General Information
“Matsuri” is the Japanese word for festival. Generally, Matsuri is a happy, cheerful event where we can enjoy buying food and toys at many temporary stalls and watching a fireworks show. However, it originated as a religious ritual to give offerings to deities and ancestors. Then, it became an important event to pray for a good harvest or a peaceful world without disasters. Around the 17th and 18th centuries, it became increasingly entertaining, featuring Mikoshi (portable shrines) and Dashi (floats), becoming one of the most important aspects of mass culture. It served as a moment to release people from the harsh realities of their lives (the theory of “Hare” and “Ke”). This led to the present cheerful Matsuri, some of which have no religious elements at all.
Now, Matsuri are held everywhere in Japan, whether big or small, throughout the year. According to some surveys, the number of Matsuri is more than 1,000. Some are held on a large scale and attract many visitors from all over Japan. Below are the most popular Matsuri festivals in Japan. (Some official sites are only in Japanese.)
- 1.Sapporo Snow Festival / Hokkaido https://www.snowfes.com/en/
- 2.Lantern Festival / Nagasaki https://www.discover-nagasaki.com/en/featured-topics/festivals
- 3.Takayama Festival / Gifu https://www.hida.jp/english/festivalsandevents/4000208.html
- 4.Aoi Festival / Kyoto https://kyoto.travel/en/season_festivals/aoi_matsuri.html
- 5.Gion Festival / Kyoto https://kyoto.travel/en/season_festivals/gion_matsuri.html
- 6.Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival / Fukuoka https://www-hakatayamakasa-com.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ja&_x_tr_pto=nui
- 7.Aomori Nebuta Festival / Aomori https://www.nebuta.jp/foreign/english.html
- 8.Sendai Tanabata Festival / Miyagi https://www.sendaitanabata.com
- 9.Kanto Festival / Akita https://www.kantou.gr.jp/english/
- 10.Awa-odri Dance / Tokushima https://funfun-tokushima.jp/awaodori/#
- 11.Festival of the Ages, Jidai Festival / Kyoto https://kyoto.travel/en/season_festivals/jidai_matsuri.html
- 12.Yosakoi Festival / Kochi http://www.cciweb.or.jp/kochi/yosakoiweb/k_yosakoi/
- 13.Okinawa Whole Island Eisa Festival / Okinawa https://www.zentoeisa.com/en/info.html
- 14.Owara-Kaze-no-Bon/ Toyama https://www.yatsuo.net/kazenobon
- 15. Kanda Festival / Tokyo https://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/kandamatsuri/
- 16. Sanja Festival / Tokyo https://www.asakusajinja.jp/english/
- 17. Tenjin Festival / Osaka https://osakatemmangu.or.jp/saijireki/tjm
* It is often said that Kanda Festival, Gion Festival, and Tenjin Festival are the top three major festivals in Japan.
Features of Japanese Festivals
Mikoshi, Portable Shrine
A Mikoshi is a small altar carried around as a vehicle for a god during the festival. It has a square (or hexagonal, octagonal) shape with a roof adorned with flashy ornaments like a phoenix or golden flower, and two carrying poles underneath. Energetic supporters in Happi coats carry it on their shoulders.
Dashi, Festival Floats
A Dashi is also an important vehicle for a god, but it is much larger than a Mikoshi. The Chinese characters for Dashi are “山車,” meaning “Mountain Vehicle,” so it should be big like a mountain. sacred places where Gods land from Heaven. It has wheels under the bottom, and supporters pull it with ropes to carry it around. It makes the festival more exciting and attractive.

Fire
Fire is a main element in some festivals. People worship the spiritual power of fire, and some fire festivals began more than 1,000 years ago. These festivals can be dangerous, involving large torches that are carried around, or events where participants walk through fire or under a shower of falling sparks.
Naked
In some festivals, the participants, all male, are almost naked, wearing only a fundoshi (loincloth). Being naked represents a purified attitude, in a state of innocence like a baby, to face the deities respectfully.
Fireworks
Originally, it began as a summer event to appease the souls of people who died in an epidemic during the Edo period. It was also given the role of the fire in O-bon events, serving as a guide to welcome and see off the gods and ancestors. Later, it became the most entertaining part of summer festivals.
Bon Dance
It is a dance festival held during the Obon period. See here: http://wakasakenya.com/2000606-obon/
En-nichi
This means “stall stands at the festivals of shrines and temples.” Originally, it meant a special day to connect with a god. On that day, people visited the shrine or temple, and many stands appeared to earn money from the visitors.

Popular stalls are like these:
- 1 Takoyaki (octopus balls)
- 2 Yakisoba (fried noodles)
- 3 Kakigori (shaved ice)
- 4 Kingyosukui (scooping golden fish)
- 5 Ringoame (candy apple)
- 6 Watagashi (cotton candy)
- 7 Okonomiyaki (Japanese pizza)
- 8 Ikayaki (grilled squid)
- 9 Hotdog
- 10 Yakitomorokoshi (grilled corn)
- 11 Yoyoturi (picking up a yo-yo)
- 12 Chocobanana (banana coated with chocolate)
- 13 Iteki (shooting gallery)
- 14 Omen (mask)






Popular Festivals in Kyushu
1 Spring (March, April, May)
Arita Pottery Market / Saga
Hasami Pottery Festival / Nagasaki
Yanagawa Hina Doll Festival / Fukuoka
Fire Holy Ritual at Aso Shrine / Kumamoto
Satsuma Hina Dolls Festival / Kagoshima
Dontaku Festival / Fukuoka
2 Summer (June, July, August)
Hakata Gion Yamakasa / Fukuoka
Yamaga Lantern Festival / Kumamoto
Okinawa Whole Island Eisa Festival / Okinawa
3 Autumn (September, October, November)
Saga International Balloon Festival / Saga
Karatsu Kunchi / Saga
Nagasaki Kunchi / Nagasaki
Hita One-Thousand-Year Light / Oita
Night Kagura Dances / Miyazaki
4 Winter (December, January, February)
Nagasaki Lantern Festival / Nagasaki
Huis Ten Bosch Light Kingdom /Nagasaki
Sasebo Festival / Nagasaki