Recommended festivals in Nara for you to experience

Nara is one of the most popular destinations in Japan, and it has some of Japan’s most impressive festivals and events, including the lantern festival Nara Toukae, the illumination Nara Rurie, and the Wakakusa Yamayaki Fireworks Festival.

Mostly held at night, festivals in Nara offer some of the most photogenic and dramatic sceneries in Japan, and to give you more insights into it, today we’ve listed up four recommended festivals in Shikoku that are worth experiencing during your trip to Japan.

Index: Recommended festivals in Nara for you to experience

• 1.Nara Rurie
• 2.Wakamiya Onmatsuri
• 3.Wakakusa Yamayaki Fireworks Festival
• 4.Nara Tokae

1. Nara Rurie 

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Nara Rurie is perhaps one of the most romantic festivals in Nara, as it transforms the city into a whimsical wonderland with its beautiful light attractions at night, involving some of Nara’s main attractions like the Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and the Nara National Museum, extending their business hours offering special light-up events.

One of the best spots to enjoy Nara Rurie is at the Kasugano International Forum, where you can see a mesmerizing view of starry lights covering the building’s ground.

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2. Wakamiya Onmatsuri

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Wakamiya Onmatsuri is an ancient festival held in Nara annually in December, and during this period, the city heads back to feudal times with its ancient parade.

The festival was held to pray for the end of an epidemic of disease back then, but it became a festival to pray for a prosperous harvest later on. The festival lasts from December 15 to December 18, with the main parade taking place on December 17, involving a parade from Nara’s main street Sanjo dori, to one of Nara’s most iconic sightseeing spots, Kasuga Taisha Shrine.

At this festival, you can enjoy some traditional music and dance performances that are not very common these days, such as the ancient Shinto Kagura. On top of that, you can see priests and local residents dressed in authentic ancient costumes for different historical eras.

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3. Wakakusa Yamayaki Fireworks Festival

It is no exaggeration to say that Wakakusa Yamayaki Fireworks Festival is perhaps the most dramatic festival in Nara, as it involves fireworks and flames decorating the sky with their dazzling lights.

The festival is held annually every fourth Saturday in January on Mt. Wakakusa, a small mountain located east of Nara Park. A bonfire is lit, and beautiful fireworks are launched at night, filling the sky with colorful fireworks patterns and designs.  After that, the whole hill is set ablaze with sacred fire, creating a pyrotechnic scenery that can be seen from miles away.

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4. Nara Tokae

Nara Tokae is a 10-day summer festival that transports you to a fairy tale kingdom, as it bathes Nara in the glow of 20,000 beautiful lanterns. The lanterns are small and are placed throughout Nara Park, with some arranged into various shapes like hearts and stars, and some others simply lighting some of Nara Park’s most famous heritage sites, highlighting their beauty.

The Todai-ji Temple opens its top window, so people can see its giant, lantern-luminated Buddha statue from the outside, and the Ukimido floating pavilion turns into an unbelievably romantic spot to troll in the evening. The festival lasts from August 5 to August 14, and make sure to visit this festival when you’re in Nara during that time!

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