Spending summer in Tokyo? If you are looking for ideas on what to do, Top Summer Festivals in Tokyo!
In 2023, summer in Japan is expected to start on June 21 and ends on September 23. Around this period, you will experience the hottest months in Tokyo and the rest of Japan. In Tokyo, the intensity of the summer heat can reach around 30 degrees Celsius with high humidity. In August, the peak of summer can be felt around Tokyo when high humidity and can make you uncomfortable if you are not used to hot summer months.
Is it good to visit Tokyo in the summer? Yes, despite the sweltering heat, summer is the liveliest season in Japan when you can experience vibrant summer festivals. Do bring light and breathable fabrics like cotton and linen to keep you cool and comfortable throughout your visit.
Despite the hot and humid temperature, summer is the liveliest month. That’s because of so many festivals you get to enjoy from July to September. Here are some of the top things to do in Tokyo:
Tokyo Summer Festivals in July
1. Sumida River Fireworks Festival
Nearly 20,000 fireworks light up the sky above the Sumida River in Asakusa, drawing close to 1 million people annually.
2. Adachi Fireworks Festival
Existing for over a century, the Adachi Fireworks festival sets off about 15,000 fireworks in one hour along the Arakawa River.
3. Tachikawa Festival and Fireworks at Showa Kinen Park
Showa Kinen Park provides wide, open views of the night sky where the fireworks showdown is held.
4. Tanabata Matsuri (Star Festival)
Shitamachi Tanabata Matsuri happens on July 7 when candles made from washi paper are organized to replicate the Milky Way.
5. Kingyo Matsuri (Goldfish Festival)
Tokyo's Edogawa City is famous for its goldfish, celebrating the Goldfish Festival every year.
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6. Japanese Lantern Plant Fair (Hozuki-Ichi)
Held on July 9 and 10, Hozuki-chi is said to offer 46,000 days’ worth of blessings to those who offer a prayer at Sensoji Temple.
7. Iriya Morning Glory Festival (Asagao Matsuri)
A festival dedicated to morning glory, Asagao Matsuri celebrates the abundance of morning glory plants in Japan.
8. Kagurazaka Matsuri (Japanese Lantern Plant Market and Awa-odori Dance Festival)
One of Tokyo's most famous summer festivals, Kagurazaka Matsuri features the Japanese Lantern Plant Market and the Awa-Odori Dance Festival.
Tokyo Summer Festivals in August
9. Koenji Awa-odori Dance
The Koenji Awa-odori Dance is one of the most popular summer festivals in Tokyo. The festival takes place two days during the last weekend of August, featuring nearly 10,000 dancers and a million spectators.
10. Asagaya Tanabata Matsuri (Star Festival)
The Asagaya Tanabata Matsuri (Star Festival) is held for five days every year in early August. You will see bamboo decorations and paper-mâché sculptures around JR Asagaya Station and the eight surrounding shopping streets.
11. Fukagawa Hachiman Festival (Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine Festival)
The Fukagawa Hachiman Festival (Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine Festival), usually held on August 15, is one of the three great festivals of Edo (the old name for Tokyo).
12. Bon-odori
Bon-odori, a traditional dance, is a significant aspect of Japanese summer festivals. At the Noryo Bon-odori event at Tsukiji Honganji Temple, you can learn dances from different communities around Japan.
13. Sumidagawa River Toro Nagashi (Lantern-Floating Ceremony)
Thousands of paper lanterns float down the Sumidagawa River during this time. Visitors can make a wish and release lanterns from Shinsui Terrace.
14. Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival
The Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival is held in August at Meiji Jingu Gaien where you can see 12,000 fireworks light up the sky at Rubber-ball Baseball Ground, the National Stadium, Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium, and Jingu Secondary Stadium.
15. Kiyose Sunflower Festival
The Kiyose Sunflower Festival is Tokyo's largest festival dedicated to sunflowers. About 100,000 sunflowers packing an area of 24,000 square meters.
Tokyo Summer Festivals in September
16. Asakusa Samba Carnival
The Asakusa Samba Carnival is Japan's biggest samba carnival where you can see samba teams in gorgeous costumes gather from all over Japan.
17. Meguro no Sanma Matsuri (Pacific Saury Festival)
This festival—which is part of the larger Meguro Citizens' Festival—celebrates the abundance of Pacific saury. Around 5,000 Pacific saury are charcoal-grilled and given away for free.
18. Movie Town Chofu's Autumn Fireworks
Existing for over 30 years, this popular Kanto region fireworks festival in Chofu City lights up over 10,000 fireworks above the Tamagawa River.
19. Cosmos Festival
Cosmos Festival celebrates cosmos flowers or what are believed to be "autumn cherry blossoms." Held at Showa Kinen Park, you can see around 4 million cosmos flowers spread across 15,000 square meters of fields.
20. Nezu-jinja Shrine Annual Grand Festival
Dating back to 1714, this is one of the oldest festivals in Japan held at Nezu-jinja Shrine.
21. Shinagawa Shukuba-matsuri Festival
Shinagawa Shukuba-matsuri Festival celebrates Shinagawa by dressing up in period costume.
22. Kita City Fireworks Festival
In Kita City, you will enjoy over 10,000 fireworks light up the sky.
23. Hagi (bush clover) tunnel
In September, a tunnel of hagi is created at Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden, an outstanding flower garden with over 200 years of history.
24. Fukuro Matsuri (Ikebukuro Festival)
Fukuro Matsuri is held on the west side of Ikebukuro Station. First held in 1968, this festival now attracts tens of thousands of people.
25. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden Open-air Noh Performances (Mori no Takigi Noh)
Shinjuku Gyoen holds the yearly Mori no Takigi Noh event between September and October, featuring traditional performances of Noh drama and kyogen (Japanese comedy).
