Japan Events and Festivals

Asia Month is also held every September in Fukuoka, when Asia celebrates Asia. During this month, a variety of events such as ethnic Asian performances, music and films are presented along with exhibitions and lectures on Asian culture, art and academics. Many Fukuoka residents cherish Asian Month as an opportunity to greet their Asian neighbours in order to deepen mutual understanding.

The Hakata Dontaku Minato Matsuri (Hakata Dontaku Port Festival) takes place in Fukuoka City on on May 3rd and 4th. It is a traditional and ancient festival with a history of over 760 years. In this event, participants in traditional costumes parade the streets while banging shamoji, (wooden rice spoons). It is one of the largest festivals held in the middle of Golden Week, attracting around 2 million people.

Hakata Gion Yamagasa is held from 1 July – 15 July when the whole town is completely immersed in festivity. Flamboyant floats are decorated with beautiful hand-made dolls made by Hakata doll makers and set up in various places around the city. The climax of the festival is the Oiyama car race that starts early morning on the 15th.

Kyoto Gion Matsuri lasts for nearly the entire month of July, reaching its climax on 17 July. Based at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto, a joyful procession makes its way through the city streets. The impressive procession features a huge, 6 metre high float accompanied by musicians, geishas and samurai-costumed men.

Sanja Matsuri is held at Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo in the middle of May. In addition to attracting over 1 million spectators, this is also considered the wildest of all Tokyo’s festivals. The main excitement is the grand procession on 16 May, which heats up the community with traditional musicians, performers and dancers.

Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yukimatsuri) takes place for seven days in the beginning of February. Impressive snow and ice sculptures are built in the city's central Odori Park, turning Sapporo into a winter wonderland of crystal and white. It is one of Japan's biggest winter events, attracting over 2 million people from Japan and abroad.

Takayama Matsuri is held in spring (14-15 April) and autumn (9-10 October) in Takayama City in Gifu. The spring festival is held at the Hie Jinja shrine, while the autumn festival takes place at the Sakurayama Hachimangu shrine. This popular festival features stunning floats and hundreds of participants dressed in medieval costumes. Throughout the day there is music, dancing and traditional marionette performances. The celebrations go on into the night. Takayama is about 2 hours outside Nagoya by train.

Tenjin Matsuri is Osaka’s main summer event, held on the 24th and 25th of July. The climax of the festival is on the 25th, when a huge procession of horses, ox-drawn wagons, portable shrines and some 3000 people in gorgeous traditional costume head toward Mido-Suji Avenue. At Tenjinbashi Bridge the participants board 100 boats, lit with countless torches and lanterns. The massive boat procession heads down the Dojimagawa River, creating a spectacular pageant. The festival ends in the evening with a magnificent display of fireworks. This is one festival you do not want to miss!