Japanese people celebrate a lot of festivals and events each year, attracting millions of international tourists. Most of the popular festivals and events take place on important dates, some of which are tentative. For example, the Ueno cherry blossom festival in Tokyo, which is held when cherry trees start to flower in Ueno Park.
Whether you are planning to explore Tokyo, Kyoto, or Hokkaido, these events are worth your time. Japan is a land of festivals, and you won’t regret exploring one of those.
Popular Japanese Festivals and Events in Spring in 2026
1. Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival
Date: Early February – Early March every year (tentative)
Location: Kawazu Town, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
2. Fuji Shibazakura Festival
Date: Early April – Late May every year (tentative)
Location: Fuji Motosuko Resort, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
3. Tonami Tulip Festival
Date: April 22 – May 5, 2026
Location: Tonami Tulip Park, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan
4. Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival
Date: April 15 – 26, 2026
Location: Hirosaki Park, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
5. Takayama Spring Festival
Date: April 15-16, 2026
Location: Hie Shrine, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
6. Okasai (Cherry Blossom Festival)
Date: April 10, every year
Location: Hirano Shrine, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
7. Bunkyo Azalea Festival
Date: Late March – Late April, 2026
Location: Nezu Shrine, Bunkyo City, Tokyo, Japan
8. Mito Plum Blossom Festival
Date: Late February – Late March, 2026
Location: Kairakuen Garden, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
9. Sanja Matsuri
Date: May 15 – 17, 2026
Location: Asakusa Shrine and Sensoji Temple, Tokyo, Japan
10. Ashikaga Great Wisteria Festival
Date: Early April – Mid May, every year
Location: Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
11. Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival
Date: Late March – Early April, every year
Location: Ueno Park, Tokyo City, Japan
12. Shibazakura Festival at Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park
Date: Early – Late May, every year
Location: Ozora Town, Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan
13. Beppu Hatto Hot Spring Festival
Date: Early April, 2026
Location: Beppu Onsen, Oita Prefecture, Japan
14. Inuyama Festival
Date: Early April, 2026
Location: Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Popular Japanese Festivals and Events in Summer in 2026
1. YOSAKOI Soran Festival
Date: Early June, 2026
Location: Odori Park, Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan
2. Hakata Dontaku Festival
Date: May 3 – 4, 2026
Location: Kushida Shrine, Fukuoka City, Japan
3. Kanda Matsuri (Kenda Festival)
Date: May, 2026
Location: Kanda Myoujin Shrine, Tokyo City, Japan
4. Hokkaido Shrine Festival
Date: June 14 – 16, 2026
Location: Hokkaido Shrine, Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan
5. Nakafurano Lavender Festival
Date: Mid July, 2026
Location: Nakafurano town, Furano City, Hokkaido, Japan
6. Gion Matsuri
Date: July 1 – 31, 2026
Location: Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto City, Japan
7. Fuji Rock Festival
Date: June 24 – 26, 2026
Location: Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
8. Aomori Nebuta Festival
Date: August 2 – 7, 2026
Location: Aomori City, Tohoku, Japan
9. Sumida River Fireworks
Date: July 25, 2026
Location: Sumida River, Tokyo City, Japan
10. Soma-Nomaoi Festival
Date: July 23 – 25, 2026
Location: Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
Popular Japanese Festivals and Events in Autumn in 2026
1. Takayama Autumn Festival
Date: October 9 – 10, 2026
Location: Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
2. Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival
Date: Held yearly on the first Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of October
Location: Nihonmatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
3. Sapporo Autumn Fest
Date: Early – Late September, 2026
Location: Odori Park, Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan
4. Jidai Matsuri
Date: October 22, 2026
Location: Kyoto City, Japan
5. Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri
Date: Mid September, 2026
Location: Kishiwada Castle, Osaka City, Japan
6. Fuji-Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival
Date: Mid – Early November, 2026
Location: Kawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
7. Kiyomizu-dera Autumn Illumination
Date: Mid – Late November, 2026
Location: Kiyomizudera Temple, Kyoto City, Japan
8. Mount Takao Autumn Leaves Festival
Date: Late October – Early December, 2026
Location: Mount Takao, Tokyo, Japan
9. Gion Odori
Date: November 1 – 10, 2026
Location: Higashiyama, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
10. Niihama Taiko Festival
Date: Mid October, 2026
Location: Niihama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan
Popular Japanese Festivals and Events in Winter in 2026
1. Sapporo Snow Festival
Date: February 4 – 11, 2026
Location: Odori Park, Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan
2. Otaru Snow Light Path Festival
Date: February 7 – 14, 2026
Location: Otaru Canal, Otaru City, Hokkaido, Japan
3. Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival
Date: Late January – Mid March, 2026
Location: Sounkyo hot spring resort, Hokkaido, Japan
4. Ashikaga Flower Park Flower Fantasy
Date: Mid October – Mid February, 2025-2026
Location: Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
5. Nagasaki Lantern Festival
Date: February 6 – 23, 2026
Location: Nagasaki City, Japan
6. Yokote Kamakura Festival
Date: February 15 – 16, 2026
Location: Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, Japan
7. Marunouchi Illumination
Date: November 13, 2024 – February 15, 2026
Location: Marunouchi Nakadori, Tokyo City, Japan
8. Sumo Grand Tournament
Date: January 11 – 25, 2026
Location: Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo City, Japan
9. Chitose and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
Date: February 1 – 24, 2026
Location: Lake Shikotsu Hot Spring, Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan
10. Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival
Date: Early – Mid February, 2026
Location: Hiroksai Park, Aomori City, Japan
