Events calendar Japan

Like all major capitals, Tokyo organizes its International Film Festival, which is above all open to all Asian cinemas. The event is usually held at Roppongi Hills, but other venues such as Kabuki-za also have programs. It's an opportunity to discover films and directors who have less visibility in Western countries. If you speak English, you'll be able to watch the festival's films.

A Représentation representation takes place every first Sunday from the month to 13 h. In April and September, this representation takes place on the second Sunday of the month. No representation in August. Please contact the Tourist Office.

This festival dates back to 1660, and each tank was to represent a quarter of the city. In 1819, the festival leaders decided to standardise the tank architecture, which, however, took the most diverse forms: lion, turtle, dragon, etc. The festival takes place on November 3 and 4.

Open-air nō theatre of the th century.

A mythical matsuri from Tokyo and also one of the three most important festivals in Japan, particularly dense in odd years and quieter in even years. It goes back to the Edo period. Mikoshis (portable sanctuaries), priests on horseback and magnificent floats parade through the streets of the city, overrun by crowds.

6 musicians have created an ensemble called: Aioi (Growing Together). Their one-hour interactive show is an opportunity to learn more about the instruments used and the history of the pieces played. The musicians play the Japanese harp (koto), the Japanese bass harp (jûshichigen), the Japanese flute (shakuhachi), the Japanese drum (taiko). The performance takes place in a small room to be as close as possible to the artists. For amateurs, private performances are possible as well as a private music lesson at the end of the performance.

The "Daimonji fires", symbol of summer in Kyoto, take place on the evening of August 16, at the end of theO-bon period. Huge burning Chinese characters are drawn on the mountains surrounding the city. The easiest signs to observe are the dai (meaning great) on Mount Daimonji, the myô and hô (Buddha's wonderful teaching) on Matsugasaki Nishiyama and Higashiyama. Each fire burns for about 40 minutes. Locals and visitors compete for the best viewpoints.

This doll festival is celebrated all over the Archipelago. It is also called the festival of the little girls, because, each year, between Setsubun (February) and March 3, the families which have girls expose a stand of dolls in their houses. They represent the emperor and empress of the Heian period, and sometimes their whole court. In the past, noble families used to display these dolls every year until their daughter's wedding. Hina Matsuri is celebrated in many shrines and temples around the country.

The Tokyo City Firefighters New Year's Day Parade takes place every year at the Tokyo Big Sight. The aim is to do fire prevention. The history of the event dates back to the creation of fire brigades after the great fire of Meireki in 1657 that killed around 100,000 people. Originally, the job of firefighter required climbing skills. Today, firefighters perform breathtaking acrobatics on high wooden poles. It's a festive way to remind people that fires in Tokyo are still a common danger.

The "hollyhock festival" is one of the three largest festivals in Kyoto. On this occasion, dozens of floats parade through the streets of the city from the Imperial Palace, followed by a procession reenacting the Heian aristocracy in period costumes. The tradition, however, predates the Heian period and is thought to date from the 7th century. In order to avoid natural disasters, the emperor made offerings to the gods of the Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines, two of the oldest shrines in Kyoto. The official name remains "Kamo matsuri".

Kyūdō is the Japanese martial art of archery, one of the arts mastered by the country's ancient warriors. Every year in Kyoto, thousands of Japanese dressed in traditional costumes compete in a major archery competition held at Sanjūsangendō. They must aim at a target 120 metres away. The history of this competition dates back to the end of the 17th century and legend has it that the samurai Asaoka Heibei shot 51 arrows in a row over this distance. The game had its heyday in the Edo period.

Japan's largest art fair allows everyone to discover the different faces of art, old and new, and what's new on the art market. It's an opportunity to meet artists, discover new trends in contemporary art, or immerse oneself in Japanese antiques or traditional paintings. Satellite" sites organize parallel exhibitions to the main fair in other places: airports, hotels or museums. A not-to-be-missed event for art lovers.