Best Japanese Festivals (Matsuri) Spot List

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.

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

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

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

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

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

One of Japan's Three Big Festivals

The fireworks town of Omagari, the pinnacle of fireworks art

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

A fireworks festival that lights up summer night skies in color

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

Find this Festival by Following the Shouting!

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.

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.

Watch Performers Dancing to the Beat of Drums and Shamisens in Koenji’s Streets

Enjoy Fireworks from the Banks of the Arakawa River

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

A Must-See Performance with Colorful Costumes and Spectacular Dancing

See the Night Sky Illuminated with Over 20,000 Fireworks

A festival of fire unfolds at Nachi Falls