Japan Festivals - January

• Shōgatsu: Japanese New Year

Dates: January 1 to 3
Location: All over Japan

New Year, or Shōgatsu, is Japan's most important holiday. During these days, families get together, exchange greeting cards and enjoy traditional dishes such as osechi ryōri (traditional Japanese New Year's meal, composed of symbolic dishes arranged in lacquered boxes) and mochi. Temples and shrines attract millions of visitors for hatsumōde, the first visit of the year, where people pray for health and happiness.

• Dezomeshiki: Firemen's parade

Date: January 6th
Location: Tokyo and other major cities

This spectacular parade showcases the heroism of Japanese firefighters. The show includes acrobatic demonstrations on ladders, synchronized choreography and simulated interventions. A captivating event for fans of tradition and performance.

• Tōka Ebisu: Prosperity Festival

January 9 to 11, Osaka
January 8 to 12, Kyoto

This festival celebrates Ebisu, the god of prosperity and business. Shrines like Nishinomiya Ebisu (near Osaka) welcome crowds who come to buy fukuzasa, decorated bamboo branches symbolizing good luck. The festive atmosphere is enlivened by food stalls and traditional dances.

• Oni Hashiri: Ogres and flaming torches

Date: January 14th
Place: Gojo, (Nara prefecture)

The Dadado-no-Oni-Hashiri ritual at Nenbutsu temple is a festival of fire! Locals dress up as demons and run around the temple, creating a wild atmosphere. More specifically, the event features an ogre father, mother and child holding flaming torches, chasing away evil spirits to welcome spring. This tradition presents demons as symbols of fortune and happiness rather than evil.

• Dontosai Festival

Date: January 14th
Location: Osaki Hachimangu Shrine, Miyagi

The Dontosai Festival is a traditional ritual marking the end of the New Year. Residents bring New Year decorations, such as shimenawa and daruma, to burn in a large sacred fire, a symbol of purification and renewal. The event is accompanied by prayers for health, prosperity and family security. Numerous participants, dressed in traditional garments or in light clothing despite the cold, add to the spiritual and festive atmosphere of this winter festival.

• Nozawa Fire Festival

Date: January 15th
Place: Nozawa onsen

One of the three biggest fire festivals in Japan. This event, dedicated to the god Dosojin, includes a symbolic battle in which men aged 25 and 42 defend a temporary shrine against villagers armed with flaming torches. The festival, marked by prayers for health, fertility and a good harvest, also features fireworks, singing, drumming and rituals. The spectacular battle begins at 8.30pm and ends with the burning of the shrine, attracting large numbers of visitors every year.

• Togakushi Dondoyaki Festival

Date: January 18th
Location: Nagano

The Togakushi Dondoyaki Festival is a traditional ritual marking the end of the Japanese New Year. New Year's decorations, such as shimenawa (sacred ropes) and amulets, are burned in a large purifying fire to release spirits and pray for good luck and health. The event includes local dances, songs and culinary specialties shared around the fire, creating a warm and festive atmosphere. To round things off in style, a grand fireworks display takes place at 8pm.

• Wakakusa Yamayaki 

Date: January 25th
Location: Nara

Wakakusa Yamayaki is one of Kansai's biggest attractions. It's a festival where Mount Wakakusa is set alight. The tradition is said to have begun as a way of resolving territorial disputes or warding off pests. The event begins with a ceremony at the foot of the mountain, followed by a fireworks display, before the slopes are set ablaze. Throughout the day, there are food stalls and entertainment at the foot of the mountain. This impressive spectacle, visible from afar, attracts large numbers of visitors every year.

In addition to festivals, January is also the month of daruma markets, the lucky dolls that symbolize perseverance and good wishes for the New Year. Here are three must-see markets:

1. Takasaki Daruma market

• Date: January 1 - 2
• Location: Takasaki (Daruma hometown)

2. Maebashi Hatsuichi Matsuri

• Date: January 9th
• Location: City of Maebashi (Gunma prefecture)

3. Shorinzan Daruma-ji temple

• Date: January 15th
• Location: Takasaki temple