TODAY01
AUG 1–7, 2026
Aomori Nebuta Festival
Huge illuminated floats, dancers and festival music move through central Aomori, ending with a daytime parade and evening marine procession.
Aomori travel guide →- WHEN
- The eve program runs 17:00–21:00 on Aug 1. Night parades start at 19:00 on Aug 2–3 and 18:45 on Aug 4–6; the Aug 7 finale begins at 13:00, followed by the marine procession and fireworks from 19:15.
- WHERE
- Central Aomori City and Aomori Port
- ACCESS
- The parade route is about a 10-minute walk from JR Aomori Station.
- TICKETS
- Roadside viewing is free. Reserved seating for Aug 2–6 is limited and sold until allocation runs out.
- PLAN IT WELL
- Treat accommodation and intercity rail as the first booking, not the final detail.
Official event information ↗SOON02
AUG 3–6, 2026
Akita Kanto Festival
Performers balance towering lantern poles shaped like glowing ears of rice along Kanto Odori in central Akita.
Akita travel guide →- WHEN
- Evening entry begins around 18:45; performances start from 19:10 or 19:15 and finish by 21:00.
- WHERE
- Kanto Odori, central Akita City
- ACCESS
- Walk from Akita Station; road closures begin before the evening performance.
- TICKETS
- Street viewing is possible, while reserved seats range from bench seating to premium box plans.
- PLAN IT WELL
- Arrive before the road closure and keep your return route flexible after the crowd disperses.
Official event information ↗SOON03
AUG 6–8, 2026
Sendai Tanabata Festival
Several-meter-long handmade streamers transform Sendai’s covered shopping arcades into one of Japan’s largest Tanabata celebrations.
Miyagi travel guide →- WHEN
- Decorations and related programs run across all three days; the main arcades are busiest from late morning into evening.
- WHERE
- Central Sendai shopping arcades
- ACCESS
- The main display area begins within walking distance of Sendai Station.
- TICKETS
- The street displays require no ticket. Workshops and special experiences may be first-come or separately booked.
- PLAN IT WELL
- Walk early for clearer views, then return after dark for a different atmosphere.
Official event information ↗PLAN NOW04
AUG 11–15, 2026
Tokushima Awa Odori
Dance groups called ren fill central Tokushima with drums, flutes and the unmistakable rhythm of Shikoku’s best-known summer festival.
Tokushima travel guide →- WHEN
- A special pre-event program is scheduled on Aug 11; the main city dance performances run Aug 12–15, with the largest street activity in the evening.
- WHERE
- Performance grounds and streets around central Tokushima
- ACCESS
- Most central venues are reached on foot from Tokushima Station; expect traffic controls.
- TICKETS
- Some street areas are free; paid performance-ground seats are sold separately and popular sessions can sell out.
- PLAN IT WELL
- Reserve lodging and transport before choosing seats—the Obon travel period is busy nationwide.
Official event information ↗PLAN NOW05
AUG 16, 2026
Gozan Okuribi Bonfires
Five enormous bonfire forms are lit across Kyoto’s surrounding mountains in a solemn Obon ritual for guiding ancestral spirits.
Kyoto travel guide →- WHEN
- The first fire is scheduled from 20:00, followed by the remaining mountains in sequence.
- WHERE
- Visible from selected areas across northern and central Kyoto
- ACCESS
- Choose one viewing area before the evening; public transport and river approaches become crowded.
- TICKETS
- No general admission ticket is required. Private viewing programs and hotel plans are separate.
- PLAN IT WELL
- Do not enter the bonfire hills. Follow crowd controls and prepare carefully for heat after sunset.
Official event information ↗AUTUMN06
OCT 7–9, 2026
Nagasaki Kunchi
Dragon dances, floats and performances shaped by Nagasaki’s Japanese, Chinese and European history animate venues across the city.
Nagasaki travel guide →- WHEN
- Performances take place over three days; detailed venue times are published closer to the festival.
- WHERE
- Suwa Shrine and performance areas across Nagasaki City
- ACCESS
- Use trams and walking between central venues, allowing extra time for temporary crowd controls.
- TICKETS
- Official viewing seats are limited. Free performances may also be staged at station and city locations.
- PLAN IT WELL
- Stay centrally and build the day around one priority performance rather than trying to chase every venue.
Official event information ↗AUTUMN07
OCT 9–10, 2026
Takayama Autumn Festival
Eleven ornate yatai floats, mechanical puppets and a lantern-lit evening procession celebrate the season around Sakurayama Hachimangu.
Gifu travel guide →- WHEN
- Float displays and processions run across both days; the lantern-lit evening event is on Oct 9, weather permitting.
- WHERE
- Sakurayama Hachimangu and Takayama’s historic streets
- ACCESS
- The main area is walkable from Takayama Station; streets become congested around performances.
- TICKETS
- Street viewing is generally open, but Takayama accommodation becomes difficult to secure well ahead.
- PLAN IT WELL
- Book the hotel first and keep a weather-flexible plan because float events can change in rain.
Official event information ↗