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Summer Festivities -July 26th (Fri) – August 25th (Sun)

The summer is an exciting time for Kinosaki Onsen, as there is a big summer festival period! This period stretches from the end of July through almost the entire month of August. Every day during this time, the town holds the Shrine Festival. Food stalls and games are set up at Shisho Shrine next to Goshono-Yu, one of the seven public bathhouses. On selected days at 9 pm, there are fireworks above the Otani River, reflecting an explosion of colors onto the water. On the very last day of festivities, August 25th, people gather along the river for the Lantern Festival, one of the most magical events in Kinosaki Onsen.

Hundreds of festivalgoers participate in making lanterns, where afterwards they write wishes on them, put a candle inside, and watch them float down the river. Everyone is welcome to make their own lantern for free. There is going to be a special platform on the river in order to let the lanterns go. This festival truly reflects the beauty of the summer in Kinosaki Onsen.

The Furusato Festival, which takes place on August 6th, is a festival where you can enjoy food and game stalls, as well as performances such as taiko (Japanese drums). During Obon, an annual Buddhist event for commemorating one’s ancestors, you can participate in traditional folk dancing known as Bon Odori (Obon Dance).

The summertime in Kinosaki Onsen transports its travelers back to a traditional, nostalgic era of Japan. With everyone wearing yukata and geta, onsen-hopping, visiting food stalls, and engaging in classic festival events, Kinosaki is the perfect destination for experiencing traditional Japan in the summer. To make your stay even more memorable, we recommend staying 2-3 nights in order to visit Kinosaki’s surrounding towns that each have their own appeal and charm.

Learn more about Kinosaki Onsen’s summer festivals and see the schedule of events here.