Festivals and events around the Nagoya area

January

February

March / April

	Japanese Doll Festival (Girls Day)
	March 3rd - Various locations around Nagoya and Japan Celebrated every March 3rd is what Japanes people know as "Hinamatsuri" or girlsday.  Traditionally to celebrate the birth of girls in the family its is common to have an expensive doll set bought for the girls of the family when they are young, and displayed every year during the festival period.  During this time, displays of dolls can be seen in shops, supermarkets or along the street.
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	Nagoya Castle Cherry Blossom Festival
	Late March / Early April - Nagoya Castle Nagoya Castle boasts over 1500 cherry trees of differing varieties that reach full bloom one after another beginning in late March. At night, the castle and cherry blossoms are illuminated creating a enjoyable and warm atmosphere! Nagoya Castle Management Office,  TEL:052-231-1700
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	Cherry Blossom Parties
	Late March / Early April - Tsurama Park Tsurama park is absolutely the place to be to enjoy the cherry blossom season in Nagoya.  Hundreds of people gather for lunch and even more for evening parties, sitting under the blossoms and soaking in the atmosphere.  It's very busy but there are always places to sit under the trees, or even just walking around can be fun.  There are lots of street vendors selling the usual festival food but best is to pop into a supermarket before-hand and stock up on cooked food, snacks and alcohol.
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	Kakuozan Spring Festival
	April 11th - 12th, 10am-6pm - Kakuozan (From Kakuozan subway station to Nittaiji Temple) A lively and fun festival held on the hill leading up from the subway station to the beautiful Nittaiji Temple.  There is an art market, a flea market and various international themed stalls where you can try a variety of ethnic foods.  There is also a stage where performances using japanese instruments such as the koto, shamisen and wadaiko, will be held. This event is always well attended and this year promises to be no exception.
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	Okazaki Ieyasu Parade
	Sunday April 5th (2009 date) - Okazaki City, Aichi Okazaki is famous for it celebration of Cherry Blossoms in April and the "Ieyasu Parade" is a spectacular part of the celebrations.  Celebrating the famous Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, he and over 1000 Samurai Warriors will parade the streets of Okazaki is a mock battle of the famous  "battle of Sekigahara", fought and won by Ieyasu in October 1600.  The parade will start from Iga Hachiman-gu shrine at 1:30pm and passes Meitestu Higashi before arriving at the re-enactment site at Otogawa riverbank at 3:00pm.
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May

Wakamiya festival

May 15 & 16th - Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine This festival is held at Wakamiya Hachimansha Shrine, Sochinjyu (a general village shrine) in Nagoya as a big annual festival. "Fukurokuju sha" is a float registered as a national property and is very valuable in that it carries four wind-up dolls. Shinyotogyo-Dashihouei (a Shinto ritual of carrying a portable shrine and a float) was resumed in the 1985 festival. A group of floats brought out and carried in Nagoya City appears like a picture scroll of the traditional ritual.

June

	Atsuta Shrine Festival
	June 5th - Atsuta Shrine Atsuta shrine's biggest festival, with various performances by parishioners, including a procession of floats. At night, several visually stunning floats, each comprised of 365 lanterns, are displayed at the east and west gates. There are also fireworks near to 'Atsuta Jingu park'. Tel : 052-671-4153

July

August

	Nagoya Castle Summer Festival
	Early August - Nagoya Castle A lively festival including games on the castle grounds and plenty of food. During this festival, the dungeons also open at night, and serves as a museum of artifacts from the Edo period. Nagoya Castle Tel :052-231-1700
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	Osu Summer Festival
	July 31 and August 1st (Sat and Sun)  - Osu Kannon A lively festival in the Osu district, the 'Osu summer festival' is always a great success. There are performances such as the playing of Osu daiko (drums), a samba parade and bon dancing. Don't miss the powerful tezutsu hanabi (hand-held fireworks) held around the outside of Osu Kannon Temple. Location:  Osu Kannon Temple Grounds, Banshoji Temple Grounds and Osu Shopping Arcade Time: From 1pm Sat til 10pm Sun!! Access: Osu and Kamimaezu Stations - click here for subway map
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	Maruhachi Day
	August 8th  - Hisaya-Odori Park, various locations throughout Nagoya The summer festival "Maruhachi Day" which was first held on the 8th of August (8th year of the Heisei period) is growing in popularity each year. The Maruhachi is Nagoya's city seal, the Chinese character of read as "hachi",means eight while "maru" means circle.  On this day,various events and sales will be held in the around Nagoya city. There will be stage performances and various food and souvenir stalls around Hisaya-Odori Park. Nagoya Convention & Visitors Bureau,TEL:052-202-1145
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	Nippon Domannaka Festival
	August 27th - 29th (Fri-Sun)  - Hisaya-Odori Park (Main), Sakae, Nag Station This festival, known as the 'Nippon Domannaka Festival' (nicknamed 'DoMatsuri') was initiated by local university students wanting to create a "festival that the whole of Japan could enjoy". During the festival, the streets of Nagoya are filled with dancers in colorful costumes. Over 23000 performers from around Japan hit the streets in what is Japan's largest dance festival.  The main stage will be in Hisaya-dori close to Yabacho station. The entire city is drawn to this exciting festival. Parades will be held between Sakae and Yabacho (Saturday 28th, 11:25am-17:50pm) and (Sunday 30th, 11:30am-17:50pm). There are also parades on both Saturday and Sunday in fron to Nagoya station between 13:15pm and 14:45pm.  Contact: Nippon Domannaka Festival Promotion Committee Office, TEL:052-241-4333 Website: www.domatsuri.com Access: 1 minute from Yabacho Station (exit 5) / 3 mins from Sakae Station (exit 15) (Note: The festival runs from 17:30pm on Friday 27th until Sun 29th 21:00pm. Saturday and Sunday events start from 9:20am and continue until 21:00pm)

September

October

	Nagoya Festival
	Oct 3rd and 4th (2009) - Various locations throughout Nagoya The Nagoya Festival is a grand event that adds bright colors to the autumn sky in Nagoya. The city's most popular event, the annual Nagoya Festival,is rich in history and has been enjoyed by visitors and people from all over Japan.  During the festival a great variety of events will be held, such as the spectacular festival parade with its dazzling procession of the Three Feudal Lords of the 16th Century; Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyosi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, along with parades showcasing "dashi" floats, and musical performances. Additionally, every night will feature the vibrant "Yoi" Festival.  During the festival public attraction around the city (Nagoya castle, Orchid Gardens etc) are all free to enter so well worth a visit. Nagoya Festival Promotion Association  TEL: 052-972-7611 Nagoya Convention & Visitors Bureau    TEL: 052-202-1145 Website in Japanese: www.nagoya-festival.jp
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	Arimatsu Float Festival
	Early October - Arimatsu area This annual festival is crowded with many visitors from the early morning of the festival day. Three dashi (floats) registered as tangible cultural properties by Nagoya City will parade on the old Tokaido line. You can enjoy windup dolls performing on the floats during the daytime as well as a dreamy atmosphere by the lights on the floats during the night time.

November

Autumn leaves viewing

Mid Nov - Early Dec - Nagoya Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens As winter approaches, celebrating the changing colour of the leaves is a Japanese tradition.  Overlooked in most other countries, this time of year, along with the blooming Cherry Blossoms in April, is magical as the whole country sets off in search of the best viewing spots.  In and around Nagoya the best places can be found where there are the best trees.  Without having to travel a million miles, as many do, Higashiyama Park is wonderful place to be.  The beautiful and vast area allows for hundreds of people to be there, yet it will never seem that crowded.

December

	Starlight Revue
	Late Nov - Late Dec - Nagoya Port Star Light Revue is well-known as a winter event in Nagoya. Garden Futou (wharf) at the Port of Nagoya is illuminated for approximately one month from the end of November. The symbol of the event is a gigantic tree, with a height of 15 meters and a diameter of 7.5 meters, decorated with neon and electric lights. This symbol tree will make visitors feel that Christmas is coming. Such a feeling by visitors, including children, adults and couples, will be maximized by famous fireworks called "melody hanabi" (fireworks synchronized with music) on Christmas Eve.
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	JR Twin Tower Lights
	Early November - Late January - Nagoya JR Station Towers Lights is Nagoya winter event at JR Central Towers, the symbol tower of Nagoya Station(the gateway to Nagoya) is an illumination festival that takes visitors into a mysterious world of lights. They usually enjoy watching it without thinking about time. Please make sure to come to Nagoya during this event's dates in winter and visit Towers Lights to enjoy the magic of lights.