1. Yokote Kamakura Festival, Akita

This festival dates back over 400 years and will leave you feeling like you’ve been transported into your very own fairytale. Amazing crafters create over 100 igloo-shaped constructions that, in some cases, can stand up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) tall and 4 meters (13 feet) wide. Known as Kamakura, locals will stay inside with candles to welcome guests with simple offerings such as mochi and sake. On cold Akita nights, we’re sure that you’ll be thankful for the warming ability of the sake. This Japanese cultural festival offers a temporary refuge for local wanderers and is the biggest Kamakura festival in Japan.

Yokote Kamakura Festival

Address: Yokote Station, Yokote, Akita Prefecture, Japan

Website: Yokote Kamakura Festival

Takes place: February 15 & 16

2. Kanda Matsuri, Tokyo

Known as one of the most popular and fun celebrations in Tokyo, this is an absolute must-see if you’re in the area. The celebration includes a parade of over 200 floats that traverse down the streets. Alongside the floats, you can expect to see a number of entertainers, including dancers and musicians. The historical starting point of the tradition was to celebrate the success of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s forces at the Battle of Sekigahara. This festival lasts for a week, but the climax is during the final weekend.

Kanda Matsuri

Address: Kanda Myoujin Shrine, Tokyo

Website: Kanda Matsuri

Take place: May

3. Takayama Matsuri, Takayama

This festival is celebrated in both spring and autumn and is recognized as one of the top three most beautiful festivals in Japan. The spring festival takes place in Hie Shrine while the autumn festival is held at Hachiman Shrine. Both of the festivals feature a number of intricately designed parade floats. These floats are built in such large proportions that they can host Karakuri Ningyo (a doll). During the festivals, these dolls move and dance on their own and it feels really magical. This performance is great for children.

Takayama Matsuri

Address: Hie Shrine, Takayama Gifu Prefecture

Takes place: April & October

4. Sanja Matsuri, Tokyo

In contrast, we think that this festival might not be the best choice for you if you plan to take children with you. It’s an amazingly raucous festival and is one of the biggest in Tokyo. This is held to celebrate the original three founders of Sensoji Temple. This famous festival in Japan takes place over three days, and each year, it is estimated that over two million people will take part in the spectacle. You can expect the area to be jam-packed with delicious street food and over 100 portable shrines. On Sunday, the final day, the three largest portable shrines make their way to the temple in the final procession.

Sanja Matsuri

Address: Asakusa Shrine, Asakusa, Tokyo

Takes place: May

5. Sapporo Snow Festival, Hokkaido

Each year, people are so impressed with the outstanding skill needed to create huge ice sculptures in a number of sites across Sapporo. Be sure to check out the ice sculpture contest. Once done, your children might enjoy the huge ice rink and visiting Tsudome (Sapporo Community Dome). The dome has a number of attractions and snow rides for children - and adults, too, of course. There is also a nightly illumination that takes place from sunset to 10 pm. There’s so much more to Sapporo Snow Festival than just the impressive sculptures, so be sure to check the full details online before you go.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Address: Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

Website: Sapporo Snow Festival

Takes place: February

6. Aoi Matsuri, Kyoto

Also known as the ‘Hollyhock Festival’ this is one of Kyoto’s most important festivals. One of the highlights of this festival is an extensive parade that sees over 500 people dressed in a variety of traditional clothing and accessories. You can expect to see people being carried in mini shrines, plus there are horses, dancers and much more. The origins of this special Japanese festival and celebration are still unknown, and there are theories relating to a procession to stop natural disasters. However, a saio (unmarried woman) must go through the cleansing process and be the spotlight of the parade, much the same as the history depicts.

Aoi Matsuri

Address: Kamigyo-ku Kyoto Gyoen, Kyoto 602-0881 Kyoto Prefecture

Takes place: May 15

7. Hakata Gion Yamakasa, Fukuoka

Now, we’ve already covered a lot of festivals that feature floats, but this is the first one on the list where the parade is actually a race. The race is between five different areas of the Hakata district of Fukuoka. Historically, the floats would stand up to ten meters (32 feet) tall, but the racing days of these floats are long finished, and they can now be admired at various points around the festival grounds. Instead, much smaller floats are raced around the streets.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa

Address: 1-8 Kamikawabatamachi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0026, Japan

Website: Hakata Gion Yamakasa

Takes place: July 1 to 15

8. Gion Matsuri, Kyoto

It’s official, this is the most famous festival in Japan - our list wouldn’t be complete without it. Did we mention that it lasts for a whole month? That’s right, the whole month of July is a time of celebration in Kyoto, and this originally started as a way to appease the gods during an epidemic. The floats are some of the biggest that you’ll ever see, standing at 25 meters (82 feet) tall and pulled on wheels through the historic streets of Kyoto. A local child, even today, is selected to represent a messenger, and for a few days, his feet are not allowed to touch the ground. There’s so much to see and do during this month that you definitely need to organize and plan in advance.

Gion Matsuri

Address: Central Kyoto (Shijo, Kawaramachi, and Oike), Japan

Website: Gion Matsuri

Takes place: July

9. Tenjin Matsuri, Osaka

This time, in a two-day festival, we’re celebrating the infamous deity of scholarship, Sugawara no Michizane. Be sure to catch the start of the procession, when drummers wearing red hats will start the procession from Tenmangu Shrine. The parade will include a number of different performances, including dancers and musicians. There is also a river procession that culminates in a beautiful fireworks display in the evening.

Tenjin Matsuri

Address: Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, 2 Chome-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0041, Japan

Website: Tenjin Matsuri

Takes place: July 24 to 25

10. Awa Odori, Tokushima

This is held during the important time of Obon when the ancestors are invited back into the home for a celebration. Awa Odori is a traditional dance festival that has roots dating back to 400 years ago. This is primarily an evening time festival, as the dance takes to the streets after sunset. There are both paid and free areas of the festival. If you hope to attend, be sure to book ahead because both tickets and hotels get booked months in advance in anticipation of this event.

Awa Odori

Address: Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan

Website: Awa Odori

Takes place: August 12 to 15

Feeling festive?

The Japanese love to preserve and celebrate their ancient traditions. The numerous matsuris that take place throughout the year are just one way of celebrating their unique culture. No two matsuris are the same. So, when you book your trip to Japan, why not check to see if your holiday coincides with a festival day? You will be able to have a hands-on experience of the unique Japanese culture.