Golden Week is a long weekend set in the end of April to the beginning of May. It’s usually around 5-7 days which is the third longest holiday in Japan after Obon (summer) and New Years holidays.

Golden Week is one of the busiest period of the year and there are many fun events held across Japan!! In this article, I’m sharing the best things to do and the special events you shouldn’t miss in Tokyo during Golden Week!!

Note: The information of listed events may change, so please check official websites before visiting.

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.

1. Tokyo Tower 333 Carp Streamers

Carp streamer (Koinobori in Japanese) is a carp-shaped windsocks flown for a traditional celebration, Tango no Sekku (Children’s Day) in Japan. 333 colourful carp streamers (Koinobori) are displayed at Tokyo Tower, staring from Spring Day (20 March) until Children’s Day (5th May).

Map: http://bit.ly/2VoRb7A

Official Website: https://www.tokyotower.co.jp/

2. Tokyo Skytree Town Carp Streamer Festival

Tokyo Skytree Town celebrates Children’s Day with over 1,000 colourful carp streamers displayed on the foot of Tokyo Skytree. Food vendors, special events and attractions are also available for limited-time.

Official Website: https://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/

3. Kameido Tenjin Shrine Wisteria Festival

Wisteria is one of the most fascinating spring flower in Japan, spreading the charm of purple across the world around April and May. Kameido Tenjin Shrine is located in Koto ward in Tokyo, known for the wisteria festival held annually at the shrine site. Enjoy the splendid view of the beautiful wisteria flowers at the historical shrine with the glorious Tokyo Skytree on the background!

More info: Kameido Tenjin Shrine Wisteria Festival

4. Bunkyo Azalea Festival at Nezu Shrine

The traditional flower event, Bunkyo Azalea Festival is held at Nezu Shirne, Bunkyo-ward, Tokyo annually. The shrine is known for the tunnel of many torii gate, creating a unique and photo-worthy scenery. Charming, colourful Azalea flowers (Tsutsuji in Japanese) can be enjoyed with the historical shrine site only this time of the year.

More info: Bunkyo Azalea Festival

5. Disney Palpalooza “Donald’s Quacky Duck City””

The second edition of the special event series of Disneyland, Pal-Palooza will feature Donald Duck as a main character. The Donald’s Quacky Duck City will be held from April to June, over the Golden Week period. The entire park will be decorated with Donald Duck theme and there will be special events including a parade, merchandise and food menu.

Official Website: https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/treasure/donaldsquackyduckcity/

<<Book Tokyo Disney Resort tickets online here!!>>

6. Showa Memorial Park Flower Festival

One of the largest parks in Tokyo, Showa Memorial Park hosts an annual spring event, Flower Festival from early April to late May. The event features a variety of spring flowers such as cherry blossoms, tulip, nemophila and poppy flouring colourfully at the vast park.

Info about Showa Memorial Park: Showa Memorial Park: Best Flower Park in Tokyo

7. Niku Fes

One of the largest food festivals in Tokyo, the Meat Festival (Niku Fes) is held over the Golden Week period in Odaiba area, Tokyo. The food event, focusing on meat, features various meat dishes from different countries and genres. From premium Wagyu beef to plant-based meat substitutes, you can enjoy a variety of unique and delicious meat dishes at the venue.

Official Website: https://www.nikufes.jp/

8. Craft Gyoza Fes TOKYO

Craft Gyoza Fes is a food festival taking place in Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka around Golden Week. The event focuses on gyoza dumpling, giving visitors a great opportunity to taste gyoza dishes by popular restaurants in Tokyo in one place. From classic gyoza to unique flavours, the event features around 30 vendors selling their original gyoza dishes.

Official Website: https://craftgyoza.jp/tokyo2024/

9. Detective Conan Cafe

The limited-time character cafe, Detective Conan Cafe will open nationwide to celebrate a new released of the movie “Detective Conan: The Million Dollar Pentagram”. The cafe will open at 3 locations in Tokyo; Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Harajuku, and the special menu with photo-worthy dishes and drinks, inspired by the characters and scenes from the movie can be exclusively enjoyed for a limited time.

More info ▶ Detective Conan Cafe 2024

10. Star Wars Cafe

To celebrate STAR WARS DAY (4th May), a limited-time Star Wars themed cafe will open in Tokyo Solamachi, a shopping complex at the base of Tokyo Skytree. The Star Wars Cafe offers an exclusive menu with dishes and drinks inspired by the characters and scenes from Star Wars movies and the Mandalorian as well as cafe merchandise.

Related article: Star Wars Cafe

11. Cambodia Festival

Numbers of fun events are held at Yoyogi Park through the year! Cambodia Festival is one of the largest international themed events, featuring lots of local food and fun performances.

Related article: Yoyogi Park

12. Craft Sake Week

Craft Sake Week is an event to enjoy Japanese food culture, and it’s held by Japanese Craft Sake Company owned by former Japanese football player, Hidetoshi Nakata. This 12-day event features 120 well-selected sake breweries from all over the country as well as 15 restaurants including ones that are difficult to book seats.

Official Website: http://craftsakeweek.com/

+ Visit Flower Festivals around Tokyo

-Ashikaga Flower Park

After Cherry Blossoms, it’s all about Wisteria 😉 Don’t miss the biggest Wisteria garden near Tokyo!

More info: Great Wisteria Festival

-Fuji Shibazakura Festival

Enjoy the pink field with Mt.Fuji! Fuji Shibazakura (Pink Moss) is welcoming full blooming time over Golden Week!

More info: Fuji Shibazakura Festival

-Nemophila

The famous flower park in Ibaraki prefecture, Hitachi Seaside Park (ひたち海浜公園)’s Nemophila flowers (baby blue eyes) are fully blooming during golden week!

More info: Nemophila at Himachi Seaside Park

Thanks for reading! Which Golden Week events are you interested most?? If you are travelling in Japan in May for the future, here are some more articles for you to check out 🙂

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