Japanese festivals are always fun to take part in, but it’s extra special when you manage to squeeze your way into an Omatsuri during the summer. Despite the sweltering heat and the humid breeze wafting around everyone, summer festivals in Japan brighten up the atmosphere with an explosion of vibrant colors and sounds. Visiting a Japanese summer festival should definitely be one of your priorities in your travel itinerary!
But which summer festival to visit? There are hundreds of unique traditional and modern Japanese festivals that take place during the summer. Well, don’t worry! Oishi and our team visited quite a number of festivals in Japan and we’ve managed to whittle down a list of the best omatsuri to visit this summer. Put on your fave yukata and let’s strut down to the matsuri!
Gion Matsuri
• Date: Entire July
• Address: 2-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0041
This is the most famous festival in all of Japan! The Gion Matsuri is a festival that dates back over a thousand years, starting in 869 AD. It lasts for the entire month of July in Kyoto, with the main events taking place on July 17 and 24. Festival goers will find all sorts of events and activities in the Gion Matsuri, from prayers to processions.
The main highlight of the Gion Matsuri, though, is the Yamaboko Junko, the main parade that's not only ostentatious and grand, but it's also so culturally significant that it's been registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Taking place over two days, this spectacular parade features massive and breathtaking human-pulled wooden floats. Some stand 25 meters tall and weigh 12 tons, with all of them being built entirely without nails!
Nebuta Matsuri
• Date: August
• Address: Aomori Chamber of Commerce Hall 4F, 1-2-18 Shinmachi, Aomori City, Aomori 030-0801
A Tanabata-related summer festival, the Nebuta Matsuri is held in Aomori City every year from August 2-7. This Japanese festival is mesmerizing with a daily parade of enormous lantern floats lighting the streets while being escorted by taiko drummers, musicians, and dancers. The floats are epic! Made of washi paper, they can be up to nine meters wide and five meters tall, often showcasing Japanese gods, historical figures, and mythical beings.
Every night during the Nebuta Matsuri, the massive lantern floats are wheeled out onto the streets by sheer human power, weaving back and forth while spinning around for the crowd. People are encouraged to participate in the parade, with many inviting onlookers to come and dance. If you want to join in the fun, don't forget to wear the haneto dancing costume - you can find it around Aomori in grocery stores as well as rental shops!
Tenjin Matsuri
• Date: Late July
• Address: 2-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0041
Taking place in Osaka in late July, the Tenjin Matsuri is one of the rare Japanese festivals to combine both land and water. The first day of the matsuri is a warm-up to the main event, which happens on the second day. This main celebration includes a land parade and a river procession combined with a grand fireworks display right at the end of the festivities!
Just like the Gion Matsuri, the Tenjin Matsuri has a rich history starting in the 10th century, It honors Sugawara Michizane, the main diety of Tenmangu shrine. During the festival, you'll find drummers wearing red hats, characters ni csotume, umbrella dancers, and festive music. Once the celebrants reach Okawa river, the participants board festival boats and the parade continues!
Awa Odori
• Date: August 12-15
• Address: Takes place at various locations in the city, but the main event is in central Tokushima
This Japanese festival is one of the most popular dance festivals in Japan. "Awa" in Awa Odori was the original name for the Tokushima prefecture. "Odori" is the Japanese word for dance. During the festival, roads in Tokushima are closed while groups of dancers or Ren are allowed to perform on the streets. Traditional instrument musicians accompany these dancers as they make their way through.
Running from August 12 to 15 each year, the Awa Odori gathers massive crowds from all around Japan. Amateur dancers and professional dancers both participate in the celebration, but experienced dancers always steal the spotlight with their complicated choreography!
Tanabata Matsuri
• Date: August 6-8
• Address: Ichiban-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0811
Tanabata Festivals or star festivals commemorate the crossing paths of the stars Altair and Vega in Chinese legend. Because of calendar differences, these matsuris can only happen in the summer in either July or August. The largest and most famous star festival in Japan is the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri, which is held from August 6-8 each year.
During the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri, visitors will find events taking place at various locations during the festival, including stage performances, live music, dancing, food stalls, and fireworks. However, one of the highlights of the matsuri is the colorful streamers that the people hang in the shopping centers in Sendai.
Sanno Matsuri
• Date: Dates and times vary from year to year
• Address: 2-10-5 Nagatachō, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0014
One of the three biggest and most popular matsuri of Tokyo, the Sanno Festival has a full and partial version that happens in certain years. The full version occurs on even-numbered years while the partial version happens in odd-numbered years. Taking place over 11 days in the middle of June, the festival includes huge parades that honor the deity of the Hie shrine, the guardian of Tokyo.
Yosh! There you have it. These are some of the most notable festivals in Japan that you definitely have to visit during the summer. Starting from the famous Gion Matsuri and ending with the Sanno Matsuri in Tokyo, these festivals are all worth visiting during the hottest months of Japan. Not only are they bright and colorful and festive, but you’ll also learn a whole lot about the intricacies of Japanese culture!
Which festival do you think you’d head to during your Japanese summer getaway? Would you take part in the Gion Matsuri? Maybe you’re more into the lantern show of the Nebuta Matsuri? For us, we’d probably go with the Tenjin Matsuri because it includes land and water. Let us know which festival you like best in the comment section below!
