There are thousands of festivals throughout the year in Japan, you can often accidentally stumble on them in the most unlikely of places, for example, I once bumped into a troupe of traditionally dressed dancers parading through a shopping center. The ultimate festival to attend has to be a Bon dance. Held during the summer people gather in the town square for a group dance. At the center are the professionals who have been practicing all year, whilst children, foreigners and the inebriated are welcomed in the peripheries. The atmosphere is fantastic, the costumes exquisite and the food delicious.

My advice is not to leave it to chance but to log onto the Japan Times’ festival guide at:
www.japantimes.co.jp/festivals.htm
It’s the most comprehensive guide I’ve come across.

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Metropolis, Tokyo Journal and J-Select are the most comprehensive, with Tokyo Notice Board, Tokyo Pocket Guide and Tokyo Weekender all worth a look. They are available at large bookshops, as well as bars and restaurants popular with foreigners.

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