2 days ago
10 must-see Japanese summer festivals
By Ai Faithy Perez
Summer in Japan brings a number of creative things to help you beat the heat—watermelon and salt sodas, kakigori (shaved ice), bon dance and yukata, to name a few. But there's only one place you can enjoy them altogether in a true Japanese experience: the late summer night matsuri (festivals).
You'll see a great deal of summer festivals happening across Japan as early as in July through to the end of the season: they'll be at your local shrine or outside your station in the form of bon odori (bon dance) or yatai (food stalls); in the streets as parades or dashi festival cars; or as hanabi taikai — fireworks near rivers and lakes. You may also see communities getting creative by spicing up their summer matsuri with karaoke competitions or drink-up events — all in the name of celebrating the season and getting that sweat out of your system.
While there are countless unique festivals across the country, here's a round-up of our top 10 to see in Tokyo and other parts of Japan.
Summer in Japan brings a number of creative things to help you beat the heat—watermelon and salt sodas, kakigori (shaved ice), bon dance and yukata, to name a few. But there's only one place you can enjoy them altogether in a true Japanese experience: the late summer night matsuri (festivals).
You'll see a great deal of summer festivals happening across Japan as early as in July through to the end of the season: they'll be at your local shrine or outside your station in the form of bon odori (bon dance) or yatai (food stalls); in the streets as parades or dashi festival cars; or as hanabi taikai — fireworks near rivers and lakes. You may also see communities getting creative by spicing up their summer matsuri with karaoke competitions or drink-up events—all in the name of celebrating the season and getting that sweat out of your system!
While there are countless unique festivals across the country, here's a round-up of our top 10 to see in Tokyo and other parts of Japan.
1. Sumida River Fireworks Festival (Tokyo)
2. Shinjuku Eisa Matsuri (Tokyo)
3. Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri (Tokyo)
4. Azabujuban Noryo Matsuri (Tokyo)
5. Koenji Awaodori (Tokyo)
6. Soma Nomaoi (Fukushima)
7. Aomori Nebuta Matsuri (Aomori)
8. Sendai Tanabata Matsuri (Miyagi)
9. Kyoto Gozan Okuribi (Kyoto)
10. Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri (Osaka)
1. Sumida River Fireworks Festival (Tokyo)
Image: iStock: Torsakarin
Rumored to have had its first launch in 1733, the Sumida River Fireworks is one of the most popular (and crowded) summer festivals in Tokyo. With nearly four centuries of history, it survived the Meiji Restoration and continued strong until it fizzled out during the World Wars and a few decades following. The festival was reinstated in 1977, and this year it celebrates its 48th anniversary in its current form. Visitors will see a spectacular view of 20,000 fireworks, but be prepared—last year, nearly one million people went to this event, so expect large crowds, too!
When: Sat, July 26, 2025, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. (In the case of bad weather, the event will be cancelled.)
Sat, July 26, 2025, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. (In the case of bad weather, the event will be cancelled.) Where: Sumida River, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
Sumida River, Sumida-ku, Tokyo Access: Nearest station for first venue: Asakusa Station, Oshiage Station, Tokyo Skytree Station or Hikifune Station; Nearest station for second venue: Asakusa Station, Kuramae Station, Ryogoku Station or Asakusabashi Station
2. Shinjuku Eisa Matsuri (Tokyo)
Born on the island of chinsuko (traditional biscuit) and brown sugar, Okinawa's dance and music culture has always been different from that of the mainland, and Eisa Matsuri is no exception. The traditional costumes, drumming and dancing will be at the height of the 'new and improved' — after all, the majority of dancers will be in their 20s and 30s. The origin of the name is unknown, but there is a theory that says the name was derived from an exclamation used in the original song of Eisa — 'ensaa.' This year will be its 22nd event and the organizers are expecting around one million people to join the fun, so again, be prepared for the crowd!
When: Sat, July 26, 2025, 12 p.m.-7 p.m.
Sat, July 26, 2025, 12 p.m.-7 p.m. Where: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Access: Shinjuku Station, West Exit
3. Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri (Tokyo)
Image: Pixta: masy
The Fukugawa Hachiman Matsuri is one of the three great Shinto festivals in Tokyo, along with the Kanda Matsuri and the Sanno Matsuri. It's held at the vintage Tomioka Hachiman Shinto shrine in Tokyo's Koto district. Dated back to 1642, the festival sees the shrine's mikoshi (portable shrines) being carried down the local streets while the onlookers splash purifying water at the mikoshi-bearers. Be warned, though: you will get wet at this event, so go well prepared.
When: Sat, Aug. 16-Sun, Aug. 17, 2025, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sat, Aug. 16-Sun, Aug. 17, 2025, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Where: Tomioka Hachiman, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Tomioka Hachiman, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto-ku, Tokyo Access: Monzen-nakacho Station, Exit 1
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