List of Japanese Seasonal Celebrations

Seasonal celebrations are important part of Japanese culture. Here is the list of major celebrations. You can mark your calendar to celebrate them at home as well for fun! Spring (March - May)

1. Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival) - March 3

• A festival to pray for the growth and happiness of girls, celebrated by displaying hina dolls.
  

1. Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) - Late March to early April

• A tradition of enjoying cherry blossoms by having picnics under the blooming trees in parks and along rivers.
  

1. Kodomo no Hi/ Tango no Sekku (Children's Day or Boy's Day) - May 5th

• A festival to pray for strength as a family, and wish for the health, happiness and prosperity of boys/ children, celebrated by displaying Koinobori (carp shaped windsocks) and Kabuto (amor and helmet).
  

Summer (June - August)

1. Tanabata (Star Festival) - July 7

• Based on the legend of Orihime and Hikoboshi, people write wishes on strips of paper and hang them on bamboo branches.
  

1. Obon (Bon Festival) - August 13-15

• A festival to honor the spirits of ancestors, featuring grave visits and Bon Odori (Bon dance) events.
  

1. Hanabi Taikai (Fireworks Festivals) - July to August

• Large-scale fireworks displays held across the country, illuminating the summer nights.
  

Autumn (September - November)

1. Tsukimi (Moon Viewing) - Mid-September

• A tradition of admiring the moon, often celebrated by offering and eating rice dumplings called tsukimi dango.
  

1. Autumn Festivals - September to November

• Festivals held to pray for a good harvest, featuring mikoshi (portable shrines) and food stalls.
  

1. Momijigari (Autumn Leaf Viewing) - October to November

• An activity of going to the mountains or parks to enjoy the colorful autumn leaves.
  

Winter (December - February)

1. Ōmisoka (New Year's Eve) - December 31

• Celebrated by eating toshikoshi soba (year-crossing noodles) and listening to the ringing of temple bells to welcome the New Year.
  

1. Oshōgatsu (New Year) - January 1-3

• Marked by visiting shrines for hatsumōde (first shrine visit of the year), eating osechi ryori (traditional New Year's food), and exchanging New Year’s greetings.
  

1. Setsubun (Bean-Throwing Festival) - Around February 3

• A festival where roasted soybeans are thrown to drive away evil spirits and bring in good fortune, often accompanied by the chant "Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi" (Demons out, fortune in).
  

These seasonal events in Japan are deeply tied to nature and traditional customs, with each region having its own unique variations. Many of these events have been celebrated for centuries and continue to be an important part of Japanese culture.