Festivals & Events
September Festivals & Events
Kashima Jingu (Kashima Grand Shrine)・Reisai (Annual Grand Festival) and Shinkosai (Procession Festival)
The most important festival at Kashima Jingu, bustling with the Lantern Night and Procession Festival.
Hakozaki-gu (Chikuzen-koku Ichinomiya)・Hojose (Festival of Releasing Life)
One of Hakata's three major festivals. A grand autumn festival with hundreds of food stalls lining the approach.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (Tsurugaoka Hachiman Grand Shrine)・Reidaisai (Annual Grand Festival) and Yabusame-shingi (Horseback Archery Rite)
The most important festival at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, featuring a vigorous yabusame (horseback archery) rite.
Ishiyama-temmangu (Ishiyama Hachiman Grand Shrine)・Ishizumi Matsuri (Ishizumi Festival)
One of the three great imperial festivals of Japan, alongside the Aoi Matsuri and Kasuga Matsuri.
Kirishima Jingu (Kirishima Grand Shrine)・Reisai (annual grand festival)
The most important annual festival held once a year at Kirishima Jingu.
Sagamoku Ichinomiya Samukawa Shrine・Reisai (Annual Grand Festival)
The most important annual festival held once a year at Samidawa Shrine.
Hie Shrine・Chushu Kanzen-sai (Mid-Autumn Music Festival)
A mid-autumn music festival featuring performances of gagaku (court music) and bugaku (court dance).
Dazaifu Tenmangu (Dazaifu Tenman Grand Shrine)・Shinkosai Grand Festival
An autumn grand festival to comfort the divine spirit of Dozen Koutou.
Nezu Shrine・Reidaisai (annual grand festival)
The annual grand festival of Nezu Shrine, a tradition dating back to the Edo period.
Seimei Shrine・Seimei-sai (Seimei Festival)
The annual grand festival of Seimei Shrine, featuring the Yudanuki kagura and a mikoshi procession.
October Festivals & Events
Kitano Tenmangu・Zuikei-sai (Zuikei Festival)
An autumn annual grand festival where mikoshi decorated with vegetables and grains are paraded.
Munakata Taisha Hazatsumiya (Munakata Grand Shrine, Hazatsumiya)・Miaare-sai (Autumn Grand Festival)
A spectacular maritime procession where hundreds of large vessels welcome the ceremonial boat.
Osue Kannon (Kitano-yama Shinpukuji Hosoin)・Ningyo Kuyo (Doll Memorial Service)
A memorial service to express gratitude and offer prayers for dolls that have served their purpose.
諏訪神社・Nagasaki Kunchi
One of Japan's three great Kunchi festivals. Features dragon dances and Kokkodesho dedication dances.
Kotohiragu (Kotohira Grand Shrine)・Reidaisai (Annual Grand Festival)
The most important festival at Konpira Grand Shrine. A sacred procession where the mikoshi (portable shrine) crosses the stone steps.
Tsubaki-Otaisha (Tsubaki-O Grand Shrine)・Reidaisai (annual grand festival)
The most important festival at Tsubaki Daijinja.
Itsukushima Shrine・Kikka-sai (Chrysanthemum Festival)
An autumn festival featuring chrysanthemum offerings and dedicatory performances of bugaku (court dance and music).
Toyouke Daijingu (Ise Jingu Outer Shrine)・Niinamesai (Harvest Thanksgiving Festival)
The most historically significant festival at the Grand Shrine, offering new rice to Toyuke-Ooyakami.
Nikko Tosho-gu (Nikko Eastern Grand Shrine)・Autumn Grand Festival
An autumn grand festival featuring yabusame (horseback archery) and a warrior procession.
Kotohoku-gu (Ise Jingu Naiku)・Shinnosai (New Rice Harvest Festival)
The most historic festival at the Grand Shrine, offering new rice to Amaterasu Omikami.
Yasukuni Jinja (Yasukuni Shrine)・Autumn Annual Grand Festival
The most important festival at Yasukuni Shrine, held in the autumn.
Senso-ji Temple・Kiku Kyouyou-e (Chrysanthemum Offering Ceremony)
A Buddhist ceremony offering chrysanthemums to the Kannon deity to express gratitude.
Heian Jingu (Heian Grand Shrine)・Jidai-sai (Festival of the Ages)
One of the three great festivals of Kyoto. A historical procession of approximately 2,000 participants in costumes from various eras.
November Festivals & Events
Meiji Jingu (Meiji Grand Shrine)・Autumn Grand Festival (Chinza Kinen-sai)
An autumn grand festival commemorating the enshrinement of the deities. Dedictory performing arts are offered.
Chuson-ji Main Hall・Aki no Fujiwara Matsuri (Autumn Fujiwara Festival)
An autumn festival that adorns the autumnal scenery of Hiraizumi.
Oomahiko Shrine・Reidaisai (Annual Grand Festival)
The most important festival at Daibiko Shrine.
Meiji Jingu (Meiji Grand Shrine)・Reisai (Annual Grand Festival)
The most important festival of the year, held on the birthday of Emperor Meiji.
Fuji-san Hongu Sengen Taisha (Fuji Mountain Head Sengen Grand Shrine)・Reisai (Annual Grand Festival)
The most important annual festival at Fuji-san Hongu Asama Grand Shrine.
Kifune Shrine・Go-honbi-sai (Fire-Burning Festival)
An ancient Shinto rite involving fire.
Fushimi Inari Taisha (Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine)・Hiburi-sai (Fire-Burning Festival)
A Shinto rite of gratitude for the harvest. Hundreds of thousands of Hiburi skewers are burned.
Higashi Hongan-ji (East Hongan-ji Temple)・Hobon-ko (Gratitude Lecture)
The most important annual Buddhist rite commemorating the founder, Saint Shonin.
Izumo Taisha (Izumo Grand Shrine)・Kannazai-sai (Festival of the Presence of the Deities)
A Shinto rite for the 'Month of the Deities' when gods from all over Japan gather. It is said that matchmaking rites are performed.
Haseji (Hase Temple)・Autumn Leaf Light-Up
Special night viewing of the autumn foliage that dyes the shrine grounds in brilliant colors.
Kirishima Jingu (Kirishima Grand Shrine)・天孫降臨御神火祭
天孫降臨神話を再現する勇壮な火の祭典。
Yushima Tenmangu (Yushima Tenmangu Shrine)・Kiku Matsuri (Chrysanthemum Festival)
An autumn event where carefully cultivated chrysanthemums adorn the shrine grounds.
We're gradually expanding coverage starting with major shrines and temples. Dates may vary slightly from year to year, so please check official information before visiting.