Summer Festivals (Natsu Matsuri) is the biggest attraction in Japan during summer! Dress in Yukata, enjoy summer street food and dance with the sound of drums like Japanese.. It’s the best opportunity to experience the traditional Japanese culture and the festive atmosphere.
From the modern music event to traditional Bon Odori festivals, there will be numbers of festivals/events coming up in Tokyo through summer. In this article, I have listed 10 best summer festivals in Tokyo!
1. Mitama Matsuri
Mitama Matsuri (みたままつり) is a traditional Japanese summer festival held at Yasukuni Shrine for 4 days in mid July. The approach to the main hall is decorated with about 30,000 of lanterns, displaying a spectacular scenery. There are numbers of stalls offering traditional summer festival snacks and games. Mikoshi (portable shrine) ceremony and Bon Odori dance are also held during the festival
Date: 13–16 July
2. Sumida River Fireworks Festival
The famous fireworks festival in Tokyo, Sumida River Fireworks Festival (隅田川花火大会) is held annually at the riverbank of Sumida River during summer. It’s one of Japan’s biggest fireworks events, featuring 22,000 fireworks and attracting over 1 million visitors.
Date: last Saturday of July
3. Shinjuku Eisa Festival
Eisa is a traditional dance performance from Okinawa Prefecture. Shinjuku Eisa Festival (新宿エイサーまつり) features the energetic parade of local dance groups in traditional costume and musical instruments, and take parts in the heart of Shinjuku district all day long.
Location: several locations in Shinjuku area
Date: last Saturday of July
4. Tsukiji Honganji Temple Bon Odori Festival
Tsukiji Honganji Temple Bon Odori Festival (築地本願寺納涼盆踊り大会) is held next to the Tsukiji Fish Market for 4 days in late Jul-early Aug. It’s a traditional Japanese summer festival where people enjoy dancing Bon Odori (bon dance) with the sound of taiko drums and lanterns set in front of the magnificent temple hall.
Date: early August
5. Fukagawa Hachiman Festival
Fukagawa Festival (深川祭り) is counted as one of three greatest Edo festivals along with Sanno Matsuri and Kanda Matsuri. The festival lasts for 5 days in mid August, and the main part takes on Sunday, featuring 53 mikoshi (portable shrines) carried through the neighbourhood and wild water splash.
Date: mid August