Summers in Japan are filled with community events that bring the tourists and locals together over a shared appreciation of Japanese culture. Hanabi (fireworks) festivals are renowned in Japan for their extravagance and bright color schemes, but there are a plethora of other festivals in Japan that celebrate the culture itself.
“Matsuri,” which translates to festivals in English, have attracted thousands of people each year for centuries. There are matsuri that have occurred annually for hundreds of years which adds to the novelty of these events. Early matsuri were started to honor the gods and offer them prayers to reap the blessings and good fortune. Today, matsuri has evolved to be more than a prayer ceremony but rather a way to gather the community and celebrate all the fun and light that life has to offer. We have gathered 10 of the most interesting matsuri around Japan that are sure to pique your interest and hopefully invite you to participate in the beloved traditions of Japan while you are here!
Gion Matsuri (Kyoto)
Photo courtesy of: 祇園祭山鉾連合会
When: July 1 – 31
Where: Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto
Price: Free, paid seating available
Website: https://www.gionfestival.org/
The Gion Matsuri started in 869 C.E. originally to pacify angry spirits who were believed to be causing a plague in Kyoto. Since then, the festival has cemented itself as one of the most stunning displays of artistry and culture in Japan. The matsuri consists of towering wooden floats and other works of art that line the streets by the Yasaka Shrine. The festival is a month long but its most significant activities occur from July 14 through July 17.
Tenjin Matsuri – Fire and Water Festival (Osaka)
Photo courtesy of: Osaka Temmangu Shrine
When: July 23 – 25
Where: Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
Price: Free
Website: https://en.japantravel.com/osaka/tenjin-matsuri/115
The Tenjin Matsuri is one of the 3 biggest festivals in all of Japan. It occupies the land, sea and sky with land parades, boat displays and over 3,000 fireworks as the celebration goes into nightfall. Portable shrines are crafted by hand and paraded through the streets, creating a sacred and lively atmosphere in the streets of Osaka.
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri: The Giant Lantern Parade (Aomori)
Photo courtesy of: The Official Aomori Travel Guide
When: August 2 – 7 | 8/2 – 8/3, 7pm, 8/4 – 8/6, 6:45pm, 8/7, 1pm to 3pm and 7pm to 9pm
Where: Center of Aomori City
Price: Free
Website: https://www.nebuta.jp/foreign/english.html
The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri features human-shaped floats that take on the look of Japanese cultural figures and characters. It is known as the Japanese fire festival and the rich color scheme does a beautiful job at representing that. Musicians and dancers follow the floats down the streets of Aomori. The unique aspect of this matsuri is that anyone dressed in the “haneto” (the dancers’) dress can participate in the dance!
Fukagawa Hachiman Festival (Tokyo)
Photo courtesy of: TOKYO BAY NETWORK co., LTD.
When: August 12 – 16
Where: Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine
Price: Free
Website: http://www.tomiokahachimangu.or.jp/
The highlight of the Fukagawa Hachiman matsuri is the “mizu-kake” (water throwing). Attendees throw water on the portable shrines being paraded through the streets to purify them and cool them off. It is one of the 3 key Edo festivals and is sure to be an entertaining, immersive display of Japanese culture.
Akita Kanto Matsuri (Akita)
Photo courtesy of: Akita City Kanto Festival Executive Committee
When: August 3 – 6 | Daytime – 9am to 4pm, Nighttime – 6:50pm to 9pm
Where: Akita City
Price: Free
Website: https://www.kantou.gr.jp/english/
“Kanto” describes a giant, 9-level lantern used to pray for a bountiful harvest in Japan. Every year, trained performers sway these 40-foot-tall, glowing lanterns high above the onlookers creating a beautiful light display in the streets of Akita. The performance requires great skill and balance and it is just as impressive as it is beautiful.
Kochi Yosakoi Matsuri (Kochi)
Photo courtesy of: よさこい祭振興会
When: August 9 – 12
Where: Kochi City
Price: Free, paid seating available
Website: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/see-and-do/10571
This 4-day festival consists of dancing, fireworks and floats. The costumes are elaborate and colorful and engage the audience just as much as the choreography. There are national competitions on the last day of the festival complete with an award ceremony for the winners. Visitors interested in a high-energy and colorful festival are welcome to check it out for free.
Tokushima Awa Odori (Tokushima)
Photo courtesy of: THE AWAODORI TOKUSHIMA CITY｜阿波おどり未来へつなぐ実行委員会
When: August 12 – 15 | 6pm – 10pm
Where: Downtown Tokushima City
Price: Free
Website: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/203/
The Awa Odori dance festival is an unforgettable display of traditional Japanese dance culture. Hundreds of choreographed dancers parade down the streets of the Ichibancho shopping district wearing braided hats and traditional dresses that date back 400 years. The Awa dance was popularized after World War II and served as a symbol of reconstruction following the aftermath of the war. Prior to the celebrations, food and drink stalls open along the Ichibancho shopping district for the enjoyment of the festival-goers.
Sendai Tanabata Matsuri (Miyagi)
Photo courtesy of: SENDAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
When: August 6 – 8
Where: Sendai, Miyagi
Price: Free
Website: https://travel.rakuten.com/contents/usa/en-us/guide/sendai-tanabata-festival-guide/
The Sendai Matsuri is the biggest of the Tanabata festivals in Japan. Beautifully crafted decorations hang over the heads of attendees and represent the effort and time spent handcrafting by the shop owners. The designs are not revealed until the morning of August 6. The ornaments represent prosperity and abundance in Japanese culture and serve as symbols of both academic and creative proficiency.
Tottori Shan-Shan Matsuri (Tottori)
Photo courtesy of: 公益社団法人 鳥取県観光連盟
When: August 13 – 15
Where: Tottori City
Price: Free, paid seating available
Website: https://tottori-shanshan.jp/en
The highlight of the Tottori Shan-Shan matsuri is the umbrella dance titled the Shan-Shan Umbrella Dance. The dance is simplified to be easily learned by festival-goers. Thousands of dancers perform in sync in the center of Tottori City, creating an unbelievable sight of unity and skill.
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri (Osaka)
Photo courtesy of: 大阪府岸和田市公式ウェブサイト
When: Mid-September (Exact Dates TBD)
Where: Kishiwada
Price: Free
Website: https://www.city.kishiwada.lg.jp/site/danjiri/
This festival centers around teams of people coming together to pull large, wooden floats known as “danjiri” at high speeds through the streets. All age groups share roles to operate the festival and bring the magic of community alive in the streets of Kishiwada. The matsuri is said to be Japan’s most dangerous festival as the floats that weigh over 4 tons are being pulled around sharp corners. It is truly unmissable this summer.
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