Each corner of Japan lights up with matsuri that blend centuries-old Shinto ritual and neighborhood revelry. Here are some standouts—and what they whisper about the bond between people, place and kami.

1. Hatsumōde (New Year shrine visit)
   • When: January 1–3
 • What it means: Kicking off the year by paying respects to local kami, seeking blessings for health, fortune and harmony. Picture colorful omikuji (fortune slips) fluttering like prayer flags.

2. Setsubun (Bean-throwing festival)
   • When: February 3 or 4
 • What it means: Banishing yōkai and bad luck by chanting “Oni wa soto!” (“Demons out!”) while tossing roasted soybeans. The ritual still packs a punch—many shrines post pandemic have seen bigger crowds eager for a little symbolic cleansing.

3. Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival)
   • When: March 3
 • What it means: Displaying tiered hina dolls to pray for girls’ health and happiness. In colorful parlors across towns, these heirloom figures shine a light on family ties and ancestral respect.

4. Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Festival)
   • When: May 15, Kyoto
 • What it means: A stately procession in Heian-era costumes makes its way to Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines. Hollyhock leaves adorn the riders, symbolizing protection from natural disasters.

5. Kanda Matsuri
   • When: Mid-May, Tokyo (odd years)
 • What it means: One of Tokyo’s big three, featuring mikoshi (portable shrine) parades that literally bring the house down—kami dancing through the streets, blessing businesses and locals alike.

6. Gion Matsuri
   • When: July, Kyoto
 • What it means: Originally a ritual to ward off plague, now a month-long spectacle of towering floats, lanterns and yamaboko junko (processions). A living time capsule, it draws nearly a million visitors each summer.

7. Tenjin Matsuri
   • When: July 24–25, Osaka
 • What it means: Honoring Sugawara no Michizane, the kami of scholarship. Boat processions along the Okawa River culminate in a fireworks display that rivals any in Kansai.

8. Niiname-sai (Harvest Festival)
   • When: November 23 (national holiday)
 • What it means: First tasting of the new rice crop before the emperor offers it to the kami. A profound gratitude ceremony, reminding everyone that food, nature and community are intertwined.

These matsuri don’t just mark the calendar; they weave stories of devotion, gratitude and joyful noise—a testament to Shinto’s living pulse in modern Japan.