Jan 1st to Jan 6th Day to meditate for peace throughout the world. Shogatsu/Shinto New Year's Festival The Kami (Holy Spirits) of the four directions are honored, and prayers for happiness, good health, and prosperity.Towards the end of the old year, people gather for bonenkai (forget the year gathering), year-end parties at which the irritations, frustrations and any problems of the past year are symbolically washed away and forgotten. Children receive money, otoshidama, for the New Year, people involve themselves in the whole range of activities special to the New Year such as ladies in kimono playing badminton, men playing card and dice games and, in some rural areas, men dressed in costumes called Namahage visit homes, to see if the young are behaving well.
January 7th Shinto rite honouring Goddess Izanami, partner of God Izanagi. They created Nature and the Kami. Shinto try to live in harmony with the cosmic forces of the Kami.
January 15 Dōsojin Matsuri Shrine decorations, talismans, and other shrine ornaments used during the local New-Year holiday are gathered together and burned in bonfires. They are typically pilled onto bamboo, tree branches, and straw, and set on fire to wish for good health and a rich harvest in the coming year. The practice of burning shrine decorations has many names, including Sai-no-Kami,Sagicho, and Dondo Yaki.
February 17th Toshigoi Shinto rite honoring the Kami and offering prayers for a bountiful rice harvest. The Kami are manifestations of Kuni-Tokotachi-no-Kami, the one universal, primordial and eternal, immanent and transcendent holy spirit.
April 8th Hana Matsuri / Shinto flower Festival Shinto rite honoring the Kami.
December 22nd Tohji-Taisai Shinto rite honoring Sun Goddess Amaterasu. Storm God Susano-o angered Her, and She withdrew into a cave until enticed with music and dance, to calm her down.
October 17th Shichi-go-san The festival for three, five and seven year-old, is held nationwide. Children in classical dress are taken to shrines to seek the protection of the kami in this delicate stage of their lives. The Shichi-Go-San or 7- 5-3 Festival is one of the unique Japanese festivals. Boys who are 3 and 5 years old, and girls who are 3 and 7 are taken to a shinto shrine, often in their first kimono, and the parents pray for their continuing good health and prosperity.
November 15th The harvest festival Families visit the god praying for their children's growth and at the same time this occasion for the child to be recognized by the public & gods as a member of society.