Spring in Japan means viewing the cherry blossoms, but there are certainly other things to do and see. With so many Japanese festivals taking place throughout the year, you have an opportunity to experience some popular festivals (Matsuri) during the spring season.
Winter in Japan can often be harsh for many locals, so when the snow melts, the day grows longer, and flowers start to bloom, the people feel the need to celebrate.
There are spring festivals found all throughout the country, ranging from flower-viewing festivals to traditional festivals steeped in ancient culture.
Here are ten of Japan’s best spring festivals.
1. Takayama Spring Festival in Gifu Prefecture
Known locally as Sanno Matsuri, this festival is held every April (14th Apr – 15th Apr, 2024) at Hie Shrine in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture. There are three main draws to the festival, a display of floats called yatai, a parade of shoulder-carried mikoshi shrines, and a marionette performance.
It is held to prayer for a good harvest. Visitors get to see the very best of the long Takayama artisan tradition. Besides the carefully crafted festival art, you will also see the lovingly preserved town center.
Many people attending where traditional attire and numerous performances and dances telling the stories of traditional Japanese folktales.
You can get to Hie Shrine by walking 20–25 minutes from Takayama Station, which is on the JR Takayama and JR Hida lines.
2. Inuyama Festival in Aichi Prefecture
Begun in 1635, this festival is held every year at the Haritsuna shrine in Inuyama on the first weekend of April. The festival’s highlight is its 13 layered floats.
These 13 floats are designated as Aichi prefectural tangible folk assets!
The local cherry blossoms are also usually in bloom at the same time and are illuminated at night, making this a spectacular evening experience.
Visitors can get to the festival by walking a short way from Meitetsu Inuyama station.
3. Kumano Hongu Taisha Annual Festival in Wakayama Prefecture
Every year from April 13 to April 15, you can experience this festival at Kumano Hongu Shrine. To kick it off, a procession starts at the shrine and makes its way to the holy site of Oyunohara, a sandbank of the Kumano River, where the shrine once stood before being washed away in the 19th century.
Portable shrines are carried by people of all kinds, while fathers keep young boys up on their shoulders. Girls and young women perform ceremonial dances.
There is also a fire ceremony during the festival. Be sure to attend some of the many Aikido martial arts demonstrations held here in the birthplace of Aikido.
Cherry blossoms are often in bloom here at this time of year, setting the stage for this incredible local festival.
There is no train station in Hongu, so you will have to take a JR train from either Nagoya to Shingu City or from Osaka to Tanabe City. From there you can either take a public bus to Hongu or drive a rental car there.
For more information about this popular spring festival, read here.
4. Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival in Oita Prefecture
Beppu is a geological hot spot, home to many hot springs of many times. There are so many here that steam can be seen rising around the area both day and night.
The Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival is held at the start of every April and is a sort of “hot springs thanksgiving day.” Many of the town’s hot springs are open for visitors to try for free.
There are also drums, performances, and parades to enjoy. Beppu is about a 55-minute bus ride from Oita Airport.
5. Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival in Aomori Prefecture
Springtime in Japan is for cherry blossoms. At the end of April every year, cherry trees bloom white and pink in Aomori Prefecture.
The Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival is one celebration of these beautiful flowers at Hirosaki Park. There are around 2600 cherry trees here, with 50 varieties. This festival is considered one of the best cherry blossom festivals in Japan and millions of visitors come to see it every year.
There are many displays to visit. You can also paddle a boat on the park’s moat or walk through a cherry blossom tunnel.
Check out some of the best sakura viewing spots in Aomori!
6. Hakata Dontaku Festival in Fukuoka Prefecture
Held every May 3-4 during the holiday period called Golden Week, this is Japan’s biggest festival, usually attracting two million spectators. This festival is believed to be more than 800 years old.
More than 30,000 people help bring the festival to life, many of them brightly costumed dancers performing many traditional dances. You’ll also see buses elaborately decorated with flowers.
There are three parades held over two days, with the first being led by three people on horseback dressed as gods. Some stages host many performances, as well as food and drink stalls nearby.
The festival is held close to Tenjin Station, which is on the subway route from Hakata Station.
7. Seihakusai Dekayama Matsuri in Ishikawa Prefecture
Every year from May 3rd to May 5th, three floats from three historic districts are through downtown Nanao at this festival. The floats are beautifully crafted, featuring flags and handcrafted figures of characters from Kabuki plays.
The floats are massive, standing at 12meters tall and weighing 12 tons, and are called dekayama (“giant mountains”). They are pulled with ropes by volunteers, and you can volunteer as a visitor!
Besides the floats, the festival also features performances, food, and game booths.
8. Kanda Matsuri in Tokyo
One of the most famous festivals in Tokyo, one of its distinctive features is how it varies in even and odd-numbered years. The full festival only takes place in odd years, while a “shadow festival” takes place in even years.
The main part of the festival takes place the weekend closest to May 15, with Saturday featuring a parade through central Tokyo. It is a celebration of good fortune and prosperity dating back to the Edo period.
Old tradition meets pop culture in ceremonies and parades, offering an excellent window into Japan.
9. Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto
Every May 15th, Kyoto celebrates Aoi Matsuri, one of the most important festivals in the city. Hollyhock leaves are pinned to participants’ hats and it is a time of prayer for a bountiful harvest.
The main event is held on the 15th, but many ceremonies lead up to it, making a longer stay worthwhile. The main grand parade features many stately people and performances.
Attending feels like being transported back in time. The parade proceeds from the Imperial Palace in Kyoto to the Kamigamo shrine.
10. Ushibuka Haiya Festival in Kumamoto Prefecture
Centered around a traditional Japanese sailing song, this festival is held in April every year. Not only do people sing the song, but they also dance a traditional dance to it.
There is a street parade as well as a parade of fishing boats in the ocean. There is also a market that sells goods related to the festival and the sea.
This festival is a great opportunity to see an aspect of Japanese culture that few foreigners know about. Find out the festival date and plan a trip to Kumamoto!
