祭(まつ)り

まつり
noun
festival, celebration
1. festival, feast
A traditional celebration, often religious in origin, featuring ceremonies, processions, and entertainment.
夏(なつ)の祭(まつ)りで花火(はなび)を見(み)た。
I watched fireworks at the summer festival.
神社(じんじゃ)で祭(まつ)りが行(おこな)われる。
A festival is held at the shrine.
祭(まつ)りの日(ひ)は屋台(やたい)がたくさん出(で)る。
On festival days, many food stalls appear.
2. celebration, festivity
Any festive event or gathering.
学園祭(がくえんさい)でバンドの演奏(えんそう)を聴(き)いた。
I listened to a band performance at the school festival.
町(まち)の祭(まつ)りで神輿(みこし)を担(かつ)いだ。
I carried a portable shrine at the town festival.
今年(ことし)のビール祭(まつ)りはとても盛(も)り上(あ)がった。
This year's beer festival was really exciting.

Can be written as 祭(まつり) or お祭(まつ)り (polite form).

FAMOUS JAPANESE FESTIVALS:

  • 祇園祭(ぎおんまつり) (Gion Festival - Kyoto)
  • 天神祭(てんじんまつり) (Tenjin Festival - Osaka)
  • 神田祭(かんだまつり) (Kanda Festival - Tokyo)
  • ねぶた祭(まつり) (Nebuta Festival - Aomori)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 祭(まつ)りに行(い)く (to go to a festival)
  • 祭(まつ)りを楽(たの)しむ (to enjoy a festival)
  • 夏祭(なつまつ)り (summer festival)
  • 秋祭(あきまつ)り (autumn festival)
  • 学園祭(がくえんさい) (school festival)

CULTURAL NOTE:
Many Japanese festivals (matsuri) have Shinto origins and involve carrying portable shrines (神輿(みこし)) through the streets. Festival-goers often wear 浴衣(ゆかた).

general
Added 2026.1.12 21:48 · Revised 2026.3.2 9:07
03500/03735_matsuri