2026 Local Festivals & Events in Japan

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.

PICK UP Jul 18 – Aug 16

[2 hours from Tokyo] A breathtaking summer landscape of yellow created by 400,000 sunflowers. Hokuto City Akeno Sunflower Park

Yamanashi

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.

Writer: Hokuto City, Yamanashi

Yamanashi

PICK UP Aug 9 – 11

[2026] A Complete Guide to the Naruto Awaodori , Tokushima : Schedule, Access, and How to Enjoy It

Tokushima

"Awa Odori" is one of the three biggest Bon Odori festivals in Japan! We will explain in detail the schedule, access, and highlights of each day of the " Naruto Awaodori festival in Tokushima Prefecture.

Writer: Naruto City, Tokushima

Tokushima

Festivals & Local Events Across Japan,
Season by Season

Summer FestivalsSummer

Pinch and Tap for Good Luck? Discover the Unique Shineri Benten Tataki Jizo Festival

Niigata

One event you should definitely see in Uonuma is the Shineri Benten Tataki Jizo Festival.

Writer: Uonuma City Tourism Association

Niigata

Kawasaki City's largest summer festival! Kawasaki Sanno Festival 2026 June, Inage Shrine

Kanagawa

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.

Writer: Kawasaki City Tourism Association

Kanagawa

Murakami Taisai Festival, Niigata: Experience Japan’s UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Float Procession

Niigata

This article introduces the Murakami-Taisai, an annual festival of Senami-Haguro Shrine, which is held on July 6th (evening festival) and 7th (main festival). The Murakami-Taisai is counted as one of the "Three Great Takamachi Festivals in Niigata" (takamachi = festival day), and is crowded with many tourists every year. In 2018, the "Murakami Festival Float Parade" was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, and the gorgeous procession of 19 floats is sure to attract more and more attention in the future.

Writer: Murakami City Tourism Association

Niigata

Enjoy fireworks from the best seats in the world from your room! Southern Beach Hotel Okinawa is holding a summer event starting July 17th.

Okinawa

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.

Writer: Hotel Management Japan Co., Ltd.

Okinawa

The 13th Shinmaiko Beach Festival Fireworks, 30 Minutes Access from Nagoya

Aichi

This memorable event marks the end of summer in Chita City. Colorful fireworks, carrying everyone's thoughts, are launched from barges on the sea at Shinmaiko, lighting up the water and night sky at Shinmaiko. Why not enjoy the fireworks from a leisurely distance from the beach at Shinmaiko Marine Park? Spectacular star mines and underwater star mines are launched over the sea just off the shore! Check out the fireworks that are unique to the Shinmaiko Beach Festival.

Writer: Chita City Tourism Association

Aichi

Autumn FestivalsAutumn

Takayama Autumn Festival 2026: Top Highlights, Festival Floats & Traditional Performances

Gifu

Gifu Prefecture is located in the center of Japan, and Hida Takayama, located in the northern part of the prefecture, is a popular tourist destination with many attractions. The scenery, where rich nature and traditions blend in harmony, captivates everyone who visits. The Takayama Festival, which is held in spring and autumn, is particularly famous. We will introduce this famous festival, which is also registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in detail. The Autumn Takayama Festival is the annual festival of Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine, held every year on October 9th and 10th. The festival is characterized by 11 gorgeously decorated floats. Some of the floats are equipped with intricate mechanical dolls, and their complex movements will take your breath away. There are also many other attractions, such as the lion dance, which shows off an intense dance, a festival procession that looks like a picture scroll, and the Yoi Matsuri, where floats are lit up and paraded through the town.

Hida-Takayama Tourism & Convention Bureau

Writer: Hida-Takayama Tourism & Convention Bureau

Gifu

[Ainan Town, the southernmost point of Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku] Why not take a look at the traditional autumn festival in this fishing village?

Ehime

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.

Writer: Ainan Town Office

Ehime

New articles added regularly!

We'll be adding festival and local event information from across Japan, season by season.
Stay tuned for the latest articles.

Guided by Local Tourism Partners:Japan's Festivals & Local Events

Festivals & Local Events Across Japan,Season by Season

Guided by Local Tourism Partners:
Japan's Festivals & Local Events

Festivals & Local Events Across Japan,
Season by Season