Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A decorated float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A decorated float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A decorated float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A procession of decorated floats takes place down a street in Kyoto, western Japan, during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade on July 17, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A procession of decorated floats takes place down a street in Kyoto, western Japan, during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade on July 17, 2026.

[Breaking news]Fire festival in western Japan

NACHIKATSUURA, Japan, July 15 Kyodo - White-robed men carry giant flaming torches during an annual fire festival at the World Heritage-listed Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 14, 2026. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka

FUKUOKA, Japan, July 15 Kyodo - A "yamakasa" decorated float is carried along a 5-kilometer course during the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in the early morning of July 15, 2026, in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka. (Kyodo)

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka

People run while carrying a "yamakasa" decorated float along a 5-kilometer course during the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in the early morning of July 15, 2026, in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka

People run while carrying a "yamakasa" decorated float along a 5-kilometer course during the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in the early morning of July 15, 2026, in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka

People run while carrying a "yamakasa" decorated float along a 5-kilometer course during the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in the early morning of July 15, 2026, in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka

People run while carrying a "yamakasa" decorated float along a 5-kilometer course during the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in the early morning of July 15, 2026, in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka

A "yamakasa" decorated float is carried along a 5-kilometer course during the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in the early morning of July 15, 2026, in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People stroll by a decorated float illuminated by lanterns in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 14, 2026, ahead of a parade three days later, a highlight of the month-long Gion Festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People stroll by a decorated float illuminated by lanterns in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 14, 2026, ahead of a parade three days later, a highlight of the month-long Gion Festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People stroll by a decorated float illuminated by lanterns in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 14, 2026, ahead of a parade three days later, a highlight of the month-long Gion Festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People stroll by a decorated float illuminated by lanterns in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 14, 2026, ahead of a parade three days later, a highlight of the month-long Gion Festival.

Fire festival in western Japan

Fire festival in western Japan

White-robed men carry giant flaming torches during an annual fire festival at the World Heritage-listed Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 14, 2026.

Fire festival in western Japan

Fire festival in western Japan

White-robed men carry giant flaming torches during an annual fire festival at the World Heritage-listed Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 14, 2026.

Fire festival in western Japan

Fire festival in western Japan

White-robed men carry giant flaming torches during an annual fire festival at the World Heritage-listed Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 14, 2026.

Fire festival in western Japan

Fire festival in western Japan

White-robed men carry giant flaming torches during an annual fire festival at the World Heritage-listed Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 14, 2026.

Fire festival in western Japan

Fire festival in western Japan

White-robed men carry giant flaming torches during an annual fire festival at the World Heritage-listed Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 14, 2026.

Hakata Gion festival in Fukuoka

Hakata Gion festival in Fukuoka

People carry a "yamakasa" decorated float during the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival on July 13, 2026, in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka.

Hakata Gion festival in Fukuoka

Hakata Gion festival in Fukuoka

People run while carrying a "yamakasa" decorated float during the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival on July 13, 2026, in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka.

Hakata Gion festival in Fukuoka

Hakata Gion festival in Fukuoka

People carry a "yamakasa" decorated float during the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival on July 13, 2026, in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka.

Hakata Gion festival in Fukuoka

Hakata Gion festival in Fukuoka

People carry a "yamakasa" decorated float during the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival on July 13, 2026, in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka.

Hakata Gion festival in Fukuoka

Hakata Gion festival in Fukuoka

People carry a "yamakasa" decorated float during the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival on July 13, 2026, in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Former Japan sumo grand champion Hakuho (C) attends the opening ceremony of Mongolia's Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Japan festival opens in Sao Paulo

Japan festival opens in Sao Paulo

A festival featuring Japanese cuisine, anime, games and music as well as industrial goods opens in Sao Paulo on July 10, 2026. About 200,000 people are expected to visit the three-day Festival do Japao, according to organizers.

Japan festival opens in Sao Paulo

Japan festival opens in Sao Paulo

A festival featuring Japanese cuisine, anime, games and music as well as industrial goods opens in Sao Paulo on July 10, 2026. About 200,000 people are expected to visit the three-day Festival do Japao, according to organizers.

Japan festival opens in Sao Paulo

Japan festival opens in Sao Paulo

A festival featuring Japanese cuisine, anime, games and music as well as industrial goods opens in Sao Paulo on July 10, 2026. About 200,000 people are expected to visit the three-day Festival do Japao, according to organizers.

[Breaking News]Sacred rope exchange at Nachi Falls

NACHIKATSUURA, Japan, July 9 Kyodo - Priests from Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a giant sacred "shimenawa" rope with a new one above Nachi Falls during a pre-festival ritual in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2026. (Kyodo)

Sacred rope exchange at Nachi Falls

Sacred rope exchange at Nachi Falls

Priests from Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a giant sacred "shimenawa" rope with a new one above Nachi Falls during a pre-festival ritual in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2026.

Sacred rope exchange at Nachi Falls

Sacred rope exchange at Nachi Falls

Priests from Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a giant sacred "shimenawa" rope with a new one above Nachi Falls during a pre-festival ritual in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2026.

Sacred rope exchange at Nachi Falls

Sacred rope exchange at Nachi Falls

Priests from Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a giant sacred "shimenawa" rope with a new one above Nachi Falls during a pre-festival ritual in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2026.

Lantern festival in central Japan town

NOTO, Japan, July 3 Kyodo - People carry giant lantern floats called kiriko on the opening day of the two-day Abare festival, dating back to the Edo era (1603-1868), in Noto in the central Japan prefecture of Ishikawa on July 3, 2026. (Kyodo)

Lantern festival in central Japan town

Lantern festival in central Japan town

People carry giant lantern floats called kiriko on the opening day of the two-day Abare festival, dating back to the Edo era (1603-1868), in Noto in the central Japan prefecture of Ishikawa on July 3, 2026.

Lantern festival in central Japan town

Lantern festival in central Japan town

People carry giant lantern floats called kiriko on the opening day of the two-day Abare festival, dating back to the Edo era (1603-1868), in Noto in the central Japan prefecture of Ishikawa on July 3, 2026.

Lantern festival in central Japan town

Lantern festival in central Japan town

People carry giant lantern floats called kiriko on the opening day of the two-day Abare festival, dating back to the Edo era (1603-1868), in Noto in the central Japan prefecture of Ishikawa on July 3, 2026.

Decorated festival float in Fukuoka

Decorated festival float in Fukuoka

A ritual is held at Kushida shrine in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on June 30, 2026, to bring a god into a decorated festival float called Kazariyamakasa.

Decorated festival float in Fukuoka

Decorated festival float in Fukuoka

A ritual is held at Kushida shrine in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on June 30, 2026, to bring a god into a decorated festival float called Kazariyamakasa.

Clock festival at shrine in western Japan

OTSU, Japan, June 10 Kyodo - Women wearing traditional Japanese court dresses attend an annual clock festival at Omi Jingu shrine in Otsu in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on June 10, 2026. Omi Jingu enshrines Emperor Tenji, who is said to have established a system to measure time in seventh-century Japan by setting up a water clock. (Kyodo)

Clock festival at shrine in western Japan

Clock festival at shrine in western Japan

An woman wearing traditional Japanese court dress attends an annual clock festival at Omi Jingu shrine in Otsu in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on June 10, 2026. Omi Jingu enshrines Emperor Tenji, who is said to have established a system to measure time in seventh-century Japan by setting up a water clock.

Clock festival at shrine in western Japan

Clock festival at shrine in western Japan

Women wearing traditional Japanese court dresses attend an annual clock festival at Omi Jingu shrine in Otsu in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on June 10, 2026. Omi Jingu enshrines Emperor Tenji, who is said to have established a system to measure time in seventh-century Japan by setting up a water clock.

Clock festival at shrine in western Japan

Clock festival at shrine in western Japan

Women wearing traditional Japanese court dresses attend an annual clock festival at Omi Jingu shrine in Otsu in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on June 10, 2026. Omi Jingu enshrines Emperor Tenji, who is said to have established a system to measure time in seventh-century Japan by setting up a water clock.

Traditional parade in Kanazawa

Traditional parade in Kanazawa

Firefighters climb bamboo ladders in a Kagatobi ladder-climbing performance during a traditional parade at the Hyakumangoku Festival in Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on June 6, 2026, reenacting 16th-century warlord Maeda Toshiie's entry into Kanazawa Castle.