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Learn the dates of the best summer festivals and fireworks displays in Japan, along with tips on access and how to enjoy these events in 2025.
Summer in Japan is a time of vibrant festivals and firework displays that give us a chance to forget about the heat typical for this season.
If you visit Japan during July and August, don't miss out on these exciting events. While rare, some of these festivals are held in autumn, too! Read on to learn about festivities scheduled to be held this year.
1. Festivals and Traditional Events
2. Firework Displays in 2025
3. Acces and Tips to Enjoy Japan's Summer Traditions
As of June 2025, the official dates for most festivals from June to August have been announced.
Festival | Annual Schedule | 2025 Schedule |
Tokyo: Sanja Festival | Mid-May | May 16 - 18 |
Kyoto: Aoi Festival | May 15 | May 15 |
Kyoto: Gion Festival | July 1 - 31 | July 1 - 31 |
Fukuoka: Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival | July 1 - 15 | July 1 - 15 |
Osaka: Tenjin Festival | July 24 - 25 | July 24 - 25 |
Aomori: Nebuta Festival | Early August | August 2 - 7 |
Akita: Kanto Festival | Early August | August 3 - 6 |
Sendai Tanabata Festival | August 6 - 8 | August 6 - 8 |
Kochi: Yosakoi Festival | August 9 - 12 | August 9 - 12 |
Tokushima Awa Odori | August 12 - 15 | August 11 - 15 |
Nagasaki Kunchi Festival | October 7 - 9 | October 7 - 9 |
Takayama Festival (Autumn) | October 9 - 10 | N/A |
Chichibu Night Festival | December 1 - 6 | N/A |
Nagahama Kita-Biwako Great Fireworks Festival
Fireworks displays are held annually from June to August. The dates for all the events scheduled in 2025 have been announced.
Fireworks Event | Annual Schedule | 2025 Schedule |
Tokyo: Edogawa Fireworks Festival | August 5 | August 2 |
Tokyo: Sumida River Fireworks Festival | End of July | July 26 |
Tokyo: Katsushika Fireworks Festival | End of July | July 22 |
Tokyo: Adachi Fireworks Festival | End of July | May 31 |
Osaka: Tenjin Festival Fireworks Display | End of July | July 25 |
Saitama: Kumagaya Fireworks Display | Early August | August 10 |
Osaka: Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival | Early August | August 9 |
Niigata: Nagaoka Fireworks | Early August | August 2 - 3 |
Shiga: Nagahama Kita-Biwako Great Fireworks Festival | Early August | September 17 - 19 |
Hyogo: Kobe Minato Hanabi Festival | Early August | October 20 - 24 |
Chiba: Kisarazu Port Festival Fireworks Display | August 15 | August 15 |
Kyoto: Miyazu Toro Nagashi Fireworks Display | Mid August | August 16 |
Akita: All Japan Fireworks Competition | Last Saturday in August | August 30 |
Ibaraki: Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition | November 7 | N/A |
Festivals and fireworks are a signature staple of summer in Japan.
Kyoto's Gion Festival, Osaka's Tenjin Festival, and Tokyo's Kanda Festival, all with a long history, are hailed as the three major festivals in Japan. The Awa Odori Festival in Tokushima, where participants will be dancing all night, and the National Fireworks Competition in Akita, a prefecture renowned for pyrotechnics, will also be welcoming spectators.
There are many types of rail passes for overseas visitors, such as the Japan Rail Pass, which allows unlimited rides on the Shinkansen and limited express trains.
These passes are perfect for those interested in traveling all over Japan or touring a specific region. They are all different, so use them in accordance with your itinerary.
MATCHA has partnered with KLOOK, a site handling rail passes and reservations for numerous programs. Do look for a pass that fits your plans.
There is also a budget-friendly Nippon Rent-A-Car 10% Discount Coupon from MATCHA for tourists visiting Japan.
We hope that you'll enjoy the popular festivals and firework displays in Japan this summer!
All pictures from Pixta.
This article is a revised 2025 version of the original published in 2020.
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