Best Japanese Festivals (Matsuri) Spot List

One of the three greatest summer festivals of Tohoku, with colorful bamboo decorations all around the city of Sendai.

An annual large-scale fireworks festival held on August 2 and 3. The large firework rings brighten up the night sky.

One of the most famous festivals of Tohoku, with gigantic floats shaped as dynamic mythical or kabuki characters and haneto (nebuta dancers) parading the streets.

Watch Tokyo’s Downtown Area Lit Up by Fireworks at Night

Find this Festival by Following the Shouting!

The festival highlight is sight of more than 100 boats on the Ogawa river

Grandiose floats decorated with scenes from historic events parade through the city

A fireworks festival that lights up summer night skies in color

A Cultural Procession to Celebrate the More Than 1000 Year History of Kyoto

One of Japan's Three Big Festivals

The Streets Fill up with the Lights of the Kanto Festival!

The fireworks town of Omagari, the pinnacle of fireworks art

A festival popular with foreign visitors to Japan, where the mikoshi, having the motif of the male genitalia, which is considered to be sacred, is very lively jostled about.

One of the three major Edo festivals. Also known as the ”water throwing festival” for as its name suggests spectators throw water on Omikoshi (portable shrine) bearers; it is a festival held annually at Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine.

Watch 100 Portable Shrines Being Carried Around Asakusa

Enjoy Fireworks from the Banks of the Arakawa River

See the Night Sky Illuminated with Over 20,000 Fireworks

Feel the Summer Atmosphere in Kyoto as it Reverberates with the Sound of Japanese Instruments

A Brilliant Firework Festival with an Ever-changing Theme

A festival of fire unfolds at Nachi Falls