Japan Festivals - February

February Japan Festivals 2月の祭り

Shiretoko Fantasia 2003

1 February - 8 March

Shiretoko, Hokkaido

A nightly aurora borealis-inspired laser light and music show illuminates the drift ice and the crashing waves of the Okhotsk Sea.

Kaki Matsuri

February

Various locations, Hiroshima Prefecture

Hiroshima is famous for its oysters and throughout February, oyster festivals are held in Hiroshima city, Miyajima Island and fishing towns along the coast where you can sample a range of oyster and fresh fish dishes.

Otaru Snow Light Path Festival

Early February

Otaru, Hokkaido

Usually held at the same time as the more famous Sapporo Snow Festival, the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival features lanterns and snow sculptures in the historic Canal area of Otaru.

Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival

Early February

Abashiri, Hokkaido

Son et Lumiere events, ice sculptures and fireworks feature at this frosty winter festival.

Read more about Abashiri Drift Ice

Mombetsu Drift Ice Festival Early to Mid February

Mombetsu, Hokkaido

Attractions include a giant slide made from natural ice, an endurance competition and a bobsled race in Mombetsu, Hokkaido.

Iwate Yukimatsuri

Early to Mid February

Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture

A "bewitching winter wonderland" of snow and ice statues illuminated at night. One of the biggest snow festivals in the Tohoku region.

Toka-machi Yukimatsuri

mid February

Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture

Japan's longest-running snow festival featuring many sculptures. Also showcases the work of Niigata Prefecture's renowned kimono makers. Read more about the Tokamachi Snow Festival

Snowball Festival

Mid-February

Koide, Uonuma, Prefecture Prefecture

Niigata is home to a bizarre, fancy-dress, free-for-all snowball fight in the town of Koide in Uonuma city. There's lots of snow, lots of fun and lots of sake.

Bizarre fancy dress is de-rigueur at the Snowball Festival in Koide Niigata Prefecture.

Kurokawa Noh

1-2 February

Kasuga Shrine, Kushibiki, Yamagata Prefecture

Ceremonial parades and seven sacred noh plays mark the beginning of the new year, traditionally celebrated a month later in this area.

Hakodate Yuki no Saiten

1-2 February

Hakodate, Hokkaido

Ice sculptures and illuminations as well as winter sports in the port city of Hakodate in Hokkaido.

Owase Ya-ya Matsuri

1-5 February

Owase, Mie Prefecture

In the evenings of the 2nd to the 4th, young men dressed only in loincloths, parade around the streets, jostling each other before diving into the sea to purify themselves. Lively parades, archery events and street dancing add to the excitement.

Devil at Setsubun Festival at Matsuo Taisha Shrine, Kyoto

Setsubun Festival

2-3 February

Shogo-in Temple, Kyoto

Setsubun ceremony from 1pm and Shogo-in Temple's principal deity (Fudo Myo-o) is open to the public. Take bus #206 to the Kumano Jinja-mae stop.

Setsubun Festival

2-3 February

Senbon Enma-do Temple, Kyoto

Special konnyaku (devil's tongue) on sale along with kyogen drama from 7.30pm. Take Kyoto bus #206 to Senbon Kuramaguchi stop.

Setsubun Festival

2-3 February

Suga Shrine, Kyoto

From 3pm on February 2, bean scattering and charms distributed by men in Heian Period attire.

Setsubun Festival

2-3 February

Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto

Setsubun festivities with ritual bean-throwing by Kyoto maiko and amulet offering and sweet sake (amazake) at Yasaka Shrine in downtown Kyoto. Bus #206.

Setsubun Festival

2-4 February

Mibu-dera, Kyoto

Processions, prayers, clay plate name-writing ceremony and a prayer-stick (goma) burning fire ritual at Mibu Temple in Kyoto. Mibu kyogen dramas are performed daily from 1pm. Ride bus #26 and get off at Mibudera-michi. See also April festivals and October festivals.

Setsubun Festival

2-4 February

Yoshida Shrine, Kyoto

Setsubun festivities with procession, bean-throwing and large purification fire on the evening of 3rd February at Yoshida Shrine near Kyoto University Hyakumanben campus.

Naritasan Setsubun-e

3 February

Shinsho-ji Temple, Narita, Chiba Prefecture

Major bean-throwing festival held at the head temple of the Shingon Buddhist sect. Attracts top sumo wrestlers and famous entertainers every year.

Takisanji Oni Festival

3 February

Takisan-ji Temple, Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture

Three goblins dressed as grand-father, mother and child are chased by young men with torches in Okazaki, central Japan.

Nishiarai Daruma Kuyo

3 February

Nishiarai Daishi Temple, Adachi, Tokyo

One of Japan's largest daruma burning festivals in Adachi, Tokyo.

Tsuina Ceremony

3 February

Nagata Jinja, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture

Seven youths dressed as demons and wielding torches dance to the sound of conches and drums at Nagata Jinja in Kobe.

Kasuga Taisha Mandoro

3 February

Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara

At this twice-yearly festival at Kasuga Taisha in Nara, the shrine's thousands of stone lanterns as well as it's famous bronze hanging lanterns are all lit to magical effect.

Ushikae Shinji

3 February

Hofu Tenmangu Shrine, Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture

All Tenmangu shrines are associated with bulls and at this major shrine festival, local business donate many cow-related prizes made from gold, copper and silver. Top prize though is live bull that the winner has to look after until the autumn.

Konaki Zumo

3 February

Saikyo-ji Temple, Hirado, Nagasaki Prefecture

About 200-300 1-year-old babies take part in this competition every year in Hirado. Competing babies sit opposite each other while a gyouji (referee) tries to surprise them into crying. The first baby to cry is the winner.

Dai-no-gi at Heian Jingu

3 February

Heian Jingu, Kyoto

Large scale setsubun festival held at Heian Jingu in the Okazaki district of Kyoto. There is a re-enactment of a Heian period ritual, kyogen dramas, amazake and bean throwing plus a setsubun bonfire. Begins at 1pm. Arrive earlier to get the best views as the festival draws large crowds.

Setsubun Devil Dance

3 February

Rozanji Temple, Kyoto

Devil dance (oni-odori) by four costumed devils, ritual purification rites and stylized archery at Rozanji Temple near Demachiyanagi Station in Kyoto. The dance starts at 3pm but the small temple's grounds fill much earlier. Old amulets are burned in a fire ritual from 5pm.

Setsubun Festival

3 February

Kitano-Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto

Kyogen comic plays are performed and bean-scattering by maiko from the Kamishichiken geisha district from 1pm at Kitano-Tenmangu Shrine. Take a Kyoto City Bus #50 to Kitano Tenmangu-mae stop.

Setsubun Festival

3 February

Shimogamo Shrine, Kyoto

Arrow shooting ritual, bean-throwing and old amulet burning ceremony at the main hall of Shimogamo Jinja from 10am. Take bus #205 to the Shimogamo-jinja-mae stop in northern Kyoto.

Yuki no Carnival

5-6 February

Unazaki Onsen, Toyama Prefecture

Local winter festival featuring snow and ice sculptures, fireworks and 100 torch-bearing skiers forming a night time procession down the slopes.

Tako-ichi

6 February

Oji Inari Shrine, Kita-ku, Tokyo

Annual kite market dating back to the Edo Period (1603-1867) when kites were said to "cut the wind" and thus stop fires from spreading.

Otomatsuri

6 February

Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture

Fire festival in Shingu in which hundreds of men dressed all in white, run down the steep steps of the mountain carrying flaming torches.

Hatsu-umasai

6 February

Yutoku Inari Jinja, Kashima, Saga Prefecture

A parade of hundreds in festival dress led by horses with colourful headgear and saddles. Horses and people alike dance mambo-fashion while thousands look on.

Matsushima Kaki Matsuri

6 February

Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture

Celebrates the local speciality of kaki (oysters) with Buddhist ceremonies and 100m long grill in the beachside park in Matsushima Bay for visitors to cook fish bought at the market. Oysters usually sell out by the afternoon.

Shusho Oni-e

6 February

Tennen-ji Temple, Bungo Takada, Oita Prefecture

Men dressed as oni (demons) act wildly and prod people's backs with burnt out torches. This is said to expel evil spirits and townspeople bend over to receive the demons' blessing until late at night.

Asahikawa Fuyu Matsuri

7-11 February

Asahikawa, Hokkaido

Asahikawa hosts the world's foremost ice sculpture competition and holds the record for the largest snow statue in the world. Many sculptures and snow slides all illuminated at night.

Sapporo Yukimatsuri

7-13 February (dates may vary)

Odori Park, Sapporo, Hokkaido

The largest of Hokkaido's winter snow and ice festivals. Teams from all over the world come to Sapporo to build snow statues for the International Snow Statue Contest held during the festival.

For more information on the Sapporo Snow Festival click here

Onda Matsuri

Second Sunday in February

Asukaniimasu Shrine, Asukamura, Nara Prefecture

Though formally known as the O-tauesai, or rice-planting festival, this is also a celebration of fertility. After the rice-planting ceremony involving a kagura performance and song by a shrine maiden, a ritual dance simulates a couple having sexual intercourse. Masked goblins also hand out ritual smacks with bamboo sticks to "drive the devil out" of those smacked.

Hari Kuyo

8 February

Kokuzo Horinji Temple, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

The deity of needlework is enshrined here and on this day seamstresses and others stick their used needles in a jelly followed by prayers at 1pm.

Takewari Matsuri

10 February

Kaga-shi, Ishikawa Prefecture

To recreate the legendary killing of snakes in ancient times, young men, half-naked, half-dressed in white beat the ground with 2m lengths of bamboo in order to smash them to pieces.

Hatsu Uma Daikon Radish Ceremony

10-13 February

Sanzen-in Temple, Ohara, Kyoto Prefecture

A locally-grown, organic, boiled white radish is offered to visitors at Sanzen-in Temple in the village of Ohara with prayers for health from 9am.

Yuki Toro Matsuri

10-13 February

Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture

Yuki toro (snow lanterns) are snow sculptures in the shape of traditional Japanese ishidoro (stone lanterns). At this festival in Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan, around two hundred yuki toro and 300 miniature igloos grace Hirosaki Park with the snow-covered castle in the background.

Agon Shu Hoshi Matsuri

11 February, Yamashina,

Kyoto

New Buddhist sect (established 1978) Agon Shu's Hoshi Matsuri or "Fire Rites Festival" in Yamashina, eastern Kyoto, involves the lighting of two huge bonfires of millions of prayer sticks - gomagi and the procession of supposed relics of the historic Buddha.

Access: Shuttle buses from Kyoto Station's Hachijoguchi exit or Keihan Bus #82C, #83, #83A, #84, #84B, #86, #86B, #87, #87B.

Kigen Matsuri

11 February, Kamigamo Shrine

Kyoto

Celebrates the reign of the Emperor Kanmu (737–806) with children's karate display and kemari (ancient soccer) game. Starts at around 10am.

Kawa o Wataru Bonden

11 February

Hanadate-chiku, Omonogawa, Izusan, Omagari-chiiki, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture

A bonden is a kind of folk song particular to Akita prefecture, and this Bonden festival is special in that, after participants having done the rounds of the town from early morning singing bonden, they cross the Omono River on boats decorated with huge lantern-like decorations then climb Mt. Izu to pray at the shrine at the top.

Near Omagari Station.

Daito Ohara Mizukake Matsuri

11 February

Iwate Prefecture

The ages of 25 and 42 are considered unlucky ages for men and so at this festival, men of those ages take this opportunity to run around the town wearing only loincloths while townspeople throw water over them to wash away the bad luck. Recently men of other ages have been joining in in the hope of making their wishes come true.

Sominsai

11 February

Kokuseki-ji, Iwate Prefecture

Men of unlucky ages (25 and 42) dressed only in loincloths take part in purification rituals throughout the night, climaxing in a vigorous struggle for wooden charms.

Shinwa no Takachiho Kenkoku Matsuri

11 February

Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture

Celebrates the mythical 'founding of the nation' day with a 'goddess' contest and a beard contest. The winners lead a parade of 800 people dressed as Japanese gods.

Chousho-ji Aragyo

12 February

Chousho-ji, Kanazawa, Kanagawa Prefecture

Priests chant sutras and pray for peace while dousing themselves in cold water at Choushiji Temple in Kanazawa.

Hatsu Uma Festival

12 February

Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

People pray for success in business to Inari (guardian of grains, especially rice and therefore business in general) Starts at 8am at Fushimi Inari Shrine.

Namahage Sedo Matsuri

13-15 February

Akita Prefecture

Blending Shinto and local folk traditions, this festival starts with ceremonial kagura dances and continues with namahage dancing around a bonfire and a torch-lit procession down the mountain.

Iwatsuka Kinekosa Festival

14 February

Shichishosa Shrine, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya

A dozen naked men plant a bamboo pole in the Shonai River, one man ascends the pole until it breaks. The direction of the broken bamboo foretells the year ahead.

Kariwano Otsunahiki

15 February

Kariwano, Akita Prefecture

Annual tug of war contest between the people of the 'lower' and the 'upper' towns. Thousands take part pulling on each end of a rice-straw rope over 50m in length.

Kamakura Festival

15-16 February

Yokote, Akita Prefecture

Local people build kamakura (snow houses) all over the town and offer food and drink to guests.

Kuromori Kabuki

15 - 17 February

Kuromorihie Shrine, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture

For 250 years, local performers have been performing colorful, often comical kabuki on an outdoor stage. The families of actors make up much of the audience which gives the event an especially festive atmosphere.

Chinese New Year

February

Chinatown, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture

The biggest Chinese New Year celebrations take place in Chukagai, the Chinatown in downtown Yokohama. There are colorful and noisy lion and dragon dances, Chinese fire crackers and lots of people visiting the local temples.

Hadaka Matsuri

Mid February-early March

Konomiya Shrine, Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture

Dating back 1,200 years, this festival involves semi-naked men battling to touch the 'god-man', a ritual practice that is said to rid each man of evil. This ancient festival with its roots in the 8th century is held on the 13th day after the lunar new year, which changes every year.

Read more about the Konomiya Hadaka Festival

Mount Omuro Yamayaki Festival

Second Sunday in February (weather permitting)

Mount Omuro, Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture

Yamayaki Matsuri (Mountain Burning Festival) takes place on the 2nd Sunday of February. The old grass covering the dormant volcano of Mount Omuro is burnt off allowing new shoots to grow.

Akiyoshidai Yamayaki

16 February

Akiyoshidai, Yamaguchi Prefecture

Dry grass on the slopes of the mountain plateau of Akiyoshidai in Yamaguchi is burned to signal the beginning of spring.

Hachinohe Enburi

17-20 February

Chojasan Shinra Shrine, Hachinohe Shichomae Hiroba, Kojokaku, Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture

Local folk dance festival that dates back when people with no experience of farming were taught how to work in the fields through dancing with a tool called an eburi (later enburi).

Tanigumi Odori

18 February

Tanigumi-mura, Gifu Prefecture

A celebration dance first performed during the Kamakura Period (1192-1333) by victorious samurai of the Minamoto clan. Dancers wearing long, brightly-colored plumes on their backs and beat large drums while parading in the streets.

Nentosai

18 February

Kamigamo Shrine, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

Festival based on a recreation of ancient Heian Period rite performed by the Kyoto nobility. Begins at 2pm.

Dondo Festival

19 February

Tsukioka, Niigata Prefecture

The Tsukioka Dondo Festival sees about sixty young men and about a dozen young women will run through town before starting a bonfire with burning torches. Despite extreme cold, possibly snow, the men wear white, cotton loincloth-like garments only. The women don thin, colorful Japanese robes. A sideshow is the Geta Olympics - hurling a clog as far as you can.

Saidaiji Eyo

Third Saturday of February

Saidai-ji, Okayama Prefecture

Spectacular and atmospheric naked festival at Saidaiji Kannon-in Temple dating back to the 14th century, in which up to 10,000 loincloth-wearing (and sometimes drunk) men battle for sacred wooden sticks (shingi) tossed into the air by priests. Can be dangerous with a fatality in 2007.

Sata no Misaki Matsuri

3rd weekend in February

Cape Sata, Minami-osumi-cho, Kimotsuki-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture

This festival starts from the southernmost tip of Kyushu, Cape Sata, from the Misaki Shrine there and makes its way 20 km north-east to Chikatsu-no-miya Shrine over two days. In the process it traverses seven different local hamlets. The end of the first day is the most thrilling, when the shrine is taken down a steep rocky slope in what is called the Donhirazaka-kudari.

Godai Rikison Ninno-e

23 February

Daigoji Temple, Kyoto

Participants compete to lift huge mochi rice cakes, weighing 150kg for men and 90kg for women. Starts around noon.

Godai Rikisan

23 February

Sekizen-in Temple, Kyoto

A sub-temple of Shogo-in Temple where the images of Five Forceful Bodhisattvas are on display to the public just for one day each year. The worship is led by yamabushi with free soup on offer made from sake lees. Starts from 1pm.

Baikasai

25 February

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto

An outdoor tea party hosted by Kyoto maiko and geiko is held amongst the blossoming plum trees at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.

Katsuyama Sagichosai

Last weekend of February

Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture

Traditional music is performed almost continuously on 12 stages set up in different locations to showcase talent from each part of the town but the highlight of the festival is the closing dondo-yaki ceremony at which the town's new year decorations are burned.

Some-no-Komichi Festival

Last weekend of February

Nakai and Ochiai in western Shinjuku, Tokyo

The Some-no-Komichi Festival celebrates the area's heritage of kimono dyeing in very colorful ways. For a length of 300 meters, long strips of patterned cloth are hung over the river, more than 100 local businesses also display custom-made norencurtains outside their doors to announce their participation in the festival.

DISCLAIMER Festivals may be cancelled or postponed without much warning. Check with your local tourist office for confirmation.

Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri

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