Japan has a calendar of unique festivals, many of them following a particular theme. Known locally as matsuri, they attract scores of locals and tourists, some lasting a matter of hours with others stretching out for days. Festivals in Japan occur throughout the year and some of the best ones take place in the summer months. Many are local to a certain region or prefecture but that doesn’t stop people traveling hundreds – or sometimes thousands – of miles to experience the occasion. Here is a small selection of what’s on offer across the country in 2025.

Tanabata

Known as the ‘star festival’, this gathering commemorates the crossing of two stars representing two Japanese deities who were lovers – Orihime and Hikoboshi. According to legend, they are separated by the Milky Way and can only meet once a year on the 7th day of the 7th month (July 7 in the lunar calendar and around August 7 in the solar calendar). Festivals are held across the country, with the most famous taking place in the city of Sendai. Expect to see streets decorated in colorful bunting and ribbons, and plenty of music, dancing, food stalls, and a fireworks festival. During this occasion, people typically write their wishes on paper and hang on bamboo branches. They will then look to the stars and pray that their wishes come true.

Web site: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/423/

Nebuta Matsuri

One of the most popular annual festivals in Japan, regularly attracting up to 2 million people, this festival stretches most of the first week of August (2-7). It’s a lantern festival, consisting of six days of fantastic lantern floats (‘nebuta’ means ‘float’ in Japanese) parading through the streets, some several meters high and depicting anything from gods to mythical creatures to popular TV characters. The festival takes place in Aomori prefecture in Tohoku and finishes with a spectacular firework display.

Web site: https://www.nebuta.jp/foreign/english.html

Gion Matsuri

Arguably Japan’s most well-known annual festival, Gion dates back to the 9th century and takes place throughout the month of July each year. Centering around Kyoto’s Yasaka shrine, there are cultural events, street parties, and local food, but the focal point is the two magnificent float parades that typically occur in mid to late July. The main parade, Yamaboko Junko, has been listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Web site: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/83/

Awa Odori

Held during the annual Bon festival, Awa Odori Matsuri is a joyous festival of traditional dance happening each year between August 12-15. It takes place in Tokushima city on Japan’s Shikoku Island, featuring around 300,000 dancers and attracting over a million spectators each year. The highlight of the festival is the ‘sou odori’, where several thousand dancers move in unison. There are also participatory dances for those that want to get involved as well as watch.

Web site: https://www.awaodorimirai.com/

Tenjin Matsuri

This is a riverboat parade taking place near the Temmangu Shrine in Osaka. It dates back nearly 1,000 years, and each year in late July around a hundred boats set sail along the Okawa river. The festival spans two days, and on the second day there is also a land procession involving upwards of 3,000 drummers and dancers. Festivities are capped off with a huge firework display.

Web site: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/30/

663highland, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons