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Must-see 2025 events and festivals in Japan's Shizuoka

Just one hour by bullet train from Tokyo and home to majestic Mount Fuji, the Japanese prefecture of Shizuoka will welcome an array of must-see events next year.

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Travellers in winter can experience a Suruga Noon Tea at various vendors in the central area of the prefecture until February 2025, with distinct green tea blends from the local region paired with exquisitely prepared sweet treats. Shizuoka is also home to some of the earliest blooming cherry blossoms in Japan and visitors can expect to see vast displays of the famous flowers at events such as the Itokawa Promenade Sakura Festival from mid-January to early February and the Kawazu Cherry Blossoms Festival in February. 

 

One of the most famous spring events held in Shizuoka is the 3-day-long Hamamatsu Festival in May, which dates back over 450 years. The event sees large decorated kites battling in the skies above Nakatajima Dune in the day whilst dazzling illuminated floats parade through the streets by night, each representing a local neighbourhood. Further celebrating the region’s links to green tea, The Kanaya Tea Festival is also expected to draw the crowds next April, coinciding with the first picking of the new green tea leaves. 

 

In summer, Shizuoka is known for its famous firework displays with the most popular pyrotechnic event being the Fukuroi Enshu Fireworks Festival each July. Here, professional teams gather from all over Japan to compete and visitors are treated to awe-inspiring displays that light up the skies. July also marks the start of the Mount Fuji climbing season, with locals and visitors ascending the famous mountain for spectacular views across the prefecture. 

 

As autumn arrives, the changing leaves in Shizuoka are just as beautiful as the region’s famous cherry blossoms, making it an ideal time to visit. From mid-November until early December, visitors can enjoy the Atami Baien Momiji Festival for a seasonal display of foliage in fall colours. Also held each autumn for more than 30 years, the DAIDOGEI World Cup is an event dedicated to street performance artistry in Shizuoka City.

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