Innoshima Suigun Fire Festival

Innoshima Amenity Park - Shimanami Beach 57 Ohama-cho, Innoshima, Onomichi-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

A 15 minute firework display over the sea is the dramatic finale to a series of elaborate reenactments of the

Free

Daishoin Candle Festival

Daisho-in Temple 210 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

Annual mantoe candle festival at Daishoin Temple on Miyajima.

Kumano Fude Matsuri (Brush Festival)

Kumano Aki-gun, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

It's all about the calligraphy (and, more recently, make up) brushes at this festival which celebrates Kumano's claim to fame. One of our favorite days out in autumn.

Free

Kangetsu Moon Viewing Tea Ceremony

Shukkeien Garden 2-11 Kaminobori-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

September is the time for "moon viewing" or kangetsu in Japan and a moon viewing tea ceremony is held in Shukkei-en

Sorasaya Shrine Autumn Festival

Sorasaya-jinja Shrine 3-3-2 Honkawa-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima, Japan

This traditional autumn shrine festival near the city center features local businesses will be setting up stalls selling nicknacks, food and drink over the two days and Hiroshima Kagura performances in within the shrine precinct after dark.

Free

Onomichi Betcha Festival

Onomichi Onomichi-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

When, in 1808, plague was sweeping through the porttown of Onomichi, the lord in control at the time ordered local

Free

Grand Inoko Matsuri

Fukuromachi Park 9 Fukuromachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

City center festival which melds tradition with art in Fukuromachi Park – centered on a 1.5 ton rock suspended by ropes attached

Free

Hiroshima Ebisu Festival

Ebisu Shrine 5-14 Ebisu-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan

Ebisu Matsuri or "Ebessan" as it is locally known marks the start of Autumn in Hiroshima and is one of the city's "big three" festivals.

Free

Autumn leaves illuminated at Shukkei-en Garden

Shukkeien Garden 2-11 Kaminobori-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

Shukkeien Garden's beautiful annual autumn leaf illuminations are back!

¥260

Chinkasai Fire Festival

Mikasa-no-hama, Miyajima Mikasa-no-hama, Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi-shi, Japan

Living in wooden houses, closely clustered together along narrow streets, for centuries, fear of calamitous fires is deeply ingrained in

Free

Matchlock Rifle Shooting at Kintai Bridge

Iwakuni Kintaikyo Bridge 1 Iwakuni, Iwakuni-shi, Yamaguchi-ken, Japan

Men in traditional samurai warrior costume perform a matchlock gun shooting exhibition on the wide riverbank at Kintai-kyo Bridge in Iwakuni.

Free

Mid-winter Swim in front of the A-bomb Dome

A-bomb Dome Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

Mid-winter swim featuring samurai swimming techniques in the river in front of Hiroshima's A-bomb Dome.

Free

Firewalking ritual at Saikoku-ji Temple, Onomichi

Saikoku-ji Temple 29-27 Nishi-kubo-cho, Onomichi-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

Goma Ritual burning of cedar sticks followed by fire walking. Members of the public set themselves up for a fortuitous

Free

Tondo Festival at Gokoku Shrine

Gokoku-jinja Shrine 2-21 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

Hiroshima's most central and visitor-friendly new year tondo bonfire festival.

Free

Ōbukucha Tea Ceremony at Shukkeien Garden

Shukkeien Garden 2-11 Kaminobori-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

A chance to enjoy traditional new year's tea in the tea house in Shukkeien Garden. Made with pickled ume plum,

¥1500

Setsubun-sai at Saikoku-ji, Onomichi

Saikoku-ji Temple 29-27 Nishi-kubo-cho, Onomichi-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

Setsubun festival e at Saikoku-ji Temple in Onomichi.

Free

Setsubun-sai at Gokoku-jinja

Gokoku-jinja Shrine 2-21 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

After a cleansing ritual to ward off evil spirits and bring in good luck performed in the shrine building which

Free

Setsubun-sai at Sorasaya Shrine, Hiroshima

Sorasaya-jinja Shrine 3-3-2 Honkawa-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima, Japan

Annual mame-maki throwing out of good luck beans and other goodies to commemorate Setsubun at Sorasaya Shrine.

Free

Hadaka Naked Man Festival in Okayama

Saidaiji Temple 3-8-8 Saidaiji-naka, Higashi-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama-ken, Japan

9,000 men dressed only in loincloths crowd into Saidaiji Temple in Okayama in the hope of grabbing one of two sacred talismans to ensure a year of luck and good fortune.

Free

Kiyomori Festival

Miyajima Hatsukaichi-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

The annual samurai parade through the streets of Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine.

Free

Sakura Cherry Blossom Viewing Tea Ceremony

Shukkeien Garden 2-11 Kaminobori-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

Annual sakura Cherry Blossom Viewing Tea Ceremony at the Seifukan tea house in Shukkei-en Garden.  

¥700

Fire walking ritual at Daishoin Temple

Daisho-in Temple 210 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan

The impressive hi-watari-shiki fire walking ritual takes place at Daishoin Temple on Miyajima twice a year in spring and autumn.

Free