Events in Japan — May 2026

Festivals and events taking place in May 2026, or usually held around this time of year.

Dates can change. Check the official website before you go.

Confirmed dates

2026 Apr 10 – May 5 Ended

Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival
Hirosaki City · Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle grounds)
2026 Apr 15 – May 5 Ended

Kakunodate Cherry Blossom Festival
Semboku City · Kakunodate Samurai District and the Hinokinai River embankment
2026 Apr 18 – May 10 Ended

Matsumae Cherry Blossom Festival
Matsumae Town · Matsumae Park
2026 Apr 18 – May 5 Ended

Ogata Cherry Blossom and Rapeseed Flower Festival
Ogata Village · North of Hotel Sun Rural Ogata, and around the Kata no Mise farmers' market and the Ogata Reclamation Museum
2026 Apr 18 – May 10 Ended

Sanbongi Rapeseed Blossom Festival
Osaki City · Sanbongi Himawari no Oka (Sunflower Hill)
2026 Apr 29 – May 3 Ended

Yonezawa Uesugi Festival
Yonezawa City · Around Uesugi Shrine and Denkoku-no-Mori, central Yonezawa, and the Matsukawa riverbank (Kawanakajima battle)
2026 May 1–5 Ended

Spring Fujiwara Festival
Hiraizumi Town · Around Hiraizumi (Motsuji to Chusonji and other sites)
2026 May 3–4 Ended

Esashi Jinku Festival
Oshu City · Odori Park and central Esashi, Oshu
2026 May 3 (Sun) Ended

Yabusame Shinji (Horseback Archery) at Shimogamo Shrine
Kyoto City · Tadasu no Mori forest riding ground, Shimogamo Shrine
2026 May 4–5 Ended

Fukura Shrine Grand Festival of Mt. Chokai Omonoimi Shrine
Yuza Town · Around the Fukura Kuchinomiya Shrine of Mt. Chokai Omonoimi Shrine
2026 May 5 (Tue) Ended

Gannin Odori Dance of Hachirogata
Hachirogata Town · Hitoichi Shrine, Hachirogata Station square and the town streets
2026 May 5 (Tue) Ended

Kamo Kurabeuma (Horse Race Ritual) at Kamigamo Shrine
Kyoto City · Kamigamo Shrine (Kamowakeikazuchi Jinja)
2026 May 15 (Fri) Ended

Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Festival)
Kyoto City · Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines
2026 May 16–17 Ended

Yokohama Rapeseed Blossom Festival
Yokohama Town · Festival grounds in the Mameda district, Yokohama Town
2026 May 16–17 Ended

Hakodate Goryokaku Festival
Hakodate City · Goryokaku Park
2026 May 16–17 Ended

Sendai Aoba Matsuri
Sendai City · Nishi Park, Jozenji-dori Avenue, Higashi-Nibancho and around central Sendai
2026 May 17 (Sun) Ended

Mifune Matsuri (Three Boats Festival)
Kyoto City · Oi River upstream of Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama
2026 May 19–21 Ended

Sakata Matsuri
Sakata City · Nakamachi (Naka-dori Street) and central Sakata
2026 May 20–31 Ended

Sapporo Lilac Festival
Sapporo City · Odori Park (West 5–7 chome) and Kawashimo Park
2026 May 23 (Sat) Ended

Nagai Black Lion Festival
Nagai City · Nagai's main street and Shirotsutsuji Park plaza
2026 May 23 – Jun 21 Ended

Tagajo Ruins Iris Festival
Tagajo City · Tagajo Ruins Iris Garden
2026 May 25 (Mon) Ended

Tsuruoka Tenjin Festival (Bakemono Matsuri)
Tsuruoka City · Tsuruoka Tenmangu Shrine and central Tsuruoka
2026 May 30 – Jun 28 Ended

Odate Rose Festival
Odate City · Ishida Rose Garden

Usually held around this time (check the official website for dates)

Usually mid May
Please check the official website for dates.

Nanbu Peony Festival
Nanbu Town · Hase Peony Garden
Usually late May
Please check the official website for dates.

Gokusui no En at Motsuji (Winding Stream Poetry Party)
Hiraizumi Town · Motsuji Temple

On the day, see what locals are murmuring on the murmur map

murmur is an app that shows short, anonymous posts on a map, right where they were written. On festival day, open the map around the venue and see what people nearby are saying.

Download on the App Store Android (Google Play): coming soon