Guided by Local Tourism Partners: Japan's Festivals & Local Events
The calls of festival dancers, the glow of food stalls, dances passed down through generations. From major tourism events to small local traditions carefully kept alive by the community, writers who live in each region introduce Japan's festivals and local events, season by season.
The Hokuto City Akeno Sunflower Festival is a quintessential summer event in Hokuto City . In Akeno Town, which boasts one of the longest hours of sunshine in Japan, approximately 400,000 sunflowers bloom one after another over a period of about a month. We'll introduce you to the ways to enjoy the Sunflower Festival, including the spectacular views of the sunflower fields, the market, and the photo contest.
This article introduces the 2026 Naruto Awaodori in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture. It covers the schedule, access, seating, and highlights, as well as participatory activities such as joining impromptu dance groups and trying on yukata (summer kimono). Easily accessible (just a 5-minute walk from the station), this popular summer event is perfect for first-timers.
The Kawasaki Sanno Festival is the most exciting and lively event of the year in the Kawasaki Station area. Held in June, this festival is the celebration of Inage Shrine, an ancient local shrine. Portable shrines are paraded through the town, the shrine grounds are filled with ancient kagura dances, taiko drumming performances, entertainment, and food stalls, and the festival reaches its climax with a parade on the final night.
The most vibrant day in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture, is the Murakami Grand Festival on July 7th. This festival of the Nishina-mi Haguro Shrine, featuring 19 beautiful floats parading through the city streets, was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list as "Mountain, Float, and Procession Festivals" after deliberation in December 2025.
Southern Beach Hotel & Resort Okinawa will be holding an event for hotel guests called "Southern Festa in Summer 2026" from July 17th (Fri) to August 29th (Sat), 2026.
As a special feature, fireworks will be launched from the balconies of ocean-view guest rooms.
A memorable event that marks the end of summer in Chita City.
Spectacular starbursts and underwater starbursts are launched over the sea just off the beach!
From a barge floating on the sea off Shinmaiko, vibrant fireworks carrying everyone's hopes and dreams illuminate the surface of the water and the night sky.
The "Autumn Takayama Festival," held annually on October 9th and 10th in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event. With its 11 magnificent floats, elaborate mechanical puppets, lion dances, festival processions, and fantastical evening festivities, it is a renowned festival packed with attractions that captivate many people.
In Ainan Town, located at the southernmost tip of Ehime Prefecture in Shikoku, an autumn festival is held every year on November 3rd. It's not held in one place, but rather in each individual village. This time, I'll introduce the autumn festival of Nakaura, the fishing village where I live. The festival continues with a procession through the village carrying a portable shrine, followed by a banquet.
![[2 hours from Tokyo] A breathtaking summer landscape of yellow created by 400,000 sunflowers. Hokuto City Akeno Sunflower Park](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/720x2000/2026/07/14-267094.webp)
![[2026] A Complete Guide to the Naruto Awaodori , Tokushima : Schedule, Access, and How to Enjoy It](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/720x2000/2025/06/10-236018.webp)
![[Ainan Town, the southernmost point of Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku] Why not take a look at the traditional autumn festival in this fishing village?](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/720x2000/2026/02/18-259168.webp)
