Otaru Ushio Festival

A summer festival held in August in Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture. Vigorous portable shrines and lantern-lit festival floats illuminate the castle town's summer evenings over three days. Maintaining the atmosphere of a Sengoku-period castle town, it attracts about 200,000 visitors as a representative seasonal event.

A summer festival held at Namanido Shrine in Bungo-Ono, Oita. Young men carry portable shrines through town in a spirited celebration. Known for its grassroots, handmade atmosphere and resistance to over-commercialization, it represents authentic local summer festival culture and plays a vital role in community heritage preservation.

A fire festival held in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture every early August. Thousands of lanterns illuminate the Nachi River while fireworks paint the night sky. A significant summer festival expressing gratitude for Kumano faith and ocean blessings. Continuing from the Edo period, the fusion of floating lanterns and fireworks creates a uniquely rare spectacle nationwide.

A summer festival in Nachi Katsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, held mid-July, centered on fire rituals. Characterized by ceremonial blazing and sacred torch rituals, this ancient fire festival is deeply connected to summer faith practices at Mt. Nachi. The distinctive flames and sounds make it a memorable summer seasonal event.

Centered on Farm Tomita in Furano, Hokkaido, vast lavender fields reach their peak in July. The rolling hills carpeted in purple have become synonymous with Hokkaido tourism, creating a spectacular summer landscape alongside surrounding flower fields.

A Tokyo summer tradition with about 20,000 fireworks. Dating back to 1733, it is among Japan's oldest, drawing about 1 million spectators. Yukata-clad visitors add shitamachi charm.