Gps Coordinates  /  35.7488211,139.3155551  /  Apr 2016

Tokyo Festival Seasonal Festival Events 2016

Yaho, Kunitachi, Tokyo 186-0011, Japan

Let’s go month by month through some of Tokyo’s best festivals, as well as some of the most important festivals across Japan.

 Nov 2016

Link Location Gps 35.6798024

Gps Coordinates  /  35.6798024,139.4437753

The festivals known as matsuri can take many forms, but typically they honor nature, tradition, or community—or, frequently, all three. Temples and shrines hold festivals to commemorate important events in their history or pray for good fortune. Parks and gardens hold festivals at the times of year when certain flowers come into bloom. Local town associations hold festivals to showcase the charms of their neighborhood and have a fun time parading through the streets.

 Aug 2016  /  Sept 2016  /  Aug 2016

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 36.4948395  /  Gps Link 35.7667106  /  Gps Link 36.4967143

Gps Coordinates  /  36.4948395,139.006017  /  35.7667106,139.8480549  /  36.4967143,139.0058225

Shogatsu is the country’s annual New Years Festival and arguably the biggest seasonal event on the Japanese calendar. It’s a lot more of a family focused affair than its western contemporaries. No matter where you are in Japan, you will stumble across a Shogatsu celebration during December 31st – Janurary 1st. Usually people get together to eat special symbolic ‘long life’ foods like mocha and pray for a healthy new year.

Aug 2016  /  Sept 2016  /  Aug 2016   

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 35.6962621  /  Gps Link 35.784166  /  Gps Link 36.497492

Gps Coordinates  /  35.6962621,139.4277987  /  35.784166,139.5183011  /  36.497492,139.005828

Setsubun, All Across Japan. Like New Years this event actually happens all around the country. Marking the day before spring on the old calendar, Sestubun is a festival where roasted beans are thrown inside and outside of people’s houses in order to ward off any lurking demons. During this time shrines host bean-scattering events, and other ceremonies used to drive away evil.

Aug 2016  /  Aug 2016  /  Aug 2016   

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 36.4955812  /  Gps Link 36.4954283  /  Gps Link 36.4954753

Gps Coordinates  /  36.4955812,139.0039446  /  36.4954283,138.998176  /  36.4954753,139.0047392

Dating back to 869

 -

Gion Matsuri (Kyoto) One of Japan’s most famous festivals even internationally is the Kyoto Gion Matsuri (祇園祭), one of three greatest festivals in Japan. It’s also one of the oldest matsuris in the country, dating back to 869. That year there was a plague that spread throughout Japan, and the Gion Matsuri was originally a religious ritual to get rid of that plague.

This festival, held for over 1,000 years in Yasaka Shrine, lasts a whole month being probably the longest festival in Japan. The most famous of Gion Matsuri are the grand processions of floats, called “Yamaboko Junko”, that take place on 17th (Sakimatsuri) and 24th (Atomatsuri) July on Oike and Shijo Kawaramachi streets.

Aug 2016  /  Jul 2016  /  Jul 2016   

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 35.6051103  /  Gps Link 35.5466057  /  Gps Link 35.5466057

Gps Coordinates  /  35.6051103,139.7425105 /  35.5466057,139.7523393 /  35.5466057,139.7523393

March of the year 628

-

Sanja Matsuri (Tokyo) Sanja Festival (三社祭) or Asakusa Sanja Festival is other of the three great Shinto festivals in Tokyo held annually for 3 days on the third weekend of May in Asakusa Shrine. Is considered for some people as one of the biggest and wildest festival in Tokyo, with over 2 million visitors in 3 days.

-

The festival is held in honor of Hinokuma Hamanari, Hinokuma Takenari and Hajino Nakatomo, the three men who founded Senso-ji temple. Senso-ji temple (浅草寺) is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa and it’s the oldest temple in Tokyo, and dates back to 645, the date on which was completed. Legend has it that in March of the year 628, while fishing on the Sumida river the Hinokuma Hamanari and Takenari brothers captured in their nets a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. And although they put the statue back in the river, always returned to them, so they decided to stay and returning to the village they showed one of the chiefs and built a temple to house the statue.

Aug 2016  /  Aug 2016

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 35.7027959  /  Gps Link 35.7047903

Gps Coordinates  /  35.7027959,139.6366087  /  35.704773,139.635263

 Setsubun is a traditional event held across Japan marking the end of winter, where you throw beans to cast out evil spirits and bring in good fortune. Throwing the beans at the “demons” (people in masks and/or costumes) is an activity children across Japan love. The Setsubun festival at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa is particularly lively.

Aug 2016  /  Aug 2016  /  Aug 2016   

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 35.7057458  /  Gps Link 36.1142327  /  Gps Link 36.1105525

Gps Coordinates  /  35.7057458,139.5804258  /  36.1142327,139.2006132  /  36.1105525,139.1946715

 Back around 300 years

-

Called yomatsuri in Japanese, The Chichibu Night Festival is a beautiful spectacle held by the Chichibu Shrine in the same-named city, just outside of Tokyo. Dating back around 300 years, it is a winter favorite not only among locals.

The highlight of the celebrations takes place on the evening of December 3, when a gorgeous parade of illuminated floats makes its way from the Chichibu Shrine to a sacred palanquin. Shortly after, the cold winter night is lit up in a thousand vivid colors when one of Japan's only winter fireworks is taking place right above the cozy, lively atmosphere of the Chichibu Night Festival. Japan's winter is by no means a gloomy one!

Jul - /  Dec - /  Jun 2016 

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 36.065703  /  Gps Link 35.6935485  /  Gps Link 35.6587945

Gps Coordinates  /  36.065703,139.677295  /  35.6935485,139.7052131  /  35.6587945,139.6972521

  Nozawa Fire Festival, Nagano. Held in the snow covered alps in Nagano prefecture, the Nozawa Onsen Village’s fire festival lights up the town every January. Considered one of the country’s best fire festivals, the town is home to a massive tower that is set alight in the hope for good health.

Jun 2016  /   Jun 2016  /   Jun 2016   

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 35.6746182  /  Gps Link 35.6746321  /  Gps Link 35.659914

Gps Coordinates  /  35.6746182,139.7399532  /  35.6746321,139.7402968  /  35.6598885,139.7003149

It’s customary to don your favorite yukata (a summer kimono) and stroll through street food stalls, playing fair games and settling down to watch the display. For the summer dance festivals you can join right in at local Bon Odori events or enjoy the impressive displays held for Awa Odori, yosakoi (from Kyushu) and eisa (the Okinawan tradition). Tanabata festivals are also traditionally held around July 3rd, and you’ll no doubt see the wish-adorned papers strung up around town!

Jun 2016  /  Jun 2016  /  Jun 2016 

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 35.6599024  /  Gps Link 35.659798  /  Gps Link 35.6266285

Gps Coordinates  /  35.6598932,139.6986344  /  35.6597635,139.6981595  /  35.6266598,139.5969685

Taking place on the streets of Tokyo’s Roppongi district, Roppongi Art Night is an all-night art event. This festival showcases exhibitions of contemporary art, design, music, and much more all over the town. Roppongi Art Night allows travelers and locals to indulge in an extraordinary experience and have a cherishable night. Started in 2009, this festival attracts numerous tourists from all over the world, especially the art buffs. This is one of the most offbeat Tokyo festivals celebrated in Japan. During: May

Jun 2016  /  Jun 2016  /  Jun 2016 

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 35.587427  /  Gps Link 35.5441039  /  Gps Link 35.5785733

Gps Coordinates  /  35.587427,139.6687781  /  35.5441039,139.7131274  /  35.5785733,139.7291044

Many festivities during October and November are arranged around the changing of the leaves in fall. Called Koyo, this red and gold autumn is highlighted through evening lighting shows.

It is also an opportunity to taste the delicious culinary specialties that are based on the seasonal foods of persimmon, ginkgo nuts and sweet potato!

May 2016  /  May 2016  /  May 2016 

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 35.6841331  /  Gps Link 35.6702257  /  Gps Link 35.5792792

Gps Coordinates  /  35.6841331,139.7805095  /  35.670311,139.8655084  /  35.5792792,139.7113819

By year 1000, cometh thee festival

-

 Gion Matsuri – July: Arguably, this is known as the mother of all Japanese celebrations. This festival began as part of a purification ritual to appease the gods thought to cause fire, floods and earthquakes… Eeps. The event itself is so popular, that it gets celebrated for the whole month of July with something different happening nearly every day. It’s a huge event in Kyoto culture and loved by locals and tourists alike, with the favourite events held on 17th and 24th July. For visitors, the most enjoyable part of the festival is the “Yoi-yama” events held on the three evenings preceding the main float processions. This is when Kyoto really lets loose! If you can lay your hands on a yukata, why not get dressed up and enjoy the fun?

Apr 2016  /  Apr 2016  /  Apr 2016   

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 35.7585178  /  Gps Link 35.7585122  /  Gps Link 35.7571817

Gps Coordinates  /  35.7585178,139.3830068  /  35.7585122,139.3822998  /  35.7571817,139.3858007

 Tsukiji Honganji Temple Bon Odori Festival is a four-day celebration that is hosted by Tsukiji Honganji Temple every year. Attracting numerous visitors from all over the country and abroad, this festival features some of the beautiful and traditional dance that anyone can be a part of. The medley of traditional songs like ‘Tsukiji Ondo’ and live taiko drum performances are some of the highlights of this festival.

Apr 2016  /  May 2016  /  Aug 2016 

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 35.7609232  /  Gps Link 35.6669959  /  Gps Link 36.4944187

Gps Coordinates  /  35.7609232,139.3861654  /  35.6669959,139.7574475  /  36.4944187,139.005738

 The Danjiri Matsuri is essentially a harvest festival to pray for a good autumn bounty! It takes place in Kishiwada, South Osaka, is a fun, powerful celebration and the most famous danjiri matsuri in Japan. A danjiri is a traditional Japanese wooden float decorated with carvings and lots of ornaments. The wooden floats are made in the shape of a shrine or temple and are pulled through the streets on festival days. Today, the festival is considered to be Osaka’s wildest party, that’s celebrated in mid-September. The majority of the floats weigh over 3000 kg and are pulled by an enthusiastic team of up to 1,000 people. All the floats represent a different district of the city with each districts pride being at stake as each team is competing for the victory.

May 2016  /  Apr 2016  /  Apr 2016   

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 35.6680294  /  Gps Link 35.7800281  /  Gps Link 35.7806781

Gps Coordinates  /  35.6680294,139.4788951  /  35.7800281,139.2722655  /  35.7806781,139.7214361

This is where locals carry portable shrines (mikoshi) through the streets, chanting and drawing huge crowds as they go. Requiring a lot of strength (the mikoshi often weigh upwards of a ton) and running for many hours, there’s often drinking involved, so the processions are energetic and amazing to watch.

Sept 2016  /  Sept 2016  /  Apr 2016  /  Oct 2016 

 Link Location Gps  /  Gps Link 35.6028406  /  Gps Link 35.6052333  /  Gps Link 35.6321852  /  Gps Link 35.7917072

Gps Coordinates  /  35.6028406,139.6420264  /  35.6052333,139.6713071  /  35.6321852,139.6470746  /  35.7917072,139.4640528

-