Articles tagged: Autumn Festivals
Kurama Fire Festival 2026: Giant Torches on a Mountain Road
On the same night as Jidai Matsuri, the village of Kurama ignites massive pine torches and carries them up to Yuki Shrine in one of Kyoto's most intense autumn rituals.
2026-10-20·2 min read·Read →Jidai Matsuri 2026: 1,200 Years of Costume on Parade in Kyoto
Jidai Matsuri walks 1,200 years of Japanese history through central Kyoto in a single afternoon, and conveniently shares its date with the fiery Kurama Fire Festival at night.
2026-10-20·2 min read·Read →Niihama Taiko Festival 2026: 5-Meter Drum Floats and Kakikurabe
Niihama's Taiko Matsuri sends more than fifty five-meter drum floats through the streets of this Ehime port city, with lifting contests and a famously fierce atmosphere.
2026-10-20·2 min read·Read →Saijo Matsuri 2026: 150 Danjiri Floats and the River Crossing
Saijo in Ehime hosts one of Shikoku's largest autumn festivals, where more than 150 glittering floats converge on Isono Shrine before a dramatic river crossing.
2026-10-20·2 min read·Read →Otsu Matsuri 2026: Karakuri Floats Beside Lake Biwa
Just 15 minutes from Kyoto Station, Otsu Matsuri offers thirteen ornate karakuri floats and a far more relaxed atmosphere than its famous Kyoto cousin.
2026-10-20·2 min read·Read →Takayama Autumn Matsuri 2026: Yatai Floats & Night Illumination
The Takayama Autumn Matsuri showcases eleven centuries-old floats fitted with mechanical marionettes, culminating in a glowing lantern-lit procession through the old town.
2026-10-20·2 min read·Read →Nagasaki Kunchi Festival 2026: Dragon Dances & Dutch Flags
Nagasaki Kunchi blends Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch traditions into one of Kyushu's most visually distinctive autumn festivals, held every October at Suwa Shrine.
2026-10-20·2 min read·Read →