Winter Festivals / Matsuri?

Wondering what interesting events would be going on in December and January. (Besides the obvious New Year)

I will be visiting in 2017 into 2018.

Very interested in Shinto festivals, but other general ones are good too (art, music, etc).
Mainly will be around Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo.

google.com (?)

Google in English doesn't always show lesser known festivals...

Wanted to know what locals thought of as great ones to go to.

Not a whole lot happens, festival-wise, in January (besides the New Year's events).

In Osaka, you may find Doya Doya festival interesting. It takes place at Shitenno-ji temple on 1/14. Read description here: https://wherenextjapan.com/2014/01/20/doya-doya-matsuri-mostly-naked-f...

Not a festival, but in Kyoto at Toji temple, there is a monthly antiques/crafts/flea market (Kobo-ichi) held on 21st of every month. The one in January (1/21/2017) usually is the grandest of all, and attracts tourists and bargain hunters from all over.

Oh! Thank you so much, the flea market sounds something I would enjoy attending and looking!

Shimostuki Matsuri in Tohyama (early Dec): http://shimotsukimatsuri.com/english/

Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival (mid Jan): http://nozawa-onsen.com/nozawa-fire-festival/

Ebisu Daikoku Tug of War in Tsuruga: http://www.fuku-e.com/lang/english/places_to_visit/event1.php

New Year Fire Dept parade in Kanazawa, early Jan: http://www.kanazawa-tourism.com/eng/event/event4.php#new_year

Some of this year's ice lantern festivals and other illuminations in Nagano area: http://www.go-nagano.net/sightseeing/winter-2016-illuminations-and-fes...

Some of the onsen towns in Nikko have festivals in late Jan: http://nikko-travel.jp/english/event/

Events in Kyushu: http://www.welcomekyushu.com/event/?mode=detail&id=9999900001230&isSpo...



If winter festivals are what you really want to do, you might want to change your travel time to Jan-Feb instead of Dec-Jan, as Feb is when a lot of them happen. You could easily spend a good few weeks in Hokkaido, Tohoku and Chubu visiting them. Non ice/snow specific examples are the festivities around Setsubun, Hachinohe Enburi, Namahage in Akita, Hadaka Masturi (or Naked Festival) in Okayama.

When googling I find you'll get more english info if you start putting in specific cities and towns rather than a general "japan winter festival" search.

Thank you so much.

The time is also because of Comiket and JMoF (Japan Meeting of Furs) conventions I want to attend. But all this information is really useful.

I plan on my 3rd trip to be in the Spring but I want to make the most out of winter.