1. Shibazakura Festival (Fuji Five Lakes)
The Fuji Shibazakura Festival held annually from April to June is an event only in the spring where you can walk among the scenery of 800,000 blossoms of shibazakura. The towering sight of Mt. Fuji beyond this carpet of flowers is impressive.
Business hours
- Everyday (8:00 AM ~ 5:00 PM )
Between April and May
Check the official page.
Phone
0555-89-3031
Price
- Adult: 600 JPY
- Child: 250 JPY
Website
www.shibazakura.jp
More information
Even more information
2. Gion Festival
The Gion Festival which has a grand history lasts for one month. Lavishly ornamented gigantic 12t yamaboko festival floats are paraded through the streets of Kyoto, and the festival is performed to pray for the prevention of disasters.
Phone
075-561-6155
3. Iwate Snow Festival
An annual snow festival that takes place every February at Koiwai Farms Makiba Park. Plenty of things to enjoy such as snow sculptures, a huge snow slide and grilled food inside snow huts!
4. Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival
The fireworks are launched from 2 sites along the Sumida River. Approximately 20,000 fireworks are involved, in which the most cutting-edge fireworks and competition prize-winning explosions are included.
5. Tokyo Bay Grand Fireworks Festival
A splendid firework festival well worth seeing for the largest 5-shakudama shells flying over the metropolis. Taking place at the prime location of Tokyo Bay, about 12,000 explosions light up the night sky.
Phone
03-3248-1561
Price
However, an admission ticket or a sponsored letter of invitation is necessary to enter the venues.
In either case, application at the homepage is possible.
Please be aware that the sales deadline is often 1 month ahead of the festival.
6. Sanja Matsuri (Sanja Festival)
Asakusa’s Sanja Festival, boasting 700 years of history. Mikoshi (portable shrines) and floats are pulled through the streets while loud shouts accompany them, and during the festival’s 3 days, 1.5 million people come out to celebrate.
Phone
03-3844-1575
Website
www.asakusajinja.jp
7. Sendai Tanabata Festival
A popular summer festival with splendid and elegant Tanabata streamers that appear as if they are falling from the sky. Visitors are invited into a world of dreams decorated by episodes from the romantic tale of The Tanabata Story.
Phone
022-265-8185
Price
Sendai Tanabata Festival bus tour
2500 yen （Contact: JTB Tohoku Corporate Sales Sendai Branch Tel. 022-263-6712）
Zuiho-den Tanabata Night
550 yen
Website
www.sendaitanabata.com
8. Yamagata Hanagasa Festival
Performers grandly dance through the city’s major streets while holding hanagasa which are patterned after the prefecture's flower, the safflower. The elegance and dynamism make it a leading summer festival in the Tohoku region.
Phone
023-642-8753
Price
There is no paid observation seating
Website
www.hanagasa.jp
9. Tenjin Matsuri
While preserving a 1000-year-old Shinto ritual, it is a festival that continues to evolve as it includes new events such as gyaru mikoshi (portable shrines carried by young women). The spirit of the Tenjin Matsuri, a symbol of Naniwa prosperity, continues to be passed down today.
Phone
06-6353-0025
Website
www.jnto.go.jp
10. The Kanda Festival
Peerless in both The Three Great Festivals of Japan and The Three Great Festivals of Edo, the Kanda Festival boasts a 1300-year history. The festival which is the pride of any Edokko (true Tokyoite) not only includes the highlight of mikoshi (portable shrines) but also a parade.
Phone
03-3254-0753