Past festival record · Osaka
Kishiwada, under lantern light ↗
A photograph of the September 2026 festival. Not an upcoming event date.
Japan, through its festivals
Find a festival
that stays with you.
Past record — not a November–March listing
Past festival record · Hyogo
Toyooka, lit by fireworks ↗
Fireworks over the Maruyama River, recorded in 2024. No 2027 dates have been verified.
Photographed 13 August 2024 · Past festival record
Under the mikoshi: a Yaizu summer.
Red ropes, golden details and people carrying a mikoshi: discover Yaizu Shrine’s Aramatsuri through one photograph.
Past festival record · 2024-08-13 photographed. Next dates unverified.
“焼津神社大祭 荒祭（2025年版焼津カレンダー8月）” — 焼津市・藁品 篤史, CC BY 4.0. This site adapts the image by proportional resizing and WebP conversion. · Source & changes
Photographed 27 July 2024 · Past festival record
Light unfolds above the harbour.
Fireworks spread across the sky beyond a bridge—a summer-night scene from the Kihoku Toro Festival in Mie.
Past festival record · 2024-07-27 photographed. Next dates unverified.
“きほく燈籠祭14” — 紀北町・企画課広報係, CC BY 4.0. This site adapts the image by proportional resizing and WebP conversion. · Source & changes
Upcoming plans, with official dates
The 14 seasonal listings below still have no cleared event photographs here. These past photographs are not assigned to them.
Dates checked 31 October 2026 (Japan time), not a live opening or availability guarantee. Recheck tickets, hours and changes with the organiser.
Search the daily calendar ↗14 events
17 Oct 2026 — 14 Feb 2027
Ashikaga / Ashikaga Flower Park
Flower Fantasy 2026–2027
Flower-inspired light displays fill the park through autumn and winter.
Before you go: Closed December 31. Day and night sessions are separate; evening opening hours change during the season.
Official dates & details17 Oct 2026 — 31 May 2027
Kuwana / Nabana no Sato
Nabana no Sato Illumination 2026–2027
Walk through illuminated garden scenes and a tunnel of lights during the long seasonal programme.
Before you go: Closed January 6–7. Advance convenience-store ticket issuance is requested; December 23–25 needs a special dated ticket.
Official dates & details24 Oct 2026 — 23 Nov 2026
Matsushima / Entsuin Temple
Entsuin Autumn Light Show 2026
Illuminated gardens and reflected autumn colors add an evening stop to Matsushima.
Before you go: 17:30–21:00, last entry 20:45. No online ticket sales; the temple has no car park and recommends public transport.
Official dates & details31 Oct 2026 — 13 Dec 2026
Kyoto / Toji Temple
Toji Autumn Evening Opening
See Toji’s illuminated autumn grounds and visit the Kondo and Kodo halls after dark.
Before you go: Evening admission is 18:00–21:30, last entry 21:00. Daytime opening is a different session; foliage timing varies.
Official dates & details2 Nov 2026 — 4 Nov 2026
Karatsu / Karatsu Shrine and central city
Karatsu Kunchi 2026
Karatsu’s float processions bring festival energy to the streets around Karatsu Shrine.
Before you go: The November 2 procession starts at 19:00, earlier than last year. IC cards cannot be used on the listed Saga/Imari rail approaches; buy appropriate tickets.
Official dates & details3 Nov 2026 — 31 Dec 2026
Osaka / Midosuji
Midosuji Illumination 2026
A light-filled evening walk along Osaka’s central boulevard.
Before you go: The main lights run around 17:00–01:00; plan your last train independently. Interactive installations have separate hours and excluded dates.
Official dates & details2 Dec 2026 — 3 Dec 2026
Chichibu / central city
Chichibu Night Festival 2026
Chichibu’s winter festival holds its eve on December 2 and main celebration on December 3.
Before you go: Viewing-seat information is separate. Traffic maps, float schedules and fireworks details remain pending on the city notice.
Official dates & details23 Jan 2027
Nara / Mount Wakakusa
Wakakusa Yamayaki 2027
A ceremonial procession, fireworks and hillside burning mark Nara’s winter evening tradition.
Before you go: Tickets for the paid foothill and bus-terminal rooftop areas are scheduled to go on sale at 10:00 JST on November 20, 2026. Advance purchasers must collect and bring paper tickets; a smartphone screen is not accepted for entry. Free viewing areas also exist. Check official sales, weather and transport updates.
Official dates & details29 Jan 2027 — 7 Feb 2027
Kobe / Meriken Park, Higashi Yuenchi, former foreign settlement
Kobe Luminarie 2027
Light installations commemorate victims of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and carry its lessons forward.
Before you go: Part of Meriken Park is ticketed. Check the official ticket and entry arrangements before visiting.
Official dates & details4 Feb 2027 — 11 Feb 2027
Sapporo / Odori, Tsudome, Susukino
Sapporo Snow Festival 2027
Plan a winter city visit around Sapporo’s snow-and-ice festival venues.
Before you go: All three venue dates are announced; 2027 details are still being updated. Wear footwear suited to icy surfaces.
Official dates & details5 Feb 2027 — 21 Feb 2027
Nagasaki / city center and Shinchi Chinatown
Nagasaki Lantern Festival 2027
Lanterns and illuminated objects bring colorful evenings to central Nagasaki.
Before you go: Lighting hours vary by venue and opening day; check the final programme rather than assuming every performance runs daily.
Official dates & details10 Feb 2027 — 14 Feb 2027
Hirosaki / Hirosaki Park
Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival 2027
Snow lanterns offer a wintry way to explore Hirosaki Park.
Before you go: The 2027 dates are confirmed, but the detailed programme below the announcement is still for 2026. Icy paths require care.
Official dates & details16 Apr 2027 — 5 May 2027
Hirosaki / Hirosaki Park
Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival 2027
A spring festival centered on the cherry trees and moats of Hirosaki Park.
Before you go: Dates may change with flowering conditions. The page still includes 2026 fees and hours; do not treat those as confirmed for 2027.
Official dates & details14 Jun 2027 — 16 Jun 2027
Sapporo / Hokkaido Shrine and Nakajima Park
Hokkaido Shrine Festival 2027
Sapporo’s early-summer shrine festival brings ceremonies and a procession to the city.
Before you go: The festival spans shrine and park locations; check the final procession route, restrictions and transport before visiting.
Official dates & detailsNo date-confirmed events in this selection match yet. Unannounced dates are not listed.
A small verified selection, not a complete national events directory. The past festival photograph above is separate from these 14 dated listings, which may include past events.
Ideas for another season.
Seasonal planning ideas, separate from the date-confirmed calendar and its filters. Next-edition dates have not been verified for this guide. Typical months are not confirmed dates.
Gion Festival — future planning
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: July
Kyoto’s month-long summer shrine festival; keep as an idea until the 2027 programme is verified.
Do not book around assumed recurrence. Await the 2027 official programme, ticket terms and traffic guidance.
Check official information ↗Awa Odori — future planning
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: August
A summer dance-festival idea for Tokushima; 2027 dates and ticket arrangements are not verified.
Do not book around assumed recurrence. Await the 2027 official programme, ticket terms and traffic guidance.
Check official information ↗Spring Takayama Festival
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: April
Ornate festival floats and shrine traditions in Takayama’s spring streets.
The spring and autumn festivals have different shrines and routes; check the edition-specific weather and procession notice.
Check official information ↗Autumn Takayama Festival
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: October
Discover the autumn shrine festival and Takayama’s elaborate float craftsmanship.
Do not reuse spring routes. Check the next edition’s schedule and weather decisions before traveling.
Check official information ↗Sendai Tanabata Festival
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: August
Handmade streamers turn central Sendai’s shopping streets into a colorful seasonal walk.
Fireworks are a separate programme; verify their date, viewing rules and transit separately.
Check official information ↗Aomori Nebuta Festival
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: August
Large illuminated floats make Aomori an appealing summer-festival destination.
Confirm parade times, paid seating and return transport for the chosen day; do not assume identical daily programming.
Check official information ↗Todaiji Shunie — religious observance
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: March
Learn the meaning of Todaiji’s repentance rites and visit respectfully during the spring observance.
This is worship, not a fire show. Temple guidance warns of entry controls, no visitor parking and photography restrictions around Nigatsudo. Recheck current rules.
Check official information ↗Hakkeijima Hydrangea Festival
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: June
Explore hydrangea-lined paths on Yokohama’s seaside island in early summer.
Flowering varies. Festival grounds and paid attractions are different; verify next-year access and admission details.
Check official information ↗Owara Kaze no Bon
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: September
Traditional music and graceful dances offer a quieter early-autumn cultural journey.
Check town-by-town performance, weather and last-train notices; late-night access must not be assumed.
Check official information ↗Arita Ceramic Fair
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: April, May
Browse Arita’s ceramics heritage during its spring pottery-market season.
Golden Week travel needs advance planning; confirm next-year stalls, transport and delivery options rather than assuming all shops offer them.
Check official information ↗Nachi Fan Festival
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: July
A shrine observance connects fan-shaped portable shrines, torches and the sacred waterfall.
Respect shrine instructions and safety cordons; verify viewing access and buses before traveling to the mountain area.
Check official information ↗Nagasaki Kunchi
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: October
Discover Nagasaki’s autumn shrine festival and its distinctive neighborhood performances.
Performing neighborhoods and acts vary; confirm the next edition’s lineup and ticket terms instead of promising a specific dance.
Check official information ↗Kochi Yosakoi Festival
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: August
Energetic dance teams make central Kochi a summer cultural-travel idea.
Check venue schedules, viewing arrangements and heat precautions; the year-round information center is not the festival itself.
Check official information ↗Aoi Festival
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: May
A historic procession offers a spring encounter with Kyoto’s shrine traditions.
Recheck procession weather decisions and next-year reserved seating. Old guidebook prices are not current offers.
Check official information ↗Mito Plum Blossom Festival
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: February, March
Plum blossoms offer an early-spring garden and heritage visit in Mito.
Blooming is weather-dependent. Confirm seasonal train stops, admission and separate night-event arrangements for the actual edition.
Check official information ↗Saijo Sake Festival
Next dates: not verified in this guide.
Typical timing: October
Explore Saijo’s brewing heritage during its autumn festival season.
Confirm tasting-area tickets and brewery access. If drinking, arrange a non-driving return; alcohol is for adults 20 and older.
Check official information ↗