Japan has more festivals (matsuri) than almost any other country in the world, and Japanese festivals ? in all their color, tradition, and exuberance ? are often spectacular.
The celebrations themselves vary widely depending on the occasion, and often involve spirited processions of participants vigorously chanting, dancing, and bearing massive, intricately-decorated omikoshi (portable shrines) or floats.
If you want to see Japan at its liveliest, a high-energy matsuri is the place to do it!

In addition to their striking bursts of color and energy, Japanese matsuri are rich in tradition – and, as if all of this weren’t enough, festivals in Japan are also one of the best places to sample an incredible array of unique, casual, and seasonal Japanese foods. Unlike in many other parts of Asia, street food is not very prevalent in Japan, but at matsuri you’ll find the streets lined with yatai (food stall) after colorful yatai, offering a remarkable array of healthy ? and not-so-healthy ? festival snacks.

The Best Japanese Festivals: Our Favorite Matsuri
Japan has too many wonderful matsuri to include in one list.
Below we feature what we consider the best Japanese festivals, including Kyoto?s Gion Matsuri, Osaka?s Tenjin Matsuri, Aomori?s Nebuta Matsuri, and the Awa Odori festival in Tokushima.

But it’s important to bear in mind that some of the most entertaining matsuri are unsung festivals held in small neighborhoods throughout Japan.
Festivals take ...