FESTIVALS

Kyoto's incredibly historic, long-standing Gion Festival reached its thrilling climax!

Witness the Hanabi Taikai or the Japanese fireworks festival in and around the Kanto region.

Tohoku's Kizuna Festival takes place in one of its six prefectures every year in the hopes of a full recovery from the 2011 disasters.

People compete in Iwate Prefecture to be the best table-flipper, venting their frustrations or shouting out their hopes and dreams.

The town of Iga in Mie Prefecture was home to a renowned clan of shadow warriors. In conjunction with their annual Ninja Festival, the garbage men donned shinobi garb to get in on the action!

From galleries to installations ranging across the scenic Japanese countryside, Japan's art scene is capturing the imagination of visitors and locals alike. Find out about a few of the country's most exciting art festivals and plan a creative escapade!

From huge taiko drums to theater performances in Tokyo's artsy neighborhoods, theater, music and dance lovers alike flock to experience Japan's performance festivals.

People come to the Akiyoshi Plateau in Yamaguchi Prefecture to watch rolling grasslands burn with strips of open flame, and to explore the famous giant cave and fascinating geology of the Quasi-National Park.