Japan Events Calendar 2026

Winter Illuminations (ongoing)

Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka · Throughout January

Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo, Hokkaido · Around February 4–11

Shirakawago Light-Up

Gifu (UNESCO village) · Select Saturdays

Cherry Blossoms Begin

Kyushu, Tokyo, Kansai · Late March

Peak Bloom (Tokyo / Kyoto)

Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka · March 25 – April 5

Peak Cherry Blossom

Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka · Early April

Hirosaki Castle Sakura

Aomori (Tohoku peak) · Late April

Sanja Matsuri

Asakusa, Tokyo · May 16–18

Firefly Season Begins

Shiga, Fukuoka · Late May

Firefly Peak

Nagano, Yamanashi, Gifu · June 5–25

Gion Matsuri

Kyoto · All July, parades Jul 17 & 24

Tenjin Matsuri

Osaka · July 24–25

Sumida River Fireworks

Tokyo · Last Saturday of July

Aomori Nebuta

Aomori · August 2–7

Nagaoka Fireworks

Niigata · August 2–3

Awa Odori

Tokushima · August 12–15

Sendai Tanabata

Miyagi · August 6–8

Omagari Fireworks Competition

Akita · Last Saturday of August

Hokkaido Foliage Begins

Daisetsuzan, Hokkaido · Mid–late September

Nagasaki Kunchi

Nagasaki · October 7–9

Jidai Matsuri + Kurama Fire Festival

Kyoto · October 22

Takaishi Super Hanabi (25,000 shells, Western Japan's largest)

Hamadera Park, Osaka · October 24 (Sat)

Tohoku Foliage Peak

Towada Lake, Aomori · Mid October

Nikko Foliage Peak

Tochigi · Late October

Karatsu Kunchi

Karatsu, Saga · November 2–4

Tsuchiura Fireworks Competition (20,000 shells, Japan Big 3)

Tsuchiura, Ibaraki · November 7 (Sat)

Kyoto Foliage Peak

Kiyomizudera, Kyoto · Mid–late November

Arashiyama Foliage

Kyoto · Late November

Korankei Foliage + Illumination

Aichi · All November

Chichibu Night Festival

Chichibu, Saitama · December 2–3

Nabana no Sato Illumination

Mie (near Nagoya) · Throughout December

Kobe Luminarie

Kobe · Early December

Ashikaga Flower Park Lights

Tochigi · October–February