Some might come to summer festivals to immerse themselves in tradition and culture, but a large part of that is the tasty, tasty food you can find during festival season!

Held every summer in the picturesque riverside town of Gujo Hachiman in Gifu Prefecture, Gujo Odori is one of Japan’s largest and most famous traditional folk dance festivals.

Feel cool in the summer heat at this unassuming temple in Nara.

Held throughout the entire month of July, Kyoto's Gion Matsuri is the most famous festival in all of Japan.

Head north to see hundreds of riders in samurai armor recreate 1,000-year-old training techniques!

Obon is a summer event during which people welcome the spirits of their ancestors back home. It's considered Japan’s most significant occasion next to New Year’s, but the customs followed can vary considerably by region.

Also known as the Star Festival, Tanabata is traditionally held on the seventh day of the seventh month of the old lunar calendar, celebrating the legend of the one day of the year when the deities Hikoboshi and Orihime are allowed to meet.

One of the centerpieces of the Japanese summer is the fireworks festivals that run through July and August. Find out how to get the most out of the experience!