Japan has an abundance of local festivals - matsuri - connected with shrines and temples throughout the country. Most festivals in Japan are held on an annual basis on a particular set date. Japan's festivals often celebrate the changing of the seasons, special historical events or are connected with fertility or prayers to the gods for good health.
Most festivals in Japan are colorful, lively and joyous affairs often involving a procession with participants in period dress or happi coats carrying through the streets a mikoshi - a special, decorated palaquin containing the local Shinto kami (gods). Many festivals in Japan may also involve large, decorated floats (such as the famous Gion Matsuri in Kyoto), exhibitions of martial arts such as archery and horse-riding, music, dancing and copious quantities of food and drink served up from yatai - street stalls.
JapanVisitor's listing of festivals in Japan is categorized by month. If you know of a Japanese festival not listed here or if you believe any of the information here is inaccurate please contact us. Check with your local Japan tourist office for confirmation before attending a festival.
Shinto shrines around Japan hold New Year (o-shogatsu) festivals where visitors come to pray for good fortune and good health for the coming year. Similarly in Japanese Buddhist temples, visitors come to mark the changing of the year. particularly popular shrines at New year include Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya and Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto.
Horan Enya 1 January Bungo Takada City, Oita Prefecture
Decorated boats are rowed out into the harbour by young men who offer a prayer for safety at sea and large catches. At this point men from both sides of the shore dive into the sea and swim to the opposite shore.
Dainichi-do Bugaku 2 January Kazuno, Akita Prefecture A series of 11 traditional bugaku dances held at the venerable Dainichi-do shrine. Though its origins are unclear, the festival is said to be associated with the restoration of the shrine in 718.
Amamehagi 2-6 January Suzu, Wajima and Monzen, Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture Amamehagi, also known as namahage, visit the houses of young children in order to warn them not be lazy in the new year.
Hakozakigu Tamaseseri 3 January Hakozaki-gu Shrine, Fukuoka Two groups of semi-naked young men take part in a vigorous struggle to catch a sacred ball which is said to bring good luck to the winning team in the coming year.
Joma Shinji Festival 5 January Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kamakura
The Joma Shinji matsuri in Kamakura sees participants dressed as samurai warriors shoot arrows at a 60 cm target, with the Chinese character for oni written on the back. Each successful shot drives away the devils.
Shorin-zan Daruma-ichi 6-7 January Hanadaka-machi, Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture Thousands gather throughout the day and the night to pray for good luck and to buy daruma dolls for the coming year. The first and largest daruma festival in Japan.
Nanokado Hadaka-mairi 7 January Yanaizu, Fukushima Prefecture
Unusual naked festival known throughout Japan in which young townsmen dressed only in loincloths (fundoshi) rush to climb a rope to the ceiling of Nanokado temple to capture a holy charm.
Usokae Onisube 7 January Dazaifu Tenmangu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture In the evening, visitors gather around a dying bonfire at this shrine in Dazaifu near Fukuoka to exchange carved wooden usokae (bullfinches), hoping to end up with one of the gilt wooden carvings circulated by disguised shrine officials. The intent is to exhange 'lies for truth' since uso also means 'lie'.
Tamataregu Oniyo 7 January Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture Spectacular fire festival in which six huge torches weighing two tonnes each are held aloft with poles by 300 loincloth clad men who proceed to carry them around the temple seven times.
Dondo Yaki 8 January Torigoe Jinja, Daitoku, Tokyo
Mochi (rice cakes) are toasted over fires of burning New Year (o-shogatsu) decorations.
Katsube no Himatsuri 8 January Katsube, Shiga Prefecture Large feather duster shaped torches (over 20ft long) are set alight by loincloth-wearing local men. In the intense heat, they spin round energetically in groups in front of a crowd of onlookers.
Hatsu-ichi 9 January Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture This event has its roots in an ancient raw silk market that took place twice a month. Now it is an annual daruma market where you can also see lion dances, mikoshi and Karyu drumming.
Kyoto Ebisu Matsuri 8-12 January Ebisu Shrine, Kyoto
Festival dedicated to Ebisu, the god of business and prosperity at Ebisu Jinja in Kyoto. Rice cakes distributed to participants plus kagura and bugaku (court music) dancing.
Nishinomiya Ebisu Matsuri 9-11 January Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture Festival dedicated to Ebisu, the god of business and prosperity. The largest of its kind in the Kansai area. Crowds race to be the first to smash open a barrel of sake which is served to everyone.
Toka Ebisu 9-11 January Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka
Three-day festival dedicated to Ebisu, the god of business and prosperity at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine in Osaka. Features a procession of women in colourful kimono carried on floats through the main streets.
Hatsuichi 10 January Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture Famous market dating back to the Edo Period (1603-1867). Sells food, furnishings and other goods at low prices.
Daikoku Festival 13 January Kanda Myojin Shrine, Tokyo A purification ceremony at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Men and women in loincloths or white gowns pour icy water over themselves between 10-10.30am. Access: Kanda Myojin Shrine is a short walk from Ochanomizu Station on the JR Chuo Line, Sobu Line or Marunouchi Subway Line.
Dondo-sai 14 January Osaki Hachiman Jinja, Sendai, Miyagi
Ritual burning of shogatsu (New Year) decorations featuring a small naked festival at Osaki Hachiman Jinja in Sendai.
Sagicho 14 January Oiso, Kanagawa Prefecture The ritual burning of shogatsu decorations and charms and amulets from the previous year. Eating dumplings toasted over the fire is said to bring good luck.
Niino no Yukimatsuri 14 January Izu shrine, Niino, Nagano Prefecture Offerings of snow are made to the gods as a prayer for good crops in the coming year. Traditional dances are performed through the night.
Hadaka Odori 14 January Hokaiji Temple, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture Two groups of bare-chested youths push each other shouting "chorai, chorai" (Mercy on me Buddha) to pray for prosperity and good harvests.
Doya Doya 14 January Shitenno-ji Temple, Osaka Two groups of loincloth-wearing men confront each other and struggle energetically for the possession of a sacred amulet.
Yaya matsuri 15 January Amarume-machi, Yamagata Prefecture Boys aged 6-14 wearing only grass skirts gather at Yawata Shrine in order to be doused with cold water. They then parade around the neighbourhood before returning the shrine to pray for good health.
Toshi-ya 2nd Monday in January Sanjusangen-do Temple, Kyoto Coinciding with Coming of Age Day, over 1,000 archers in traditional dress line up to shoot arrows at a distant target (120m) along the length of the famous Sanjusangendo Temple. The festival dates back to 1606 when a samurai shot 51 arrows in record time along the temple veranda.
Chakkirako 15 January Kainan Jinja, Miura, Kanagawa Prefecture Ten or more elegantly dressed young girls perform traditional dances holding chakkirako, a ceremonial instrument consisting of bells and paper pennants with a wooden handle.
Ebisu Daikoku Tsunahiki 15 January Suruga, Fukui Prefecture The two gods of prosperity, Ebisu and Daikoku, are pitted against each other as teams representing each take part in a tug-of-war. As Ebisu traditionally holds a fish, a win for his team is said to mean good catches at sea. A win for Daikoku is said to bring good harvests.
Nozawa Dosojin Himatsuri 15 January Nozawa Onsen, Nagano Prefecture A famous fire festival in which a 65ft shrine built by 25 and 42-year-old men (considered unlucky ages in Japan) is burned as a ritual of purification that prepares the people for the coming year. Later, after heavy drinking of sake, the 25-year-olds, armed with pine branches, defend the shrine from attack by the older men who wield torches lit from the sacred bonfire.
Wakakusayama Yamayaki 15 January Wakakusayama, Nara Prefecture Every year, 33 hectares of turf on the slopes of Wakakusayama (also known as Mikasayama) is burned in a brief but spectacular blaze that seems to engulf the whole mountain.
Matobakai 15 January Kumamoto
Naked festival in which loincloth-wearing men, battle for possession of an archery target in a throng that starts in the town of Kumamoto, moves on to the coast and ends up in the sea.
Ume Matsuri 15 January - 12 March Atami Baien, Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture All manner of ume (plum) related goods on offer and a range of entertainments to celebrate the plum blossoms at one of the most famous plum-viewing spots in Japan.
Hetomato 16 January Fukue, Nagasaki Prefecture Richly-varied festival opening with sumo-wrestling at Shirahama Shrine followed by hanetsuki, a traditional game played at shogatsu, kemari, a football like game played in ceremonial dress, a tug of war involving semi-naked men with their bodies painted entirely black and a giant straw sandal (358kg) being paraded around town.
Tokuwa no Tenjinsai late January Higashi-yamanashi-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture Mikoshi parade in honour of the Heian Period (794-1192) nobleman Sugawara no Michizane who is revered as Tenjin, god of scholarship and learning.
Jyogyodo Hatsuka Yasai 20 January Motsu-ji Temple, Hiraizumi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
Naked festival in which loincloth-wearing men march in line following a torch bearer in front. On reaching Motsu-ji Temple, they battle for possession of sacred charms.
Tenmangu Kowakamai 20 January Setaka, Fukuoka Prefecture Performances of the oldest style of bugaku in Japan. The dances performed here are said to be the forerunners of later styles.
Shiwasu Matsuri 20 January - 20 February Mikado Jinja, Nango, Miyazaki Prefecture Celebrates the area's history as the site to where Korean nobles of the kingdom of Paekche fled after their defeat in battle in the 7th century. Features a re-enactment of the meeting between the Paekche king and his son as well as traditional dances.
Taikan Misogi 3 days around 20 January Kasuga Jinja, Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture Held on what is decreed to be the coldest day of the year. Participants soak themselves in a bath of cold water before hot drinks and porridge. Said to ward off colds in the coming year.
Sugamo Togenuki Jizo Taisai 24 January Kogan-ji Temple, Toyoshima-ku, Tokyo
Major festival of Kogan-ji Temple at which around twenty priests read over the 'Sutra of Great Wisdom' while the temple and its surrounds throng with street stalls and visitors.
Usokae Shinji 24-25 January Kameido Tenjin Shrine, Koto-ku, Tokyo Visitors come to swap year-old bullfinch carvings for new ones. Uso means both 'bullfinch' and 'lie' and the exchange symbolises exchanging the bad luck of the year gone by with the good luck of the coming year.
Sounkyo Ice Festival 29 January - 5 March Sounkyo Onsen, Hokkaido Snow and ice sculptures including tunnels and domes join the natural spectacle of a frozen waterfall for this winter extravaganza. Coloured lights and fireworks add to the magic in the evenings.
DISCLAIMER Festivals may be cancelled or postponed without much warning. Check with your local tourist office for confirmation.
New Year (o-shogatsu) Festival at a Japanese Shrine
Matsuri: Japanese Festivals - Japan's Festival Calendar
Japan has an abundance of local festivals - matsuri - connected with 
