Japanese Holidays & Festivals: July

These are yearly events of July in Japan. Although unfortunately the public events will not be taking place this year, we still wanted to share them with you for your future trip to Japan. On the first of the month, we’ll share a monthly calendar of Japan’s yearly holidays and notable festivals.

JUL 1-30: Gion Matsuri

One of the most popular festivals in Japan. There will be lots of events happening in Kyoto during this month. The highlight is on July 17th when there is a parade with luxurious Japanese traditional floats.

JUL 1-15: Hakata Gion Yamagasa

As one of the important intangible folk culture properties of Japan, Hakata Gion Yamagasa festival in Fukuoka is famous for a float race where a group of men carry one-ton floats.

JUL 4-8: Shounan Hiratsuka Tanabata Matsuri

One of the largest star festivals in Japan. Originating from the Chinese qixi festival, streets of Shounan city will be filled with milky way-like silk decorations.

JUL 9-10: Shiman Rokusen-nichi

People visit Sensou-ji temple in Asakusa, Tokyo on this day in order to have 46,000 days (shiman rokusen-nichi) of safe life.

JUL 11: Sumida River Fireworks Festival

One of the largest fireworks festivals in Japan along the Sumida River in Tokyo.

JUL 19-21: Toyohashi Gion Championship

People shoot hand-held firework cannons as offerings to Yoshida shrine.

JUL 20-21: Nagasaki Peiron Senshukan

A dragon boat racing in a harbor of Nagasaki. First started by Chinese residents.

JUL 23-24: Warei Shrine Summer Festival

A 6-meter long ushioni bull demon parade at daytime, fireworks at night and a bull fight on the last day of the festival.

JUL 23-25: Soma Nomaoi

A festival of horse riding and martial arts. People dressed in Japanese traditional armor hold horse racing events as well as wild horse capturing rituals to offer to gods.

JUL 23: Marine day (National Holiday)

A Japanese national holiday expressing gratitude for the ocean as an island country.

JUL 28-29: Hokkai Heso Festival

Dancers draw faces on their belly and dance in Heso shrine in Hokkaido wishing for love, health, happiness and birth.