Festivals (Matsuri) play a significant part in Japanese culture with the island nation hosting thousands every year. If you’re planning a trip to Japan, chances are there’ll be a festival happening somewhere in the country while you’re there. Often involving fabulous displays of music, dance and costumes, as well as delicious street food, why not join the fun? It’ll add a whole new element to the usual holiday itinerary and is a fantastic way to learn about the country and meet the friendly Japanese people. Here’s our guide to some of the most important and famous festivals in Japan.

Cherry blossom festival, Japan-wide

When: March to May
Best for: nature lovers

Matsuri is the Japanese word for a festival or holiday and one of the largest and best known is the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Rather than one festival, it’s a series of festivals held throughout the country in parks and gardens, at temples and shrines, on mountainsides and wherever else the beautiful cherry blossom trees, or sakura, are found. 

The timing of the festival is very much down to nature and depends on when the trees reach full bloom. Typically, this is in April but can be as early as March and lasts just two weeks. To help with timing your visit, the Japan Meteorological Corporation releases a forecast with cherry blossom flowering and blooming dates.

So, aside from the fact that cherry trees in full bloom are incredibly pretty, why is this such a big deal? The tradition began several hundred years ago and many of the trees are over 300 years old. For Japanese people, cherry blossoms symbolise human life, both birth and death. It’s a celebration of spring and a good reminder to all of us of the importance of stopping to smell the roses every now and again – or in this case, admire the cherry blossom.

Festival of the Dead, Japan-wide

When: 13-15 July or 13-15 August
Best for: immersing yourself in Japanese customs, traditions and spirituality

The Festival of the of the Dead, known as Obon, is a Buddhist festival held during summer.  It’s a celebration of family and a time for loved ones to gather to honour the dead and the spirit of their ancestors. So, while it may sound a little morbid, it’s actually a very happy occasion. Each region has a different way of celebrating Obon, and the timing varies across the country. In Tokyo it is observed in July whereas other regions follow the lunar calendar and celebrate in August.

So, what happens and how can you get involved? The festival takes place over three days and on day one the tradition is to light small bonfires or welcoming fires to guide the spirits home. The ‘Bon Dance’ takes place on the second day with people dressing up in costume and performing the ancient folk dance. 

On the final day of the festival bonfires, or okuribi, are lit to guide the spirits back to the world of the dead. The most famous are the enormous bonfires lit on the mountains around the city of Kyoto where the streetlights are dimmed, and people gather along the streets and on top of tall buildings to get the best views. Floating paper lanterns with candles inside are also released onto rivers and make a spectacular sight.

While Oban is not an official holiday, you’re still likely to find many businesses closed during this time, and roads, trains and airports can be busy with people travelling home to spend time with their families.

The Sapporo Snow Festival, Hokkaido

When: February
Best for: snow lovers and families

Japanese festivals are often focused on nature, and this is one for winter enthusiasts. The Sapporo Snow Festival started in 1950 with some high school students building snow statues in Okori Park in the centre of the city. It has since become one of the most famous festivals in Japan - thanks in part to the 1972 Winter Olympic Games which were held in Sapporo – and now attracts millions of visitors every year. The festival is now held across three venues, including Susukino and the Tsu Dome as well as the original Odori Park site.

The Snow Festival runs for a week during February during which time visitors can check out the impressive snow structures (some of which are the size of buildings!), watch ice sculpture contests and have a go at tube sliding and ice rafting. The intricate sculptures, depicting everything from famous people and landmarks to manga characters, are lit up at night, which all adds to the winter magic.

If you’re in Japan for a ski holiday, it’s worth taking a break from the slopes to check out this festival.

Aomori Nebuta Festival, Honshu

When: 2-7 August
Best for: anyone who loves a street party

If summer is more your thing, then the Aomori Nebuta Festival is for you. Enormous lantern floats (nebuta) based on mythical stories and historical characters parade through the city of Aomori accompanied by large taiko drums, musicians and dancers. 

It’s fantastic simply to watch the spectacle but participation is strongly encouraged, and you can get involved by getting dressed up in the Haneto costume and joining the traditional dance. You can buy your costume at one of the local grocery stores.

The papier-mache floats can take up to a year to design and build with hundreds of people involved in the project. Millions of people come along to admire the creations and a highlight of festival is an impressive fireworks display which lasts up to two hours.

Aomori City is a three-hour journey from Tokyo via the bullet train (shinkansen) so if your itinerary allows, pack your dancing shoes and join the parade.

Japan Penis Festival, Kanayama Shrine, Kawasaki

When: first Sunday in April
Best for: an important event for LGBTQ+ groups in Japan

Started in 1969, Kanamara Matsuri, or the Festival of the Steel Phallus, focuses around the Kanayami Shrine - which does in fact house a giant steel phallus - and the god Kanayama-hiko and goddess Kanayama-hime. They are the gods of blacksmithing, metalsmithing, and metal works, and couples also pray to them for fertility and successful marriage.

Legend tells of the young woman Kanayama-hime being possessed by a demon. In desperation, she sought help from a blacksmith, who cleverly crafted a metal phallus, tricking the demon into leaving her body – after which, she and her husband lived happily ever after.

Bizarre as though that may all sound, the festival now tracks around 50,000 people a year, is a major fundraiser for HIV research, and is an important event for LGBTQ+ groups in Japan.