugasaki City (the last day of the Gion Festival)

Saitama

Kumagaya City is known for its innumerable festivals. The four main festivals are the Fan Festival, the Fireworks, the Ebisu Festival, and the Cherry Blossom Festival.

January

6th New Year's Parade (city center)
15th Yomego Kannon (Mikajiri, Ryusen-ji Temple)

February

7th Daruma Doll Market (city center, Hoshi-kawa River)
28th Fudo-sama (Sayada, Eifuku-ji Temple)

March

15th Obisha (Tamai, Tamai Jinja Shrine)

April

2nd Sunday in April Bojutsu (Oaso, Zensho-ji Temple)
Early April Cherry Blossom Festival (Arakawa-zutsumi)

June

30th Tainai Kuguri (Honcho, Takagi Jinja Shrine)

July

3rd Sunday in July Bojutsu (Oaso, Zensho-ji Temple)
20 - 22 Fan Festival (city center)
24 - 25 Higashi Beppu Festival (Higashi Beppu Jinja Shrine)

August

2nd Saturday of August Fireworks (Banks of the Arakawa River)
16th Lantern Offering (city center, Hoshi-kawa River)

October

10th Buddha Lantern Offering (Koizuka, Joju-in Temple)

November

Late November Furusato (Hometown) Fair (Chuo Koen Park)
Late November Ebisu Festival (city center)

December

8th Tori-no-ichi Market (Honcho, Takagi Jinja Shrine)

Chiba

Hatsu-mode -Narita City (January)
Setsubun-e -Narita City (February)
Kando Narita Theater -Narita City (mid April and mid October)
Naritasan Takigi Noh -Narita City (the third Saturday of May)
Gion Festival -Narita City (July 7 - 9)
Otaiya Festival -Narita City (September 2 and 3)
Narita Jidai-emaki Festival -Narita City (November)
Osame-Fudo Fire -Narita City (December 28)

Tokyo

Mitaka Awa-odori - Mitaka City (dancing festival)
Sanja Festival - Asakusa City
Tori-no-ichi - Asakusa City (at Otori Shrine)
Hagoita (a racket for a badminton-like game) Fair - Asakusa City

Other annual events

Needle religious service - Asakusa City (February 8)
Asakusa Yabusame - Asakusa City (in early April)
Hozuki (ground cherry) Fair - Asakusa City (July 9th and 10th)
Sumida River Fireworks Festival - Asakusa City (last Saturday in July)
Asakusa Samba Carnival - Asakusa City (at the end of August)
Tokyo Historic Pageant - Asakusa City (on November 3)
Azabu Juban Nohryo Festival - Asakusa City (August 23-25)
Suiten-gu Shrine Reitaisai Festival - Hakozaki City (May 5)
Setomono-ichi - Hakozaki City (ceramics market in mid-August)
Doburoku Matsuri Festival - Hakozaki City (end of November)

Kanagawa

Gohan Gyoji Stamping Ceremony - Kamakura City (January 1 - 7)
Kamakura Festival - Kamakura City (the week starting on Sunday encompassing April 13)
Hiwatari - Kamakura City (1st and 2nd Sunday in May)
Nagoshi Festival - Kamakura City (August 7)
Bonbori Festival - Kamakura City (August 7-9)
Kaijo Fireworks Festival - Kamakura City (August 10)
Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shuki Reitaisai - Kamakura City (September 14 - 16)
Kamakura Takigi-noh - Kamakura City (October 8 and 9)
Homotsu Kaze-ire (November 2 - 4 Temple and Kencho-ji Temple)

Chūbu

Niigata

Murakami Main Festival - Murakami City (July 6 and 7)
Niigata-Matsuri Festival - Niigata City (August 7-9)
Nihon-kai Yuhi Concert - Niigata City (August 10th at)
Niigata-fuyu Shokuno-jin - Niigata (foods festival for winter, December - March)
Itoigawa Kenka-matsuri Festival - Itoigawa City (April 10th)
Itoigawa Omanta-matsuri Festival - Itoigawa City (the first Friday and Saturday of August)
Ennen of Nechi-yamadera - Itoigawa City (August 31st and September 1st)

Ishikawa

Kaga Hyakuman-goku Festival - Kanazawa City (June 13 - 15)
Otabi Matsuri - Koumatsu City (held for four days from May 13)

Fukui

Fukui Spring Festival: Echizen Jidai Gyoretsu - Fukui City (April 29)

Nagano

Ninen Festival - Karuizawa City (Kumano Kodai Shrine, Nagakura Shrine, Suwa Shrine)
Karuizawa Ice Festival - Karuizawa City (end of January - at Karuizawa Skate Center)
Wakaba Matsuri Festival - Karuizawa City (end of May - beginning of June)
Kumano Kodai Shrine Festival Okagura Dances - Karuizawa City (May 15 at Kumano Kodai Shrine)
Fireworks - Karuizawa City (middle of the month - August)
New Japan Philharmonic Music Festival (middle of August at the Karuizawa Prince Hotel)
Momiji Festival - Karuizawa City (beginning of October - beginning of November)
Kumano Kodai Shrine Festival Okagura Dances - Karuizawa City (October 15)
International Christmas Party - Karuizawa City (December at Karuizawa Prince Hotel)

Shizuoka

Hyondori-mai Dance Festival - Shizuoka City (early January)
Kuno-zan Tosho-gu Spring Big Festival - Shizuoka City (February 17th)
Shizuoka Festival - Shizuoka City (early April)
Aoi Festival - Shizuoka City (early May)
Wakuguri - Shizuoka City (June 30th)
Kiyomizu Festival - Shizuoka City (July 9th / Kiyomizu-dera Temple)
Mando Mitama Festival - Shizuoka City (mid July / Gokoku Jinja Shrine)
Abe-kawa River Fireworks Festival (the last Saturday of July)
Utougi Bon Festival Dance - Shizuoka City (August 14th - 15th)
Toro Festival - Shizuoka City (early October)
Street Performance World Cup (early November)
Daruma-ichi Fair - Hamamatsu City (January 10)
Hamamatsu Festival - Hamamatsu City (May 3rd - 5th / at Nakatajima Sand Hills to the central city)
Enshu Dai-nenbutsu Festival - Hamamatsu City (July 15)
Tateyama-dera Temple Paper Lantern Floating and Fireworks - Hamamatsu City (the 4th Saturday and Sunday of July)
Tanabata Summer Festival - Hamamatsu City (early July)
Arai Jinja Hadaka Festival - Ito City (January 7)
Tsubaki (camellia)Show - Ito City (from late February to early March)
Mt. Omuro-yama Yama-yaki - Ito City (burning off the grass) Festival (first Sunday of March)
Sakura-no-sato Festival - Ito City (second Sunday of April)
Tsutsuji (azalea) Festival - Ito City (from late April to early May at Komuro-yama Koen Park)
Matsukawa River Tub Race - Ito City (first Sunday of July)
Ito Onsen Fireworks Festival - Ito City (late July at Ito Beach)

Aichi

Atsuta Festival - Nagoya City (June 5)
Minato (Port) Festival (Around July 20)
Nagoya Castle Summer Festival (Early August)
Nagoya Festival(Mid-October)

Kansai or Kinki

Kyoto

Maizuru Tanabe-jo Castle Festival - Maizuru City (May)
Minato Maizuru Chatta-matsuri Festival - Maizuru City (July)
Aka-renga JAZZ LIVE - Maizuru City (July)
Joya-no Agetaimatsu - Maizuru City (August)

Hyogo

Kobe Festival - Kobe City (around July 20)
The Great Arima Tea Ceremony - Kobe City (November 2 and 3)
Shunsetsu-sai (Spring) Festival - Kobe City (February)
Kitano International Festival - Kobe City (Last weekend of July)

Shiga

Shigaraki Ceramics Festival - Shigaraki City (late July)
Drum Dance - Shigaraki City (September 4th)
Otaue-sai - Yasu City (Sowing of Seeds at the Imperial Field) (May 25)
Hiwatari (Fire Crossing) Festival - Yasu City (February 25)
Jizo Festival - Yasu City (July 24)
Zuiki Festival - Yasu City (October 14)
Yasu Festival - Yasu City (The first Saturday of August)

Osaka

Toka-ebisu - Osaka City (January 9 -11)
Tenjin Matsuri Festival - Osaka City (July 24 - 25)
The Midosuji Parade - Osaka City (The second Sunday of October)
Shitenno-ji Temple Wasso festival - Osaka City (November 3rd )
O-uo-yoichi - Sakai City (July 31)
Ko-odori (the first Sunday in October)
Sakai Festival - Sakai City (the third Sat. & Sun)
Yassai Hossai - Sakai City (December 14)

Wakayama

Hina-nagashi(Floating hina-dolls down to the sea) - Wakayama City (March 3)
The Commerce and Industry Festival, Waka-matsuri Festival - Wakayama City (Second Saturday and Sunday in May

Mie

The Big Yokkkaichi Festival - Yokkaichi Festival
The Kenka (Fighting) Festival - Sakai City (August14-15)
The Banko Festival - Sakai City (the second weekend of May)
Tsu Festival - Tsu City (October 9-11)
Oshichiya (Seven Nights) Festival - Tsu City (January 9-16)
The Yuki Shrine's Plum Festival - Tsu City (February and March)
The Yabuneri (Bamboo Bush) Parade - Tsu City (July 11)

Chūgoku

Tottori

Shan-Shan Festival- Tottori City (August 16)

Shimane

Suigosai Festival (first weekend in August)
Matsue Drum Procession (November 3 throughout the city)
Horan-enya (held once every 12 years)
Otome-toge Festival (May 3)
Gion Festival (July 20, 24, 27 / Yasaka Shrine)
Bon Odori (August 15)

Okayama

Saidai-ji Eyo - Okayama City (held at Saidai-ji Temple on the third Saturday in February)
Heartland Kurashiki - Kurashiki City (May 2 - 4)
Kurashiki Tenryo Summer Festival - Kurashiki City (Sat & Sun at the end of July)
Kurashiki Music Festival - Kurashiki City (mid March - end of March)

Hiroshima

Hiroshima Flower Festival - Hiroshima City (May 3,4,5)
Peace Memorial Ceremony - Hiroshima City (August 6)
Ebisukou - Hiroshima City (November 17-20)

Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi Tanabata Chochin Festival - Yamaguchi City (August 6, 7)
Yamaguchi Gion Festival - Yamaguchi City (July 20 - 27)
Yuda Hot Spring Festival - Yamaguchi City (the first weekend of April)

Shikoku

Tokushima

Awa Odori Dance

Kagawa

Takamatsu Festival - Takamatsu City (August 11 to 14)
Takamatsu Winter Festival - Takamatsu City (held on the four days prior to and after Christmas)
Genpei (Genji-Heike) Yashima Festival - Takamatsu City (held on the last weekend of March)

Kochi

Yosakoi Matsuri (Festival)

Kyūshū

Fukuoka

Oshiroi festival - Amagi City
Dorouchi Festival
Hinashiro Okunchi

Nagasaki

Pehron Boat Race (the last Sunday of July)
Shoroh Float Festival
Nagasaki Kunchi Festival (October 7-9)
Okunchi Sasebo Festival
Saikai American Festival - Sasebo City （The first weekend of August）
Sunset 99 Live Sasebo （Planned for October 9）

Kumamoto

Plant Market (February)
Hinokuni Festival (August 11 - 13)
Fujisaki Hachimangu Shrine Grand Festival (September 11 - 15)

Miyazaki

Takachiho Yokagura Dances (held end of November through beginning of February )
National Foundation Day Celebrations in Takachiho (held February 11)

Kagoshima

Rokugatsu-to (July/ at inner city shrines and temples)
Ohara Festival (November 2 - 3/ Sanbashi-dori - Takamibaba)
Asa-ichi Market(Around Nishi-Kagoshima station)

Okinawa

Eisah - Naha City (From mid August to end of August)
Naha Hahrii Dragon Boat Races (May 3 to 5)
Tug-of-War (October 10)
The All-Island Bullfighting (May and November)

GaijinPot

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