Tokyo in July: Best Things to Do

Summer has finally arrived in Japan! July is a perfect season to enjoy summer events in Tokyo! If you are a lucky person travelling Tokyo this July, check out our list of the latest travel info and the best things to do in Tokyo in July, including summer festivals, fireworks and nearby beaches! Let’s enjoy Japanese summer with our July To-Do list 🙂

Tokyo in July

The gloomy days of the rainy season in Tokyo typically ends in mid July and the city celebrates the beginning of sunny and hot summer. Average daytime temperatures in Tokyo in July range from 23°C (73.4°F) to 30°C (86°F) with temperatures sometimes exceeding 35°C in late in the month.

Numbers of exciting events take place across the city as school summer holiday starts such as fireworks displays, summer festivals, music festivals and beach events. Tokyo also offers a wide range of indoor activities that you don’t need to deal with extremely hot and humid weather, otherwise, cool off yourself by wearing Yukata (summer Kimono), digging in colourful shaved ice or tossing down ice cold beer at beer gardens.

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1. Fireworks

Fireworks are the symbol of Japanese summer, and the most popular events during the season. Numbers of fireworks events are held across Japan from July to August, especially on weekends, and in Tokyo, almost fireworks festivals are held almost every weekends. Sumida Fireworks Festival is the biggest fireworks event which is held on the last weekend of July every year. The event features over 20,000 colourful fireworks above Sumida River, attracting nearly 1 million viewers.

For the best fireworks festivals in Tokyo in summer, check out the attached link below!

2. Summer Festivals (Natsu Matsuri)

Besides fireworks festivals, numbers of traditional summer festivals (Natsu Matsuri) are held across Japan in July and August, and some of events can be enjoyed in Tokyo.

Mitama Matsuri (靖国神社みたままつり) is one of the biggest summer festivals in Tokyo during summer, which is held at Yasukuni Shrine for 4 days from 13 to 16 July annually. The highlights of Mitama Matsuri is the 30,000 paper lanterns that are displayed at the approach to the main hall of the shrine. The Mikoshi (portable shrine) ceremony, Bon odori dance and numbers of vendors selling food and drinks are also featured at the event.

See the attached link below for more information about summer festivals in Tokyo in summer!

3. Tanabata (Star Festival)

7 July is the day of Tanabata (Star Festival), celebrating the meeting of the two lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair) separated by the milky way according to legend. Several special events of Tanabata is held around 7 July in/around Tokyo including Zojoji Temple, Hiratsuka City and Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea.

-Zojoji Temple
Map: http://bit.ly/2K1bsdB
Info: https://www.zojoji.or.jp/news/525.html

-Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival
Map: http://bit.ly/2JvjQlR
Info: http://www.tanabata-hiratsuka.com/

-Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea
Map: http://bit.ly/2QfIk30
▶︎Book your tickets to Tokyo Disneyland and Sea!

4. Iriya Asagao Festival

Iriya Asagao Festival (入谷朝顔まつり) is a flower event held in Iriya Kishimojin (Shingen-ji Temple) for 3 days from 6 to 8 July every year. The event features the iconic summer flower, Asagao (or Japanese morning glory) and it’s the biggest Asagao market in Japan, originally started in Edo period. Around 60 Asagao vendors and 90 stalls gather for the event from early morning till evening.

Date: 6 to 8 July

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/y4xQH5jjjp9VEiySA

5. Hozuki Ichi

Hozuki Ichi or Chinese Lantern Plant Market (ほおずき市) is held annually at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa on 9th and 10th July known as Shiman Rokusen Nichi and believed that praying on those two days is equivalent to praying for 46,000 days. Around 120 vendors selling potted Chinese lantern plant in various sizes at the event.

Date: 9 and 10 July

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/4xNZWyCNA6piSxsBA

6. Beer Garden

What can beat the ice cold beer in the hot summer?? Beer garden is the popular night-out spot in Tokyo which open during summer. Beer gardens are usually set at the rooftop or open-air terrace of the department stores, hotels and restaurants in Japan, offering delicious food and chilled beer. From salaryman’s favourite watering hole to trendy instagram-worthy BBQ garden, various kinds of beer gardens can be found in Tokyo today.

Related article: Best Beer Gardens in Tokyo

7. WANO AKARI × HYAKUDAN KAIDAN Illumination Festival

An indoor illumination event, WANO AKARI × HYAKUDAN KAIDAN is held at one of Tokyo’s most prestigious hotels, Hotel Gajoen Tokyo annually from July to September. The event features various traditional and regional Japanese art works and crafts collaborating with light effects.

Map: http://bit.ly/2NCFmDw
Access: 3 mins walk from JR Meguro Station

Related article: Japanese Illumination Art Festival at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo

8. Ocean Peoples Tokyo

Yoyogi Park is one of the most popular parks in Tokyo which holds numbers of interesting events through the year. Ocean Peoples Tokyo is Japan’s biggest beach themed event held every July at Yoyogi Park. The 2-day free event features ocean themed events, the live concert by Japanese and international musicians, a market with over 80 stalls offering food, drinks and handmade crafts, etc.

Map: http://bit.ly/2t6THzB
Info: https://oceanpeoples.com/

9. Beaches

The beach season officially starts in early-mid July in Kanto Region, and there are several great beaches you can access from Tokyo within 1–2 hours such as Shonan area (Kanagawa Prefecture), Izu Peninsula (Shizuoka Prefecture) and Boso Peninsula (Chiba Prefecture). The popular beaches are lined with temporary beach houses, cafes and bars offering visitors rental facilities, food and drinks with a lively atmosphere. During summer lifeguards are present at most of beaches and family with kids can safely enjoy.

See the link below for more information about the best beaches near Tokyo!

10. Rental Yukata

If you are travelling in Japan during summer, you should definitely take an opportunity to try on traditional Japanese dress for summer, Yukata. Yukata is like a summer version of Kimono, and it’s much lighter and easier to put on. Yukata is available with hundreds of thousands of patterns, and also with wide price range depending on materials and designs. Yukata can be rented for a day at many rental Kimono stores in Tokyo during summer, and it’s a popular outfit for attending summer festivals or fireworks events.

For the information about renting Yukata/Kimono in Tokyo, please check out the link below!

11. Cold Desserts

Let’s beat the summer heat with cool and delicious treats in Tokyo! Summer in Tokyo is extremely hot, and stopping by for cold desserts are the best way to get away. Shaved ice (Kakigori n Japanese), ice cream and bubble tea are the most trending summer desserts in Tokyo nowadays, and numbers of cafes offering delicious, creative and photo-worthy desserts and drinks.

See the attaches links below introducing the best desserts in Tokyo for summer!

Shaved Ice: 10 Best Kakigori in Tokyo

Ice Cream: 7 Best Ice Cream Shops in Tokyo

Bubble Tea: 5 Best Bubble Tea Shops in Tokyo

12. Kiyose Sunflower Festival

Kiyose Sunflower Festival (清瀬ひまわりフェスティバル) is a popular flower event held in Kiyose City, the suburb area of Tokyo, near Saitama Prefecture. The event was held in August in past years, however, it’s scheduled to be set in July this year. Over 100,000 dazzling sunflowers blooming at the vast field of 24,000 sqm.

Date: mid to late August
Map: https://goo.gl/EP1Ann

Check more info about Kiyose Sunflower Festival!

13. Dessert Buffets

Various summer dessert buffets are held in Tokyo every year. Each venue offers their original themed buffets with various seasonal ingredients such as matcha, tropical fruits, melon, ice cream, etc. Be indulged with the high-quality desserts with all-you-can-eat style!

Related article: Best Matcha Dessert Buffets in Tokyo/Best Summer Dessert Buffets in Tokyo

▼Going to Tokyo in August??▼

Did you enjoy the list?? Which the special events and tourist attractions in July do you anticipate most?? For more information about travelling in Japan in summer, here are some more articles for you to check out 😉

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