1-2 June

Kaiko Kinenbi (Yokohama Port Opening Festival)

Minato Mirai and Rinko Park, Yokohama

Celebrations to mark the opening of Yokohama Port.  Festivities include boat races, parades, market stalls and traditional dancing and music.

1-2 June

Takigi Noh Performance

Heian Shrine, Kyoto

Torches illuminate the stage for performances of noh until around 9pm.  Tickets are available from around 4:30pm or unreserved seats are available on the ground level.  Many people bring picnic food to enjoy while watching the performers.

10-16 June (only during even-numbered years)

Sanno Festival

Hie Shrine, Tokyo

This festival dates back to 1478 when festivities were held to pray for good fortune during the construction of the Edo Castle.  The festival features a parade of people in the traditional dress of the Imperial court.

14 June

Izawanomiya Otaue Festival

Izawanomiya Shrine, Mie Prefecture

A rice-planting festival that takes place at a sacred rice field within the grounds of the grand shrine it Ise.  After the rice-planting, the Taketori-shinji ritual is performed by men wearing loincloths who battle in muddy fields for charms that hang from a 14m high bamboo pole.

14 June

Rice Planting Festival

Sumiyoshi Shrine, Osaka

A major rice-planting festival that dates back over 1,700 years and involves 12 women planting rice seedlings in the shrine’s field to the sound of traditional rice-planting music.

Mid June

Itoman Hare

Itoman, Okinawa

This is the most famous of Okinawa’s dragon boat racing festivals in which decorated boats are raced by teams of 8-14 men.  The local fishermen pray for safe sailing and good fishing. 

Mid June

Chagu-Chagu Umakko

Onikoshisozen Shrine, Takizawamura, Morioka, Iwate Prefecture

This festival originated from horse-breeders who wanted to pray for the long and happy lives of their animals.  This festival features a parade of 80-100 brightly decorated horses ridden by children.  After the parade, prayers are offered for good rice harvests and thanks are given to the horses. 

15 June

Aoba Festival

Chisaku-in, Kyoto

This festival celebrates the birth of Kobo Daishi (774-835), who founded the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism.  During this festival, priests and mountain ascetics wear traditional clothing for a series of purification rituals and a fire ceremony.

20 June

Takeiri Eshiki Festival

Kuramadera, Kyoto

A bamboo-cutting festival involving two teams of monks that race to cut four bamboo poles into three pieces.  The bamboo poles represent evil serpents.

18-23 June

Yosakoi Soran Festival

Sapporo, Hokkaido

Approximately 40,000 dancers participate in this spectacular festival that attracts over a million visitors from Japan and international every year.  Dance groups perform in the streets of Sapporo and the Soranbushi (folksong of Hokkaido) inspired music can be heard throughout the city.

30 June – 2 July

Aizen Festival

Shoman-in (Aizen-do) Temple, Osaka