Immersive Museum
2022-07-08 - 2022-10-29
There’s no doubt that the evolution of technology has presented new opportunities in the art world. Tokyo-based favorites like TeamLab Borderless and TeamLab Planets are just a couple of examples of immersive, technology-based art exhibitions, and this summer there will be a new addition to the city’s repertoire. The Immersive Museum is scheduled to run from July 8th until October 29th, and the event incorporates technology to bring works by Impressionist painters to life.
Photo: Immersive Museum Executive Committee
Some of the artists whose works will be digitized include Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, and Edgar Degas, and part of the event’s philosophy is changing art from something to be appreciated into something that should be experienced. Event tickets are estimated to be available from June, and admission is priced at ¥ 2500 for adults, ¥ 1500 for junior high, high school, and university students, and free for those elementary-aged and below.

Narita Gion Matsuri
2022-07-08 10:00 - 2022-07-10 17:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | Narita, Chiba, Narita, Chiba 286-0023, Chiba, 286-0023, Japan
For three days in July, for the last 300 years, the people of Narita and surrounding towns have gathered in the plaza in front of Shinshoji Temple in Narita to celebrate summer planting and ask for blessings from the Buddha Dainichi Nyorai. This festival is of course solemn in parts, but exuberant and boisterous day and night. The festival begins after midday on the first day with a blessing ceremony and a rally of the festival float bearers before they parade around the city. The festival floats are spectacular – exquisite woodwork, sumptuous draperies, and a company of musicians, bearers, and dancers in colorful costumes accompany each. The festival continues into the evenings, with lights on the floats and participants bearing lanterns. Each day has traditional dance and processions. Be careful not to get crushed by the floats in the steep and narrow streets of Narita, and make a way when you hear the chants and drums. If you need a breather, retreat to Naritasan Park where the fountains and ponds are tranquil and cool. During the festival street food is abundant. If you prefer a proper meal, don’t miss the local specialty, grilled eel served in many shops and best represented by Kawatoyo, a popular restaurant on the main road.

Hiratsuka Tanabata
2022-07-08 10:00 - 2022-07-10 20:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | Hiratsuka Kanagawa, Hiratsuka JR Station Takarachō 1-1 Hiratsuka Kanagawa 254 - 0034, Kanagawa, 254 - 0034, Japan
This is a celebration of the Tanabata legend, which originated in China. There are several interpretations of the legend but this is how the story is commonly told in Japan: Orihime, the daughter of the Emperor of the Universe Tentei, was a talented weaver, but after years of working hard to please her father she realized that she had been so busy weaving that she hadn’t had time to meet a lover. After seeing how sad his daughter was, the Emperor arranged for her to marry Prince Hikoboshi from the other side of the great river, made by the Milky Way. Orihime and the prince fell deeply in love, but Orihime started to neglect her weaving. The Emperor became infuriated with his daughter and banished Hikoboshi back to the other side of the river, but after seeing how sad his daughter was without the prince by her side, he decided to let the couple meet once a year, on the night of July the 7th. This would be the night each year that they, the two stars, could meet. However, on the night of their first reunion, Orihime realized that she could not cross the river by herself. A flock of Magpies heard her cries and formed a bridge for her to cross. It is said that if there is rain on the night of 7th July, the magpies can’t help Orihime, so the lovers cannot meet for another year. Each July people hope for clear skies. Japanese people celebrate Tanabata by making offerings and writing their own wishes onto strips of colored paper, before tying them to bamboo branches. Traditionally these branches were sent down the river at the end of the festival period, but Tanabata has grown so much over the past few years that this tradition has been stopped in favor of cleaner water. Event Report I step out of the train station to the smell of grilled seafood skewers, takoyaki, and teriyaki batter baking with its sugary sweet bean filling. Sellers cling on to clusters of bobbing Hello Kitty and Anpan-man balloons, and the usually quiet streets are overflowing with festival-goers. Music blares from each of the street-facing bars, while in contrast, traditional Japanese singing floats down from the loudspeakers. Sellers call out to the passers-by with infectious energy and enthusiasm. From the busy street, I look up at the streamers of luminous yellow, pink, gold, and blue, filling the sky as they blow in the wind. The decorations hang from every streetlight, rooftop, and overhead line, each competing to be the biggest and most colorful on display. This year it is hot and the streets are full of people in high spirits after a long day spent eating and drinking in the sun. Families have gathered and are filling up on meat skewers and sugary treats. Children fish for prizes while each moment is caught on camera. Couples and friends have met to eat and drink, on the streets full of life, pausing to write their wishes, before adding them to the streams of other people’s hopes and dreams. I spoke to a local bar owner, Senri Miura, who also runs a website for the festival. “Many people here look forward to seeing the decoration of the festival each year, with their hero from sports or drama, traditional motifs like Samurai and Kabuki, and current events or political relations such as Hayabusa’s return. Local people look forward to the festival’s food and drink. I especially like the nighttime illuminations, which are so romantic and beautiful.” This tradition is the perfect excuse for an early summer celebration. It’s a time for people from miles around to set out in their summer yukata and take to the streets in high festival spirits. Hiratsuka Tanabata is a festival of fun, sentimentality, and optimism, all in eager anticipation of the approaching festival season.

Slug Festival
2022-07-09 | Nakatsugawa-shi, Gifu-ken, 683 Kashimo, Nakatsugawa-shi, Gifu-ken, Gifu, Gifu, 508-0421, Japan
Japan has great festivals ranging from fight festivals and firework festivals to ones celebrating fertility and scaring children into being good. In the little sleepy village of Kashimo in Nakatsugawa is one about slugs. Yes, slimy slugs. Though it is not a wildly famous festival nor does it garnish much attention except locals and within the prefecture, it has a story that captures the imagination. To me, it is just a great story. Between the Heian and Kamakura Periods, Kashimo’s northern district of Ogo, what locals call ojatta-mura, had a small garrison of soldiers with the duty of protecting the sacred forest and Japanese cypress used for building palaces, castles, temples and shrines from the surrounding daimyo of Takayama and Naegi. Moritoo Endo, a soldier stationed in Kashimo had fallen in love with his friend’s wife, Kesa-gozen. He approached her and began to win her affection. He wanted to have her for himself eventually convincing her to go to him. But to do that they would need to remove the husband, Moritoo’s friend. One day Kesa-gozen said, “come to my house at midnight of July 9th (old calendar). My husband will be sleeping alone so you can kill him. Then I can be with you.” Moritoo went to the house, snuck in, and cut off the head of his sleeping friend. But the next day, news came that someone had killed his friend’s wife! Kesa-gozen had tricked Moritoo and taken her husband’s futon. She had sacrificed herself to save her husband. To atone for his sin, Moritoo became a monk and later became the priest of high virtue known as Mongaku-shounin. After Moritoo died, a slug began appearing on the evening of July 9th; the day Kesa-gozen died. They say the slug is the reincarnation of Kesa-gozen. This was denoted by the black line on the back which is said to be the sword scar. Moritoo had served his apprenticeship, therefore, his sin was forgiven by Kesa-gozen. Zoom forward to the present; on the evening of the festival, the street is lined with torches and stalls selling festival fare. Taiko drums play and people are jovial. The current monk, a young man in his mid-thirties from the main temple now located in the center of the community, walks up to the tomb and the people bow in silence as a prayer is said. As he speaks, slugs led by one large slug wearing a long black mark on its back climb all over the tomb while people scramble to see this mystery of nature. I have attended this festival a dozen times. The sleepy little hamlet is transformed into a field of lanterns and all the people come out to commune. But most amazing is the slugs; no one collects them to spread, they just appear there every year on that day to be with the forbidden love.

Miraikan Anniversary Free Admission Day
2022-07-09 10:00 - 17:00 UTC | Miraikan – The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Miraikan - The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
To celebrate their anniversary, the Museum of Emerging Science and Technology (Miraikan) opens their doors for free on July 9th. They have a few different free entry days based on age, but this one is open to everyone. Note that if this day falls on a Tuesday (their regular closing day) it won’t take place. The other days are:
Free entry for everyone on the Friday and Saturday of Science Week (April)
Free entry for everyone on the Saturday of Education and Culture Week (Nov)
Free for under 18s every Saturday and on Children’s Day (May 5th)
Free for over 65s on Respect the Aged Day (Sept 18th)
Regular admission is ¥620.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, many events have been canceled. Always check official sites before heading to an event.

July Grand Sumo Tournament (Nagoya)
2022-07-10 - 2022-07-24 | Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Japan
Held every July, this is the fourth of Japan’s six annual Sumo Tournaments, known as honbasho. With sumo rankings released a few weeks before, it’s a chance to see the traditional sport up close and personal. While the fights are broadcast on NHK, nothing beats the atmosphere of the tense final matches of the day, complete with cushion-throwing and cheers. Seating is divided into box seating – tatami areas seating four people which start at about ¥38,000 and arena seats which start from around ¥3,800.
Sumo matches take place throughout the day and you can leave to grab food before returning. The busiest times are as you may expect—weekends and towards the end of the tournament.
If you’re not here during a tournament but still want to see some sumo action, here are a few ways to make it happen in Tokyo.
(JC Team)
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, many events have been canceled. Always check official sites before heading to an event.

Mizudome-no-mai
2022-07-10
Mizudome-no-mai is a traditional spiritual event that is known to “stop rain”, which has been around for about 680 years. It takes place after the rainy season is well and truly over, which heralds the beginning of summer. People at Mizudome-no-mai blow a conch shell and wear the mask of a lion as they dedicate their dance to the dragon god.

Nagoya Grand Sumo July Tournament
2022-07-10 10:00 - 2022-07-24 17:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
Sumo is lauded as the national sport of Japan and six times every year, around Japan, tournaments (honbasho) are held in various parts of the country. The Nagoya-basho is held in July at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, located right next to Nagoya Castle. Each honbasho lasts 15 days. During this period, wrestlers fight in a round-robin style organized by the sumo guilds. It’s a chance to see some of the best Japanese sportsmanship the country has to offer! Event Report Sumo’s first tournament of the new Reiwa era saw a number of fascinating stories, but perhaps none more so than the surprise victory by the young wrestler, Asanoyama. The first rank-and-file wrestler in almost 60 years to win a tournament, Asanoyama will be looking to justify his success with more of the same in the Nagoya tournament in July. Freshly promoted ozeki, Takakeisho, is on the rebound from his injury-forced withdrawal in Tokyo while the ever-popular Georgian wrestler Tochinoshin will be breathing a sigh of relief after overcoming some controversial judging in his successful bid to reclaim sumo’s second-highest ozeki rank. Along with newly energized wrestlers like Abi and Ryuden who have surged up the rankings, the ever enigmatic behemoth Ichinojo and Hakuho, the greatest sumo wrestler of all time, July’s Nagoya tournament is shaping up to be another must-see event in Japan. Check the official website for ticketing information.

Mitama Festival
2022-07-13 10:00 - 2022-07-16 17:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
The Yasukuni Shrine is notable for many things: its history, its purpose, and the intense political controversy surrounding it. For a few nights each summer, however, many people put aside their political stances and enjoy the wonderful Mitama Festival. “Mitama” is a respectful word that means “the soul of a dead person” in Japanese, and this “Soul Festival” honors just that. The Yasukuni Shrine is dedicated to honoring of the souls of those who gave their lives to defend Japan, and this festival is an early step towards the Japanese holiday season of Obon, during which Japanese people honor their deceased ancestors. The festival is held yearly from July 13 to July 16, which can be somewhat problematic when those dates fail to fall on a weekend. It began in 1947 and remains one of Tokyo’s biggest Obon celebrations. During the day, there are numerous performances on a stage set up in the shrine area, including dancers and taiko drumming. There are also many staples of Japanese festivals, such as a long line of food stands (which I think is a bit more comprehensive than at most other festivals), some carnival-style games for prizes, and even a haunted house. A team of dancers leads the audience in a simple dance around another circular stage. The best part of the festival comes alive at night, however, when the more than 30,000 yellow lanterns lining the main road of the shrine are lit up in spectacular fashion, creating a feeling as if you were walking in a dream. Teams carry portable Shinto shrines called mikoshi through the dense crowds, chanting and cheering. A marching band performs a stirring rendition of the Japanese national anthem. And, at the height of the excitement, two spotlights form a criss-cross through the large torii gate at the shrine’s entrance. There is a very unique feeling at this event that I have never experienced at other Japanese festivals – one of intense pride and respect for the people and country of Japan. It is simultaneously festive and meaningful. Though perhaps not the most exciting festival in terms of activities, the Mitama Festival has an atmosphere of something very uniquely Japanese that is a must-do for those who want an authentic experience.

Noda Tsukumai
2022-07-14 - 2022-07-31
In the Tone River area, every summer in just a few towns acrobats performs a curious centuries-old ritual that is sure to astound locals and visitors alike. This is Tsukumai, a rite meant to invite rains to bless agriculture. Noda City begins its summer festival season in the city center with this acrobat dance ritual. In the evening, participants assemble at Atago Shrine for a blessing and then proceed to the parking lot at Kikkoman headquarters. Here, a tall pole is prepared, and costumed acrobats climb the pole, perform a ritual of firing arrows, do some amazing moves, and slide down a rope from the pillar to conclude the rite. Long before the Tone and Edo Rivers were tamed, the courses were unpredictable and caused feast and famine. The performers wear distinctive costumes and frog masks on their heads said to harken back to a legend of a giant frog who swallowed flood waters and gushed water in droughts. This spectacular rite remembers those times and the legendary creature.

Introducing Noh & Kyogen
2022-07-14 13:00 - 15:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
Over 700 years old, noh theatre interspersed with the comic performances of kyogen, is the world’s oldest theatre art. Enigmatically beautiful, both theatre styles maintain their appeal with a unique combination of cultural story, dance, music and costume. The National Noh Theatre in Tokyo, established in 1983, is one of the nation’s major traditional theatre halls and hosts performances of both the stylised drama of noh and the comic relief of kyogen. Both monthly regular performances and special performances are held here as well as unique ‘dissemination performances’ where various noh and kyogen plays are introduced and commentated on. Various On May 14th, the theatre will be staging a Dissemination Performance to help promote the art with commentary of the kyogen play, Fuji Matsu (The Fuji Pine) and the noh play Kosode Soga (The Soga Robe). Fuji Matsu, performed by the Izumi School, is the story of the humorous tit-for-tat desperation of a less than witty master trying to get his hands on his servant’s lovely potted plant and the servant’s attempts to prevent that. Kosode Soga, performed by the Kanze School, is part of the revenge story of the famed Soga brothers as they visit their mother to mend a family rift. The theatre has seating for 627 guests with tickets available from JPY3,000 (discounts available for students). A bonus for visitors is that both English and Japanese subtitles are available on the backs of each seat, making such dissemination performances a great way to experience one of Japan’s truly unique cultural treasures. Please refer to the National Noh Theatre website for more information.

Natsu Biraki Music Festival, Tokyo
2022-07-15 - 2022-07-24
Natsu Biraki Music Festival in Tokyo will be held at the Arena Tachikawa Tachihi in Tachikawa. Hugely popular, mid-July music event held over three days has grown immensely over the last decade. The festival features many of Japan’s most engagingly independent artists and is based on the idea that suburban locations can be attractive to everyone. Parents with children are very much catered for with nursing and changing rooms available as well play areas and activities like yoga and painting for the whole family. Making it easier on parents, the organisers have wisely made it free for children under 12 years of age. With single and multiple day passes available, please check the official website for pricing details.

Windmill Sunflower Garden
2022-07-15 - 2022-08-15
From Saturday, July 10th until Sunday, August 1st, Chiba’s Sakura Furusato Square will host a Windmill Sunflower Garden event. Approximately 15,000 sunflowers will be in full bloom during the event dates, including the Vincent sunflower variety named after none other than the Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. Admission to the event itself is free, but bring some coins if you want to pick some sunflowers — it’ll set you back 100 yen for 2 flowers from the picking area.

Lavender Season at the Tambara Lavender Park
2022-07-15 - 2022-07-31
Japan’s most well-known summertime lavender fields are likely to be those at Furano in Hokkaido, but there are numerous other options to enjoy a sea of purple across the country. One such option is at Gunma’s Tambara Lavender Park, which is typically at its best from early July through until late August. Along with the array of floral beauty to enjoy, the park has a range of lavender-infused products available for purchase, such as soaps, face toners, and hand sanitizer gels. For the foodies out there, don’t miss the lavender soft serve ice cream, soba noodles, or lavender scones!

Miyagawacho Beer Garden
2022-07-15 - 2022-08-31
The Miyagawacho Beer Garden is a rare occasion where you can enjoy beer, daily specialties served by neighboring restaurants, and Classical Japanese dance by the Maiko (apprentice geisha) of Miyagawacho Kabukai. Miyagawacho Kabukai is one of the five famous groups of maiko and geiko along with Gion Kobu, Gion Higashi, Pontocho, and Kamishichiken. It is held at a specially-prepared tented hall adjacent to the main building of the Miyagawacho Kaburenjo for a month. Four maikos wearing yukata, a casual cotton kimono for summer, attend the beer garden and show traditional dance performances. They walk through the aisles to greet each of the visitors and hand them their name cards or small uchiwa-shaped stickers with their names on them. It is held twice a day: from 18:00 to 19:30 and 20:00 to 21:30. Entry is limited to 100 visitors for each period and reservations are required at Miyagawacho Ochaya Kumiai (phone: 075-561-1151). It may be difficult to make a reservation on weekends. The charge is 5,000 yen including a free drink and hors d’oeuvre.

The Kokura Gion Festival
2022-07-15 15:30 - 2022-07-17 20:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
The Kokura Gion festival is a frenzy of mid-summer community drumming in northern Kyushu and is held annually over three days from the third Friday through Sunday of July. Kokura Gion Festival Report In the middle of July, I took the night ferry from Matsuyama to Kokura, a district in the city of Kitakyushu. When I planned my trip, I wasn’t aware that I’d be landing a slap bang in the middle of a major taiko drum festival. In fact, it wasn’t until the afternoon that I became aware of this. I’d spent a very pleasant morning in Mojiko and was making my way back into Kokura when I came upon some men in a car park wearing festival clothes. They were standing around a decorated wagon with drums on it. This was the first hint that something was afoot. Since the men looked fairly exhausted, I asked one of them if they were packing up after a festival. No, he assured me, they were getting ready for the last night. Shortly after, I became aware of a general throbbing of drums from the direction of Kokura Castle where I was heading. As I was eating a late lunch of ramen, what should pass by the window but a marching band of the brave armed forces of Japan, led by a troupe of pretty girls in yukata. The band was great. They were playing Japanese pop hits with a swaggering marching tempo. I dashed out of the ramen shop to follow them just as they broke into a traditional English number that I recognized. The band headed on towards Kokura castle which sits in a large, grassy park. There, laid out around the perimeter and along each path were row upon row of stalls selling tasty snack food and children’s toys that break after 24 hours. Everywhere there were festival juggernauts with drums on them, being pulled this way and that. There were some within the castle walls too, sitting in front of the shrine. The shrine itself was packed with people who were watching a traditional drama with heroes clad in bright kimonos and ferocious masks, sword-fighting in slow motion to the sound of drum and flute. I took a seat near one of the industrial-strength fans that were set up to cool the audience and watched until the end of the show. I had time to enter the castle and enjoy the spectacle of the festival from high above. As evening fell, groups of drummers assembled, setting up a couple of taiko drums on simple stands. Each group, men, women, and children, represented a single city community. They were dressed in identical leggings, jikatabi, and a happi coat with the local crest. They all began drumming, with the rhythm set by someone playing tiny, piercing cymbals. As the evening wears on, something of a frenzy takes hold, and the drummers take turns on each side of the drum, switching places with a flourish. The sound is hypnotic, not because the drumming is monotonous but because there are so many variations – the people of Kokura collectively have a huge repertoire of rhythms. Forgive me if I was a bit lyrical here, but I found it moving to witness community solidarity in the form of mass cultural participation and creation. There was also a group of foreigners from all over the world putting on a very creditable performance. The atmosphere was nothing if not inclusive. The drumming continued after dark. As I wandered the streets I came across a small urban park where one of the groups was sitting quietly under a tree in the dark drinking beer, with their drum wagon parked on the street. It seemed a perfect expression of the local community.

Roast Battle Tokyo - New Faces
2022-07-15 20:00 - 22:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
Ever since Roast Battle Tokyo started, it’s brought to the city’s comedy fans a succession of riotous sold out shows, entertaining them as Tokyo’s best comedians have traded body-blows with jokes as savage as they’re hilarious. July 15th sees the first New Faces show, bringing to the stage of the recently opened Tokyo Comedy Bar comedians who have been performing for some time, but who are new to Roast Battle. We know they’re funny when they’re nice, but can they bring it when they’re mean? Nothing is sacred, and no holds are barred, as the next generation of brutal battlers vie to join the top league of insult comedy bruisers.

Ekin Festival: Spooky Paintings by Candlelight
2022-07-16 19:00 - 2022-07-17 21:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
Walking the narrow streets of small town Akaoka at night with nothing illuminating the way but candlelight and paper lanterns strung up above, one instantly notices this is not your typical festival. Feeling a little more like Halloween, Ekin Festival is a trip into the frightening scenes of famous kabuki plays as depicted by one local artist. Hirose Kinzou, better known as Ekin in Kochi, lived from 1812 to 1876 and is famous for his shibai-e byoubu, or theatrical images on folding screens. To protect the sensitive condition these paintings are in, all of the street lights (even those of the vending machines) are not allowed during this two day festival that happens every 3rd weekend of July. Rather, each painting is folded out in front of stores on the street, lighted by a single candlestick. Personally, given the nature of these scary images, this seems like the only proper way to view them. Plus, it just makes for a great, fun festival. After wandering through the streets and taking in all the spookiness, you will find a central square where the typical Japanese festival yatai, food booths, are set up in plenty. This area is well lit by high beam super lights of the 21st century, and there’s a stage with some kind of entertainment constantly going on in the background. The food here is very good, so eat, have a beer, and relax for a bit (if you’re lucky enough to find a table!). The streets of the festival wrap around in front of Bentenza, a lovely little kabuki theater. Appropriately, they usually have plays running at at 5p.m. both Saturday and Sunday—they’re even free. The theater is beautiful, so I really recommend trying to get there for this. Even if you can’t see a play, go in and have a look around at this local theater. Ekin Festival is one of my favorite festivals because of its novelty. Akaoka is kind of known for its novel festivals, come to think of it. But that is for another post. You can get to Akaoka by driving east of Kochi City on road number 55, or take the JR train from Kochi Station to Akaoka directly. I hope you can manage to go to this festival while you’re in Kochi. It is so much fun and the mood and atmosphere is almost that of another time. Go enjoy the scary pictures, the yukata wearing onlookers, and the excited children as they run through the crowds of people playing in ‘the dark’.

Shirahama Fireworks Rally 2022
2022-07-17
This year, Kansai beach town Shirahama is doing something different with its summer fireworks program. Instead of one big show, it’s doing six small shows on different Sundays throughout the season.
Dates: July 17th, 24th, and 31st and August 7th, 21st, and 28th. Cancelled in case of rain.

Yamaguchi Gion Matsuri
2022-07-20 - 2022-07-27 | Yasaka shrine, Yasaka shrine, kyoto, Japan
The Kyoto of the area, Yamaguchi was modeled after the beautiful city and it’s no surprise it has a similar festival. When the Yasaka shrine was brought from Kyoto and the spirit of the deity implanted during the Kanjo ceremony, the Yamaguchi Yasaka shrine was formed. One of the main attractions of the festival is the “Dance of the Heron” which marks the beginning of the celebration. The elegant dance is performed wearing heron costumes and is classed as a Folk Cultural Property by the prefecture. There is a large dance performance involving the residents of the city and a mikoshi procession takes place.
The festival takes place on the same three days every year: the 20th, 24th, and 27th of July.

Yunnan Festival in Tokyo
2022-07-20 11:00 - 2022-07-28 17:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
The landlocked Chinese province of Yunnan is situated in the country’s southwest, and is known for its spectacular natural landscapes (think snow-capped mountains and terraced rice fields), UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Old Town of Lijiang, and being regarded as the birthplace of tea. A festival taking place in Tokyo is set to celebrate the culture of this region, and it’s free for visitors to enjoy. The Yunnan Festival in Tokyo is a multi-day event, and it includes the chance for visitors to dress in traditional attire from different ethnic groups in the province (Yunnan has one of the highest levels of ethnic diversity in all of China), sample various flavors of Pu’er tea, watch dance performances, and plenty more.

Kumagaya Uchiwa Matsuri
2022-07-20 13:00 - 2022-07-22 21:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
The Uchiwa Matsuri, possibly the largest of Saitama’s summer festivals, is held in Kumagaya, just north of Tokyo in Saitama Prefecture. With a history dating back to 1750, the three-day festival in July attracts over 750,000 revelers and is one of the region’s most popular summer events. The festival name was coined in the early 1900s as part of a gimmick whereby local vendors would hand out uchiwa fans in order to attract more customers. These traditional hand-held fans are still used throughout Japan to ward off the summer heat. With Kumagaya summers being memorably warm, this arrangement worked out well for everyone.
Along with the street stalls, mikoshi portable shrines, and Japanese drumming, what sets the Uchiwa Matsuri apart is the energy of its 12 massive parade floats. The floats’ extravagance stemmed from the festival coinciding with a boom in the silk industry in days past. Flaunting their wealth, merchants would compete with each to develop and show off the most flamboyant and opulent floats. The result is what you see today. Different events during the festival are held on different days so please see the official website for details.

Heron Dance
2022-07-20 22:00 - 2022-07-27 17:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
Although a small countryside town, Tsuwano has festivals with a few hundred years of history. The most important of them is the Heron Dance in July. Performing on the same date every year, it draws a big crowd of spectators. As the most important ceremony of the year, the townsfolk come out of their homes, some shops close for the time of the dance, and even the school closes during the early afternoon (if the festival is on a weekday). While it would be easy to move the festival’s date to a weekend, the locals take pride in preserving the ceremony as it was, thus sticking to the old dates of 17 and 20 July. (7 and 14 in the old lunar calendar). Watching the ceremony, the shining white feathers of the heron costume exude pureness and cleanness. The crowd is silent during the dance; one’s ears are concentrating on the chanting, the music, and the clicking of cameras. There is also a charming children’s performance, which preserves the traditional parts of the dance. There are a lot of spectators despite the hot weather in July, and one has to be careful not to get a heatstroke. History The Heron Dance originated from Kyoto’s Gion Festival and was introduced to Yamaguchi’s Ouchi clan first, and then to Tsuwano in 1542 by the Yoshimi clan. While the ceremony was discontinued in Kyoto and Yamaguchi, the people of Tsuwano kept it alive for the past 470 years. The only time Sagi-mai was not performed, was when the Sakazaki clan wanted to erase the previous domain ruler, Yoshimi clan’s, customs. The Sakazaki clan was in power for a short time from 1601 to 1616, and the following Kamei clan reintroduced the dance in 1643. Kosugi-mai, or young heron dance, started some 60 years ago, to let children experience local traditions from an early age. Elementary school students dress up in a cute version of the heron costume and perform a modified dance. There is a male heron with the beak open, and a female heron with the beak closed, indicating that the dance is mating. The herons are believed to protect from illnesses and diseases. There are also two men in red wigs carrying long staffs in their hands, fending off demons and ghosts.
Kosugi: Elementary school students dress up and dance a cuter version of the Heron dance
The rest of the procession comprises musicians and two dancing figures of yet unknown roles. The wings are made of wood, and their clicking sound is incorporated into the music as an instrument. This makes it heavy, about 12-15kg for the feathers and another 3kg for the bamboo headpiece. The Festival The festival starts around 15:00 at the Yasaka Shrine, where the deity lives. On 20 July, the ceremonial dance is performed at 10 locations in the town, starting from the shrine, going to the place where the palace was standing (now Tsuwano High school), and onward to the former merchant town. The final destination is the Otabisho, the temporary resting place of the deity. One week later on the 27th, the deity returns to the shrine taking the same route backward. Recently, the first dance is performed in front of the community hall in the Old Town part of Tsuwano, where the preparations begin. The Young Heron dance starts earlier, around 13:00, and goes around the same route as the Heron dance.

Kiso Mikoshi Makuri Festival
2022-07-22 | Suimu Shrine, Suimu Shrine
Taking place in the picturesque Kiso township of Nagano Prefecture, the Mikoshi Matsuri is an annual event involving approximately 100 wooden mikoshi (portable, shoulder-borne shrines). The mikoshi, weighing up to 375 kilograms, are carried and flipped (!) end over end by groups of men.
The climax of the festival is in the evening of the 23rd, but if you’re there on the evening of the 22nd, you can enjoy a fireworks display.

Himeji Yukata Festival
2022-07-22 - 2022-07-24
The Himeji Yukata Festival is the oldest festival of its type in Japan, dating back more than 260 years.
Yukata are the light and often very bright kimonos worn in Japan during the summer months. While yukata are a part of most summer festivals, it’s the main point of this one so people make an extra effort with their yukata. Reportedly, 70% of festival-goers come kitted out in their yukata.
The evening festival (it runs from 4:30 pm until 9:30 pm) features around 700 food and drink stalls along with entertainment. If you get in on the yukata action yourself, you’re entitled to some discounts. In particular, entry to the zoo, museum, and Himeji Castle is free.

Tobata Gion Yamagasa Festival
2022-07-22 - 2022-07-24
Tobata is a ward of the city of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka prefecture and this festival dates back over 200 years to when Tobata was a village.
The Yamagasa are tall floats that are carried around. At night the floats are adorned with lanterns, making them an impressive sight.
The festival has been recognized by the Japanese government as an important intangible cultural asset.

Flea Market at Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park
2022-07-22 10:00 - 2022-07-23 13:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
Note as of September 1, 2021: This event has been suspended indefinitely due to the pandemic. Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park hosts a flea market monthly, weather permitting. The market does not go ahead when it is raining or if there is any weather warnings in place. Furthermore, from 2021 you have to book in advance to visit the flea market as they are only allowing a certain amount of shoppers in each time. The flea market is held on the main avenue of the park, and there are generally about 200 stalls. The event is organized and run by Recycle Man who manages about 30 flea markets monthly in Saitama, Chiba, and Tokyo. Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park is a beautifully landscaped park with great facilities for families. The Tokorozawa Aviation Museum is also on the grounds. The park hosts several events monthly. Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park is relatively close to the new Tokorozawa Sakura Town and the permanent TeamLab outdoor exhibition ‘Digitized Nature’. Combine a visit to a traditional Japanese flea market and a typical Japanese park with a visit to a modern entertainment hot spot and an atypical park for a rounded day trip to Saitama!

Kihoku Lantern Festival 2022
2022-07-23
The Kihoku Lantern Festival takes place in the port town of Nagashima in Kihoku, Mie Prefecture. Each year a large, elaborate cloth lantern is set afloat on the harbor in the afternoon. After nightfall, there is a spectacular fireworks display known as the Saiun Kujaku (Rainbow Peacock) as a backdrop to the floating lantern. From 3 pm until the fireworks begin at 8 pm there are performances and other entertainment on a stage.

Hita Gion Festival
2022-07-23 | Yasan Shrine, Yasan Shrine
The historic town of Hita in Oita prefecture is the venue for the Hita Gion Matsuri in late July. Gion festivals are held throughout Japan in July, but each brings a touch of local flavor with lavishly decorated floats and traditional music.
The Hita Gion is touted as one of the “top 3 Gion festivals in Kyushu”. How these rankings are made is a bit of a mystery, but if you’re in the area in late July it’s worth a look.

Hokuryu Sunflower Festival
2022-07-23 00:00 - 2022-08-21 00:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | 板谷 Hokuryu, Uryu District, Hokkaido 078-2511, 板谷 Hokuryu, Uryu District, Hokkaido 078-2511, Hokuryu, Hokkaido, 078-2511, Japan
The summer months in Japan see several sunflower festivals pop up on the calendar, one of the best in Hokkaido’s Hokuryu Sunflower Festival. The event has been running since 1987 and showcases the beauty of a staggering 2 million sunflowers covering 23 hectares. Along with the overwhelming number of sunflowers to appreciate, the event also has two sunflower mazes, various sunflower-themed foods such as sunflower soft-serve ice cream, bicycles for rent, and more. Admission to the event is free, but there is a charge if you want to participate in the sunflower mazes or rent a bike.
