2024 Japan Summer (Natsu) Festivals Calendar

In summer, Japan becomes one of the best summer destinations in the world, highlighting its mind-blowing traditional festivals and events, fun outdoor activities, and beautiful flower fields and gardens.

Summer is a great time to take a stroll in the streets, wearing summer yukata, viewing fireworks (hanabi), dancing in the parade, and tasting delicious local food. In general, Japan’s official period of summer season begins in early June and ends in late August with three to four week of rainy season.

Except the rainy days, the country offers you a lovely sunny weather to experience the popular summertime festivals, and sightseeing attractions including the beautiful beaches.

With stunning displays of hydrangeas, June (rainy season) attracts many visitors. This guide shares the most popular hydrangea spots in Japan.

Most of the sightseeing spots throughout Japan are not crowded as they are like in the spring and autumn. Knowing this simple, yet very important Japan’s summer travel tip, you can make good use of it by visiting the country around this time of the year.

Tokushima City’s Awa Odori (traditional dance festival). Photo Credit: George Alexander Ishida at Flickr.

You can celebrate the exciting summer festivals and events in Japan along with the locals. People wear their traditional attires, such as Yukata before they go out to experience summer fireworks at night. That’s a Japanese tradition!

On the other hand, many people think of visiting Hokkaido’s incredible flower fields and gardens. In fact, that’s where they can explore variety of flowers especially lavender, sunflowers, poppy, lupines, and marigolds.

Are you well inspired to embark on a trip to Japan this summer? Then get ready to celebrate the best and most popular super fun summer festivals and events like Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, Sumida River Fireworks Festival, Gion Festival in Kyoto, and Akita Kanto Festival.

Here is a list of must-attend 2024 Japan’s summer festivals with opening and closing dates.

Event & FestivalPlaceDate
Hakata Dontaku FestivalFukuoka May 3-4 every year during the Golden Week
Kanda MatsuriKanda Shrine, TokyoWill be held in mid-May 2024
Suigo Itako Ayame FestivalSuigo Itako Ayame Garden, IbarakiLate-May to Late-June
Ajisai (Hydrangea) Festival in Shimoda ParkShimoda Park, ShizuokaEarly June, 2024
YOSAKOI Soran FestivalOdori Park, Sapporo in HokkaidoEarly June, 2024
Katsushika Shobu Matsuri (Iris Festival)Mizumoto Park, TokyoLate May - Mid June, 2024
Bunkyo Ajisai Matsuri (Hydrangea Festival)Hakusan Jinja Shrine, TokyoMid June, 2024
Sanno MatsuriHie Shrine, TokyoWill be celebrated in June 2024
Hokkaido Shrine FestivalHokkaido Shirine, Sapporo, HokkaidoJune 14-16 every year
Hakata Gion YamakasaHakata district, FukuokaJuly 1-15, 2024
Sumo Nagoya BashoAichi Prefectural Gymnasium, NagoyaEarly - Late July, 2024
Mount Fuji Climbing SeasonMount FujiEarly July to Mid September, 2024
Mitama Matsuri (Obon festival)Yasukuni Shrine, TokyoJuly 13-16, 2024
Nakafurano Lavender FestivalMiyamachi, Nakafurano, HokkaidoMid July, 2024
Hokuryu Sunflower FestivalHokuryu, HokkaidoJuly-August, 2024
Gion MatsuriYasaka Shrine, KyotoJuly 1-31, 2024
Sapporo Summer FestivalSapporo city, HokkaidoMid July - Mid August, 2024
Koganei AwaodoriKoganei city, TokyoMid-August, 2024
Tenjin MatsuriTenmangu Shrine, OsakaJuly 24-25, 2024
Akeno Sunflower FestivalHokuto, YamanashiLate July to Late August, 2024
Furano Bellybutton Festival/Hokkai Heso MatsuriFurano, HokkaidoLate July, 2024
Fuji Rock FestivalNaeba Ski Resort, NiigataJuly 26-28, 2024
Sumida River FireworksSumida River, TokyoJuly 27, 2024
Soma-Nomaoi FestivalMinamisoma, FukushimaJuly 27-29, 2024
Shinjuku Eisa FestivalShinjuku, TokyoLate July, 2024
Morioka Sansa Odori FestivalMorioka, IwateAugust 1-4, 2024
Nagaoka FireworksShinano River, NiigataAugust 2-3, 2024
Aomori Nebuta MatsuriAomori City, TohokuAugust 2-7, 2024
Akita Kanto Matsuri Akita CityAugust 3-6, 2024
World Music And Dance FestivalHakodate, HokkaidoEarly August, 2024
Hiroshima Peace Memorial CeremonyPeace Memorial Park, HiroshimaAugust 6, 2024
Sendai Tanabata MatsuriSendai, MiyagiAugust 6-8, 2024
Kochi Yosakoi Festival KochiMid-August 2024
Awa OdoriTokushimaMid-August, 2024
Sanuki Takamatsu FestivalTakamatsuAugust 12-14, 2024
Fukagawa Hachiman FestivalTomioka Hachimangu Shrine, TokyoMid-August
Miyajima FireworksItsukushima Shrine, Miyajima IslandLate August
Summer Sonic (Tokyo & Osaka)Tokyo and OsakaAugust 17-18, 2024
Omagari National Fireworks CompetitionMarukogawa River, AkitaLate August, 2024
Tokyo Koenji Awa OdoriKoenji, TokyoLate August, 2024
Asagaya Tanabata FestivalAsagaya Pearl Center, TokyoEarly August, 2024
Asakusa Samba CarnivalAsakusa, TokyoMid-September, 2024

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