Universal Studios Japan Countdown Party
It's one of the park's liveliest nights of the year.
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Bad-Mouthing Festival
This bizarre New Year's Eve ritual, dating back to the Edo period, lets participants shout away their frustrations while trekking to the temple summit.
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Okera Mairi: Old Year’s Eve at Yasaka Shrine
Want to ensure peace and prosperity for the new year? You might have to stay up all night.
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Takasaki Daruma Market
On the first two days of the year, many flock to Takasaki to buy daruma dolls.
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Maebashi Hatsuichi Daruma Festival
Daruma dolls are set alight in a traditional Japanese festival.
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Osaka Toka Ebisu Festival
Join the festive atmosphere of Osaka’s Toka Ebisu Festival at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, where locals gather to pray for wealth and success while enjoying street food and lively parades.
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Himeji Castle of Light
The event is free and will consist of LED lights, projection mapping, ball-shaped lanterns, and a water mirror.
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teamLab: Digitized Fukuoka Castle Ruins
Fukuoka Castle's stone walls become a nighttime light show, with teamLab back on site for the first time in seven years.
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Kyoto Toka Ebisu Festival
Join in this noisy and raucous festival as people knock on wooden boards to get the attention of a lucky God.
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Oni Hashiri: Ogres and Flaming Torches
A fiery display of vanquishing demons awaits at this Nara festival.
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Shittenoji Doya Doya Festival
See dozens of loincloth-clad men and boys doused in very cold water as they compete in teams for banknotes.
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Dontosai Festival
Put some heat into your winter and New Year with this steamy (in more ways than one!) festival.
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People-Throwing and Ash-Smearing Festival
Watch men get tossed into snow and behold the messy ash-smearing chaos.
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Hyakumanben Handmade Market
If you love all things handmade, put checking out this flea market on your to-do list while in Kyoto.
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Miyoshi Bonden Festival
Teams race to be the first to reach the shrine and onlookers also push to touch the special charms of this shrine.
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Christmas at Universal Studios Japan 2026
The whole of USJ gets a blanket of festive fun, from snowy night shows to a supersized holiday food festival.
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Togakushi Dondoyaki Fire Festival
A traditional Japanese New Years' festival to bring you some luck.
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