Event Radar · Live
Matsuri, concerts, and hidden ceremonies across Japan. Updated with real dates.
Live & Soon
54 events
Type
Region
When
ON NOWハウステンボス光の王国
Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2026
The world's largest illumination event in a Dutch-themed theme park. 13 million LED lights transform 1.5 million square meters — you can spend three hours walking without repeating a scene.
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ON NOW椿山荘庭園
Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2026
The garden of the luxury Hotel Chinzanso in Tokyo offers beautiful greenery strolls in all seasons, with special night illuminations highlighting the lush May verdure.
ON NOW輪島朝市
Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2026
Japan's storied 1,200-year-old morning market. The original Asaichi-dori market was destroyed by fire after the January 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake; during reconstruction it currently operates as a traveling pop-up market (出張輪島朝市) at locations around Japan. Check the official schedule before visiting Wajima. UPDATE (2026-07-04): The historic Asaichi Street market row burned down in the January 2024 Noto earthquake fire and was fully demolished by December 2025. The market currently operates in relocated/reduced form at the "Wai Plaza Wajima" commercial facility, not on the original street.
ON NOW大地の芸術祭夏
Apr 25 – Nov 8, 2026
The world's largest outdoor art festival — 200+ permanent artworks integrated into rice paddies, abandoned schools, and mountain villages across 760 square kilometers. James Turrell's Tunnel of Light is alone worth the trip.
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ON NOWApr 25 – Jul 20, 2026
At the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka, three of Kansai's most influential contemporary artists — Morimura Yasumasa, Yanobe Kenji and Yanagi Miwa — present new work across five sections, including a collaborative performance piece. The trio rose to prominence in the 1990s and helped define Japanese contemporary art.
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ON NOW大井競馬場東京シティフリーマーケット
Apr 25 – Sep 21, 2026
As Tokyo's largest flea market, this vibrant event features hundreds of vendors offering a diverse range of goods. It's a perfect spot for treasure hunters and food lovers alike, with plenty of delicious snacks available on-site.
ON NOW洞爺湖ロングラン花火大会
Apr 28 – Oct 31, 2026
A nightly fireworks show over Lake Toya running for half the year, launched from the lakeshore each evening — the 45th edition in 2026.
ON NOW小笠原ウミガメシーズン
May 1 – Aug 31, 2026
UNESCO World Heritage Bonin Islands — accessible only by a 25-hour ferry from Tokyo — host Japan's largest green sea turtle population nesting on Chichi-jima. Snorkeling with dolphins is another draw.
ON NOW屋久島ウミガメ産卵
May 10 – Jul 15, 2026
Yakushima hosts Japan's largest loggerhead sea turtle nesting ground — nighttime guided walks on Isso Beach to witness females laying eggs. Hatching is mid-August to October. Tightly licensed to protect turtles.
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ON NOWぎふ長良川の鵜飼
May 11 – Oct 15, 2026
A 1,300-year-old imperial tradition of cormorant fishing on the Nagara River (fish were historically sent to the capital) — boats with trained cormorants and torchlight fish for ayu at night.
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ON NOWMay 16 – Jul 12, 2026
Marking the centenary of Antoni Gaudí, this free satellite exhibition at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT (Tokyo Midtown) explores his radical window designs through original fixtures and stained glass, interactive replicas, models, drawings and a documentary film. It shares its concept with the main show at Barcelona's Palau Güell.
ON NOWモネの池
May 25 – Jul 15, 2026
Famous for its resemblance to Monet's water lily pond, this scenic pond in Gifu features numerous water lilies and nympheas that bloom in summer and open only in the morning.
ON NOWMay 29 – Aug 12, 2026
The Grand Van Gogh Exhibition (大ゴッホ展) at Tokyo's Ueno Royal Museum draws entirely on the Netherlands' Kröller-Müller Museum, tracing Van Gogh from his sombre early Dutch period to the luminous breakthroughs of Arles. Its centrepiece, "Café Terrace at Night," returns to Japan for the first time in nearly two decades — around 60 works in all.
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ON NOW高山稲荷神社のあじさい
Jun 20 – Jul 20, 2026
The Takayama Inari-jinja shrine in Aomori prefecture is known for its beautiful hydrangea blooms in June. The colorful flowers adorn the shrine grounds during this season.
ON NOW花火の季節
Jul 1 – Aug 15, 2026
Japan's summer fireworks season features over 7,000 fireworks displays across the country from late July to mid-August, with spectators dressed in yukata gathering hours early to secure good spots. Events range from grand public spectacles to intimate family sparkler sessions.
ON NOW稲泉寺
Jul 1 – Aug 31, 2026
Lotus flowers bloom at Tosen-ji temple in Nagano Prefecture, providing a serene summer floral spectacle in a traditional temple setting.
ON NOWコスモス
Jul 1 – Nov 30, 2026
Cosmos flowers bloom across Japan from July to November, with the peak season in early October. They can be found in fields, parks and temple grounds throughout the country.
ON NOW博多祇園山笠
Jul 1–15, 2026
A major festival in Fukuoka city spanning two intense weeks, held for over 750 years to pray for protection against epidemics and illness. Similar in spirit to Kyoto's Gion Matsuri.
ON NOW蓮の季節
Jul 1 – Aug 31, 2026
Lotus flowers bloom in lakes, ponds, parks, temples, and gardens across Japan from July to August. Best viewed in the early morning between 7 and 9 AM before the flowers close around midday.
ON NOW富良野ラベンダーフェスティバル
Jul 5–25, 2026
Furano's lavender fields blanket the hillsides in purple waves — Farm Tomita has been farming since 1958 and offers dried lavender, soft-serve, and early morning photography sessions when the light is magical.
ON NOW七夕まつり
Jul 7–12, 2026
The Star Festival celebrated on July 7th, honoring the annual meeting of the stars Vega (Orihime) and Altair (Hikoboshi) across the Milky Way. Wishes are written on colorful tanzaku paper cards and hung on bamboo branches.
SOONほおずき市
Jul 9–10, 2026
Roughly 120 stalls fill the Sensoji precinct selling hozuki (ground cherry) plants and wind chimes on the temple's most auspicious "46,000-day" worship dates. Distinct from Sensoji's other fairs (Hagoita-ichi, Tori no Ichi, Toshi no Ichi), this one is purely a mid-summer plant and wind-chime market.
SOON佐原の大祭 夏祭り
Jul 10–12, 2026
One of the 'Three Great Float Festivals of Kanto', ~300 years old and UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage. 10 floats topped by 4m carved dolls are pulled through the Ono River / Sawara historic townscape to the sound of 'Sawara-bayashi' music.
SOON成田祇園祭
Jul 10–12, 2026
A ~300-year-old festival where 10 elaborately carved floats and a mikoshi are paraded from Naritasan Shinshoji's main gate through Omotesando; ~450,000 visitors annually, climaxing Sunday with all floats hauled together up the steep temple approach ('Sōhiki').
SOON上野夏まつり
Jul 10 – Aug 11, 2026
A summer festival lasting nearly a month at Ueno Park, offering different daily events and animations coinciding with the lotus bloom at Shinobazu Pond.
SOON大台盆踊り
Jul 10–11, 2026
One of the first Bon Odori dance festivals of the season, organized on the campus of Taisho University in Sugamo on the Friday and Saturday closest to July 10. Students offer various local and heartfelt animations.
SOON生國魂祭
Jul 11–12, 2026
The third of 'Osaka's three great summer festivals' (alongside Tenjin Matsuri and Sumiyoshi Matsuri, already in DB), at the ~2,700-year-old Ikukunitama Shrine. Evening taiko/parade on day 1, a ~500-person procession to Osaka Castle on day 2.
SOON名古屋場所
Jul 12–26, 2026
The summer grand sumo tournament held in Nagoya, running from the 2nd to the 4th Sunday of July. Bouts take place from early morning with the most important matches between 4 and 6 pm.
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SOONみたままつり
Jul 13–16, 2026
One of Tokyo's largest summer festivals held at Yasukuni Shrine, featuring thousands of lanterns that create a unique atmosphere. Over four days, visitors honor the souls of the deceased through dance and music.
SOON祇園祭
Jul 14–24, 2026
One of Japan's three greatest festivals, held every year since 869 in Kyoto to calm evil spirits and seek divine protection against epidemics and natural disasters. The main float processions take place on July 17 and 24.
SOON那智の扇祭り（那智の火祭り）
Jul 14, 2026
One of Japan's three great fire festivals, at Kumano Nachi Taisha: twelve fan-shaped mikoshi are ritually purified by twelve 50kg flaming torches carried up the stone stairway to Nachi Falls, alongside the UNESCO-recognized Nachi Dengaku dance.
SOON水郷佐原あやめパーク
Jul 15 – Aug 15, 2026
Visitors can view lotus flowers from a boat at Suigo Sawara Ayame Park in Chiba Prefecture, offering a unique water-level perspective of the blooms.
SOON臼杵石仏
Jul 15 – Aug 15, 2026
Lotus flowers bloom alongside some sixty rock-carved Buddha statues at this mysterious site near hot spring resorts such as Yufuin and Beppu. Best visited at dawn before the flowers close.
SOONJul 15 – Aug 31, 2026
Sunflower fields in bloom near Tokyo in mid-July through late August, attracting visitors to large yellow fields. Sometimes accompanied by small festivals with food stalls and musical entertainment.
SOON唐比ハス園
Jul 15 – Aug 15, 2026
Lotus flowers bloom at Karako Hasu-en park in Nagasaki Prefecture, offering a scenic floral display during the summer season.
SOON不忍池
Jul 15 – Aug 15, 2026
Thousands of lotus flowers bloom at Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park, coinciding with the Ueno Natsu Matsuri summer festival which runs for nearly a month with different daily events.
SOON三ノ倉高原ひまわり畑
Jul 15 – Aug 31, 2026
Sunflower fields at Sannokura in Fukushima prefecture, part of the effort to use sunflowers to extract toxins from soil in areas affected by disaster.
SOON小倉祇園太鼓
Jul 17–19, 2026
A 400-year-old festival centered on Kokura Castle; the first taiko festival designated a nationally Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. Jul 17 'Yoi Gion' (opening), Jul 18 'Dai-Nigiwai' (main day), Jul 19 'Uchi-Osame' (closing).
SOON七夕スカイランタン祭り2026（埼玉会場）
Jul 17–23, 2026
A commercially-organized LED sky-lantern release event held at Daimon Kamiike Chosetsu-ike Plaza, adjacent to Saitama Stadium 2002. Up to 3,500 tethered LED lanterns are released together each evening around 20:30 — the lanterns are battery-powered and stay attached by a string rather than being set loose, so nothing burns or is actually released into open sky. Visitors write wishes on tanzaku strips attached to their lantern before the group release, alongside stage performances and festival food stalls.
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SOONおぎおんさあ
Jul 18–19, 2026
A 400-year-old festival in the heart of Kagoshima city featuring dances and parades over two days, bringing joy and smiles to the streets.
SOON塩竈みなと祭
Jul 19–20, 2026
One of Japan's Three Great Boat Festivals. On the eve (Marine Day weekend), roughly 8,000 fireworks light up Shiogama Port. On Marine Day itself, mikoshi are loaded onto the ornate dragon boat Ryuhomaru and phoenix boat Hoomaru, which sail into Matsushima Bay escorted by roughly 100 fishing boats, followed by a land parade through town.
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SOON秩父川瀬祭
Jul 19–20, 2026
A summer festival near Tokyo that honors children, who are the true protagonists of the celebration. In the evening, children are rewarded with a spectacular fireworks display.
SOON鷺舞神事
Jul 20–27, 2026
A ~400-year-old ritual dance performed at Yasaka Shrine as part of the Gion Matsuri, inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2022 — the only heron dance in Japan performed continuously since its Kyoto origin.
SOON国営讃岐まんのう公園
Jul 20 – Aug 20, 2026
Sunflower viewing at Sanuki Manno Koen national park in Kagawa prefecture during the summer season.
SOON花の都公園
Jul 20 – Aug 20, 2026
Sunflower field at the entrance of the large Hananomiyako Koen floral park in Yamanashi, offering free access and a view of Mount Fuji. Summer is the season when the sunflowers bloom, though Fuji is often hidden by clouds.
SOONあすみ公園のあじさい
Jul 20 – Aug 31, 2026
Asumiko Koen in Yamanashi prefecture features beautiful hydrangea displays throughout June, attracting visitors from the surrounding region.
SOON世羅高原ひまわり
Jul 20 – Aug 20, 2026
Sunflower viewing at the Sera Kogen highland plateau in Hiroshima prefecture during summer bloom season.
Book tickets →SOON恐山大祭
Jul 20–24, 2026
The defining reason travelers visit Osorezan (already in the DB as a place) at this time of year — itako (blind spiritual mediums) perform kuchiyose (spirit-channeling readings) for pilgrims, a practice found almost nowhere else in Japan.
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