Kakuozan Spring Festival 2026
In late April 2026, the Spring Festival was held in the charming neighborhood of Kakuozan on April 25 and 26. I visited on the afternoon of April 26 to experience one of Nagoya’s most popular local festivals.
The Kakuozan Festival takes place twice a year — once in spring and once in autumn. The main festival area stretches along the approach road leading from Kakuozan Station to Nittai-ji Temple, creating a lively atmosphere filled with food stalls, handmade crafts, and unique local products.
As soon as I stepped out of the station, I could already see huge crowds gathered around the Starbucks near the entrance to the festival area. There was also a music stage nearby, and the sound of live performances filled the street. Some visitors seemed to enjoy the energetic atmosphere, but personally, I prefer quieter places, so I decided to avoid the busiest section and walk toward the temple side first.
From the calmer side near Nittai-ji, I slowly walked back toward Kakuozan Station while exploring the festival. This turned out to be a much more relaxing way to enjoy the event. The streets were lined with stalls selling all kinds of goods — handmade accessories, crafts, snacks, sweets, and regional foods from across Japan.
I also noticed many families visiting together, giving the festival a warm and friendly atmosphere. Some of the most popular food stalls had long lines, making it a little difficult to buy anything quickly, but that popularity itself showed how well-loved the event is.
I’ve visited markets in Nagoya before, including the antique and handmade markets at Higashi Betsuin, but the Kakuozan Festival felt slightly different. While many Nagoya-area events mainly feature local vendors, this festival seemed to attract sellers and creators from many different parts of Japan, which made it feel more diverse and interesting.
The weather that day was around 24°C (75°F), warm enough to make me sweat a little while walking through the crowds. After wandering around for a while, I started craving something refreshing. Eventually, I found a lemonade stand using lemons from Nagasaki and decided to try it.
The lemonade had a clean, refreshing flavor and was perfect for the warm afternoon. After finishing my drink, I threw the cup away in one of the festival trash bins and quietly left the venue.
The atmosphere of Kakuozan in spring was lively yet charming, and after visiting this year’s event, I’d really like to come back again for the autumn festival as well.
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