A Guide to the Must-See Events in Niigata That Celebrate the Seasons
2025.10.10Niigata Prefecture comes alive throughout the year with diverse events that showcase the beauty of all four seasons. From cherry blossoms and fireworks to traditional ceremonies and snow celebrations, these gatherings capture both the region's unique character and the hearts of its people. Why not time your visit to experience the distinctive magic each season offers? New discoveries await with every trip.
Spring Events
April 24: Nou Hakusan Shrine Spring Festival (Itoigawa City)
The annual Spring Festival at Nou Hakusan Shrine in Itoigawa City is a treasured tradition that offers visitors an intimate glimpse into the local faith and culture passed down through generations.
The festival stage comes alive with eleven refined court dances and lion dances that transport spectators to bygone eras, including graceful performances by the local children. The evening's highlight is undoubtedly the "Ryo’o-no-Mai" (Emperor's Dance), performed at twilight. Dancers in brilliant crimson robes moving against the golden sunset create a scene of haunting beauty, leaving a lasting impression. The festival's energy peaks during "Ohashiri," when participants carry portable shrines around the grounds, embodying the youthful vigor and deep devotion of the community.
Through these sacred rituals and performances, the Spring Festival serves as a bridge connecting the local children to their cultural roots. It stands today as a living cultural treasure that continues to touch hearts and preserve the region's spiritual heritage.
Nou Hakusan Shrine Spring Festival
The festival stage comes alive with eleven refined court dances and lion dances that transport spectators to bygone eras, including graceful performances by the local children. The evening's highlight is undoubtedly the "Ryo’o-no-Mai" (Emperor's Dance), performed at twilight. Dancers in brilliant crimson robes moving against the golden sunset create a scene of haunting beauty, leaving a lasting impression. The festival's energy peaks during "Ohashiri," when participants carry portable shrines around the grounds, embodying the youthful vigor and deep devotion of the community.
Through these sacred rituals and performances, the Spring Festival serves as a bridge connecting the local children to their cultural roots. It stands today as a living cultural treasure that continues to touch hearts and preserve the region's spiritual heritage.
Nou Hakusan Shrine Spring Festival
- Venue: Nou Hakusan Shrine
- Address: 7239, Nou, Itoigawa-shi, Niigata
- Date: April 24 (the Ryo’o-no-Mai is performed in the evening)
Late March - Mid-April: Takada Castle Site Park Cherry Blossom Viewing Party (Joetsu City)
The Takada Castle Site Park Cherry Blossom Viewing Party in Joetsu City stands as one of Japan's premier sakura celebrations, transforming the city each year from late March through mid-April. It takes place at Takada Castle Site Park and its surroundings which feature approximately 4,000 cherry trees – a sight that earned the park recognition as one of Japan's three best nighttime cherry blossom viewing destinations and drawing admirers from across the nation.
By day, visitors stroll through enchanting pink tunnels of blossoms while admiring the striking contrast against the castle's historic stone walls and ancient moats. As evening falls, roughly 3,000 traditional paper lanterns illuminate the grounds, creating a dreamlike tapestry of night sakura reflected in the shimmering waters below.
The festival grounds buzz with activity as stalls offer festival-exclusive delicacies, sweet treats, and regional specialties. This celebration engages all the senses, ensuring every visitor takes home cherished memories of spring in Niigata.
Takada Castle Site Park Cherry Blossom Viewing Party
By day, visitors stroll through enchanting pink tunnels of blossoms while admiring the striking contrast against the castle's historic stone walls and ancient moats. As evening falls, roughly 3,000 traditional paper lanterns illuminate the grounds, creating a dreamlike tapestry of night sakura reflected in the shimmering waters below.
The festival grounds buzz with activity as stalls offer festival-exclusive delicacies, sweet treats, and regional specialties. This celebration engages all the senses, ensuring every visitor takes home cherished memories of spring in Niigata.
Takada Castle Site Park Cherry Blossom Viewing Party
- Venue: Takada Castle Site Park
- Address: 44-1, Motoshiro-cho, Joetsu-shi, Niigata
- Date: Late March to mid-April
*Night illumination: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm (extended to 10:00 pm during peak bloom)
Summer Events
June: Noh Month (Sado City)
Noh theater, recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, represents over 650 years of Japanese performing tradition. This sophisticated art form features masked performers in sumptuous silk costumes adorned with intricate embroidery and gold and silver leaf, who express the full spectrum of human emotion and nature through refined gestures, haunting chants, and the ethereal sounds of flute and drum.
Sado Island boasts approximately 30 Noh stages - one-third of all such venues in Japan – which shows that it truly is an integral part of daily life on the island. Each June is "Noh Month," when shrine-based stages throughout the island come alive with (mainly) weekend Noh performances. The island's “Takigi Noh” offers an especially magical experience unique to Sado. Under flickering torchlight on mystical evenings, the stage emerges from darkness while flute melodies and vocal chants drift seamlessly into the surrounding forest and starlit sky.
This transcends mere entertainment, creating a deeply moving encounter with the profound that penetrates the soul. Here, visitors don't simply observe but truly experience the living essence of traditional performing arts in our contemporary world.
Noh Month (Sado City)
*Visit the official Sado City tourism site "Sado Tourism Navi" for the performance schedule
Sado Island boasts approximately 30 Noh stages - one-third of all such venues in Japan – which shows that it truly is an integral part of daily life on the island. Each June is "Noh Month," when shrine-based stages throughout the island come alive with (mainly) weekend Noh performances. The island's “Takigi Noh” offers an especially magical experience unique to Sado. Under flickering torchlight on mystical evenings, the stage emerges from darkness while flute melodies and vocal chants drift seamlessly into the surrounding forest and starlit sky.
This transcends mere entertainment, creating a deeply moving encounter with the profound that penetrates the soul. Here, visitors don't simply observe but truly experience the living essence of traditional performing arts in our contemporary world.
Noh Month (Sado City)
- Venue: Shrine Noh stages throughout Sado City
- Address: Across Sado City in Niigata Prefecture
- Date: June
*Visit the official Sado City tourism site "Sado Tourism Navi" for the performance schedule
Summer Events: Echigo's Three Major Fireworks Festivals
July 26: Gion Kashiwazaki Festival Sea Fireworks (Kashiwazaki City)
The beloved Gion Kashiwazaki Festival brings vibrant summer energy to Kashiwazaki City each year from July 24-26, representing a cherished tradition that has captivated locals for generations.
The festival opens with "Minyo Gaito Nagashi," where citizens in colorful yukata fill the streets, their traditional songs and dances creating a refreshing breeze through the warm summer evening. Day two features the dynamic "Taru Niwaka" parade, with magnificent floats and portable shrines winding through the city streets in a powerful display of community spirit and local pride.
The festival reaches its crescendo on the final evening with the spectacular "Sea Fireworks Festival" - one of the Echigo region's three top fireworks displays. Against the sweeping backdrop of the Sea of Japan, approximately 16,000 fireworks paint the night sky in brilliant colors. The mesmerizing starmine displays reflect like liquid fire across the water's surface, while wide starmine sequences utilize the full 600-meter seawall, culminating in a breathtaking finale of 100 consecutive large-shell bursts. The magnificent fusion of sound and light creates an awe-inspiring spectacle where sea and sky become one canvas of wonder.
Come experience this soul-stirring celebration where Kashiwazaki's maritime night beauty meets pyrotechnic artistry!
Gion Kashiwazaki Festival Sea Fireworks
The festival opens with "Minyo Gaito Nagashi," where citizens in colorful yukata fill the streets, their traditional songs and dances creating a refreshing breeze through the warm summer evening. Day two features the dynamic "Taru Niwaka" parade, with magnificent floats and portable shrines winding through the city streets in a powerful display of community spirit and local pride.
The festival reaches its crescendo on the final evening with the spectacular "Sea Fireworks Festival" - one of the Echigo region's three top fireworks displays. Against the sweeping backdrop of the Sea of Japan, approximately 16,000 fireworks paint the night sky in brilliant colors. The mesmerizing starmine displays reflect like liquid fire across the water's surface, while wide starmine sequences utilize the full 600-meter seawall, culminating in a breathtaking finale of 100 consecutive large-shell bursts. The magnificent fusion of sound and light creates an awe-inspiring spectacle where sea and sky become one canvas of wonder.
Come experience this soul-stirring celebration where Kashiwazaki's maritime night beauty meets pyrotechnic artistry!
Gion Kashiwazaki Festival Sea Fireworks
- Venue: Minatomachi Seaside Park and the Central Coast Area
- Address: 3-20, Nishihon-cho, Kashiwazaki-shi, Niigata
- Date: July 26, 7:30 pm – 9:10 pm
August 2-3: Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Show (Nagaoka City)
The Nagaoka Festival stands as a profound summer tradition born from tragedy and transformed into hope. This cherished celebration began in 1945 to commemorate the recovery from the devastating August 1st air raid on Nagaoka and to express enduring prayers for peace. Held annually from August 1-3, the festival continues to weave together stories of prayers and hope.
The opening ceremony features the solemn "Memorial Lantern Floating," where countless glowing lanterns drift silently down the Shinano River, carrying thoughts of loved ones lost and heartfelt wishes for lasting peace. The festival then kicks it up a notch with the "Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Show " on August 2nd and 3rd along the river. The signature "Phoenix of Revival" fireworks sequence, introduced following the 2004 Chuetsu Earthquake, creates the show's grand moment. This spectacular 2-kilometer-wide display transforms both night sky and river surface into a shimmering canvas of gold, resembling magnificent wings of hope spreading across the heavens. The thunderous launch of the colossal "Shosan Shakudama" - a 650-meter-diameter burst - sends earth-shaking reverberations through the sky and crowd, delivering waves of profound emotion.
These fireworks transcend beauty, serving as luminous reminders of life's precious fragility and peace's immeasurable value. The Nagaoka Festival offers more than spectacular pyrotechnics - it presents sacred "lights of prayer" that illuminate both sky and soul.
Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Show
The opening ceremony features the solemn "Memorial Lantern Floating," where countless glowing lanterns drift silently down the Shinano River, carrying thoughts of loved ones lost and heartfelt wishes for lasting peace. The festival then kicks it up a notch with the "Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Show " on August 2nd and 3rd along the river. The signature "Phoenix of Revival" fireworks sequence, introduced following the 2004 Chuetsu Earthquake, creates the show's grand moment. This spectacular 2-kilometer-wide display transforms both night sky and river surface into a shimmering canvas of gold, resembling magnificent wings of hope spreading across the heavens. The thunderous launch of the colossal "Shosan Shakudama" - a 650-meter-diameter burst - sends earth-shaking reverberations through the sky and crowd, delivering waves of profound emotion.
These fireworks transcend beauty, serving as luminous reminders of life's precious fragility and peace's immeasurable value. The Nagaoka Festival offers more than spectacular pyrotechnics - it presents sacred "lights of prayer" that illuminate both sky and soul.
Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Show
- Venue: Shinano Riverbank
- Address: Shinano Riverbank (downstream), Chosei Bridge, Nagaoka-shi, Niigata
- Date: August 2-3, 7:20 pm – 9:10 pm
2nd Friday and Saturday in September: Katakai Matsuri - Asahara Shrine Autumn Grand Festival (Ojiya City)
Held annually on the second Friday and Saturday of September, the Katakai Festival at Asahara Shrine in Ojiya City’s Katakai district features the ritual offering of fireworks – a practice dating back to the early Edo period. The festival gained worldwide recognition in 1985 when it successfully launched the legendary yonshakudama, creating a spectacular 800-meter-diameter burst that earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The festivities begin with the "Tamaokuri" procession, where approximately 30 community groups transport handcrafted floats bearing firework shells through the streets to the shrine. As the birthplace of the massive sanshakudama firework, Katakai also holds the unique "Tsutsubiki" ceremony, where enormous 5-meter launch mortars are paraded through town, stirring the hearts of all who witness the sight.
The Katakai Festival masterfully weaves together the artistry of the pyrotechnicians, the fierce pride and devotion of the townspeople, and gratitude and prayer offered to the divine. This sacred festival of prayer and light creates an unforgettable spiritual experience that resonates as a once-in-a-lifetime experience for visitors from around the world.
Katakai Matsuri - Asahara Shrine Autumn Grand Festival
The festivities begin with the "Tamaokuri" procession, where approximately 30 community groups transport handcrafted floats bearing firework shells through the streets to the shrine. As the birthplace of the massive sanshakudama firework, Katakai also holds the unique "Tsutsubiki" ceremony, where enormous 5-meter launch mortars are paraded through town, stirring the hearts of all who witness the sight.
The Katakai Festival masterfully weaves together the artistry of the pyrotechnicians, the fierce pride and devotion of the townspeople, and gratitude and prayer offered to the divine. This sacred festival of prayer and light creates an unforgettable spiritual experience that resonates as a once-in-a-lifetime experience for visitors from around the world.
Katakai Matsuri - Asahara Shrine Autumn Grand Festival
- Venue: Asahara Shrine
- Address: Katakai-machi, Ojiya-shi, Niigata
- Date: 2nd Friday and Saturday in September, 7:30 pm - 10:20 pm
Autumn Events
October 18-19: Iwafune Grand Festival (Murakami City)
Held by Iwafune Shrine, the Iwafune Grand Festival takes place annually on October 18th (the eve of the festival) and 19th (main festival) in Murakami City's historic Iwafune district, celebrating the ancient legend of divine spirits who descended to earth aboard a mystical stone vessel. It honors the abundant gifts of both sea and mountain while marking the year's ceremonial conclusion. It was recognized as a Niigata Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1988.
The festival's crowning spectacle unfolds during the main celebration with the resplendent "Ofune-sama" procession. Ornate floats adorned with gleaming gold leaf showcase Murakami's renowned traditional woodcarvings, enhanced with vermilion and black lacquer, and are pulled through the streets accompanied by taiko rhythms and spirited traditional chants. The most revered float carries the sacred "Ofune-sama" from the Gangenji district, venerated as the divine vessel that welcomes celestial spirits and serves as the festival's spiritual heart.
As darkness falls, thousands of glowing paper lanterns transform the town into an ethereal wonderland. The resonant drumbeats and time-honored rituals passed down through countless generations reveal the profound depths of the local faith and the enduring vitality of the regional culture. In this way, the Iwafune Grand Festival offers visitors a rare opportunity to connect intimately with the authentic soul of Murakami.
Iwafune Grand Festival
The festival's crowning spectacle unfolds during the main celebration with the resplendent "Ofune-sama" procession. Ornate floats adorned with gleaming gold leaf showcase Murakami's renowned traditional woodcarvings, enhanced with vermilion and black lacquer, and are pulled through the streets accompanied by taiko rhythms and spirited traditional chants. The most revered float carries the sacred "Ofune-sama" from the Gangenji district, venerated as the divine vessel that welcomes celestial spirits and serves as the festival's spiritual heart.
As darkness falls, thousands of glowing paper lanterns transform the town into an ethereal wonderland. The resonant drumbeats and time-honored rituals passed down through countless generations reveal the profound depths of the local faith and the enduring vitality of the regional culture. In this way, the Iwafune Grand Festival offers visitors a rare opportunity to connect intimately with the authentic soul of Murakami.
Iwafune Grand Festival
- Venue: Iwafune Shrine and the rest of the Iwafune district
- Address: Iwafune, Murakami-shi, Niigata
- Date: October 18 (the eve of the festival, taking place from afternoon to night) and October 19 (the main festival, taking place from the midnight taiko departure from Iwafune Shrine through to the late night)
Late October - Late November: Admire the Autumn Foliage at Shounsanso (Kashiwazaki City)
Shounsanso was built in 1926 as the private residence of Kenzo Iizuka, founder of the Kashiwazaki Gas Company. After it was donated to Kashiwazaki City in 1971, it transformed into a gorgeous space accessible to all. This Japanese garden showcases approximately 600 maple trees, 350 enkianthus shrubs, and 200 red pines, artfully complemented by traditional garden lanterns, an elegant arched bridge, and a tranquil pond, all arranged in perfect harmony. During autumn, the garden erupts in spectacular displays of fiery crimson and gold that transport visitors into realms of profound wonder.
The seasonal highlight arrives with the enchanting nighttime illuminations from late October through late November. From sunset until 9:00 pm, gentle lighting bathes the entire garden, causing the autumn foliage to emerge from darkness in an almost otherworldly way.
The on-site Kimura Tea Ceremony Museum offers year-round opportunities to participate in traditional tea ceremonies using priceless tea implements, available in both indoor and outdoor settings. The experience reaches its zenith when guests can savor the tea while surrounded by the autumn tapestry, creating moments of tranquility that nourish both body and soul.
Shounsanso Autumn Illumination
The seasonal highlight arrives with the enchanting nighttime illuminations from late October through late November. From sunset until 9:00 pm, gentle lighting bathes the entire garden, causing the autumn foliage to emerge from darkness in an almost otherworldly way.
The on-site Kimura Tea Ceremony Museum offers year-round opportunities to participate in traditional tea ceremonies using priceless tea implements, available in both indoor and outdoor settings. The experience reaches its zenith when guests can savor the tea while surrounded by the autumn tapestry, creating moments of tranquility that nourish both body and soul.
Shounsanso Autumn Illumination
- Venue: Shounsanso
- Address: 3-1, Midori-cho, Kashiwazaki-shi, Niigata
- Date: Late October to late November (illumination from sunset around 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm)
Winter Events
January 15: Mukonage (Groom Tossing) and Suminuri (Ash Smearing) (Tokamachi City)
The Mukonage and Suminuri festival takes place annually on January 15th at Matsunoyama Onsen in Tokamachi City. It is a unique 300-year-old tradition that perfectly embodies the bold spirit and warm heart of this snow-country hot spring community.
This celebration focuses on newlywed couples from the previous year, featuring the dramatic "mukonage" ritual where recently married men are hurled from the 5-meter-high Yakushido Temple grounds onto the snowy slopes below. This spirited act serves as a deeply rooted community blessing for marital harmony. Historical theories suggest it was originally a way to get even for “stealing” away one of the village daughters in marriage, adding layers of cultural depth to this boisterous tradition.
The festivities continue with "suminuri," where participants blend ashes from a "sai-no-kami" bonfire ceremony with fresh snow to create ceremonial ink. Amid joyful shouts of "Congratulations!" everyone enthusiastically smears this mixture on each other's faces while offering prayers for good health and prosperous livelihoods. The infectious atmosphere of laughter and celebration unites visitors and locals in genuine camaraderie. Following the festivities, participants can soak away the ceremonial ink in the therapeutic waters of Matsunoyama Onsen, creating a perfect conclusion that warms both body and soul.
Mukonage and Suminuri
This celebration focuses on newlywed couples from the previous year, featuring the dramatic "mukonage" ritual where recently married men are hurled from the 5-meter-high Yakushido Temple grounds onto the snowy slopes below. This spirited act serves as a deeply rooted community blessing for marital harmony. Historical theories suggest it was originally a way to get even for “stealing” away one of the village daughters in marriage, adding layers of cultural depth to this boisterous tradition.
The festivities continue with "suminuri," where participants blend ashes from a "sai-no-kami" bonfire ceremony with fresh snow to create ceremonial ink. Amid joyful shouts of "Congratulations!" everyone enthusiastically smears this mixture on each other's faces while offering prayers for good health and prosperous livelihoods. The infectious atmosphere of laughter and celebration unites visitors and locals in genuine camaraderie. Following the festivities, participants can soak away the ceremonial ink in the therapeutic waters of Matsunoyama Onsen, creating a perfect conclusion that warms both body and soul.
Mukonage and Suminuri
- Venue: Matsunoyama Onsen Yakushido
- Address: Matsunoyama Yumoto, Tokamachi-shi, Niigata
- Date: January 15 (mukonage starts around 2:00 pm, suminuri around 3:00 pm)
Mid-February: Tokamachi Snow Festival (Tokamachi City)
Each February, Tokamachi City holds the beloved Tokamachi Snow Festival, a heartwarming celebration that embodies the snow country's unique ability to find joy in the cold depths of winter. Established in 1950 by locals who wanted to "befriend the snow and enjoy our time in it," this festival continues honoring that original spirit while extending warm hospitality to visitors from around the world.
The festival's highlight is the "Snow Art Exhibition," where the locals pour their creativity into crafting extraordinary snow sculptures throughout the city. These frozen masterpieces showcase remarkable artistic vision and meticulous craftsmanship, offering visitors profound insights into the community's rich cultural heritage. There’s also the “Festival Plazas” scattered across both the urban district and surrounding mountains, where guests can immerse themselves in authentic snow country experiences - savoring regional delicacies, engaging in playful snow activities, and basking in the gentle radiance of snow candles.
The festival reaches its peak with the spectacular "Rainbow Snow Fireworks,” which illuminate and paint the winter sky brilliant streaks of color across the snow-blanketed landscape. These moments, where ethereal light dances with profound winter silence, create uniquely moving experiences available nowhere else.
Tokamachi Snow Festival
The festival's highlight is the "Snow Art Exhibition," where the locals pour their creativity into crafting extraordinary snow sculptures throughout the city. These frozen masterpieces showcase remarkable artistic vision and meticulous craftsmanship, offering visitors profound insights into the community's rich cultural heritage. There’s also the “Festival Plazas” scattered across both the urban district and surrounding mountains, where guests can immerse themselves in authentic snow country experiences - savoring regional delicacies, engaging in playful snow activities, and basking in the gentle radiance of snow candles.
The festival reaches its peak with the spectacular "Rainbow Snow Fireworks,” which illuminate and paint the winter sky brilliant streaks of color across the snow-blanketed landscape. These moments, where ethereal light dances with profound winter silence, create uniquely moving experiences available nowhere else.
Tokamachi Snow Festival
- Venue: Throughout Tokamachi City (main venue: Snow Rich Park on the Nishi Elementary School grounds)
- Address: At various locations across Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture
- Date: Mid-February weekend
Niigata Prefecture's stunning seasonal landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for countless memorable events that capture each season's distinctive character. These heartfelt celebrations, infused with the genuine spirit and traditions of the local communities, will not only enrich your journey with vibrant experiences but also offer opportunities to connect deeply with Niigata's abundant cultural treasures. Why not embark on an adventure where you can immerse yourself in living history and timeless traditions while forging meaningful connections with the welcoming locals?