--- title: The Top 15 Must-Visit Summer Festivals In Japan date: 2026-04-19T22:30:00+09:00 author: Armelle Frimpong canonical_url: "https://uchijapan.com/news/top-must-visit-summer-festivals-in-japan" section: News --- [Japan](https://uchijapan.com/news/japan)# The Top 15 Must-Visit Summer Festivals In Japan Apr 19, 2026 - [ ](mailto:?subject=The%20Top%2015%20Must-Visit%20Summer%20Festivals%20In%20Japan%20on%20Uchi&body=https%3A%2F%2Fuchijapan.com%2Fnews%2Ftop-must-visit-summer-festivals-in-japan "Share by Email") - [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fuchijapan.com%2Fnews%2Ftop-must-visit-summer-festivals-in-japan&title=The%20Top%2015%20Must-Visit%20Summer%20Festivals%20In%20Japan&description=Immerse%20yourself%20in%20the%20vibrant%20energy%20of%20Japan%E2%80%99s%20top%20summer%20festivals%20with%20Uchi%27s%20handy%20guide.&caption=Uchi) ![Image fx 4](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_480x270_crop_center-center_60_line/Image_fx-4.jpg)Summer in Japan is a time of celebration, with cultural festivals or “matsuri” filling the calendar from June through August. Elaborate float processions, vibrant dance performances and some of the most spectacular fireworks you'll ever see are just some of what you can expect, as cities across the country come alive with festive fun. Here are the 15 best summer festivals in Japan. ## Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival ![Hyakumangoku Festival](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/308219/Hyakumangoku-Festival.jpg) Image: Dancers at the Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival / Supplied **When:** First Weekend of June **Where:** Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Hokuriku region How do you like the sound of a parade ft. acrobatics and samurai re-enactments, followed by a spot of lantern-watching by the river, or perhaps a traditional Hyakumangoku tea ceremony? These are just some of the festivities on offer at the [Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival](https://100mangoku.net/foreign/), which marks the founding of the city by samurai Maeda Toshiie, upon his entry into Kanazawa Castle. Don't miss the massive bonfire, with the castle as its backdrop, at the end of the celebrations. ## Gujo Odori Festival ![Gujo Odori Festival](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/407169/Gujo-Odori-Festival.jpg) Image: The Gujo Odori Festival in full swing / Gujo Hachiman Tourism Association **When:** July through September **Where:** Gifu, Central Honshu, Chūbu region If you love a good knees-up, you'll love the Gujo Odori Festival. For 30 nights between July and September, Gujo hosts all-day dance parties that locals and tourists alike are invited to get involved in (visit in mid-August, during Obon, for the best vibes). This fits nicely with the festival's origins—it was initially created as a way of bridging the gap between classes by Gujo's founder, Yoshitaka Endo, more than four centuries ago. ## Gion Matsuri ![Gion Matsuri](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/308177/Gion-Matsuri.jpg) Image: Floats fill Kyoto's streets in Japan's most famous festival / Supplied **When:** The whole month of July **Where:** Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Kansai Region The [Gion Matsuri](https://www.gionfestival.org/) is Japan's largest and most famous festival (and is even UNESCO-recognised). Originating way back in 869 as a way of appeasing the gods during a period of widespread illness, it now takes the form of a month-long celebration complete with parties, festive dress, and the piece de resistance—processions on July 17 and 24, where giant, elaborately-decorated floats weighing as much as 12 tonnes are paraded through the streets of Kyoto. ## Hakata Gion Yamakasa ![Hakata Gion Yamakasa](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/308227/Hakata-Gion-Yamakasa.jpg) Image: Organised chaos of the best kind at the Hakata-Gion Yamasaka festival in Fukuoka / Supplied **When:** July 1-15 **Where:** Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu region Now for one of Japan's most entertaining festivals, the [Hakata-Gion Yamasaka](https://en.hakata-yamakasa.net/). This one involves groups of men racing one another through Hakata's streets as they carry floats known as “kakiyama”—and all in the wee hours of the morning. This sure makes for an entertaining spectacle, as do the larger, more ornate floats or “kazariyama”, which you'll find dotted throughout the area. If you're not keen on getting up early to watch the finale on July 15, don't worry—you can see the teams doing practice runs in the days leading up to the event. ## Mitama Matsuri ![Mitama Matsuri](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/Mitama-Matsuri.jpg) Image: The lanterns of Mitama Matsuri lit up at night / Davide Nicolosi **When:** July 13-16 **Where:** Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis, Kantō region Each year, huge numbers of people attend the Mitama Matsuri to see 300,000 lanterns, stacked neatly outside the Yasukuni Shrine and set alight every night as dusk descends. Visitors can also expect “noryo” (summer folk dancing) in the shrine's gardens, plus food stalls, musical performances, and a breathtaking parade of floats on the evening of July 14. ## Tenjin Matsuri ![Tenjin Matsuri](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/308183/Tenjin-Matsuri.jpg) Image: Revellers power their boat / Supplied **When:** July 24-25 **Where:** Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Kansai region Considered one of Japan's top three festivals is this, the Tenjin Matsuri. Honouring the deity of scholarship, Sugawara Michizane, it involves celebrations on both the land and water, complete with red-hatted drummers, lion dancers, and a curious-looking goblin atop a horse (aka “Sarutahiko”), who leads a lengthy procession through town. The celebrations culminate in a spectacular fireworks display above the Okawa River, on the final night. ## Sumida River Fireworks Matsuri ![Sumida River Fireworks Matsuri](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/308215/Sumida-River-Fireworks-Matsuri.jpg) Image: Fireworks explode over the Sumida River / Supplied **When:** Last Saturday of July **Where:** Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis, Kantō region The Sumida River Fireworks Festival is Japan's oldest and most famous fireworks (or “hanabi”) display. What began as a way for shogun to honour victims of a widespread famine in the area, where people were invited to let off fireworks, today takes the form of tens of thousands of pretty pyrotechnics lighting up the night sky from barges in the river, with up to one million spectators. ## Nagaoka Fireworks Festival ![Nagaoka Fireworks Festival](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/308223/Nagaoka-Fireworks-Festival.jpg) Image: A riot of colour fills the night sky at the Nagakoa Fireworks Festival / Supplied **When:** August 2-3 **Where:** Niigata, Niigata Prefecture, Chūbu region As many as a million people watch the [Nagakoa Fireworks Festival](https://foreign.language.j-server.com/LUC2NAOKAI/cdata/luc2naokai_0_jaen.html), one of the top festivals of its kind in Japan, each and every year. And no wonder—this epic show of pyrotechnic power lasts several hours and features elaborate fireworks depicting everything from volcanoes to bouquets. However, there's more to this event than meets the eye—it was originally created to honour those who had fallen during World War II, and today is known for its “Reconstruction Phoenix” segment (reflecting on an earthquake that once damaged the area, and the rebuild that followed). Other festivities include folk dancing, and lanterns set adrift on the Shinano River. ## Aomori Nebuta Festival ![Nebuta Matsuri](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/308188/Nebuta-Matsuri.jpg) Image: You'll see impressive giant lanterns like this one at the Aomori Nebuta Festival / Supplied **When:** August 2-7 **Where:** Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Tōhoku region The [Aomori Nebuta Festival](https://www.nebuta.jp/foreign/english.html) is famous for its giant lanterns or “nebuta”—some measuring up to five metres tall—depicting famous historical figures, from fierce warlords through to characters from historical plays known as “kabuki”. Bands and dancers accompany the festivities, which are attended by thousands of visitors every year. ## Akita Kanto Festival ![Kanto Matsuri](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/308193/Kanto-Matsuri.jpg) Image: Balancing kanto is the name of the game at this festival / Supplied **When:** August 3-6 **Where:** Akita, Akita Prefecture, Tōhoku region [This centuries-old festival](https://www.kantou.gr.jp/english/), which is used to pray for a fruitful grain harvest, is headlined by some next-level balancing skills. Here, performers prop up “kanto” or long bamboo poles adorned with lanterns (some as heavy as 50kg, and all lit with real candles!) using their hands, shoulders, hips, and even foreheads, as they make their way through town to a soundtrack of flutes and drums. You can even have a turn at balancing one of the kanto yourself (good luck). ## Sendai Tanabata Matsuri ![Tanabata Matsuri](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/308197/Tanabata-Matsuri.jpg) Image: Vibrant paper streamers are suspended from bamboo poles / Supplied **When:** August 6-8 **Where:** Miyagi, Miyagi Prefecture, Tōhoku region The story behind [this one](https://www.sendaitanabata.com/en/) is super sweet and centres around the legend of two star-crossed lovers who are separated by the Milky Way and only permitted to meet on one night every year (that night, of course, being Tanabata). To mark the occasion, the streets of Miyagi are decorated with gigantic, brightly-coloured streamers suspended from poles and other decorations, coupled with live performances and local fare. Don't miss the fireworks on the eve of the festival. ## Yosakoi Festival ![Yosakoi Festival](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/Yosakoi-Festival.jpg) Image: Dancers in action at the Yosakoi Festival / Visit Kochi Japan **When:** August 9-12 **Where:** Kochi, Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku region The [Yosakoi Festival](https://www.yosakoi-soran.jp/en) is one of Japan's largest summer festivals and celebrates a style of group dancing known as “yosakoi”, invented right here in Kochi. Watch as a whopping 20,000-plus performers move and groove their way through the city's streets to the beat of folk music, carrying “naruko” (wooden clappers, originally used to scare birds away from rice fields) and dressed to the nines in festive attire. ## Awa Odori ![Awa Odori](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/308209/Awa-Odori.jpg) Image: An energetic dance troup entrances visitors to the Awa Odori / Supplied **When:** August 12-15 **Where:** Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku region Watch as dance troupes adorned in traditional costume descend on the streets of Tokushima at the [Awa Odori](https://www.awaodorimirai.com/), Japan's biggest dance festival. This 400-year-old event, which is part of the wider Obon celebrations happening during this time, attracts dancers or “ren” from all over Japan (and the world!), who perform what is affectionately known as the “Fool's Dance”. All the usual festival vibes apply aka music, food stalls, and even games. ## Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri ![Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/Fukagawa-Hachiman-Matsuri.jpg) Image: People throw water over shrines at the Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri / Go Tokyo **When:** Mid August **Where:** Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis, Kantō region Splashing about takes on a completely new meaning at the Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri, one of Tokyo's leading Shinto festivals. Here, people throw water over portable shrines known as “mikoshi” as they are carried throughout the streets, with an extra large event (“Hon-matsuri”) held every third year, including in 2026. Buckets, water guns, and even hoses deployed by local firefighters are used to purify the shrines whilst providing relief from the summer heat for those carrying them, as well as spectators. ## Yamaga Lantern Festival ![Yamaga Lantern Festival](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/Yamaga-Lantern-Festival.jpg) Image: Dancers wear lanterns on their heads as part of the Yamaga Lantern Festival / Fukuoka Now **When:** August 15-16 **Where:** Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu region The Yamaga Lantern Festival certainly delivers on its name, showcasing hundreds of glowing lanterns over the course of two days—including those carefully perched atop women's heads as they perform a special summer dance (aka the highlight of the event). Also providing light are thousands of stunning fireworks, let off on the first night. It's thought that the festival and its theme of all things bright originated when an emperor, once on his way to the area, got lost in fog before being guided out by torches belonging to the townspeople. [ Start your summer festival adventure and find your home in Japan today. ](https://uchijapan.com/properties)