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This annual market in Tokyo, held July 9-10 at Senso-ji Temple, sells ground cherry plants and thunder protection charms on a designated Day of Merit.

This fireworks festival in Kamakura features suichu-hanabi (underwater fireworks). Shells are launched from boats and explode on the ocean’s surface, creating semicircular displays.

A professional sumo tournament in Nagoya, the July Basho is a fifteen-day event held annually at the IG Arena. The venue is located near Nagoya Castle.

A spiritual festival in Tokyo, Mitama Matsuri is held at Yasukuni Shrine to honor war dead. It features 30,000 lanterns, art, and traditional performances in mid-July.

A fire festival in Wakayama, the Nachi Fire Festival on July 14 involves carrying large torches to a waterfall to purify portable shrines in a ritual for returning deities.

A wind chime market in Kawasaki occurs for five days in July at Kawasaki Daishi temple. It features 30,000 chimes in over 900 styles from across Japan.

A Bon Odori festival in Tokyo, this late-July event at Zojoji Temple honors Jizo statues and features traditional dancing, taiko drumming, and food stalls.

A summer boat festival featuring portable shrines carried down 202 steep steps to lead a marine parade of 100 decorated vessels through Matsushima Bay.

A cultural festival in Tokyo, the Kagurazaka Matsuri combines a Hozuki Market selling ground cherry plants with two nights of traditional Awa Odori dance performances.

A lantern floating festival in Chiyoda where over 2,000 lanterns are released onto the Chidorigafuchi Moat. The event is held for two nights in late July.

A summer festival in Shimbashi, this event features bon dancing, a yukata contest, food stalls, and a beer garden for local office workers.

An outdoor music festival in Niigata, Fuji Rock is a three-day event featuring diverse music genres and international artists in a mountain forest setting.