Gaido Japan

Minato Maizuru Chatta Festival
2022-06-17 06:34 UTC
An annual festival taking place on the final weekend of July, this event finishes with a display of fireworks launched from a ship in the bay. The nearby beach provides a great vantage point and there are plenty of food stalls, games, and festival ceremonies to enjoy if you can make it for the weekend. This year there will be no citizens regatta as the pier was damaged in last year’s typhoon. The fireworks will be held on the evening of the 28th.

Nagoya Port Fireworks Festival
2022-06-17 06:29 UTC
We are yet to confirm the dates and details of this event.
Compared to other festivals around the country, with only 3,000 fireworks, the Nagoya Port Fireworks Festival seems relatively small. Despite this, the scenic location of the event and its proximity to Nagoya attract a spectator audience of approximately 370,000 people.
This festival usually takes place in mid-July, but in 2021 it was rescheduled for October to avoid a clash with the Olympics and in the hope that COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted but was eventually canceled anyway.

Ise Shrine Dedication Fireworks Festival
2022-06-17 06:25 UTC
Take a seat on the Miyakawa river in Ise for one of the three biggest fireworks festivals in Japan. There are over 10,000 fireworks to be launched and pyrotechnicians from across the country attend to show off their skills. This is a competition, so you’ll be sure to see their best efforts! There will be shuttle busses running from Uji-Yamada and Ise-shi stations in the evening too. The display begins at 7.15 pm and will be done by 9 pm. If the weather is bad enough to cancel the event, it will be held on the 14th instead.
(Lily Crossley-Baxter)

All Japan Selection Nagara River Chunichi Fireworks Display
2022-06-17 06:24 UTC
One of two huge fireworks displays on the riverbanks each summer, the All-Japan Selection is a competition between pyrotechnicians from across the country. They have entries from the Fireworks Artists Association and there is a Creative Starmine contest too. The displays from both events are considered to be the best in Japan, and there are displays during the day (from 12pm) as well, so spend your afternoon enjoying the festive atmosphere before settling down for the show. The best seats are on the Nagara riverbank between Nagara-bridge and Kinka-bridge. You can catch a bus from JR of Meitetsu Gifu Station to Nagara-bashi or Ukai-ya.

2022 Doshin/UHB Fireworks Festival
2022-06-17 06:24 UTC
We are yet to confirm the dates and details of this event.
Also known as the Toyohira River Fireworks, this fireworks festival is regarded as Hokkaido’s most popular fireworks festival.　Over the course of the evening, approximately 4,000 fireworks will light up the night sky over Sapporo. The venue for the festival will be along the Toyohiragawa river between Horohirobashi and Minamioohashi. In the event of persistent rain, the event will be rescheduled.

Ono-Hiyoshi Shrine Sanno Festival
2022-06-17 06:05 UTC
We are yet to confirm the dates and details of this event.
A large traditional festival that welcomes summer, the festivities stretch over two days and contain some great unique performances. The first day is demon payment day, aka Yahikobaba, and there is a mikoshi parade through the town. On the second day is the Lion Dance before all characters and participants are joined together at the shrine for the climax of the festival. The unusual costumes and performances have been deemed an Intangible Folk Cultural Property and are unique to the area. Although Mitsuya station is closer, you can catch a bus from JR Kanazawa Station to Ohno Center which is around 5 minutes from the festival area.
All the public performances and parades were canceled for 2020. Only the religious rites took place.

The Japan International Birdman Rally
2022-06-17
We are yet to confirm the dates and details of this event.
From a jetty jutting into Lake Biwa from the scenic Matsubara Beach in Hikone City, “bird men” – mildly insane people in human-powered flying machines – will attempt to fly as far as possible into the lake.
The event kicks off early – at 7:30 am on Day 1 (Glide aircraft decision) and at the unholy hour of 6 am on Day 2 (manpower propeller division). Some of the contestants take things very seriously while others are in it more for the comedy value.

Beppu Fire Sea Festival
2022-06-17
We are yet to confirm the dates and details of this event.
The Beppu Fire Sea Festival (Beppu hi no umi matsuri) runs over three days at the end of July culminating in one of Kyushu’s biggest fireworks displays on the final day. The festival features a yatai (open-air food stand) village, art markets, dancing, and music. The fireworks happen from 8 pm to 9 pm on the final day.

Marine Festa in Kuchinotsu
2022-06-17 00:00 UTC
We are yet to confirm the dates and details of this event.
As a port, Kuchinotsu began to flourish upon the arrival of the European traders. The town owes much to the sea so each year a Marine Festival is held. A festival is now a one-day event with stalls and entertainment during the day plus fireworks in the evening.

Wind Chimes at Hisaizu Shrine
2022-06-15 - 2022-08-31
Hisaizu Shrine is located in Iwatsuki Ward in Saitama City. It is known fondly as the “Quiz” shrine as the kanji (Chinese characters) for the shrine 久伊豆 can be read as “Ku – i – zu”. Hence many people pray there for good luck in academics. Each year in summer, the shrine has a beautiful display of wind chimes. They also have a summer season “goshuincho,” a type of special notebook for collecting the stamps or seals of shrines and temples. The wind chimes are on display from around the middle of June until the end of August. The special summer edition of the goshuincho is available during the summer months – June, July, and August. A peacock features on both the stamp and seal book because the shrine has resident peacocks. However, they kindly request that you don’t just visit the shrine to take photos of the peacocks. Also, please note that due to the Coronavirus the shrine is only open until 4 pm. The precincts are open until 7 pm.

Hydrangea Season at Yatadera Temple
2022-06-01 - 2022-07-10 | Yamatokoriyama, Nara, 3506 Yatacho, Yamatokoriyama, Nara 639-1058, Nara, 639-1058, Japan
From June 1st until July 10th each year, Nara’s Yatadera Temple opens its sprawling hydrangea garden for the public to enjoy. The hydrangeas here were originally planted back in 1965 in a space of 25,000 square meters, and they now number in excess of 10,000 plants covering 60 different varieties. As a result, it has become a favorite local rainy season flower spot! Admission to the temple grounds is priced at 500 yen for adults, and 200 yen for elementary school students.

Osaka Comic Con 2022
2022-06-01 - 2022-06-30
The enormously popular Tokyo Comic-Con (at least when it was last held in person at the end of 2019) has now sprouted a version for all the comic and celebrity fans of West Japan.
While Japan has manga and anime festivals, the emphasis is on the authors and artists. The western-style Comic Cons have a bigger emphasis on movie stars and of course western franchises—like Star Wars and the Marvel Universe. Nonetheless, one thing they have in common is a love of cosplay, so expect lots of dress-up—likely with a focus on western movie characters rather than Japanese ones.
While the Tokyo event happens in early Winter, the Osaka version is penciled in for early Summer at Intex Osaka.

Kawaii Flea Market
2022-05-29 09:30 - 15:30 UTC | Kawaii Flea Market, Sunshine City, Ikebukuro, Japan
Taking place either in Nakano or Ikebukuro, this small flea market is punted at the ladies, though, in our experience, can be a good time for all genders. Check it out for previously-loved clothing, crafts, antiques, and all sorts of other “cute” stuff.
Note: These markets, especially the Nakano-Sakaue version, can be really quiet and underwhelming. As this one doesn’t always get much traffic, things might wrap up early.
On its better days, the market features stalls by independent artists and craftspeople, or live performances.
Please note, markets are sometimes cancelled due to weather or other circumstances. Markets may also be cancelled on short notice due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.
May 29: Sunshine City, Ikebukuro
July 3: Sunshine City, Ikebukuro
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, many events have been canceled. Always check official sites before heading to an event.

Umbrella Sky at Metsa Village
2022-05-15 - 2022-08-31
Metsa, comprising Metsa Village and Moomin Valley Park, is a Moomin theme park in rural Saitama. However, it can be reached from Tokyo in just over an hour by either public transport or by car. The Umbrella Sky Project is at the main entrance to the theme park. The Umbrella Sky Project at Metsa is called “Forest, Lake, and Umbrella”. At Entrance Road, the umbrellas are backdropped by a lush forest lined with stunning purple geraniums, but you can’t see the lake until after you have passed the umbrella display. The display is made up of 1000 umbrellas in varying shades of the rainbow. They cast beautiful colored shadows onto the footpath beneath. The footpath itself is painted in vibrant shades. Together they forge a breathtaking scene. There is also a smaller display of umbrellas in the Metsa Hall, a craft and workshop area with a view of Miyazawa lake. In 2019, the umbrellas in Metsa Hall are different from those at Entrance Road. They are umbrellas of different shapes and with varying patterns and motifs on them. During the event period in 2019, you could purchase a special limited edition rainbow cheesecake at Lagom, a Smørrebrød restaurant in the market hall. In 2020, information for the crafts and limited food is not yet available, but they are adding a new section of umbrella sky down by the lake. In 2020 the umbrella sky event is on twice as long as last year. They are currently planning to start on May 15th, but there may be changes due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The entrance road display will be available on July 26th and the lakeside umbrella sky will run until August 30th. The event is free and entrance into Metsa village is free. There is a cover charge to enter Moomin Valley Park. Parking is charged on weekends.

Nitoyo Coast Rock Oyster Festival
2022-05-01 - 2022-08-31
The Nitoyo Coast stretches from the southern part of Oita Prefecture to the northern part of Miyazaki Prefecture, and it’s famous for one thing in particular – rock oysters. The oysters in this part of the country are nourished by mineral-rich seawater from the Kuroshio current and ultra-clean rainwater that flows from the region’s mountains, creating the conditions for larger, richer, and creamier oysters than in other locations. Now in its 6th year, the Nitoyo Coast Rock Oyster Festival celebrates the revered local delicacy, with several different restaurants in Saiki City, Nobeoka City, Kadogawa Town, and Hyuga City participating in the event. The 19 businesses involved can be found on the PDF flyer here (in Japanese), and there is a stamp rally with prizes available for those who dine at multiple stores during the event dates.

Pola Museum of Art 20th Anniversary Exhibition
2022-04-09 09:00 - 2022-09-06 17:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
From April 9th until September 6th, 2022, the POLA Museum of Art will host an exhibition to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the venue’s opening. The event will focus on new items in the museum’s collection, with works on display from renowned artists like Claude Monet, Henri Matisse, and Gerhard Richter to name just a few.
The museum celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2022 (Photo: Rlbberlin / CC BY-SA 3.0)
At current estimates, around 120 works will be on display at the exhibition, which will cover various artistic mediums such as paintings, sculptures, and prints.
Art by Gerhard Richter will feature at the event (Photo: Pola Museum of Art)
Adult admission to the museum is priced at ¥ 1800. For more information about the venue, visit this article on Japan Travel.

Chiyoda Sakura Festival
2025-12-20 15:10 (Asia/Tokyo)
The Chiyoda Sakura Festival is an annual springtime event that takes place from late March to early April. Held around the beautiful Chidorigafuchi moat, the festival attracts approximately one million visitors each year to admire the stunning pastel-pink scenery. In addition to viewing the cherry blossoms during the daytime, the trees and the 700-meter promenade surrounding the moat are illuminated after dark, providing a perfect setting for a scenic evening walk.
If you want to enjoy the blooms from the water, boat rides are available for 800 yen for 30 minutes or 1,600 yen per hour. You can make reservations at the boat dock (details provided on the festival’s website).
