August marks the final month of summer in Japan and it goes out with a bang, literally, with many fireworks festivals held across the country, and people dressing up in yukata (a light casual kimono) to watch them with friends and family.
There are also countless festivals to celebrate traditional dance and culture, to pray for a bountiful harvest or to honour loved ones.
It’s worth noting that mid-August is a very busy time for domestic travel in Japan, so make sure to plan in advance if travelling during this time. Obon is an annual Buddhist event centred around 15 August held to honour one's ancestors, and many people return to their hometown during this holiday period.
We've highlighted a few festivals below that may be of interest for future trips to Japan. They are selected from a list compiled by JNTO's Tourist Information Center, and the full list is available at the end of the article.
NOTES: Many official websites only have information in Japanese so you may need to use an online translation service such as Google Translate 
or DeepL . Alternatively, the Chrome browser allows you to translate many webpages from Japanese into English.
The information is correct at time of publishing. Dates, times and functions are subject to change without notice and can vary slightly each year. In particular, the schedule of outdoor events may change due to the weather. Be sure to check the latest information in advance.
Nagaoka Fireworks Festival
Where: Banks of the Shinano River, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2021, usually held annually between 2-3 August
Summary: Fireworks display with some 20,000 fireworks displayed over two nights. The event was first held in 1946, and was said to comfort and encourage the citizens, who worked together reconstruct the city with an unyielding spirit.
JNTO website: Nagaoka Fireworks Festival
Official site: Nagaoka Fireworks
Edogawa Fireworks Festival
Where: Edogawa River in front of Shinozaki Park, Tokyo Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2021, usually held annually on the first Saturday of August
Summary: Fireworks display with some 14,000 fireworks over the Edogawa River.
Go Tokyo website: 45th Edogawa-ku Fireworks Festival
Official site: Edogawa Fireworks Festival
Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri
Where: Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2021, usually held annually between 1-7 August
Summary: Summer festival featuring some 80 neputas, a huge fan-shaped lantern with a depicted image of warlords or legendary heroines. The neputas are paraded through town accompanied by flute and taiko (Japanese drums) players.
Aomori Sightseeing Guide: Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri
Aomori Nebuta Festival
Where: Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2021, usually held annually between 2-7 August
Summary: One of the three biggest festivals in the Tohoku region. During the festival, over 20 spectacular nebuta, massive lantern floats based on kabuki or mythical stories, are paraded through the city. On the final night, the nebuta are placed in boats and ferried around Aomori Bay as fireworks light up the night sky to conclude the festival.
JNTO website: Aomori Nebuta Festival
Official site: Nebuta Festival
Note: For those who visit outside of the festival period, you can experience the history and charm of the festival at Nebuta Museum WA-RASSE . The museum hosts daily performances and also has an area where you can learn about the history of the festival.
Akita Kanto Matsuri
Where: Kanto Odori Street, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2021, usually held between 3-6 August
Summary: One of the three biggest festivals inthe Tohoku region, the festival is held to pray for a bountiful harvest and has a history of over 200 years. A kanto is a giant bamboo pole strung with paper lanterns and are said to resemble golden ears of rice. The highlight is a parade where participants balance kanto, some as high as 12m and weighting up to 50kg, on their foreheads, shoulders, hips and chins without using their hands.
JNTO website: Akita Kanto Festival
Official site: Akita Kanto Festival
Sendai Tanabata Festival
Where: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
When: Annually between 6-8 August
Summary: One of the three biggest festivals in the Tohoku region. During the festival, the entire city, including central Sendai and neighbouring shopping districts, is filled with colourful Tanabata decorations.
JNTO website: Sendai Tanabata Festival
Official site: Sendai Tanabata Festival
Toro Nagashi
Where: Motoyasu River, Hiroshima Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2021 but usually held annually on 6 August from 6-9pm
Summary: ‘Toro nagashi’ is an event where paper lanterns are set afloat on rivers, and is usually held across Japan in the mid-August Obon period when the spirits of deceased ancestors are believed to return to their hometowns.
Hiroshima's toro nagashi first started in 1947 as a consolation to the souls of the millions of Japanese citizens who perished during World War II. About 10,000 lighted lanterns are set adrift on Motoyasu River by Hiroshima citizens with prayers for world peace.
Explore Hiroshima website: Lantern Floating Ceremony (Toro Nagashi)
Awa Odori
Where: Various places across Tokushima Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2021, usually held annually from early to mid-August
Summary: A grand summer folk dance festival with over 400 years of history and one of Japan’s most famous cultural events.
JNTO website: Awa Odori Festival
Tokushima Prefectural Government website: Awa Odori
NOTE: For those who visit outside of the festival period, the Awa Odori Festival Hall hosts daily performances and also houses a small museum where you can learn about the history of the festival.
Kochi Yosakoi Matsuri
Where: Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2021, usually held annually between 8-12 August
Summary: Yosakoi is an energetic style of group dancing that originated in Kochi. The Kochi Yosakoi Festival features lively dance performances accompanied by ornately decorated music trucks and colourful costumes at 16 venues across the city.
Visit Kochi website: Yosakoi
Official site (JP only): Yosakoi Matsuri
Kyoto Gozan Okuribi
Where: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
When: Annually on 16 August
Summary: Enormous bonfires are lit on five mountains in Kyoto and can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Three are in the shape of Chinese characters while the other two are in the shape of a torii gate and a boat.
JNTO website: Kyoto Gozan Okuribi
Okinawa Zento Eisa Matsuri (All-Okinawa Eisa Festival)
Where: Goya Intersection Area and Okinawa City Koza Sports Park, Okinawa Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2021, usually held on the first weekend after the Obon Festival (mid-August)
Summary: Eisa is a type of traditional performing arts from Okinawa and can be seen at summer festivals and other special events. At the All-Okinawa Eisa Festival, youth groups from all over the prefecture are selected to perform eisa.
Visit Okinawa website: Eisa
Official site (JP only): Okinawa Zento Eisa Matsuri
Kumano Fireworks Festival
Where: Shichiri Mihama Beach, Mie Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2021, usually held annually on 17 August
Summary: A 300-year-old festival with a festive beachside atmosphere.
JNTO website: Kumano Fireworks Festival
Omagari Fireworks Festival
Where: Daisen City, Akita Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2021, usually held annually in late August
Summary: A spectacular fireworks display with over 100 years of history. It also serves as Japan's National Firework Competition, with pyrotechnicians gathering from across the country to compete for the Prime Minister’s Award.
JNTO website: Omagari Fireworks Festival
Official site (JP only): Zenkoku Hanabi Kyogi Taikai
More information
- Calendar of Events | August 2021
- Guide | Japan in August
