Annual Events in Japan
Shinto Holidays
- Jan. 1
- Hatsymode ("First visit" to Buddhis temple or Shinto shrine)
- Jan. 2
- Kakizone ("First writing'; first calligraphy of the year.)
- Jan. 4
- Goyo Hajime (First Business Day)
- Jan. 7
- Jinjitsu (Day of Mankind; also called Nanakusa no Sekku.)
- Feb. 3 or 4
- Setsubun (Bean scattering ceremony)
- Feb. 4 or 5
- Risshun (Beginning of spring)
- Feb. 8
- Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day) also called Tango no sekku
- Mar. 3
- Doll Festival (Hina Matsuri; also called Joshi no Sekku)
- Mar. 17 to 24
- Spring Higan (seven-day Buddhis memorial service cetering on the vernal equinox.)
- Apr. 8
- Hana Matsuri (Flower Festival; also called Kanbutsue)
- May 2 or 3
- Hachijuhachiya (literally, "88th Night"; the 88th day after Risshun; marks an important date in the planting schedule of farmers.)
- Jun. 21 or 22
- summer solstice (Geshi)
- Jul. 7
- Tanabata Festival (observed on 7 Aug. in some parts of Japan)
- Jul. 13-15
- Bon Festival (observed on 13-15 August in some areas)
- Sep. 1
- Nihyaku-toka (literally, "210th Day"; the 210th day after Risshun; traditionally viewd as the first day of the typhoon season)
- Sep. 17-20
- Autumn higan (seven-day Buddhist memorial centering on the autumnal equinox)
- Night of full moon
- Jugoya (literally, "15th night"; the full moon of the eighth month in the old lunar calendar)
- Nov. 15
- Shichigosan ("Seven-Five-three" Festival)
- Dec. 21 or 22
- Winter solstice (Toji)
- Late part of month
- toshi no ichi (Year-end fairs)
- Dec. 31
- Omisoka (New Year's Eve.)
- Joya no kane (Literally, "bells of New Year's Eve." temple bells ring 108 times at midnight.)
This page has been visited 
times.