What's OnJapan
LOCAL JAPAN, IN ENGLISH

EXPLORE JAPAN
BY EXPERIENCE

Festivals, art, music, food — find what moves you.

What kind of Japan are you looking for?

INTERNATIONAL ACTS

Global artists touring Japan.

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119 EVENTS

FESTIVALS & MATSURI

Ancient rituals, modern stages, street parades that stop entire cities for days.

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228 EVENTS
ARTS & CULTURE
From Naoshima to Roppongi. Japan's art scene runs deeper than you think.
472 EVENTS
MUSIC
Jazz bars, underground clubs, stadium shows, and everything between.
289 EVENTS
ANIME & GAMING
From Comiket to escape rooms. Japan's otaku culture runs deeper than you think.
74 EVENTS
FOOD & DRINK
From Michelin-starred omakase to the perfect convenience store onigiri.
18 EVENTS
NIGHTLIFE
When the sun goes down, Japan's cities become something else entirely.
24 EVENTS
SPORTS
Sumo, baseball, football — Japan takes sport as seriously as ceremony.
6 EVENTS
PERFORMING ARTS
Noh, kabuki, contemporary dance — Japan's stages are unlike any other.
10 EVENTS
KIDS & FAMILY
One of the safest, most family-friendly countries on earth. Use it.
Where in Japan are you headed?

Every city in Japan has its own rhythm. We cover 49 cities, updated daily.

See all cities →
Tokyo
638 events
Kyoto
31 events
Osaka
150 events
Fukuoka
67 events
Sapporo
37 events
Kobe
43 events

Stories & Guides

Japan Festivals 2026: The Complete Calendar — Matsuri, Music, Beer, Fire and Everything Else
GUIDE

Japan Festivals 2026: The Complete Calendar — Matsuri, Music, Beer, Fire and Everything Else

Japan runs 200,000 festivals a year. Most visitors know three. This is the rest of the calendar — ancient fire rituals, naked men in winter, the world's most beautiful float processions, outdoor music in the mountains, Belgian beer in Osaka, and a laughing festival in the hills of Wakayama.

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Cherry Blossom Season in Japan: The Events Nobody Tells You About
SEASONAL GUIDE

Cherry Blossom Season in Japan: The Events Nobody Tells You About

Everyone knows about hanami. Here is what actually happens during cherry blossom season — the festivals, the crowds, the logistics, and the events worth planning around.

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Golden Week Japan 2026 — Events & Festivals
SEASONAL GUIDE

Golden Week Japan 2026 — Events & Festivals

Golden Week is Japan's biggest holiday stretch — April 29 to May 5. Here's everything happening across the country and how to make the most of it.

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Planning a Trip to Japan's Art Islands: Naoshima, Teshima, Inujima
GUIDE

Planning a Trip to Japan's Art Islands: Naoshima, Teshima, Inujima

The Seto Inland Sea contains three islands — Naoshima, Teshima, and Inujima — where contemporary art has been built into fishing villages, abandoned factories, and terraced hillsides. This is not a museum district. The works are embedded in the landscape. Ferry schedules determine your day. Here is how to plan it properly.

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The Sumo Calendar: How to Watch Grand Sumo in Japan, Get Tickets, and Understand What You're Seeing
GUIDE

The Sumo Calendar: How to Watch Grand Sumo in Japan, Get Tickets, and Understand What You're Seeing

Six tournaments a year. Fifteen days each. Two yokozuna, a Ukrainian ozeki on a historic winning streak, and a ranking system that turns every bout into something with genuine consequences. This is how sumo works, where to watch it, and how to get tickets before they sell out.

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Obon 2026: The Complete Guide to Japan's Festival of the Dead
SEASONAL GUIDE

Obon 2026: The Complete Guide to Japan's Festival of the Dead

Every August, Japan transforms. Families reunite, lanterns float on rivers, and communities dance through the night to welcome back the spirits of their ancestors. Here is everything you need to know.

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A First-Timer's Guide to Watching Kabuki in Japan
GUIDE

A First-Timer's Guide to Watching Kabuki in Japan

Kabuki is four centuries old, performed entirely by men, and completely accessible to first-time visitors with minimal preparation. This guide covers Japan's major theatres, how programmes work, what to watch, how to buy tickets — and what the record-breaking film Kokuho revealed about the world behind the stage.

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What's On Japan curates the best events across Japan — updated daily from 50+ Japanese sources, in English.