Japan Festival Calendar 2027 — Every Major Matsuri, With Dates
The confirmed 2027 dates for Japan’s biggest festivals, season by season, with the three that are not announced yet.
Most Japanese festivals fall on the same calendar dates every year; a few are set each spring. This page lists the 2027 dates with the official source for each. For which season suits your trip, see the seasons and festivals guide.
February to May
Winter and Spring 2027
Sapporo fills its hotels first: the Snow Festival runs over a national holiday.
| Festival | City | 2027 dates | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo Snow Festival Source: |
Sapporo, Hokkaido | February 4–11, 2027 | Odori, Tsudome and Susukino sites; five large snow sculptures at Odori |
| Takayama Spring Festival (Sanno Matsuri) Source: |
Takayama, Gifu | April 14–15, 2027 | Night floats on the 14th only, 18:00–20:30, with marionette performances |
Trip.com lists hotels and ryokan in every festival city, with prices in your currency.
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July and August
Summer 2027
Kyoto in July and Aomori and Tokushima in August are the hardest nights of the year to find a room.
| Festival | City | 2027 dates | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gion Matsuri (Yamahoko Junko) Source: |
Kyoto | July 17 and July 24, 2027 | Yoiyama evenings run July 14–16 and July 21–23 before each parade |
| Tenjin Matsuri Source: |
Osaka | July 24–25, 2027 | Land procession on the 25th, then boats on the Okawa river and fireworks after dark |
| Aomori Nebuta Matsuri Source: |
Aomori | August 2–7, 2027 | Evening runs August 2–6; on the 7th the floats run by day, then go out on the water with fireworks |
| Awa Odori Source: |
Tokushima | August 12–15, 2027 | Tokushima’s four-day dance festival, the largest event in the prefecture |
Sapporo, Kyoto, Aomori and Tokushima rooms sell out first. Hold one with free cancellation.
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October to December
Autumn and Winter 2027
Jidai Matsuri and the Kurama Fire Festival fall on the same day in Kyoto, October 22.
| Festival | City | 2027 dates | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takayama Autumn Festival (Hachiman Matsuri) Source: |
Takayama, Gifu | October 9–10, 2027 | Lantern-lit floats move through the old town on the evening of the 9th, 18:15–20:30 |
| Nada no Kenka Matsuri Source: |
Himeji, Hyogo | October 14–15, 2027 | On the 15th three portable shrines are crashed together from around midday |
| Jidai Matsuri Source: |
Kyoto | October 22, 2027 | A 2 km procession of about 2,000 people sets off at noon; postponed if it rains |
| Kurama Fire Festival Source: |
Kyoto | October 22, 2027 | From 18:00; roads from Kibuneguchi to Kurama Onsen close to cars at 15:00 and car parks shut, so come by train |
| Chichibu Night Festival Source: |
Chichibu, Saitama | December 2–3, 2027 | On the night of the 3rd, floats of up to 20 tonnes are hauled up Dango-zaka under fireworks |
Trip.com lists hotels and ryokan in every festival city, with prices in your currency.
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Three festivals set their 2027 dates later
Dates Not Announced Yet
Book a room you can cancel, then fix your plan when the dates are published.
| Festival | City | 2027 dates | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival Source: |
Hirosaki, Aomori | Not announced — usually mid-April to May 5 | Lit up from sunset to 22:00; a full circuit of Hirosaki Park takes about two hours |
| Sanja Matsuri Source: |
Asakusa, Tokyo | Not announced — usually the Friday to Sunday of mid-May | About 1.8 million people over three days, the busiest weekend of the year in Asakusa |
| Sumida River Fireworks Source: |
Tokyo | Not announced — usually a Saturday in late July | Cancelled outright in bad weather; the organiser announces it on the day |
Sapporo, Kyoto, Aomori and Tokushima rooms sell out first. Hold one with free cancellation.
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Rooms first, then trains, then the seat
How to Book Around a Festival
Festival nights sell out months before the rest of the year does.
- Rooms, 4–6 months ahead: book the festival city first, with free cancellation while your dates move.
- Trains, once dates are fixed: reserved Shinkansen seats open one month before travel and go fast on festival weekends.
- Seats and tours, last: paid viewing seats and guided tours appear a few months ahead and sell out.
Two festival cities in one trip? A JR Pass pays off on multi-city Shinkansen trips.
Guided festival day trips and small-group tours across Japan on Viator.
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Dates, crowds and booking
