The Best Summer Festivals in Central and West Japan!
Festivals and fireworks are the biggest highlight of Japan's hot and humid summer, so if you are visiting Japan in the summertime you need to make time to check one out. Luckily, no matter where you go in Japan, you'll be able to find everything from small, local festivals to huge, famous festivals that attract both Japanese tourists and tourists from all over the world.
In our last article, we covered festivals you can check out this summer in northern and eastern Japan (be sure to check out that article here), so this time let's take a deep dive into some of the best summer festivals in central and western Japan (plus Okinawa), including some of the most famous festivals in the whole country!
Tenjin Festival (Osaka)
The Tenjin Festival is Osaka's most famous summer festival and is considered to be one of the top festivals in Japan, so if you're in Osaka in the summer you have to check it out. The festival takes place in late July over two days and features, fireworks shows and parades full of beautifully decorated floats called yamakobo.
The parade starts at Tenmangu Shrine and while at first the procession of floats takes place on land, it eventually transitions to taking place on boats that row up and down the Okawa River. The performances and parades of over three thousand boats on the water make this festival truly unique.
The festival culminates with a huge fireworks display at the end of the parade, so be sure to stick around the festival for as long as you have time. Be warned that since this festival is so famous, it attracts thousands of people every year and can be very crowded. Still, it is absolutely worth braving the heat and the crowds to experience Osaka's premiere summer festival.
Tenjin Festival: July 24-25
For more information about the Tenjin Festival, click here.
Gion Matsuri (Kyoto)
The Gion Festival, or Gion Matsuri as it is known, is one of the most famous summer festivals in all of Japan. People from all over Japan flock to Kyoto in the summertime to take part in this festival that has a history dating back over one thousand years. Centered around the historical Gion district of Kyoto, Gion Matsuri showcases Kyoto's deep and rich cultural heritage and traditions.
The highlight of Gion Matsuri is the procession of yamakobo floats, which features grand floats that are adorned with beautiful decorations and dolls. There are also tons of pre-festival activities, food stalls, and traditional dance and music performances in the city.
Many of these processions and events take place in the evening, so if you get the chance to go to Gion Matsuri, try to stick around until after the sun goes down to truly enjoy the festivities. There are events taking place for Gion Matsuri all through July, so if you're in Japan then you should absolutely take part in this special festival.
Gion Matsuri: Throughout July
Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival (Otsu, Shiga)
Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture is Japan's largest lake and host to a dramatic, spectacular fireworks display in early August every year. During the festival, fireworks illuminate the sky above Lake Biwa, creating a beautiful and mesmerizing spectacle for the tens of thousands of people who come to see it. This fireworks festival is set to music synchronized with the fireworks and is renowned for its incredible scale compared to many other fireworks festivals in Japan.
While it is free to go see the fireworks, paid seating is also available if you don't want to deal with fighting for a great view of the fireworks, you should look into booking your spot in advance.
Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival: August 8
For more information about this festival, click here.
Kochi Yosakoi Festival (Kochi City, Kochi)
Kochi City in Shikoku (the smallest of Japan's four main islands) holds a fun and unique festival every year in August. Yosakoi is a style of group dancing that originated in Kochi, so this summer festival is all about celebrating and showcasing this colorful, fun dance. Over two-hundred teams of dancers and musicians from Japan and abroad, wearing bright costumes and playing traditional instruments, fill the streets of Kochi with music and dance for the length of the festival. If unique traditional music and dance excite you, this might be the best festival for you to check out in Japan this summer.
Kochi Yosakoi Festival: August 9-12
For more information about this festival, click here.
Naruto City Awa Odori (Naruto, Tokushima)
Awa Odori in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture is held in August every year. On the 7th, before the festival is in full swing, a fireworks display is held by a riverbank. Two days later, you'll be able to enjoy food stalls, drum performances, parades, and large local dance performances as well. This is a big festival that locals and tourists alike love, so if you're looking to enjoy the local charm of Tokushima, try checking out this festival.
Naruto City Awa Odori: August 7 (Fireworks), 9-12
For more information about the festival, click here (Japanese site).
Matsue Suigo Festival (Matsue, Shimane)
The Matsue Suigo Festival in Shimane Prefecture is one of the biggest fireworks festivals in all of Japan, but the festival itself features many different activities and events worth checking out. One highlight is a procession of floats called dashi that parade through the streets, and you'll also be able to see traditional dances, listen to musical performances and grab something to eat at local food stalls. During the fireworks display, fireworks are launched from the water and from the shore, lighting up the sea and sky with brilliant colors. If you're exploring Shimane in western Japan, be sure to stop in Matsue for this festival.
Matsue Suigo Festival: August 5-6
For more information about the festival, click here.
Hakata Gion Yamasaka Festival (Fukuoka City, Fukuoka)
Hakata Gion Yamasaka Festival takes place in Hakata, a central hub in Fukuoka City, located on Japan's westernmost main island of Kyushu. It's a big, famous festival that takes place over two weeks in July and fills the streets of Hakata with massive floats called yamakasa. These gigantic wooden floats are carried through the street by teams and often depict historic or mythical events in Japanese culture. This festival has over four hundred years of history and is one of the most looked-forward-to events in Fukuoka in the summer.
Hakata Gion Yamasaka Festival: July 1-15
For more information about the festival, click here.
Kagoshima Kinko Bay Summer Night Fireworks Festival (Kagoshima City, Kagoshima)
This is a big summer fireworks festival held in Kagoshima City, located in southern Kyushu. Set against the backdrop of Kinko Bay, you'll be able to watch a dazzling display of fireworks of all kinds of different shapes and colors, set to music to create a breathtaking spectacle.
Kagoshima Kinko Bay Summer Night Fireworks Festival: August 19
For more information about the fireworks festival, click here.
Okinawa Zento Eisa Festival (Okinawa Prefecture)
This is a large-scale festival that brings together people from all over every one of Okinawa's islands. The festival is held to commemorate eisa, a traditional dance unique to Okinawa. The dance is performed to the beat of drums and the sounds of the sanshin, an Okinawan three-stringed instrument. The main events take place at Koza Sports Park in Okinawa City, where eisa dance teams from all across Okinawa's islands come together to perform their unique versions of eisa. The festival culminates in a fireworks display, finishing off three days of celebrating the culture that makes Okinawa truly unique.
Okinawa Zento Eisa Festival: September 8-10
For more information about the festival, click here.
From the tourist-filled streets of Kyoto during Gion Matsuri to the shores of Kagoshima, there are so many fantastic summer festivals to check out in central and western Japan. No matter what festival you visit in the summer in Japan, you're bound to have a fantastic time and create some wonderful memories to take home with you.
