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Narita’s event calendar is anchored by the Narita Gion Festival in July and the plum and cherry blossom festivals in spring, plus the New Year rush at Naritasan Shinshoji, one of Japan’s busiest shrines for hatsumode. Most events are free and centered on the temple and Omotesando. For the best months to catch them, see best time to visit Narita.
Narita Events and Festivals: Spring
Plum Blossom Festival (Late February to Early March)
The Naritasan Plum Festival runs from late February to early March in Naritasan Park, where about 400 plum trees bloom in white, pink, and red. Entry is free, and the grounds host tea ceremonies and food stalls on weekends. The plum trees open a couple of weeks before the cherries, so this is a quieter alternative to sakura season. For the climate in these weeks, see Narita weather by month. For where to stay within walking distance, see the Narita neighborhoods guide.
Cherry Blossom Festival (Late March to Early April)
The Naritasan cherry blossom festival peaks in the last week of March into early April, when the park’s trees bloom and the temple lights them up after dark. Food stalls line the Omotesando, and the crowds are a fraction of Tokyo’s Ueno or Meguro. The exact peak shifts by a week or so each year, so check the bloom forecast before you book. For what else to see while you are here, see the things to do in Narita guide.
Goma Fire Ritual (Daily)
Naritasan Shinshoji holds goma, a fire purification ritual, several times a day in the main hall, where priests burn wooden prayer sticks while chanting. The ritual is free to watch and runs year-round, typically in the morning and early afternoon. It is one of the most distinctive things you can observe in the town without planning around a date. For an overview of the whole area, see the Narita travel guide.
Narita Events and Festivals: Summer
Narita Gion Festival (First Weekend of July)
The Narita Gion Festival, held on the first weekend of July, is the town’s biggest event, with a history of about 300 years. Ten ornate floats (dashi) are pulled through the streets around the temple, accompanied by taiko drumming and a mikoshi, a portable shrine, carried in procession. The floats gather on Omotesando and the main roads near Keisei Narita Station. Expect streets to close to cars and the town to be busiest on Saturday and Sunday evening. For where to stay within walking distance, see the where to stay in Narita guide.
Narita Events and Festivals: Autumn
Autumn Foliage (Late November to Early December)
Naritasan Park’s ginkgo and maple trees turn in late November and hold their color into early December, and the temple hosts an autumn illumination event on selected evenings. The best viewing is around the park’s ponds and the pagoda. This is also the driest, coolest stretch of the year for walking, with November averaging 90 mm of rain and highs of 16°C (61°F).
Narita Horeki Festival (October)
The Narita Horeki Festival in October celebrates the town’s history with a parade of local groups in period costume, plus food stalls and stage performances near the temple. Dates vary, so confirm with the local tourism office, which sits near Keisei Narita Station. The event is smaller than Gion but gives you the same street-festival atmosphere without the July heat. For how to reach the area, see the Narita travel tips and FAQ guide.
Narita Events and Festivals: Winter
Hatsumode (January 1 to 3)
Naritasan Shinshoji is one of Japan’s top hatsumode destinations, drawing over 3 million people in the first three days of January for the first shrine visit of the year. The Omotesando becomes a packed pedestrian street of food stalls, and the temple runs special trains from Tokyo to handle the crowd. If you go, arrive early on January 1 or pick January 2 or 3, and expect long queues at the main hall.
Setsubun Bean-Throwing (Early February)
Setsubun, usually February 3, marks the start of spring in the Japanese calendar, and Naritasan Shinshoji holds a bean-throwing ceremony where celebrities and sumo wrestlers throw roasted soybeans to a crowd from the main hall stage. The event is free and draws thousands, so arrive 30 minutes early for a spot near the front.
