Tokyo events for Monday, July 8 to Sunday, July 14, 2024.
This week is overflowing with events and there’s something to catch no matter your preferences: expect dance festivals, lanterns, traditional ceremonies, and fireflies.
Note that Ocean Day on Monday, July 15 means the coasts will be busier than usual, especially as folks try to escape the excruciating heat.
Japanese Lights and 100-Step Staircase Exhibition
Enter a world of illumination and explore a unique take on Japan’s culture and artistry at the Japanese Lights and 100-Step Staircase (Wa no Akari × Hyakudan Kaidan) exhibition. This year’s theme is “Enchanting Fairy Tales” — meaning the crafts will take you through some of Japan’s most loved stories.
| Advance sales: ¥1,600 | ||
| Advance sales: ¥800 | ||
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Miraikan Anniversary Free Admission Day
To celebrate its anniversary, the Museum of Emerging Science and Technology (Miraikan) opens its doors for free on July 9. It has a few different free entry days based on age, but this one is open to everyone.
Nakano Okinawa Chanpuru Festival
The Nakano Chanpuru Festival showcases the best of Okinawan food, culture, and traditions. The main event is the Okinawan Eisa dance — part parade, part dance, and all party. Everything from stalls selling traditional Okinawan food and drink to handicraft workshops.
The Nakaita Heso Festival
Heso is Japanese for belly button, so this festival in Nakaita goes to town with the concept, featuring eisa dancing, belly dancing, and heso odori— belly button dancing.
Sawara Summer Grand Festival
Get ready for the Sawara Grand Festival in Katori, Chiba, one of the three major float festivals in the Kanto region. This vibrant festival features parades of ornately decorated floats, traditional music, and participants dressed in historical costumes.
Tokyo Jewelry Festival Summer
If you’re a magpie who can’t resist unique jewelry, this is the festival for you. Buy, see, and create, at the Tokyo Jewelry Fes this summer. Following three successful trade shows, RX Japan is now selling directly to customers with Tokyo Jewelry Fes.
Setagaya Firefly Festival
Take a chance to see fireflies while walking through a dark, enclosed dome. Be prepared for long lines, and you’ll be asked to keep moving — but it is free to see. If none of that tickles your fancy, head to the nearby Bon Odori at Tenso Shrine.
Enoshima Tenno Festival
Portable shrines get a dunk in the sea at this annual Enoshima festival. A large mikoshi (portable shrine) from Yasaka Shrine is carried across the bridge from Enoshima to Koyuguri Shrine on the mainland. This festival begins at 9:30 a.m. at Enoshima’s Hetsunomiya Shrine.
Inspire Tokyo
This three-day festival held at Yoyogi Park Event Plaza and Yoyogi National Gymnasium promises music, food, art, and fashion. This year, the event is bigger than ever — with more performances and a market filled with over 100 stalls. It is free to enter certain parts of the festival such as the market, Yoyogi Park Event Space, and Yoyogi Park Event Stage.
Mizudome Conch Shell Dance
The Mizudome Dance is one way to stop the rain. Around the rainy season each year, the city of Ota has an unusual and unique traditional ceremony that acts as a prayer to stop the rain.
Yebisu Garden Place Foodies’ Picnic
Relax on the spacious artificial turf area and savor meals from top restaurants at Yebisu Garden Place, home to the famous Yebisu Brewery. Experience culinary delights from popular restaurants at Yebisu Garden Place in a casual, picnic-like atmosphere.
Jiyugaoka Bon Odori Dance Festival
See the beauty of traditional Japanese dance at this massive Bon Odori festival in Jiyugaoka. If you want to join in the dance, you can learn some of the key steps via the practice videos on the official website.
Mitama Matsuri
30,000 lanterns are strung from towers of metal scaffolding to create a spectacular approach along the promenade leading to Yasukuni Shrine. The festival runs for four days, starting on July 13, and there will be dancing, brass band performances, and more.
Windmill Sunflower Garden
Blue skies, yellow fields, and maybe even a riverboat ride make for the perfect summer at Sakura’s Windmill Sunflower Garden. On top of being able to wander and explore the sunflower fields, guests can also rent bicycles to cycle around the area and take snaps on the photogenic paths or in the shadow of the Dutch-style windmill.
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