What's happening in Japan, with dates you can trust
Dates, venues and official status — confirmed, expected or cancelled — for Japan's seasonal events, compiled from festival and city websites.
This season
Coming up next
Illustrative
ajari / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Minatomirai Festival 2026 (Minato Mirai Smart Festival)
Yokohama, Kanagawa
KANSEI / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The 98th Omagari National Fireworks Competition (Omagari no Hanabi)
Daisen, Akita
Illustrative
Jalfyn Benging / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
24th Kagoshima Kinko Bay Summer Night Grand Fireworks Festival
Kagoshima, Kagoshima
Illustrative
Jalfyn Benging / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hikone Kita-Biwako Summer Fireworks Festival
Hikone, Shiga
Illustrative
Jalfyn Benging / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sagamihara Noryo Fireworks Festival
Sagamihara, Kanagawa
Illustrative
Tranceliner / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
National New Fireworks Competition (Zenkoku Shinsaku Hanabi Challenge Cup)
Suwa, Nagano
Worth planning a trip around
Japan's Big Three fireworks
Nagaoka, Omagari and Tsuchiura — the three festivals every hanabi fan in Japan knows, all officially confirmed for 2026.
Rankin2019 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks
Nagaoka, Niigata — about 20,000 fireworks
KANSEI / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The 98th Omagari National Fireworks Competition (Omagari no Hanabi)
Daisen, Akita — about 18,000 fireworks
PIRELLI from Tokyo, Japan / CC BY 2.1 jp, via Wikimedia Commons
Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition
Tsuchiura, Ibaraki
Now live — plan ahead
Japan's autumn leaves
From the temples of Kyoto to the gorges of Tohoku — typical peak-viewing times, access and admission for the country's best-known momiji spots, compiled from official sources.
Coming later this year
More seasons ahead
November
Illuminations
Winter light displays, from Tokyo Midtown to Nabana no Sato.
Spring 2027
Cherry Blossoms
Bloom forecasts and hanami calendars, city by city.