Written by Patrick Balfe
Tokyo events for Monday, May 25 to Sunday, May 31, 2026.
The city shimmers this week with fireworks, fireflies, and the finale of Tokyo Lights. On top of that, experience a taste of Vietnam, Korea, Hawaii, and Okinawa at cultural events around the city, and head to Yokohama for the annual Dragon Boat Race.
Adachi Fireworks Festival
The Adachi Fireworks Festival annually launches around 13,000 fireworks during its one-hour display. Pack a picnic and find a spot on the river banks — the show is visible from a variety of vantage points.
Adachi Firefly Night
Tokyo’s summer nights are known for their pops of light — the firefly. Learn more about this beautiful bug as spring turns to summer at Adachi Firefly Night.
| Advance sales: ¥700 | ||
| Advance sales: ¥350 | ||
Fussa Firefly Festival
This is the 61st year of this hotaru festival, where 500 fireflies are released into Hotaru Park on the banks of the Tamagawa. As well as the shiny little bugs, there are also street stalls, food kiosks, and various stage performances.
Sumo Exhibition Match & Retirement Ceremony Tour
Enjoy sumo wrestling exhibition matches and experience a rare sumo retirement ceremony on this one-day tour at the home of sumo wrestling in Tokyo. Other demonstrations, such as a sumo folk song performance, ring-entering procession, and a yumitori-shiki bow-twirling ceremony, will take place throughout the day.
Tokyo Lights
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building becomes a giant projection screen during this week-long light festival. The main highlight is the 1-minute Projection Mapping Competition, where creators from around the world present short, high-impact projection works onto the building.
Yokohama Dragon Boat Race
In Yokohama, dragon boat racing takes center stage along the waterfront of Yamashita Park, where colorful dragon boats cut through the waves to the beat of pounding drums. For spectators, there will be food, cold beer, and performances by brass bands and other musical acts.
Ikebukuro Okinawa Festival
If you’re stuck in Tokyo as the weather gets warmer, Ikebukuro brings island life to you. Start your weekend at Sunshine City’s Exhibition Hall A, where there’s an enormous selection of Okinawan food and drinks.
Ueno Korean Festival
The Ueno Korean Festival will be held at Ueno Park’s Onshi Fountain Square. Come hungry, because a fleet of food trucks will be serving Korean classics. Korean dance performances, K-pop idols, and even enka are also on offer.
Aloha Festival Tokyo
Aloha is a three-day festival of all things Hawaiian with a veritable host of musicians and hula dancers performing. There will be booths selling all manner of Hawaiian goods and, of course, Hawaiian food and beer.
Vietnam Festival
Held at Yoyogi Park, the event stage will host traditional and modern performances. Up to 200,000 visitors are expected to attend over the weekend — join them in perusing over 120 stalls offering Vietnamese food, drink, and merch.
Oedo Beer Festival Spring
The event has been going strong for over a decade. Each edition is divided into two “seasons” in which more than 30 different brewers and food stalls will be in attendance. Some will be serving their brews at both seasons, but others will appear in only one.
Shimokita Railway Festival
Once a railway line, now a stitched-together street of sought-after shops, restaurants, and open sky– Shimokita Senrogai stretches from Higashi-Kitazawa to Setagaya-Daita, and for two days in early summer, this festival celebrates what makes it unique.
Hibiya Music Festival
The event features performances from top artists, along with workshops and interactive sessions. The festival’s goal is simple: bring people together through music and make culture accessible to all.
Drink on Paper
Drink on Paper is a low-key drink-and-draw night in Sasazuka where you can sketch, snack, and pick up a few proper art-school techniques. Turn up, grab a drink, settle in with the provided materials, and join in on curated lessons inspired by the organizers’ favorite university art exercises.
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