Yokohama Chinatown’s Festival Calendar: A Year on the Lunar CalendarLunar New Year, Mazu Festival, Kanteitan, Mid-Autumn: what happens when
Most festivals in Yokohama Chinatown follow the lunar calendar, so their Western dates change every year. Here are the main events in calendar order.
The year at a glance
| When | Event | Date rule | Where | 2026–27 date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | Lunar New Year | 1st day, 1st lunar month | All of Chinatown | Feb 6, 2027 |
| Feb–Mar | Lantern Festival | 15th day, 1st lunar month | Masobyo and others | Closes the New Year events |
| March | Mazu Festival | Vernal Equinox Day (temple anniversary) | Masobyo and streets | 20th anniversary in 2026 |
| Apr–May | Mazu’s birthday | 23rd day, 3rd lunar month | Masobyo | Varies |
| July | Matchmaking prayer | July 7 | Masobyo | Every July 7 |
| Jul–Aug | Kanteitan | 24th day, 6th lunar month | Kanteibyo and streets | Aug 6 in 2026 |
| Sep–Oct | Mid-Autumn Festival | 15th day, 8th lunar month | Shops (mooncakes) | Sep 15, 2027 |
| October | Mazu’s ascension day | 9th day, 9th lunar month | Masobyo | Ceremony on Oct 18, 2026 |
| Nov–Feb | Lantern illumination | Leading up to New Year | All of Chinatown | Nov 1, 2026–Feb 20, 2027 |
| Dec 31 | New Year’s Eve countdown | December 31 | Masobyo | Every Dec 31 |
Winter to spring
Chinatown is busiest at Lunar New Year, with lion dances at shop fronts and an evening parade, ending with the Lantern Festival (Chinatown’s New Year Arrives in February). During the season, Masobyo invites visitors to pass under the portable shrine carrying Mazu to shed bad luck. On Vernal Equinox Day, the Mazu Festival marks the temple’s opening: a ceremony in the morning and a procession through Chinatown in the afternoon. Mazu’s birthday on the 23rd day of the third lunar month is also observed.
Summer
On July 7, Masobyo holds prayers to the matchmaking god Yuelao, for good connections of every kind. On the 24th day of the sixth lunar month, Kanteitan celebrates Guan Yu’s birthday with a procession; in 2026 it fell on August 6 (Kanteibyo: Burned Three Times, Built Four).
Autumn
Seasonal mooncakes appear before the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on September 15 in 2027 (Mooncakes Were Once Made Only for the Mid-Autumn Festival). The 9th day of the ninth lunar month marks Mazu’s ascension; in 2026 the ceremony was held on October 18. In November the lantern illumination begins, with a large dragon lantern over the main street.
Always check official notices
Programs, times and rain arrangements change from year to year. Check the official notices of Yokohama Chinatown, Masobyo and Kanteibyo before you go.
Sources
- Yokohama Masobyo official site: Events (Japanese)
- Yokohama Chinatown official site: 2027 Lantern illumination (Japanese)
- Kanagawa Tourism Association: Lunar New Year 2026 (Japanese)
- Yokohama Official Visitors’ Guide: Kanteitan 2026 (Japanese)
- Yokohama Chinatown official site: Mid-Autumn Festival and mooncakes (Japanese)
- Nippon Tabi Magazine: Mazu’s birthday (Japanese)