All festivals

Festivals in Japan in July

Dates are computed from each festival’s rule, so future years work too

14

• 1–31 July 2027Kyoto

  Gion Matsuri

  祇園祭

  A month-long rite of Yasaka Shrine, begun to quell an epidemic.

• 1–15 July 2027Fukuoka

  Hakata Gion Yamakasa

  博多祇園山笠

  Kushida Shrine's rite, ending at dawn on the 15th as one-tonne floats are run through the city.

• 6–7 July 2027Niigata

  Murakami Taisai Festival

  村上大祭

  The grand festival of Senami Haguro Shrine in Murakami, Niigata. Nineteen oshagiri, lacquered festival carts decorated with carved red lacquerware, roll through the old castle town to the music of the children riding them. Held every year with the eve festival on 6 July and the main festival on 7 July.

• 14 July 2027Wakayama

  Nachi Fire Festival

  那智の扇祭り

  Every 14 July the deities of Kumano Nachi Taisha are carried down to the Nachi waterfall in twelve tall, fan-covered portable shrines, while twelve great torches purify the path before them with fire.

• 16–18 July 2027Chiba

  Sawara Grand Festival (Summer)

  佐原の大祭 夏祭り(八坂神社祇園祭)

  Ten floats crowned with giant figures are hauled through the old merchant streets of Sawara to the sound of Sawara-bayashi festival music. The Gion festival of Yasaka Shrine, held for three days from the first Friday on or after 10 July.

• 20–22 July 2027Saitama

  Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival

  熊谷うちわ祭

  Kumagaya’s summer festival for its Yasaka Shrine, said to be the greatest Gion festival in the Kantō region. Twelve floats roll through the town centre and face off in tatakiai, battles of festival music. Held every year from 20 to 22 July.

• 20 and 27 July 2027Shimane

  Tsuwano Heron Dance (Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival)

  津和野の鷺舞(弥栄神社祇園祭)

  The Gion Festival of Yasaka Shrine in Tsuwano, Shimane, at which a male and a female heron, white wings on their backs, dance to drums, flutes and song at fixed spots around the old castle town. Handed down from Kyoto’s Gion festival, it is said to preserve the dance’s old form better than anywhere else. The herons dance on two days each year: 20 July, when the shrine’s portable shrine goes out to its resting place in town, and 27 July, when it returns.

• 23–25 July 2027Hokkaido

  Otaru Ushio Festival

  おたる潮まつり

  A port city turned its own history into a dance, and spectators become dancers.

• 23–25 July 2027Tochigi

  Karasuyama Yamaage Festival

  烏山山あげ祭

  The summer festival of Yakumo Shrine in Nasukarasuyama, Tochigi, and the largest travelling open-air theatre in Japan. Young men raise by hand a towering backdrop “mountain” made of washi paper painted with landscapes, and in front of it local dancers perform Kabuki dance to tokiwazu music; the whole stage moves to a new spot in town for each show. Held every year over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday that include the fourth Saturday of July.

• 24–25 July 2027Osaka

  Tenjin Matsuri

  天神祭

  Osaka Tenmangū's rite, with a river procession of boats and fireworks over the water.

• 24–25 July 2027Aichi

  Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival

  尾張津島天王祭

  The river festival of Tsushima Shrine, said to have been held for nearly 600 years. On a summer night five boats hung with great half-domes of lanterns are rowed across the pond in Tennōgawa Park; the next morning they return transformed into danjiri boats carrying Noh figures. Held every year on the fourth Saturday of July (the evening festival) and the following Sunday (the morning festival).

• 31 July 2027 – 4 August 2027Aomori

  Hachinohe Sansha Taisai

  八戸三社大祭

  The joint festival of three shrines in central Hachinohe. Behind the shrine processions come floats up to eleven metres tall, rebuilt every year, that unfold their mechanical scenery as they move through the town. Held every year from 31 July to 4 August.

• 31 July 2027Tokyo

  Sumida River Fireworks Festival

  隅田川花火大会

  Tokyo’s great summer fireworks display, heir to the Edo-period Ryōgoku river-opening fireworks. Some 20,000 shells go up from two launch sites on the Sumida River around Asakusa, including a competition between ten fireworks makers. Held every year on the last Saturday of July.

• 31 July 2027 – 1 August 2027Mie

  Kuwana Ishidori Festival

  桑名石取祭

  The festival of Kuwana Sōja Shrine, also called Kasuga Shrine, in Kuwana, Mie. Some forty lavishly decorated festival carts, each carrying gongs and drums, are pulled round the town beating them day and night, earning it the name “the noisiest festival in Japan”. Held every year on the first Sunday of August, the main day, and the Saturday before.