This article originally featured in the January 2020 issue of Connect.
Block 1
Souunkyo Onsen Icefall Festival
January 23 – March 15
Kamikawa, Hokkaido Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Shikaribetsu Kotan Festival
January 25 – March 22
Shikaoi Town, Hokkaido Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
January 24 – February 16
Chitose City, Hokkaido Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Hirakasa Hadaka Mairi
January 8
Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Hanamaki Hoshi Meguri Night
January 26, February 2, 11, 16, 24
Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Miyoshi Bonten Festival
January 17
Akita City, Akita Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
3rd Hasshoku Ramen Festival
January 11 – January 13
Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
Block 2
Dontosai Matsuri
January 14
Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Sendai Hatsu-uri
January 2
Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
35th Niigata Jazz Street
January 18
Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Dynamite Carnival in Suginosawa
January 18
Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Muikamachi Onsen Kamakura Matsuri
January 24 – February 23
Muika Town, Niigata Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Yamagata City Hatsuichi
January 10
Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Sakata Sea of Japan Cod Festival
January 25 – January 26
Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Yaya Matsuri
January 15
Shonai Town, Yamagata Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Sai no Kami
January 14
Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Takada Big Tug-of-War Festival
January 11
Aizumisato Town, Fukushima Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Block 3
Toride Takoage Taikai and Dondo Matsuri
January 11
Toride City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Shorinzan Nanakusa Taisai Daruma Ichi
January 6 – January 7
Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Torioi Matsuri
January 14
Nakanojo, Gunma Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Kawarayu Onsen Yukake Festival
January 20
Naganohara Town, Gunma Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Kisoji Ice and Snow Festival
January 25
Okuwa Village, Nagano Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Togakushi Dondo Matsuri
January 18
Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
22nd Kakeyu Onsen Ice Lantern Festival
December 26 – January 31
Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Mushasai Festival
January 4
Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
Utsunomiya Dezomeshiki
January 5
Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
Icicles at Ashigakubo
January 5 – February 24
Yokoze Town, Saitama Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
Kawagoe Kita-in Daruma Hatsuichi
January 3
Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Dezomeshiki
January 6
Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Block 4
Furusato Matsuri Tokyo
January 10 – January 19
Tokyo, Tokyo Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
Earth Garden Winter Festival
January 18 – January 19
Tokyo, Tokyo Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Japan Brewers Cup 2020
January 24 – January 26
Tokyo, Tokyo Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
Hiregasaki Obisha Ritual
January 20
Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Chakkirako Festival
January 15
Miura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
2020 Chinese New Year
January 25 – February 8
Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Japan Brewers Cup 2020
January 24 – January 26
Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Atami Plum Garden Festival
January 11 – March 8
Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Bishamon Tendai Festival
January 31 – February 2
Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Omatsuhiki Festival
January 7
Tabayama Village, Yamanashi Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Kawaguchiko Winter Fireworks
January 18 – February 23 (Saturdays and Sundays)
Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Block 5
34th Sea of Japan Nabe Festival
January 11 – January 12
Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Kota Takoage Matsuri
January 12
Kota Town, Aichi Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Morozaki Sagicho Matsuri
January 26
Minamichita Town, Aichi Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Whisky Lovers Nagoya 2020
January 19
Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Aichi Pop Culture Festival 2020
January 12
Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Akigami Onsen Subzero Forest
January 1 – March 31
Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
Koinobori Kanzarashi
January 20 and February 2
Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Shirakawago Light Up
January 13, 19, 26
February 2, 9, 16
Shirakawa Village, Gifu Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Underwater Tug of War
January 19
Mihama Town, Fukui Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Star Festival
January 15
Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Kanazawa City Dezomeshiki
January 5
Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Block 6
Kobe City Dezomeshiki
January 5
Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Nankinmichi Chinese New Year Festival
January 24
Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Tokoji Temple Ta-asobi/Oni Festival
January 8
Kasai City, Hyogo Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Toka Ebisu
January 8 – January 12
Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Yutate Kagura
January 20
Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Omato Archery Competition
January 12
Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Hokoku Shrine Toka Ebisu
January 9 – January 11
Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Katsube and Sumiyoshi Fire Festival
January 11
Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Block 7
Doya Doya
January 14
Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Tsunahiki Shinji
January 19
Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Imamiya Ebisu Toka Ebisu
January 9 – January 11
Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Haraso Matsuri
January 13
Owase City, Mie Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Yumitori
January 18
Toba City, Mie Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Wakako Matsuri
January 9
Nabari City, Mie Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Otateyama Matsuri
January 25 – January 26
Nara, Nara Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Onihashiri
January 14
Gojo City, Nara Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Mt. Wakakusa Yamayaki
January 25
Nara, Nara Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
Kishu Snow Play
January 25
Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Block 8
Toka Ebisu
January 9 – January 11
Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Tsubaki Matsuri
January 31 – February 2
Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Todo Okuri
January 13
Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Otsuki Coral Illuminations
December 1 – January 18
Otsuki Town, Kochi Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
23rd Kokubunji Winter Festival
January 19
Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Taisanji Chikara Mochi
January 19
Kamiita Town, Tokushima Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
New Year’s Special
Awa Performance
January 2 – January 3
Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Block 9
New Year’s Grand Ushitsuki
January 12
Okinoshima Town, Shimane Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Katae Sumitsuke Festival
January 12
Mihonoseki Town, Shimane Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Daikokuichi
January 7
Kudamatsu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Kaminoseki Shinmei Festival
January 26
Kamizeki Town, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Okayama Korakuen
Shoshun Matsuri
January 1 – January 3
Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Momotesai
January 20
Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
26th Yoshiwa Daitondo Matsuri
January 11
Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
3rd Kagura Co-Performance Show
January 19
Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Otake Oyster Festival
January 26
Otake City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Block 10
Tamaseseri
January 3
Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Daizenji Tamataregu Oniyo Festival
January 7
Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
Kasuga Mukoshi
January 12
Kasuga City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Crucian Carp First Market
January 19
Kashima City, Saga Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Toka Ebisu Matsuri
January 10
Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Taihou Tug of War
January 11
Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Nagasaki Lantern Festival
January 24 – February 9
Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture
Website in English and Japanese
Horan Enya
January 12
Bungotakada City, Oita Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Block 11
21st Lake Midorikawa
Dondo Matsuri
January 12
Misato Town, Kumamoto Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Uezu Fukae Yasaka Shrine
Naked Festival
January 20
Shohoku Town, Kumamoto Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Light-weight Bullfighting Competition
January 1 – January 3
Tokunoshima, Kagoshima Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Sankome
January 7
Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
28th Ibusuki Nanohana March
January 25 – January 26
Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
41st Motobu Yaedake
Sakura Festival
January 18 – February 2
Motobu Town, Okinawa Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Nago Sakura Festival
January 25 – January 26
Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Shiwasu Matsuri
January 17 – January 19
Misato Town, Miyazaki Prefecture
Website in Japanese only
Aojima Shrine Hadaka Mairi
January 13
Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture
Website in Japanese only