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  • May 7, 2020

    Ebisu-ko Fireworks Festival

    Japanese fireworks festivals are grand in scale and duration with some lasting for up to two hours! Held in late-November each year, the Nagano Ebisu-ko Fireworks Festival (長野えびす講花火大会) is huge...
  • March 24, 2020

    Zenko-ji Omotesando Illumination

    Established in 642, Zenko-ji Temple is the spiritual and physical heart from which Nagano City grew. The road leading to the temple, known as the Omotesando or 'Pilgrims Path' now connects the ci...
  • April 6, 2020

    Nozawa Onsen ‘Dosojin’ (Fire Festival)

    **Please note, due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, it has not yet been confirmed whether the Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival will go ahead in January 2023. We will update this page once an announceme...
  • February 12, 2020

    Narai-juku Ice Candle Festival

    This quietly beautiful festival takes place in the first week of February, bringing warmth into the cold winter night. The historic post town of Narai-juku is lined with ice candles and snow sculptur...
  • November 2, 2019

    Nagano Setsubun Festival

    Setsubun (節分) means the last day of winter, or the day before the beginning of spring. It is held on February 3rd every year. This day is also known as the Bean-Throwing Festival in English. In Japan...
  • May 1, 2017

    Kanbayashi Onsen ‘Sendayaki’ (Fire Festival)

    The Kanbyashi Onsen Sendayaki is a small but fascinating fire festival taking place in February each year. The event sees members of the ‘Mitake-kyo Chusei-kosha’ – a Shinto sect that worships Mount ...
  • March 5, 2020

    Nagano Tomyo Lantern Festival

    Held every year since 2004, the Zenko-ji Tomyo Lantern Festival takes place at Nagano City's near-1400 year old Zenko-ji Temple to commemorate the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Held between Febru...
  • November 18, 2021

    Zenko-ji ‘Gokaicho’ Festival

    Visitors heading to Nagano in the first-half of 2022 have the chance to join one of Japan’s great Buddhist festivals, with the city’s near-1400 year old Zenko-ji Temple hosting the ‘Zenko-ji Maed...
  • February 3, 2020

    Kaida Kogen Kamakura Snow Festival

    A winter festival enjoyed by local people in Kaida Kogen highland. Huge Kamakura (snow hut) and slides made of snow are made in the snow field. You can also enjoy the Kiso-uma horse sledge, snow sho...