Tokyo Events April 2025: 7 Not to Miss

April is the best time to be in Tokyo — you can take advantage of all the events and festivals dedicated to spring flowers, among other things.

The cherry blossoms are blooming later than expected this year, so you can still catch them at the beginning of April. There are also plenty of late-blooming varieties at the end of the month. As the weather warms up, Tokyo residents take to the streets for parades, traditional festivals, and puppies.

For the top events in Tokyo throughout the year, check out our complete events guide — organized by month.

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1. Kanamara Penis Festival

April 6

Kanayama Shrine, Kawasaki

The world-famous “penis festival”

Kanamara Penis Festival tokyo — A rather unique festival. | Photo by David Ishikawa

It’s that time of the year again — the slightly controversial Kanamara Matsuri, better known as the “Penis Festival,” is back. While the event has certainly gotten bigger over the years (no pun intended), it still is better known among foreigners than locals.

The highlight of the event is a procession in which four steel phalluses are paraded around the neighborhood. Side attractions include a radish-carving contest (guess the shape) the day before and genital-shaped candy — a crowd favorite, with long lines forming at booths that sell them.

Have fun, but don’t go too wild — wacky as the event may seem, it still does have a religious element to it, after all.

Kanamara Penis Festival 2025

Dates:Apr 6, 2025

Entry:Free

Venue:

Kanayama Shrine

2. Nezu Shrine Azalea Festival

April 1–30

Nezu Shrine, Bunkyō

Exquisite flowers

This was the state of the azaleas on April 12 in 2024. | Photo by Aimee Gardner

If you’re a fan of flowers, then the Nezu Shrine Azalea Festival is for you. This isn’t just a festival where you go and “smell the azaleas;” there are several events in store. Get the chance to take home potted plants at the daily flower market, cheer on those parading the mikoshi (portable shrine), and enjoy the Sunday drum performances.

Tip: To see azaleas on a day trip from Tokyo, visit the Shiofune Kannon Temple Azalea Festival.

Nezu Shrine Azalea Festival

Dates:Apr 1–Apr 30, 2025

Price:

Adults:
At the door: ¥500

Venue:

Nezu Jinja Shrine

3. Kamakura Festival

April 13, 19, and 20

Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine, Kamakura

Archery, tea, and other traditions

Warrior procession Kamakura Matsuri Festival — Watch the procession at Kamakura Festival. | Photo by iStock.com/7maru

A yearly tradition since 1959, the Kamakura Festival is Kamakura’s major spring event. Activities mostly take place on the grounds of Kamakura’s famous Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine and include a procession, Japanese archery competition, traditional dances, and an open-air tea ceremony.

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Kamakura Festival

Dates:Apr 13–Apr 20, 2025

Entry:Free

Venue:

Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine

4. Asakusa Horseback Archery

April 19

Sumida Park, Asakusa

See the power of a bow and arrow

yabusame-hit — Nailed the shot. | Photo by Alex Ziminski

At the Asakusa Yabusame (horseback archery), participants don traditional garb and shoot targets from a galloping horse. Roars erupt when the aim is true, and sympathetic sighs when it isn’t — it’s harder than it looks. Viewing the horseback archery requires advance tickets (¥3,000), but there will also be a free show of normal archery in the morning before the yabusame.

Asakusa Yabusame

Dates:Apr 19, 2025

Entry:

¥0 – ¥3,000

Venue:

Sumida Park

5. Paella and Tapas Festival

April 4–6

Hibiya Park, Hibiya

Sample the delights of Spanish food

Spanish cuisine is loved worldwide for its fresh flavors and healthy properties — seriously, look up the benefits of olive oil. Tokyo is gathering the very best Spanish restaurants in the country for two competitions — the National Paella Championship and National Tapas Championship. While a nervous day for them, it’s a great day for us as we peruse the various food stalls overflowing with ginormous paella pans and watch traditional flamenco on stage.

Paella and Tapas Festival

Dates:Apr 4–Apr 6, 2025

Entry:Free

Venue:

Hibiya Park

6. Nakizumo Crying Baby Festival

April 26

Behind Sensōji Temple, Asakusa

Watch babies cry — we promise it’s interesting

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One of Japan’s more unusual pastimes, crying baby rituals happen across the country each year. This one takes place in Tokyo’s most popular tourist spot, Asakusa. What does it involve, you ask? Babies go head to head to see who will cry first as they are held by sumo wrestlers. The first to do so wins.

Nakizumo Crying Baby Sumo Festival

Dates:Apr 26, 2025

Entry:Free

Venue:

Sensōji Temple

tourists looking at cherry blossoms in ueno park — You can still catch the cherry blossoms. | Photo by Getty Images

Cherry blossom festivals

The cherry blossom forecast for 2025 predicts full bloom in early April. We have a whole list of ongoing cherry blossom festivals, but here are some highlights:

Wisteria festivals

We thought the trip to Ashikaga to see the wisteria in 2024 was well worth it. | Photo by Jane Pipkin

Ashikaga Great Wisteria Festival (day trip from Tokyo)
Kameido Tenjin Wisteria Festival

Other flower festivals

Fuji shibazakura festival — This shibazakura is worth the trip to near Mount Fuji if you can go on a clear day. | Photo by iStock.com/jiratto

April is also the time for tulips and shibazakura (moss phlox).

While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post first published in March 2017. Last updated in March 2025 by Alex Ziminski.

Area(s)

Asakusa

Harajuku

Kamakura

Kawasaki

Shibuya

Places Mentioned