Written by Patrick Balfe
Tokyo events for Monday, May 4, to Sunday, May 10, 2026.
Golden Week rolls on with a raft of festivals, food fairs, and live music across the city. Some of our favorites this week include Kachiya Samurai Procession in Kameido and Kasukabe Giant Kite Festival. On top of that, there’s Craft Gyoza Fes in Komazawa and a bunch of music events to check out including Sparks in Shibuya and Japan Jam in Chiba.
Kachiya Festival (Samurai Procession)
Festivities include a dedication to the kachiya (victory arrow) and a traditional samurai procession tracing a 2-km route through the neighborhood around Kameido Station and finishing at Katori Shrine.
Kasukabe Giant Kite Festival
The Kasukabe Giant Kite Festival, held every year on May 3 and 5, is a beloved tradition where local residents and kite enthusiasts gather to witness giant kites take to the sky.
Asakusabashi Red and White Horse Chestnut Festival
Surrounded by these historic trees, the festival will host an enormous community parade, including a brass band from local schools and volunteer dancers in traditional garb. They come with food and drinks included and offer an unforgettable view of Tokyo from the river.
Cambodia Festival
See performers take over the stage at Yoyogi Events Square, chow down on delicious Cambodian delicacies like Num Banhchok at the food stalls, and don’t forget to have a good time.
Tahiti Festa
This festival has been running since 2008 (it used to take place at the now closed Venus Fort in Odaiba) and is always Cheapo-friendly fun for the whole family.
Haisai Okinawa Festival
A major draw, of course, is the various food and drink stalls serving up local specialties (like a famed bowl of soba). To top it all off, there’s a music festival featuring Okinawa’s top musicians.
Craft Gyoza Fes
You can choose from a range of flavors and ingredients, including wasabi, cheese, green onion, shrimp, walnuts with coriander, and more. This event also takes place in Osaka.
Tokyo River Clean-Up
Tokyo River Friends organizes regular litter-picking events on the banks of the Arakawa and Edogawa rivers. No reservation required — just show up at the appointed meeting spot.
Japan Jam
One of the country’s most relaxed multi-day music festival experiences, Japan Jam has been held at Soga Sports Park in Chiba since 2017. Major artists on this year’s lineup include Creepy Nuts, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, M!LK, and Paledusk.
| Advance sales: ¥14,000 | ||
La Folle Journée Classical Music Festival
Based on the French festival of the same name, the La Folle Journée in Tokyo also aims to spread the love of classical music across generations. You can enjoy around 90 concerts from morning till night, so just turn up on the day and see what’s in store, or alternatively, book ahead for your favorites.
Candlelight Concert: The Nutcracker and More
A string quartet and two ballet performers will take you on a journey through The Nutcracker, plus some pieces from Swan Lake and other recognizable classics.
Sparks Tokyo
With the release of their 26th full-length album Mad!, the duo is continuing to prove they’ve still got plenty of creative juice in the tank, and fans can expect a slew of hits and anti-hits spanning their almost 60 years in the biz.
| Advance sales: ¥12,000 | ||
Yokohama Flower and Garden Festival
This Yokohama Flower and Garden Festival showcases a stunning array of floral displays and innovative gardening techniques. And if you’re less of a plant expert and more of a hands-on dabbler, there are workshops in everything from origami florals to DIY perfumery — no green thumb required.
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