- TOP
- Search Criteria
- 10 Amazing Summer Festivals in Japan
STORY
10 Amazing Summer Festivals
in Japan
Spring may have sakura and fall its foliage, but summer is the season for some of Japan's most incredible festivals.
One of Japan’s three biggest festivals, Gion Matsuri spans the entire month of July with events happening nearly every day. The highlights of the festival are two parades called Yamaboko Junko. During these processions, two kinds of floats called yama and hoko (hence the name yamaboko) are pulled through the streets. The first and largest procession takes place on the 17th and features a total of twenty-three yama and hoko. The second and smaller procession is on the 24th and features the remaining ten floats.
Stopping by during the evenings is also highly recommended, particularly during the Yoi-yama events when the floats are decorated and lit with lanterns. This event takes place nightly from July 14th to the 16th, but the first day is said to be the best.
Dates: July 1~31, 2016
Yamaboko Junko (Saki-Matsuri): July 17, 2016
Starting location: intersection of Shijo and Karasuma Streets
Time: 9:00am~11:00am
Link to the Yamaboko Junko (Saki-Matsuri) course map.
Yamaboko Junko (Ato-Matsuri)
Date: July 24, 2016
Starting location: intersection of Karasuma and Oike Streets
Time: 9:30am~11:20am
Link to the Yamaboko Junko (Ato-Matsuri) course map.
For detailed information about the festival schedule, please visit the Kyoto City Tourism Association’s Gion Matsuri page.
Tenjin Matsuri is a celebration honoring the death of Sugawara Michizane, the Shinto god of learning thought to be enshrined at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine. This festival takes place every year on July 24th and 25th. During these two days, there are many ceremonies and events including lion and umbrella dances. A splendid procession takes place on the 25th in which a mikoshi or portable shrine thought to contain the spirit of Sugawara Michizane is carried through the streets.
On the evening of the 25th, the mikoshi and the participants are loaded onto boats and set into the river. The day culminates with a fireworks display.
Date: July 24, 2016
Time: 4:00am~ around 7:00pm
Date: July 25, 2016
Time: 1:30pm~ around 10:30pm
Location: events take place around Osaka Tenmangu Shrine and the Okawa River
Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
Address: 2-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka
Access:
Exit 4 of Subway Minami-morimachi Station
Exit 3 of JR Osaka Tenmangu Station
For more detailed information about the festival schedule, check the official page of the Tenjin Matsuri (auto-translated).
The Sumida River Fireworks Festival started in 1733. Since that time, it has grown into one of Tokyo’s biggest and most popular summer events. Fireworks are launched from two separate areas. 9,350 fireworks are launched from the first area and 10,650 fireworks are launched from the second, bringing the total to an amazing 20,000. This figure includes 200 new varieties of fireworks that are launched as part of a contest. Pick up some snacks from yatai food vendors and enjoy the show!
隅田川花火大会
Date: July 30, 2016
Time: 7:05pm~8:30pm
Locations and nearest stations:
Area 1 is close to Oshiage Station
Area 2 is close to Ryogoku Station & Kuramae Station
Asakusa Station & Honjo-azumabashi Station are between areas 1 and 2
Click here for the official website of the Sumida River Fireworks Festival.
While the origins of the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri are uncertain, it's likely that the festival grew out of celebrations of tanabata. The highlight of this festival is the immense, colorful floats. Called ningyo toro (lit. doll lanterns), these take nearly an entire year to build and may weigh as much as 4 tons. They often depict scenes from legends, samurai, or kabuki actors. During the festival, these floats are pulled through the streets preceded by festival dancers called haneto accompanied by the music of taiko, flutes, and bells. One of the "Big Three" festivals of the Tohoku region, the Nebuta Matsuri attracts some 3 million visitors every year.
Festival Schedule
Dates: August 2~7, 2016
Time: 7:10pm~9:00pm
※ On the 7th, the procession will be held from 1:00pm~3:00pm and a fireworks display during which the nebuta will be set afloat in the ocean will be held from 7:15pm~9:00pm
Location: festivities take place in the central part of Aomori City
Nearest station: JR Aomori Station
Akita Prefecture's Kanto Matsuri is another one of the Big Three festivals of the Tohoku region. While this matsuri is of uncertain origin as well, it is widely held that it began as a festival to banish midsummer illnesses and malevolence.
The main feature of the Akita Kanto Matsuri is the kanto-- bamboo poles that hold 46 large lanterns that are each roughly the size of a small child. Each kanto is 12 meters tall and weighs 50 kilos. Festival participants then balance them on their hands, shoulders, foreheads, and hips. Approximately 270 kanto are used during the festival.
Nighttime Festival
Date: August 3~6, 2016
Time: 6:15pm~9:30pm
Location: the section of Kanto Odori from the 2-Chome Bashi intersection to Sanno Jujiro Street
Afternoon Festival
Date: August, 4~6
Time: 9:20am~3:20pm
Location: Area Nakaichi & Nigiwai Hiroba in Akita City
Nearest station: JR Akita Station
The festival of tanabata celebrates the reuniting of lovers who are forced to live on opposite sides of the Milky Way all but one day out of every year. Although tanabata festivals are held throughout Japan, the one in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture has grown into a major event. In fact, it is the last of the Big Three festivals of the Tohoku region with around 2 million visitors coming every year. Starting with the outdoor shopping arcade, the downtown area is filled with colorful streamers called fukinagashi, the tails of which are decorated with origami. To celebrate tanabata, many people write wishes on strips of paper and hang them from bamboo.
The streamers will be on display during the following times:
August 6 & 7, 2016 10:00am~10:00pm
August 8, 2016 10:00am~9:00pm
Location and nearest station: a portion of the course decorated with streamers begins close to the West Exit of Sendai Station
Visit the official page of the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri to learn more about festival activities.
While there are Yosakoi festivals throughout Japan, this dance festival actually originated in Kochi, a prefecture which occupies the southwestern part of the island of Shikoku. During this festival, around 20,000 performers dance with clappers called naruko to a song called Yosakoi Naruko Odori. What makes this festival such a fun event is the creativity of the different performing teams. The teams have free reign over their costumes, the choreography, and even the arrangement of the Yosakoi Naruko Odori song. This means you’re just as likely to see groups dressed in kimono dancing to traditional-style music as you are to see a punked-out group dancing to a rock-inspired arrangement.
Date: August 9, 2016
Time: performances begin from 4:30pm
Dates: August 10 & 11, 2016
Time: performances begin from 11:00am
Location and nearest station: the dancing takes place in various areas in the vicinity of Kochi Station
Every year, 950 groups called ren comprised of anywhere from 50 to 200 dancers each fill the streets of downtown Tokushima City with a dance called Awa Odori. The styles of dance are generally broken into those for men and those for women, but within those broad categories exist distinct styles. The dancers parade down the streets to the accompaniment of shamisen, flutes, bells, and various drums.
It’s said Awa Odori was born when drunken dancing broke out during a party thrown to celebrate the opening of Tokushima Castle in the Edo Period. (In truth, the history of this dance dates back even further than this, but it’s a good story.) Because of its slightly silly appearance and shuffle rhythm, it’s also called the Fools’ Dance. But when you see the performances, especially those of the famous ren, you’ll realize that this dance requires some serious stamina and dedication to master.
Dates: August 12~15, 2016
Time: dancing begins around 11:00am
Location and nearest station: the dancing takes place on stages and in the streets around JR Tokushima Station
Note: tickets are required for certain performances including the finale. Tickets can be purchased starting July 1 at convenience store ticket kiosks (Japanese only) and from the Awa Odori Information Center (阿波踊り総合案内所) in front of JR Tokushima Station.
Like Awa Odori in Tokushima, the Owara Kaze No Bon is a type of Bon Odori-- a style of dance performed during the season of O-Bon to welcome the spirits of dead ancestors. Unlike the energetic Awa Odori, Owara Kaze No Bon is refined and elegant, making use of gestures with hands and sleeves as performers dance to haunting music played by shamisen and kokyu-- a small shamisen-like instrument that is played with a bow.
Although the origins of this festival are also unclear, it is thought that it was born in the Edo Period from festivities that stretched on for three days and three nights to celebrate the retrieval of important documents that had been lost on the outskirts of the village of Yatsuo. While still relatively unknown abroad, this beautiful festival attracts some 200,000 visitors to the town every year.
Dates: September 1 & 2, 2016
Times: 3:00pm~5:00pm & 7:00pm~11:00pm
Date: September 3, 2016
Time: 7:00pm~11:00pm
Location and nearest station: dancing takes place in various towns throughout the city of Toyama. These locations are approximately 40 min walking distance from JR Etchu-Yatsuo Station
Of all the festivals involving wooden carts called danjiri, the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri is probably the most famous. It is said that this festival began as a ritual to ensure a good grain harvest. Today, it continues as a means of connecting people with their local community.
During the festival, you’ll see young men pulling these large carts as fast as they can through the streets while musicians play inside and the daiku-gata or carpenter dances on top of the moving cart. One of the most heart-stopping moments of the festival is when the carts skid around corners. Understandably this is a bit dangerous, so if you go please be sure to listen to the instructions regarding where you can safely watch the festival.
Date: September 17, 2016
Times:
6:00am~7:30am Hiki-dashi (Opening pull)
9:30am ~11:30am Parade
1:00pm~5:00pm Parade
7:00pm~10:00pm Parade of lantern-lit Danjiri
Date: September 18, 2016
Times:
9:00am~12:30pm Miya-iri (Going to worship at the shrine)
1:00pm~5:00pm Parade
7:00pm~10:00pm Parade of lantern-lit Danjiri
Location and nearest station: event takes place in the area around Kishiwada Station
Check out the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri course map here.
※A second festival takes place on October 8~9 from 6:00am~10:00pm and 9:00am~10:00pm respectively.
Have you ever been to one of these festivals? If you have, feel free to tell us about it in the comments!
Note: all dates included in this article are accurate as of June 2016. Schedule changes may occur, so please be sure to check the home page of these events before going.
Gion Matsuri (Kyoto)
One of Japan’s three biggest festivals, Gion Matsuri spans the entire month of July with events happening nearly every day. The highlights of the festival are two parades called Yamaboko Junko. During these processions, two kinds of floats called yama and hoko (hence the name yamaboko) are pulled through the streets. The first and largest procession takes place on the 17th and features a total of twenty-three yama and hoko. The second and smaller procession is on the 24th and features the remaining ten floats.
Stopping by during the evenings is also highly recommended, particularly during the Yoi-yama events when the floats are decorated and lit with lanterns. This event takes place nightly from July 14th to the 16th, but the first day is said to be the best.
Information
Gion Matsuri | 祇園祭Dates: July 1~31, 2016
Yamaboko Junko (Saki-Matsuri): July 17, 2016
Starting location: intersection of Shijo and Karasuma Streets
Time: 9:00am~11:00am
Link to the Yamaboko Junko (Saki-Matsuri) course map.
Yamaboko Junko (Ato-Matsuri)
Date: July 24, 2016
Starting location: intersection of Karasuma and Oike Streets
Time: 9:30am~11:20am
Link to the Yamaboko Junko (Ato-Matsuri) course map.
For detailed information about the festival schedule, please visit the Kyoto City Tourism Association’s Gion Matsuri page.
Tenjin Matsuri (Osaka)
Tenjin Matsuri is a celebration honoring the death of Sugawara Michizane, the Shinto god of learning thought to be enshrined at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine. This festival takes place every year on July 24th and 25th. During these two days, there are many ceremonies and events including lion and umbrella dances. A splendid procession takes place on the 25th in which a mikoshi or portable shrine thought to contain the spirit of Sugawara Michizane is carried through the streets.
On the evening of the 25th, the mikoshi and the participants are loaded onto boats and set into the river. The day culminates with a fireworks display.
Information
Tenjin Matsuri | 天神祭Date: July 24, 2016
Time: 4:00am~ around 7:00pm
Date: July 25, 2016
Time: 1:30pm~ around 10:30pm
Location: events take place around Osaka Tenmangu Shrine and the Okawa River
Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
Address: 2-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka
Access:
Exit 4 of Subway Minami-morimachi Station
Exit 3 of JR Osaka Tenmangu Station
For more detailed information about the festival schedule, check the official page of the Tenjin Matsuri (auto-translated).
Sumida River Fireworks Festival (Tokyo)
The Sumida River Fireworks Festival started in 1733. Since that time, it has grown into one of Tokyo’s biggest and most popular summer events. Fireworks are launched from two separate areas. 9,350 fireworks are launched from the first area and 10,650 fireworks are launched from the second, bringing the total to an amazing 20,000. This figure includes 200 new varieties of fireworks that are launched as part of a contest. Pick up some snacks from yatai food vendors and enjoy the show!
Information
Sumida River Fireworks Festival |隅田川花火大会
Date: July 30, 2016
Time: 7:05pm~8:30pm
Locations and nearest stations:
Area 1 is close to Oshiage Station
Area 2 is close to Ryogoku Station & Kuramae Station
Asakusa Station & Honjo-azumabashi Station are between areas 1 and 2
Click here for the official website of the Sumida River Fireworks Festival.
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri (Aomori)
While the origins of the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri are uncertain, it's likely that the festival grew out of celebrations of tanabata. The highlight of this festival is the immense, colorful floats. Called ningyo toro (lit. doll lanterns), these take nearly an entire year to build and may weigh as much as 4 tons. They often depict scenes from legends, samurai, or kabuki actors. During the festival, these floats are pulled through the streets preceded by festival dancers called haneto accompanied by the music of taiko, flutes, and bells. One of the "Big Three" festivals of the Tohoku region, the Nebuta Matsuri attracts some 3 million visitors every year.
Information
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri | 青森ねぶた祭りFestival Schedule
Dates: August 2~7, 2016
Time: 7:10pm~9:00pm
※ On the 7th, the procession will be held from 1:00pm~3:00pm and a fireworks display during which the nebuta will be set afloat in the ocean will be held from 7:15pm~9:00pm
Location: festivities take place in the central part of Aomori City
Nearest station: JR Aomori Station
Akita Kanto Matsuri (Akita)
Akita Prefecture's Kanto Matsuri is another one of the Big Three festivals of the Tohoku region. While this matsuri is of uncertain origin as well, it is widely held that it began as a festival to banish midsummer illnesses and malevolence.
The main feature of the Akita Kanto Matsuri is the kanto-- bamboo poles that hold 46 large lanterns that are each roughly the size of a small child. Each kanto is 12 meters tall and weighs 50 kilos. Festival participants then balance them on their hands, shoulders, foreheads, and hips. Approximately 270 kanto are used during the festival.
Information
Akita Kanto Matsuri | 秋田竿燈まつりNighttime Festival
Date: August 3~6, 2016
Time: 6:15pm~9:30pm
Location: the section of Kanto Odori from the 2-Chome Bashi intersection to Sanno Jujiro Street
Afternoon Festival
Date: August, 4~6
Time: 9:20am~3:20pm
Location: Area Nakaichi & Nigiwai Hiroba in Akita City
Nearest station: JR Akita Station
Sendai Tanabata Matsuri (Miyagi)
The festival of tanabata celebrates the reuniting of lovers who are forced to live on opposite sides of the Milky Way all but one day out of every year. Although tanabata festivals are held throughout Japan, the one in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture has grown into a major event. In fact, it is the last of the Big Three festivals of the Tohoku region with around 2 million visitors coming every year. Starting with the outdoor shopping arcade, the downtown area is filled with colorful streamers called fukinagashi, the tails of which are decorated with origami. To celebrate tanabata, many people write wishes on strips of paper and hang them from bamboo.
Information
Sendai Tanabata Matsuri | 仙台七夕まつりThe streamers will be on display during the following times:
August 6 & 7, 2016 10:00am~10:00pm
August 8, 2016 10:00am~9:00pm
Location and nearest station: a portion of the course decorated with streamers begins close to the West Exit of Sendai Station
Visit the official page of the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri to learn more about festival activities.
Yosakoi Matsuri (Kochi)
While there are Yosakoi festivals throughout Japan, this dance festival actually originated in Kochi, a prefecture which occupies the southwestern part of the island of Shikoku. During this festival, around 20,000 performers dance with clappers called naruko to a song called Yosakoi Naruko Odori. What makes this festival such a fun event is the creativity of the different performing teams. The teams have free reign over their costumes, the choreography, and even the arrangement of the Yosakoi Naruko Odori song. This means you’re just as likely to see groups dressed in kimono dancing to traditional-style music as you are to see a punked-out group dancing to a rock-inspired arrangement.
Information
Yosakoi Matsuri | よさこい祭りDate: August 9, 2016
Time: performances begin from 4:30pm
Dates: August 10 & 11, 2016
Time: performances begin from 11:00am
Location and nearest station: the dancing takes place in various areas in the vicinity of Kochi Station
Tokushima Awa Odori (Tokushima)
Every year, 950 groups called ren comprised of anywhere from 50 to 200 dancers each fill the streets of downtown Tokushima City with a dance called Awa Odori. The styles of dance are generally broken into those for men and those for women, but within those broad categories exist distinct styles. The dancers parade down the streets to the accompaniment of shamisen, flutes, bells, and various drums.
It’s said Awa Odori was born when drunken dancing broke out during a party thrown to celebrate the opening of Tokushima Castle in the Edo Period. (In truth, the history of this dance dates back even further than this, but it’s a good story.) Because of its slightly silly appearance and shuffle rhythm, it’s also called the Fools’ Dance. But when you see the performances, especially those of the famous ren, you’ll realize that this dance requires some serious stamina and dedication to master.
Information
Tokushima Awa Odori | 徳島阿波おどりDates: August 12~15, 2016
Time: dancing begins around 11:00am
Location and nearest station: the dancing takes place on stages and in the streets around JR Tokushima Station
Note: tickets are required for certain performances including the finale. Tickets can be purchased starting July 1 at convenience store ticket kiosks (Japanese only) and from the Awa Odori Information Center (阿波踊り総合案内所) in front of JR Tokushima Station.
Owara Kaze No Bon (Toyama)
Like Awa Odori in Tokushima, the Owara Kaze No Bon is a type of Bon Odori-- a style of dance performed during the season of O-Bon to welcome the spirits of dead ancestors. Unlike the energetic Awa Odori, Owara Kaze No Bon is refined and elegant, making use of gestures with hands and sleeves as performers dance to haunting music played by shamisen and kokyu-- a small shamisen-like instrument that is played with a bow.
Although the origins of this festival are also unclear, it is thought that it was born in the Edo Period from festivities that stretched on for three days and three nights to celebrate the retrieval of important documents that had been lost on the outskirts of the village of Yatsuo. While still relatively unknown abroad, this beautiful festival attracts some 200,000 visitors to the town every year.
Information
Owara Kaze no Bon | おわら風の盆Dates: September 1 & 2, 2016
Times: 3:00pm~5:00pm & 7:00pm~11:00pm
Date: September 3, 2016
Time: 7:00pm~11:00pm
Location and nearest station: dancing takes place in various towns throughout the city of Toyama. These locations are approximately 40 min walking distance from JR Etchu-Yatsuo Station
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri (Osaka)
Of all the festivals involving wooden carts called danjiri, the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri is probably the most famous. It is said that this festival began as a ritual to ensure a good grain harvest. Today, it continues as a means of connecting people with their local community.
During the festival, you’ll see young men pulling these large carts as fast as they can through the streets while musicians play inside and the daiku-gata or carpenter dances on top of the moving cart. One of the most heart-stopping moments of the festival is when the carts skid around corners. Understandably this is a bit dangerous, so if you go please be sure to listen to the instructions regarding where you can safely watch the festival.
Information
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri | 岸和田だんじり祭Date: September 17, 2016
Times:
6:00am~7:30am Hiki-dashi (Opening pull)
9:30am ~11:30am Parade
1:00pm~5:00pm Parade
7:00pm~10:00pm Parade of lantern-lit Danjiri
Date: September 18, 2016
Times:
9:00am~12:30pm Miya-iri (Going to worship at the shrine)
1:00pm~5:00pm Parade
7:00pm~10:00pm Parade of lantern-lit Danjiri
Location and nearest station: event takes place in the area around Kishiwada Station
Check out the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri course map here.
※A second festival takes place on October 8~9 from 6:00am~10:00pm and 9:00am~10:00pm respectively.
Have you ever been to one of these festivals? If you have, feel free to tell us about it in the comments!
Note: all dates included in this article are accurate as of June 2016. Schedule changes may occur, so please be sure to check the home page of these events before going.
Liked this story? Like DiGJAPAN!
on Facebook for daily updates!
THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 06 01,2016 Author：Rachael Ragalye
NEW COMMENT | 0 COMMENTS
Open a DiGJAPAN!
account to comment.
Open a DiGJAPAN! Account