Festival calendar
Japan festival calendar
Covers festivals such as Gion Matsuri, Aoi Matsuri, Awa Odori, the Takayama and Chichibu festivals and the Sapporo Snow Festival, plus the cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons.
Most Japanese festivals fall on the same dates every year (Aoi Matsuri is on 15 May, for example). Cherry blossoms and autumn leaves have no fixed date and follow each year's forecasts.
Coming up
Seasonal: timing depends on each year's bloom or foliage
Japan autumn leaves 2026: Kyoto and Tokyo peak mid-November to early December, Nikko earlier
Japan's autumn leaves have no fixed date; central Kyoto and Tokyo usually turn mid-November to early December. Nikko, higher up, turns earlier and is two hours from Asakusa; Ohara's Sanzen-in is a quieter Kyoto pick.
Japan cherry blossoms 2027: expected from late March, and where to see them in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka
Japan's cherry blossoms have no fixed date. Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka usually reach full bloom between late March and early April, often a week or two earlier or later, and the exact days depend on that year's forecast.
Already over this year
Show 8 festivals that have ended
Sapporo Snow Festival 2027: 4–11 February, 1.5 km of snow sculptures in Odori Park
Next: 4–11 February 2027
The Sapporo Snow Festival is held every early February, and all three sites are free. The 76th edition ran 4–11 February 2026 at Odori Park, Susukino and Tsudome, and the 77th runs 4–11 February 2027.
Takayama Festival 2027: spring Sanno Matsuri at Hie Shrine, 14–15 April, with floats and karakuri puppets
Next: 14–15 April 2027
The Takayama Festival is two events in Takayama's old town, Gifu. The spring Sanno Matsuri is on 14–15 April (next in 2027), the autumn Hachiman Matsuri on 9–10 October. Neither has viewing seats.
Aoi Matsuri 2027: Kyoto's Heian-era procession on 15 May
Next: 15 May 2027
Aoi Matsuri is held in Kyoto every 15 May, or the 16th if it rains. About 511 people in Heian-era dress walk from the Imperial Palace to Kamigamo Shrine. Watching is free; paid seats are at Kyoto Gyoen and Shimogamo.
Nagoshi no Harae 2027: 30 June at shrines across Japan, walking through the chinowa ring
Next: 30 June 2027
Nagoshi no Harae is held at shrines across Japan around 30 June. Its core is walking through a chinowa, a large ring of cogon grass, to leave the first half-year's impurities behind; some shrines also take paper figures.
Gion Matsuri 2027: both float processions fall on Saturdays, 17 and 24 July
Next: 1–31 July 2027
Both 2027 Gion Matsuri float processions fall on Saturdays: 17 and 24 July. The festival runs all of July (2026 ran 1–31 July), and on the Yoiyama evenings before each procession you can walk among the lit floats.
Awa Odori 2027: 12–15 August in Tokushima City, ticketed enbujo seats or free street viewing
Next: 12–15 August 2027
Awa Odori runs in Tokushima City every year from 12 to 15 August. Seats at the three paid enbujo are sold through Ticket Pia; the streets and four free venues need no ticket. 2027 dates: 12–15 August.
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri 2027: multi-ton wooden floats cornering at full speed, est. 18–19 September
Next: 18–19 September 2027 (est.)
Kishiwada's September danjiri festival falls on the weekend before Respect for the Aged Day. It ran on 19–20 September 2026; 2027 is estimated at 18–19 September, with wooden floats taking corners at full speed.
Nagasaki Kunchi 2027: 7–9 October at Suwa Shrine and city stages, with dragon dances and boat floats
Next: 7–9 October 2027
Nagasaki Kunchi runs every year on 7–9 October, and the next edition is 7–9 October 2027. Dragon dances, boat floats and other dances are performed at Suwa Shrine and several city venues, each selling its own seats.