The world's largest women-only marathon β 25,000 runners race through the streets of Nagoya in March, finishing in the Nagoya Dome to thunderous applause. All finishers receive a Tiffany necklace, making it one of the world's most glamorous races.
The month-long maple festival at Korankei gorge includes daytime foliage walks, food stalls, and nightly illuminations that bathe the 4,000 maple trees in golden light β one of central Japan's most atmospheric autumn events.
One of Japan's three great historical processions β the Nagoya Festival in October recreates the retinues of Nagoya's three great warlords (Nobunaga Oda, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Ieyasu Tokugawa) with 2,000 participants in full period costume.
Inuyama Castle β the oldest surviving original castle keep in Japan (1537), perched directly above the Kiso River β is encircled by 200 cherry trees forming a spectacular spring panorama. The riverside Inuyama Festival floats (yatai) are deployed simultaneously, combining Japan's oldest castle with one of its oldest float festivals in a single unforgettable April weekend.
The Atsuta Shrine Grand Festival (June 5) at Nagoya's most important shrine is one of Japan's three great shrine festivals, drawing over 60,000 worshippers. The ancient martial arts demonstrations (bugaku dance, sumo), evening processions by torchlight, and a 5,000-shell fireworks finale over the shrine forest make this an extraordinary window into Nagoya's deep Shinto traditions.
Tsuruma Park in central Nagoya is Aichi's most celebrated cherry blossom destination β over 1,000 cherry trees canopy the Meiji-era Western garden, with the old bandstand and rose gardens adding romantic character to hanami parties.
A 1,300-year-old fishing tradition on the Kiso River β watch skilled ukai fishermen control diving cormorants from torch-lit wooden boats on summer evenings. Viewing boats depart from Inuyama from May through October.
One of Japan's most famous and unusual Shinto festivals β held on the first Sunday of March at Tagata Shrine in Komaki, a large sacred phallus is paraded through the streets to pray for fertility, good harvest, and business prosperity.
One of central Japan's largest summer fireworks displays β thousands of shells burst over Nagoya Port each August, with viewing from the waterfront park, pleasure boats, and the Portmesse venue area.
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