Photo by cyesuta (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Spring is a season of new beginnings, bringing with it beautiful flowers, comfortable temperatures, and a time of celebration. While most travellers head to Japan in spring to enjoy the cherry blossoms and other flowers, how about checking out a traditional festival and experiencing the rich history and local culture? Let's check out six spring festivals around Japan.
① Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival | Aomori Prefecture
Beautiful cherry blossom trees at Hirosaki Park. | Photo by photoAC
If there’s one spring flower festival you shouldn’t miss, it’s the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival (弘前さくらまつり). Hirosaki Park is considered one of the Top Three Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan (日本三大桜の名所)―along with Takato Castle Ruins Park in Nagano Prefecture and Mount Yoshino in Nara―and its scenery is truly incomparable. The park has around 2,600 cherry blossom trees, which have applied apple cultivation techniques to create denser flowers.
Cherry blossom carpet at Hirosaki Castle’s outer moat. | Photo by photoAC
A special sight here is that of the cherry blossom carpet (花筏 hana ikada), which happens slightly after the full bloom period. Cherry blossom petals fall off and accumulate on the still waters of the outer moat to form a pink carpet.
Hirosaki Park’s Western Moat during the daytime and night time. | Photo by Carissa Loh
Another enchanting sights is the night time cherry blossoms (夜桜 yozakura) around the Western Moat (西濠). Both sides of the moat are lined with cherry blossom trees that form tunnels which you can leisurely stroll under. At night, the reflection of the illuminated cherry blossom trees in the moat is nothing short of magical.
Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival (弘前さくらまつり)
Festival Period: 19 April–5 May 2024
Access: Hirosaki Castle Park is a 5-minute walk from Shiyakushomae Bus Stop, which can be reached via the Dotemachi Loop Bus from JR Hirosaki Station (弘前駅).
② Sendai Aoba Festival | Miyagi Prefecture
Sendai Aoba Festival. | Photo by宮城県観光プロモーション推進室
Over in Miyagi Prefecture, the Sendai Aoba Festival (仙台青葉まつり) is Sendai’s second largest festival after the Sendai Tanabata Festival, and is held on the 3rd Saturday and Sunday of May each year. Sendai is known as the “City of Trees” (杜の都 Mori-no-miyako), and has hundreds of beautiful zelkova trees (欅 keyaki) that sprout beautiful green leaves in May.
Suzume Odori dance. | Photo by宮城県観光プロモーション推進室
The eve of the festival (宵まつり Yoi Matsuri) on Saturday features exciting activities and the Suzume Odori (すずめ踊り) dance. Suzume Odori is a folk performing art representative of Sendai, and its name comes from the dance moves resembling sparrows (suzume) fluttering. During Yoi Matsuri, around 5,000 performers holding folding fans dance and jump to the music, dancing to the beats of cymbals, drums, and flutes.
Yamaboko float procession. | Photo by宮城県観光プロモーション推進室
The main festival (本まつり Hon Matsuri) is held on Sunday, when yamahoko (山鉾) floats are paraded along Jozenjidori Avenue. These floats can be up to 6m high and weigh up to 6 tons, and are manually pulled by members of the community. Joining the floats are people dressed as samurai warriors, donning armour and marching down the streets, making for a thrilling atmosphere!
Sendai Aoba Festival (仙台青葉まつり)
Festival period: 18–19 May 2024
Access: Festivities take place along various locations around Sendai’s city centre. The Suzume Odori dance site is a short walk from Kotodaikoen Station (勾當台公園) on the Sendai Subway Namboku Line, while the Yamaboko display is a short walk from Aoba-dori Ichibancho Station (青葉通一番町) on the Sendai Subway Tozai Line.
③ Sanja Festival | Tokyo
The Sanja Festival welcomes up to 2 million visitors each year. | Photo by photoAC
The Sanja Festival (三社祭) is one of Tokyo’s Three Great Festivals (江戸三大祭), along with the Kanda Festival and Sanno Festival. Held over the third weekend of May, close to 2 million visitors come to watch the energetic festivities, which feature around a hundred portable shrines (神輿 mikoshi) being paraded around the streets to bring good luck.
Mikoshi being paraded. | Photo by photoAC
The Sanja Festival celebrates the three founders of Sensoji Temple (浅草寺), Tokyo’s oldest temple. These founders are enshrined in the neighbouring Asakusa Shrine (浅草神社). On Friday and Saturday, smaller neighborhood mikoshi are carried through the streets, while Sunday's main festival features Asakusa Shrine's three large, elaborate mikoshi parading through the districts of Asakusa from 6am to 8pm.
Evening crowds at Asakusa Shrine. | Photo by photoAC
The last day of the festival can get especially chaotic, as the mikoshi bearers jostle and bounce the mikoshi vigorously, an act that is believed to generate more good luck.
Sanja Festival (三社祭)
Festival period: 17–19 May 2024
Access: Sensoji Temple is a 5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station (浅草駅).
④ Spring Takayama Festival | Gifu Prefecture
Spring Takayama Festival. | Photo by 飛騨・高山観光コンベンション協会
One of Japan’s Three Most Beautiful Festivals (日本三大美祭), the Spring Takayama Festival (春の高山祭)―also known as the Sanno Festival (山王祭)―is held annually from 14 to 15 April, and celebrates the arrival of spring. Originating in the 18th century, the Takayama Festival is made up of two parts: the Spring Takayama Festival held by Hie Shrine in April, and the Autumn Takayama Festival held by Hachiman Shrine in October.
Lanterns are hung on the floats during the night festival. | Photo by 飛騨・高山観光コンベンション協会
The Takayama Festival is known for its float displays (高山の屋台行事), which has been registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The 12 floats (屋台 yatai) are displayed throughout the two-day festival along Yasukawa Street near Takayama’s old town district. Aside from the procession and marionette parades, one of the festival’s highlights is the night time festival (夜祭 yomatsuri) on 14 April where 100 lanterns are hung and lit up on each float, and paraded through the city.
Spring Takayama Festival (春の高山祭)
Festival period: 14–15 April 2024
Access: The floats are displayed across different locations in Takayama.
⑤ Kyoto Aoi Matsuri | Kyoto
Aoi Matsuri Festival is one of Kyoto’s most important festivals. | Photo by cyesuta (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Held on 15 May each year at Kyoto’s Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine, the Aoi Matsuri Festival (葵祭) is one of Kyoto’s top three most important festivals. The festival originated as the Kamo Festival―named after the shrines where it took place―and people performed rites to appease the gods and pray for bountiful harvests in the coming year.
During the Heian Period (794–1185), when Kyoto was the capital of Japan, the festival incorporated more formal rites and rituals. Most of these rite and rituals have been faithfully continued and observed to the festival today. Now, the festival is known as the Aoi Matsuri due to the aoi (葵 hollyhock) pinned to the attire and carts of the participants.
Aoi Matsuri’s procession. | Photo by cyesuta (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Aoi Matsuri is known for its long procession that starts at the Kyoto Imperial Palace, passing by Shimogamo Shrine, and ending at Kamigamo Shrine. The procession features men and women dressed in Heian Period attire walking an 8km path. Watching the procession with its detailed outfit and props, you’ll feel like you’ve slipped back in time into the Heian Period!
Aoi Matsuri Festival (葵祭)
Festival period: 15 May 2024
Access: The procession can be watched from various points along the route, accessible from Marutamachi Station (丸太町駅), Demachiyanagi Station (出町柳駅), and Kitaoji Station (北大路駅).
⑥ Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival | Oita Prefecture
Beppu is abundant in hot spring water. | Photo by photoAC
Beppu City in Oita Prefecture is well-known for its hot springs (温泉 onsen), and produces the largest volume of hot spring water in Japan. Thus it’s no surprise that the city has a festival celebrating its hot springs: the Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival (別府八湯温泉まつり)!
Beppu has eight different hot spring areas (八湯 hatto), each with different characteristics and therapeutic qualities, making for a varied hot spring experience. A uniquely Beppu festival, the Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival expresses gratitude for the abundance and variety of hot spring water in Beppu, and is held each year starting from 1 April―which is Onsen Appreciation Day (温泉感謝の日) in Beppu―and ending on the following Sunday, creating a week-long bonanza during which many of the city’s hot springs offer free admission.
Mount Ogi on fire. | Photo by ツーリズムおおいた
Other events are also held throughout the week as part of the Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival, such as the Ogi Fire Festival (扇山火祭り), where Mount Ogi is set ablaze, creating a striking sight when viewed from Beppu. The festival signals the arrival of spring, and gives offerings to the gods of the hot springs, who are believed to reside on Mount Ogi.
Yubukkake Festival in 2023 | Video by別府八湯温泉まつり実行委員会 on YouTube
The largest event of the Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival is the Yubukkake Festival (湯・ぶっかけまつり), which takes place on the last day. Portable shrines are paraded along the street in front of Beppu Station, with participants sitting atop them splashing hot spring water all round, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere. If you love hot springs, don’t miss this festival!
Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival (別府八湯温泉まつり)
Festival period: 1–7 April 2024 (Ogiyama Fire Festival: 2 April, Yubukkake Festival: 7 April)
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