12 Must-See Japanese Festivals Held Throughout The Year

8. Tokushima's Awa Odori Festival (August) - Dance Away the Summer Heat

Photo from Awa Odori - Tokushima's Exciting Summer Festival!

Awa Odori is both a famous folk dance and the name of the largest dance festival in Japan. It takes place during Obon, a festival when the spirits of the dead are thought to return to their ancestral homes.

The origin of the Awa Odori Festival dates back 400 years ago in Tokushima. 'Awa' is the old name for Tokushima, and 'odori' means dance. It is believed that the departed souls are welcomed back with a performance of Awa Odori.

Photo from Awa Odori - Tokushima's Exciting Summer Festival!

During the festival, hundreds of dancers in bright costumes perform their unique, energetic dance. The music and costumes are a definite highlight of the festival.

The motto of Awa-Odori is “we’re fools for dancing, and you are a fool for watching, so you might as well dance!”. Everyone is invited to dance along and there are even dance stages for the audience.

Even though the festival's birthplace is Tokushima, there are many other places all over Japan holding this unique festival, with two of them being Tokyo's Koenji and Kanagawa's Kawasaki.

Take this opportunity to travel to Tokushima, a place full of nature, beautiful scenery and great food, and enjoy one of the most impressive festivals in Japan!

Awa-Odori Festival 2018 in Tokushima: August 12th through August 15th

Awaodori Kaikan

2-20 Shinmachibashi, Tokushima City, Tokushima 770-0904 Awa Odori Kaik...

9. Nebuta Festival in Aomori (August) - Watch Amazing Lantern Floats

Photo from Feel The North's Summer Heat At The 2017 Aomori Nebuta Festival!

It is believed that the Nebuta Festival in Aomori has its origins in the tradition of releasing lanterns down the river or into the sea on the night of the Tanabata holiday. With this tradition, you are praying for good health and the health of your loved ones.

The Nebuta Festival became what it is today around the year 1716, when the performers first started carrying lanterns down the street while dancing. Much later, the large Kabuki-themed lantern platforms we see today were introduced, taking the celebration to the next level.

Photo from Feel The North's Summer Heat At The 2017 Aomori Nebuta Festival!

It is self-explanatory that the lantern floats really come to life at night. There is no other festival in Japan which is lighting up the night sky quite as the Nebuta Festival. The grand finale consists of ships carrying the lantern floats out into the waters of Aomori Bay, while fireworks start painting the night sky in all the colors of the night sky.

Don't miss out on this beautiful sight!

Aomori Nebuta Festival 2018: August 2nd through August 7th

10. Sawara Grand Festival (October) - A Giant Float Parade near Tokyo

Photo from Sawara Grand Festival - Witness An Amazing Parade Of Giant Floats

Sawara Grand Festival is a celebration held yearly for three days in the second week of October in Katori City of Chiba Prefecture.

The giant festival floats are beautifully decorated by the citizens of Katori and most of them dedicate a whole year worth of work to create them. They are also said to be one of the largest floats in the country.

Photo from Sawara Grand Festival - Witness An Amazing Parade Of Giant Floats

Each of the 25 blocks in the town has its own float, 14 of which are pulled and shown around the town during the parade. Each float features a big wooden statue as its centerpiece. These statues lifelike recreations of prominent figures from Japanese history and mythology. In a way, this festival is a history lesson as well as a fun dance party all at once.

The Sawara Grand Festival is the perfect opportunity to relive the summer one last time.

Sawara Grand Festival 2018: October 12th,13th and 14th

11. Nagasaki Kunchi Festival (October) - An Internationally Inspired Festival

Photo from The Exotic Nagasaki Kunchi Festival 2017: Event Schedule And Highlights

Nagasaki Kunchi is an autumn festival held at the Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki. It takes places annually from October 7th through the 9th and it has been designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset.

Photo from The Exotic Nagasaki Kunchi Festival 2017: Event Schedule And Highlights

The Nagasaki Kunchi Festival has a 400-year history and started by only two performers dedicating a dance to the deity of the Suwa Shrine. Nagasaki was Japan's only trading port during those times. Performances dedicated to the countries with which Japan had diplomatic relations such as China, the Netherlands, and Portugal were slowly added until the festival grew the size it is today.

Towns in Nagasaki take turns presenting this festival and you will only be able to see the same performance every seven years. The ever-changing experience is one of the exciting points of this festival.

The fact that it not only represents Japanese history and costumes but also those of other countries makes it very special and unique compared to other festivals.

Why not dress up in your own national costumes and join this international festival?

Nagasaki Kunchi Festival 2018 October 7th through the 9th

Suwa Shrine

18-15 Kaminishiyamamachi, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture 850-0006

12. Chichibu Night Festival in Saitama (December) - A Brilliant Celebration

Photo from All Eyes On The Chichibu Night Festival - What Makes It So Special?

The Chichibu Night Festival in Saitama's Chichibu City is held from December 1st until the 6th. One of the special features of this festival is that it is held long after the elaborate summer festivals are officially over.

In its 300 year history, the Chichibu Night Festival has earned its place in the UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list as well as Japan’s List of Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties.

Photo from All Eyes On The Chichibu Night Festival - What Makes It So Special?

The two float types used during the Chichibu Night Festival are a portable shrine and kasaboko, a special umbrella-shaped float decoration. The combination of the two is one of the special features of this festival. The floats are also decorated with an abundance of paper lanterns and can also hold up to 10 people dancing on them.

Despite its name, the Chichibu Night Festival can be enjoyed also in the daylight. However, it changes its atmosphere completely when the paper lanterns on the floats are lit up at night. The grand finale occurs when the floats and colorful fireworks in the sky form a glowing alliance.

Why not enjoy the pre-Christmas season with this brilliant Japanese festival?

Chichibu Night Festival 2018: December 1st through the 6th

Chichibu Shrine

1-3 Banbamachi, Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture 368-0041

5 Popular Festival Treats

If you visit any Japanese festival, make sure to check out the food stalls known as yatai in Japanese. Exploring these food stalls is a great way to taste local cuisine and traditional food.

1. Yakisoba - A Festival Favorite

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Yakisoba consists of fried noodles, vegetables, and meat, and is served with a sweet-savory sauce. Its rich taste goes great with alcoholic beverages and it is surprisingly easy to eat on the go. It is a dish you will definitely see at most festivals.

2. Takoyaki - A Tasty Snack from Osaka

Photo from Popular Festival Food In Japan

Takoyaki is another festival favorite. Thesy are small wheat dough balls typically filled with octopus and served with a sweet-savory sauce similar to the Yakisoba sauce. At most festivals, they will be freshly prepared in front of you. Takoyaki is served steaming hot so be careful not to burn yourself.

3. Yakitori - The Perfect Snack Food

Photo from Popular Festival Food In Japan

Yakitori means 'grilled chicken'. They consist of various chicken parts grilled on a stick and flavored with either just salt or a special yakitori sauce. The small size of the pieces and the fact that they are attached to a stick makes them the perfect snack food for on the go.

4. Ikayaki - For Those Who Like to Experience Something New

Photo from Popular Festival Food In Japan

If you like to experiment, you might want to try the festival favorite called ikayaki (grilled squid). Usually, it is grilled, cut in rings and seasoned with soy sauce. It will be served either on a stick or on a paper plate.

5. Kakigori, Taiyaki and Baby Castella - The Sweet Treats of Japanese Festivals

Photo from Popular Festival Food In Japan

If you prefer something sweet, shaved ice, also known as kakigori in Japanese, is a popular option to refresh yourself on a hot summer day.

Photo from Popular Festival Food In Japan

If you want something more substantial you could opt for taiyaki, a Japanese fish-shaped cake filled with sweet red bean jam. You could also opt for the fresh baked little cake balls known as baby castella.

Join One of Japan's Unique Festivals!

We hope this article will be of help for you to join one of Japan's exciting festivals held every year. No matter if you watch the beautiful ice creations of the Sapporo Snow Festival or the dancing fools of Awa-Odori, you will surely make life-long, precious memories.