SUMMER FESTIVALS

Japanese lantern festivals are held to ward off evil or send off the dead, or just to warm up a chilly winter.

Breathing new life into traditional Japanese folk music, Aragehonji has a unique take on Japanese music.

Learn all about the Meiji Restoration in the city of Kitakyushu.

This Aichi-area festival features geysers of light exploding from handheld bamboo cannons!

Do you know the real Japanese technique for wearing traditional footwear?

This exhibit has it all if you want to experience a Japanese summer: festivals, a haunted house and even traditional bathhouse murals.

Looking for a steamy train experience? Head up to Aomori for a stove train that's heated to 50°C in the middle of summer!

Japan has a host of things to do for budget tourists, and we've compiled our list of the best free things to do. Enjoy!