Partners Information: January offers a great opportunity to experience Japanese culture, with many shrines and temples holding events to celebrate the start of the new year. Light-up events featuring ‘snow monsters’ and ice festivals are other wintertime highlights, while flower festivals featuring plum blossoms and camellia during the month.
It is also a great time for snow sport enthusiasts, and fans of more traditional sports won’t want to miss the Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
We've highlighted a few festivals and events 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.
NOTE: Many websites only have information in Japanese so you may need to use an online translation service such as Google Translate 
or DeepL Translator . Alternatively, the Chrome browser allows you to translate many webpages from Japanese into English.
This 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.
Zao Juhyo Light-up
Where: Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Yamagata Prefecture
When: 25 December 2021 – 28 February 2022
Summary: Snow covered fir trees called Juhyo, snow monsters, are lit up at night in an array of colours.
More information: JNTO | Zao Juhyo Festival
Tsubaki Matsuri
Where: Izu Oshima Island, Tokyo Prefecture
When: 1 January – 27 March 2022
Summary: A tsubaki (camellia) festival on the island of Izu-Oshima which includes a range of events, activities and local folk performances.
More information:
・Go Tokyo | Izu Oshima Tsubaki Matsuri (Camellia) Festival
・Oshima Tourism Association | Camellia Festival (Japanese only)
Kokyo Ippan Sanga
Where: Imperial Palace, Tokyo Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2022 (usually held each year on 2 January)
Summary: An annual event where the general public can enter the grounds of the Imperial Palace to see New Year's greetings from members of the Imperial Family.
More information: The Imperial Household Agency | Visit of the General Public to the Palace for the New Year Greeting
Usokae Festival & Onisube Festival
Where: Dazaifu Tenmangu, Fukuoka Prefecture
When: 7 January 2022
Summary: At the Usokae Festival, people exchange small wooden bullfinches which they take home for happiness and good fortune in the year ahead. The Onisube Festival is held later the same day, and is a fire festival to ward off misfortune and invite prosperity in the year ahead.
More information:
・Usokae Festival | Dazaifu Tenmangu
・Onisube Festival | Dazaifu Tenmangu
Shogatsu Taisai (Kachimairi)
Where: Toka Ebisu Shrine, Fukuoka Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2022 (Usually held each year from 8 –11 January)
Summary: A four-day festival where people visit the shrine to pray for good luck and commercial success in the new year to Ebisu, the god of wealth. The highlight is the ‘kachi-mairi’ on the 9th where a procession of geiko visit the shrine, accompanied by the sounds of traditional music.
More information:
・Visit Fukuoka | Toka Ebisu Festival (Taisai)
・Toka Ebisu Shrine | Official site (Japanese only)
Atami Baien Ume Matsuri
Where: Atami Baien Garden, Shizuoka Prefecture
When: 8 January – 6 March 2022
Summary: A plum blossom festival in a garden with over 60 varieties of plum trees, and some 470 plum trees in total. A range of events and activities are held during the during the festival period.
More information: Atami News | 78th Atami Baien Ume Matsuri (Japanese only)
Kanazawa Shobo Dezomeshiki
Where: Kanazawa Castle, Ishikawa Prefecture
When: 9 January 2022
Summary: An annual New Year's event where firefighters in traditional attire perform acrobatic stunts atop tall ladders.
More information: Ishikawa Travel | Kaga-tobi Dezomeshiki Festival
Maebashi Hatsuichi Matsuri
Where: Various locations across Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture
When: 9 January 2022
Summary: A lively festival which boasts nearly 400 years of history where people come to give thanks for past triumphs and wish for good luck in the new year with daruma dolls. There is typically a fair selling daruma dolls, a bonfire where the previous year’s dolls are burnt and a mikoshi (portable shrine) parade, but the event was held on a smaller scale this year.
More information: JNTO | Hatsuichi Matsuri Daruma Festival
Toka Ebisu (Hoekago Gyoretsu)
Where: Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2022 (Usually held each year from the evening of 9 January to 11 January)
Summary: A lively event where people give offerings and prayers to Ebisu, the god of wealth, for prosperity in the year ahead. One of the highlights of this festival is a procession of hoekago (palanquins) carrying geisha and other famous figures.
More information: JNTO | Toka Ebisu Festival
Ozumo Kugatsu Basho
Where: Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo Prefecture
When: 9 – 23 January 2022
Summary: A Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan. Tokyo tournaments are held annually in January, May and September each year.
More information:
・JNTO | Tokyo Sumo Tournaments
・Nihon Sumo Kyokai | Official site
Kagami-birakishiki
Where: Nippon Budokan, Tokyo Prefecture
When: 10 January 2022
Summary: An annual New Year celebration to mark the start of the martial arts training. Events include a traditional armour wearing ceremony, a rice-cake cutting ceremony and demonstrations of a number of martial arts disciplines.
More information: Nippon Budokan | Official site (Japanese only)
Ome Daruma Ichi (Ome Daruma Market)
Where: Kyu-Ome Kaido (Old Ome Highway), Tokyo Prefecture
When: 12 January 2022
Summary: An annual event that originated from the Ome Markets in the 15th or 16th century where mayudama (cocoon dolls) were sold to help promote the local silk industry. These days many stalls sell daruma dolls instead, although there are also places selling food and other goods too.
More information: Go Tokyo | Ome Daruma Market
Hatsuka-ya-sai
Where: Motsu-ji Temple, Iwate Prefecture
When: 20 January 2022
Summary: The final night of the weeklong New Year’s celebration praying for good health, prosperity and fruitful harvest in the year ahead. This night-time festival features Ennen-no-mai, an ancient dance for longevity, and is designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
More information: Visit Iwate | Motsu-ji Temple Hatsukayasai Festival
Hatsu Kobo
Where: Toji Temple, Kyoto Prefecture
When: 21 January 2022
Summary: The first market of the year at the temple featuring stalls selling items such as second-hand kimono, pottery and food. The market is held on the 21st of each month and is usually called the Mieku (Kobo-ichi market).
More information: Toji Temple | Official site
Wakakusa Yamayaki
Where: Mt Wakakusa, Nara Prefecture
When: 22 January 2022
Summary: A spectacular festival where the grass that covers Mt Wakakusa is set ablaze and can be seen from all over the city. There are typically fireworks and food stalls but the festival will be held on a smaller scale this year.
More information: Visit Nara | Mt. Wakakusa Yamayaki
Usokae-Shinji & Hatsu Tenjin-sai
Where: Kameido Tenjin Shrine, Tokyo Prefecture
When: 23 – 25 January 2022
Summary: An event where uso (bullfinches) figurines, which are regarded as symbols of good luck, are exchanged. Hatsu Tenjin-sai is held on the 25th to celebrate the deity of the shrine with traditional dance and music performances.
More information: Go Tokyo | Usokae Shinji (Bullfinch exchange)
Hatsu Tenjin
Where: Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto Prefecture
When: 25 January 2022
Summary: The first market of the year at the shrine with stalls selling food, second-hand kimono and much more. The monthly market is usually called the Tenjin-san’s Festival and is held on the 25th of each month.
More information: Kitano Tenmangu | Official site
Daruma Ichi
Where: Takahata Fudoson Kongoji Temple, Tokyo Prefecture
When: 28 January 2022
Summary: Shops from around the Kanto region gather to sell daruma doll at the temple’s first daruma fair of the year. There is also a chigo-gyoretsu, a parade of children in fancy attire, in the afternoon.
More information: Go Tokyo | Daruma-ichi (Fair)
Chitose-Shikotsuko Hyoto Matsuri
Where: Lake Shikotsu, Hokkaido Prefecture
When: 29 January – 23 February 2022
Summary: Ice festival featuring hyoto, ice pillars, and activities such as ice slides, taiko performances and fireworks.
More information: JNTO | Lake Shikotsu Hyoto Festival
Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Snow House Festival
Where: Yunishigawa Onsen, Tochigi Prefecture
When: Cancelled in 2022 but (Usually held on Friday to Monday from 29 January to 28 February)
Summary: Hundreds of mini kamakura, snow huts similar to igloos, are lit up with candles. There are also larger kamakura you can rent to enjoy a barbeque meal inside.
More information: Visit Tochigi | Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Snow House Festival
