Japanese festivals are traditional festive occasions often celebrated with dance and music in Japan. Many festivals have their roots in traditional Chinese festivals, and some ultimately originate in India, but have undergone extensive changes over time to have little resemblance to their original form, despite sharing the same name and date. There are also various local festivals that are mostly unknown outside a given prefecture.
Big Mikoshi "Yatai" Parade on Miki Autumn Harvest Festival in Miki, Hyogo
Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto
Gion Matsuri in Kyoto
Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka
The Japanese New Year is an annual festival that takes place in Japan. Since 1873, the official Japanese New Year has been celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, on January 1 of each year, New Year's Day . Prior to 1872, traditional events of the Japanese New Year were celebrated on the first day of the year on the modern Tenpō calendar, the last official lunisolar calendar.
The kadomatsu is a traditional decoration for the new year holiday.
Osechi-ryōri, typical new year's dishes
Zōni, a soup with mochi and grilled fish
A traditionally ornamented kagami mochi