summer
Gion Matsuri: A Guide to Kyoto's Month-Long Summer Festival
Gion Matsuri 2026 runs all of July in Kyoto — here's when to see the Yamaboko Junko float parade, Yoiyama nights and the best street food.
summer
Obon: When Japan's Ancestors Come Home
Every August, Japan lights fires and sets lanterns on rivers to guide its ancestors' spirits home for the Obon festival.
summer
Tanabata: Japan's Star Festival
The story of Tanabata, Japan's star festival — wishes tied to bamboo, streets buried in streamers, and when to catch it: 7 July or early August.
autumn
Tsukimi: Japan's Autumn Moon-Viewing
Tsukimi is Japan's autumn moon-viewing night — when it falls, the dango and silver-grass traditions, and where to see it done beautifully in Kyoto.
summer
Japan in Summer: Fireworks, Festivals and Beating the Heat
Japan in summer: the big festivals from Gion Matsuri to Nebuta, the best fireworks nights, and how to beat the July–August heat.