Kawagoe Matsuri is an October festival not far from Tokyo. They use elaborately decorated floats that you rarely see in the big cities, and the traditional backdrop of Kawagoe makes it a beautiful sight.
Gujo Hachiman is a beautiful old town in Gifu Prefecture. It attracts many visitors because of the castle on the hill, beautiful streets with channels, plastic food sample workshops, and a dance festival.
While during wintertime people in Japan tend to stay indoors where it is cozy and warm and many of the streets are deserted or much more quiet than usual, summer is the liveliest season in the country of the rising sun.
Every 3 years, a large art festival descends on Naoshima and other islands in the Seto Inland Sea. It is called the Setouchi Triennale, and very much worth visiting! Read our personal experience of the festival.
Tokushima City is the capital of Tokushima Prefecture in Shikoku, and there are two reasons to go here; the Naruto whirlpools and the Awa Odori dance festival. Learn more about these attractions!
If you are looking for cherry blossoms in Tokyo, Meguro River in Tokyo is one of the best places to go. The cherry trees covering the river look like a pink tunnel for only a few short days per year.
The Fuji Shibazakura Festival is an exceptional event near Mt. Shibazakura flowers bloom in different colors and in different shapes, creating a beautiful multicolored field. In 2023, it is held in April and May.
The Yasukuni shrine is considered one of the most important shrines in Japan. It is also a controversial shrine because this is where Japan’s war dead are honored. Learn more about the shrine and its controverse.
The Danjiri Kaikan is an interactive and fun museum located in Osaka near Kishiwada Castle. It provides information and activities on the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival, which is very famous in Japan.
Which national holidays and regular holidays are there in Japan? Here is an overview of Japanese (national) holidays and some other important annual nationwide events.
Hita is a city in Kyushu that attracts tourists with its beautiful old town with 200-year old houses, a float festival, and traditional ceramics. See what this off-the-beaten-path destination has to offer.
Hirosaki is known as a cherry blossom city, and you can enjoy beautiful sakura around Hirosaki Castle between late April – early May. You will also find a samurai district and the Neputa festival theme park in Hirosaki.
Aomori CIty is mostly skipped by tourists since the ferry is no longer the only way to get to Hokkaido, but if you happen to be here in August, the famous Nebuta Festival is worth a visit!
While Sendai might not feature on most international tourists’ itinerary, if you have enough time in Japan or are not a first-timer, the city is nice stop for those who are interested in history and culture.
Yamagata City is a centrally located town within a short distance of famous sightseeing areas like Mt. Zao with its onsen, hiking spots, winter sports areas, and Yamadera.
Akita is not on the top of the list for destinations within Japan for the average foreign tourist, which is in part due to its remote location. However, for nature-lovers and those interested in history, it is certainly worth the trek up north!
The city’s heyday was in the 17th century, which is when Akita was the capital of the region under the feudal system. Nowadays it is a green city with a lively summer festival.
Although Japan welcomes most tourists in spring and summer, for those who are looking for a more quiet time and a different kind of experience, winter can be a great time to discover Japan.