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

Map: http://bit.ly/2H3DyCZ

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.

Map: https://goo.gl/dXiAQ0

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.

Map: http://bit.ly/2LqkZNp

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.

Map: https://goo.gl/hXx6J7

Date: mid August

6. Summer Sonic

Along with the Fuji Rock Festival, Summer Sonic is the biggest music festival in Japan, which is held in Tokyo and Osaka annually in mid August.  In recent years, Summer Sonic was held with some of the world’s greatest artists including Red Hot Chili Peppers, THE 1975, The Chainsmokers and more.

Map: http://bit.ly/2Y6QZHW

Date: mid August

More info:

7. Azabu Juban Noryo Festival

Azabu Juban Noryo Festival (麻布十番納涼まつり) is a traditional summer night festival. The festival features approx 300 small stalls in the neighbourhood, offering a variety of regional specialties from all over Japan. The festival also features live music performance.

Map: https://goo.gl/MNkJpp

Date: late August

8. Koenji Awaodori Festival

Awaodori is a traditional dance from Tokushima Prefecture with over 400 years history, and also its festival is one of the biggest dance festivals in Japan. Koenji Awaodori Festival (東京高円寺阿波おどり) has been held in Tokyo since 1957. The festival features over 10,000 local dance groups, and attracts over 1 million visitors every year. In 2021, the event will be held 2 days in August and 2 days in September.

Map: https://goo.gl/mg9zAR

Date: last Saturday and Sunday of August

9. Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi

Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi (原宿表参道元氣祭 スーパーよさこい) is a 2-day street dance event, featuring the traditional Yosakoi dance (originally from Kochi Prefecture). Around 100 teams/6,00 dancers participate the event and perform at Harajuku/Omotesando area for 2 days.

Map: http://bit.ly/2H3R1to

Date: last Saturday and Sunday of August

10. Asakusa Samba Carnival

Asakusa Samba Carnival (浅草サンバカーニバル) is the most vibrant and enthusiastic event in Tokyo. It’s the biggest samba carnival in Japan that invites around 500,000 people every year.The samba parade/contest takes place around Asakusa area, and numbers of samba group participate and dance away for the crown.

Map: http://bit.ly/2DOVAGO

Date: last Saturday of August

Thanks for reading! Which summer festivals in Tokyo do you want to participate most?? For more exciting events and amazing things to do in Tokyo in summer, here are some more articles for you to check out 🙂

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