Festivals and Events in Asia
Blossoms, water fights, lantern nights and a day of silence.
Many Asian festivals follow the lunar calendar, so their dates move each year. Lunar New Year, usually in late January or February, is the biggest celebration in Singapore and Hong Kong, while Japan's year is marked by cherry blossoms in spring, summer matsuri and autumn leaves.
Festivals can mean crowds and higher hotel rates, or, in the case of Bali's Nyepi, a day when nothing moves at all. Check dates with official tourism sites before you book.
Annual Festivals and Events
Street decorations, markets, lion dances and, in Hong Kong, harbor fireworks.
Picnics under the blossoms in parks and along rivers; the timing varies with the weather.
The Balinese day of silence, preceded by ogoh-ogoh monster parades; the whole island, airport included, shuts down for a day.
The Thai New Year, celebrated with temple visits and huge street water fights.
One of Tokyo's biggest festivals, with portable shrines carried through the streets around Senso-ji.
An island festival with a parade and a race up a tower of buns.
Kyoto's great festival, with towering floats paraded through the city on two days in July.
A historic summer fireworks display over the river near Asakusa.
Lantern displays, mooncakes and, in Hong Kong, the Tai Hang fire dragon dance.
Candlelit floats set adrift on rivers and canals on the full moon night.
Dates move from year to year — confirm on the organizer’s site before you plan around an event.
Official Event Calendars
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Get free trip quotes »Asia Events — FAQ
When are the cherry blossoms in Japan?
In Tokyo and Kyoto they usually peak in late March or early April, lasting about a week. Forecasts are published from early in the year.
What happens during Songkran?
Temples hold ceremonies, families gather and the streets turn into a giant water fight. Expect to get soaked and protect your phone.