5 Best Traditional Festivals in Japan

Across Japan, traditional Japanese festivals attract millions of visitors throughout the year. Each of these festivals is unique to its region and represents a local history for as long as 1,000 years and a passion of local people that gets passed from generation to generation.

In fact, I was a huge fan of festivals and grew up participating in two local festivals every year.

To learn much more about the long Japanese history and local culture, here are the top five traditional festivals you can check out in Japan!

Read an article about "the best and worst time to visit Japan" together.

1. Aomori Nebuta Matsuri (青森ねぶた祭)

Location: Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture

Dates: August 2 - August 7

Aomori Nebuta Matsuri (青森ねぶた祭) is the most famous Japanese summer festival that attracts over 2 million visitors every summer and was added to the list of Japan's Important Intangible Folk Culture Properties in 1980.

The best and main part of the festival that cannot be missed is the parade of massive lantern "Nebuta" floats colorfully decorated with historical or legendary figures that are accompanied by a group of taiko drums, flutes, and "obon" dances.

(Credit: SAY CHANNEL)

2. Kyoto Gion Matsuri (京都祇園祭)

Location: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

Dates: July 1 - July 31

Kyoto Gion Matsuri (京都祇園祭) is a one-month summer festival that takes place in the month of July at the Yasaka Shrine and in Japan's old capital, Kyoto City. It has a history of over 1,000 years and is named one of the top 3 festivals in Japan.

Throughout the month of July, a variety of ceremonies are held, but the best-known part of the festival is a massive parade called the Yamaboko Junko by a few dozens of wooden festival floats on the 17th and 24th.

(Credit: Discover Nippon)

3. Awa Odori Dance (阿波踊り)

Location: Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture

Dates: August 12 - August 15

Awa Odori Dance (阿波踊り) is one of the most famous Japanese dances and is the largest traditional dance festival in Japan that attracts over 1.3 million visitors every summer.

The dance style originated as early as the Kamakura period (1185–1333). For three days, many Awa Odori groups known as "ren", formed with female and male dancers and musicians, perform this most spectacular dance through the streets and celebrate the spirits of deceases ancestors who are said to be visiting their living relatives during this time of the year.

(Credit: Kazuharu Takeuchi)

4. Morioka Sansa Odori Dance (盛岡さんさ踊り)

Location: Morioka City, Iwata Prefecture

Dates: August 1 - August 8

Morioka Sansa Odori Dance (盛岡さんさ踊り) is said to have started during the Edo period between 1603 and 1868 and has become one of the five major festivals in northern Japan since 1978.

Every year, the festival takes place on a hot summer night for four days on a 1 km-long parade route in Morioka City, and people enjoy the sound of Sansa drums and spectacular dance.

(Credit: 旅好きCh)

5. Chichibu Night Festival (秩父夜祭)

Location: Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture

Dates: December 2 - December 3

Chichibu Night Festival (秩父夜祭) has a history of over 300 years and has become one of the three most popular float festivals in Japan, held at Chichibu Shrine. In 2016, it was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

On the main event of December 3, two gorgeous "kasaboko" floats and four "yatai" floats are pulled. The climax of the festival takes place on the evening of the 3rd, when the floats, weighing up to 20 tons, are pulled up a steep hill called Dangozaka.

(Credit: AQUA Geo Graphic)

Behind the Japanese traditional festivals is a long history of Japanese people's beliefs and rituals.

Since ancient times, Japanese people have believed that all things are inhabited by gods, or “eight million gods. They pray to the gods of nature for a bountiful harvest, health, and safety. This has taken root in people's lives as rituals and festivals and has been handed down from generation to generation.

Since these festivals draw thousands of visitors to the town, make sure to plan your visit well ahead of time to have the best local experience. The Japan Journey Advisor at BIWA Travel is happy to help you have unforgettable memories with our local expertise. Start with an initial planning call at no cost.