July 2026
3 events
07/14–07/14
Nachi Fire Festival
Nachisan, Nachikatsuura, Wakayama (Kumano Nachi Taisha)
Once a year, the twelve deities of Kumano Nachi Taisha return to the great waterfall where they were first enshrined, 1,
07/17–07/17
Gion Matsuri
Yasaka Shrine and central Kyoto
It began as a way to quell a plague. Kyoto's Gion Matsuri, one of Japan's three great festivals, is a long rite that fil
07/24–07/25
Tenjin Matsuri
Osaka Tenmangu Shrine and the Okawa River, Kita-ku, Osaka
A festival of boats, and a festival of fire. Osaka's Tenjin Matsuri is one of Japan's three great festivals, alongside K
August 2026
3 events
08/11–08/15
Awa Odori
Ainobahama and other stages throughout central Tokushima City, Tokushima
"Fools who dance, fools who watch — if you're going to be a fool, you might as well dance."
This chant, sung to the rhy
08/15–08/16
Sasayama Dekansho Festival
Sannomaru Plaza, Sasayama Castle Ruins, Tamba-Sasayama, Hyogo
"Dekansho, Dekansho, and half the year is spent." So begins the song that has defined summer in this castle town for fou
08/16–08/16
Gozan no Okuribi
Five mountains around the Higashiyama and Kitayama districts, Kyoto
Characters are drawn on the mountains in fire. Kyoto's Gozan no Okuribi takes place on the night of August 16, sending t
September 2026
1 events
09/12–09/13
Kishiwada Danjiri Festival
Kishiki Shrine and throughout the city, Kishiwada, Osaka
They take the corner at full speed. In Kishiwada, Osaka, hundreds of men race wooden floats weighing more than four tons
October 2026
2 events
10/01–11/23
MIND TRAIL Okuyamato
Yoshino, Tenkawa, Soni and the Okuyamato region, Nara
You walk through the mountains, and you look. In Okuyamato, the deep mountain region of southern Nara including Yoshino
10/14–10/15
Nada Fighting Festival
Matsubara Hachiman Shrine, Shirahama-cho, Himeji, Hyogo
They smash the shrines together on purpose. In the Nada district of Himeji, three portable shrines are slammed into one
November 2026
1 events
11/03–11/03
Izushi Pottery Festival
Izushi castle town, Toyooka, Hyogo
It is simply white. That is Izushi ware. In Izushi, part of Toyooka in Hyogo, a small castle town called the little Kyot
Year-round
Monthly (21)
Toji Kobo-ichi Flea Market
1 Kujo-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto (To-ji Temple grounds)
On the 21st of every month, the grounds of To-ji Temple become a market.
More than a thousand stalls. Antiques, old too
Daily (closed Wed)
Nishiki Market
Nishikikoji-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
It has long been called Kyoto's kitchen. Nishiki Market runs about three hundred and ninety meters under its arcade, lin
Every 2th Sat
Heian Flea Market
Okazaki Park, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Once a month, someone's past gathers in a plaza. At Okazaki Park in Kyoto, the Heian Flea Market sets up on the second S
Daily
Kuromon Market
Nipponbashi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka
People call it Osaka's kitchen. Kuromon Market stretches about five hundred and eighty meters, lined with some hundred a
Daily
Nishiawakura Local Venture Program
Nishiawakura, Aida District, Okayama
A village that did not abandon its forest is calling the young. Nishiawakura in Okayama is a small mountain village of a
Daily
Yoshino Forestry Experience
Yoshino, Yoshino District, Nara
Looking five hundred years ahead, you plant a tree. Yoshino in Nara is famous for its cherry blossoms. But it is also a
Daily
Nishijin Textile Experience
Nishijin district, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
A single thread becomes a pattern like a cosmos. Nishijin in Kyoto is the home of the luxury silk textile called Nishiji