TOKYO FESTIVALS & EVENTS GUIDE

Hatsumode or New Years is the biggest holiday in Japan. While everything closes for these few days, visit shrines and temples for their biggest event of the year.

Greet the Imperial Family in the annual New Years greeting of the Imperial Family at the Imperial Palace.

Setsubun marks the day before the start of spring. Take part by throwing beans and catching money and snacks at temples and shrines during the setsubun festival.

The plum blossoms signify the beginning of spring in Japan. If you’re too early to catch the famous cherry blossoms, see plum blossoms in February.

Watch one of the major marathons of the world in the heart of Tokyo city.

Witness monks walk over fire as part of their sacred ritual. If you’re brave enough, take part in it at the very end.

Step into the world of anime at Anime Japan - one of the largest animation related events in the world.

Catch the short-lived, beautiful cherry blossoms and find out some of our top spots to see them.

Catch the short-lived, beautiful cherry blossoms and find out some of our top spots to see them.

Witness Sumo wresting for free at the annual Hono Ozumo Sumo Wrestling event at the Yasukuni Shrine in mid-April.

Witness the beautiful Azalea flowers bloom at the Nezu Shrine. Their Azalea grows alongside their hundreds of torii gates lined up for a beautiful scenery.

One of the three main Shinto festivals of Tokyo a long with the Fukagawa and Sanno Festivals, the Kanda Festival features food stalls, games and their mikoshi parade.

Attracting over 2 million people every year, the Sanja Festival is one of the biggest annual events in Tokyo.

Every year during golden week, the Meiji Shrine hosts the Spring Grand Festival that features many traditional Japanese arts and performances by professionals.

One of the three main Shinto festivals of Tokyo a long with the Fukagawa and Kanda Festivals, the Sanno Festival features food stalls, games and their mikoshi parade.

Every year, in mid-July, thousands of people gather at the Yaskuni Shrine for Tokyo’s biggest Obon festival. The highlight of this festival are the 30,000 lanterns that light the way to the shrine.

The Ueno Summer Festival is an annual event that takes place in Ueno Park and spans for 5 weeks with different events, activities and performances throughout this period.

This is the Rolls Royce of the fireworks festival in Tokyo. Held on the last Saturday of July, over 20,000 fireworks go off over the span of 90 minutes.

One of the three main Shinto festivals of Tokyo a long with the Kanda and Sanno Festival, this is one of the biggest and wildest festivals.

This dance festival is annually held in Hibiya Park in mid-August with over 40,000 participants making it one of the most easy accessible and biggest Obon Odori Festival.

See the traditional awa dance being performed around the Koenji area and partake in their annual festivity.

On the first Sunday of August, one of the biggest and top fireworks show goes off above the banks of Edogawa. Projecting over 14,000 fireworks and attracting 1.3 million people.

One of the largest fireworks display in Tokyo, the Itabashi fireworks festival will light up 12,000 fireworks over the Arakawa River.

A medium scaled, community festival hosted by the Hikawa Shrine, the Hikawa Festival is a fun, energetic festival for the local neighborhood in mid-September.

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Chofu City, or Movie Town hosts an annual fireworks festival. Over 10,000 fireworks go up with the sound of music from movies and popular songs.

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A two part festival which includes the Owl Festival and Tokyo Yosakoi Festival around the Ikebukuro Station. This lively festival features lots of traditional Japanese dancing, music and fun!

A two part festival which includes the Owl Festival and Tokyo Yosakoi Festival around the Ikebukuro Station. This lively festival features lots of traditional Japanese dancing, music and fun!

The annual Ikegami Honmonji Temple is a festival celebrates the life of Nichiren - an important Buddhist figure. Witness the photogenic lantern parade.

Witness the traditional martial art of archery from horseback dedicated to the Ana Hachimangu Shrine.

A traditional and classic Japanese festival, this events main attraction features a parade a long the Chuo Dori in Nihonbashi and Kyobashi.

One of the Big Five motor shows of the world - the Tokyo Motor Show displays hundreds of concept cars and prototypes. Anyone can enjoy this unique motor show!

The Meiji Shrine holds a biannual festival called the Spring Festival in May and the Autumn festival in November. This festival famous attraction is their archery from horseback riding.

One of the largest Tori No Ichi Festivals featuring over 60 vendors selling kumade rakes and 200 food stalls and festival related booths.

One of the most popular places to visit winter illumination lights is the Carreta Shiodome winter illumination. This show hosts 250,000 LED lights for a beautiful display.

One of the most popular winter illumination spots in Tokyo featuring 400 meters of beautifully blue LED lights shading trees with a backdrop of a bright Tokyo Tower.