Tokyo events for Monday, September 23 to Sunday, September 29, 2019
This week, Tokyo taps into its love of festivals. From traditional festivals—like the Ohara Naked Festival and Shinagawa Shukuba Matsuri—to ones celebrating Indian, Czech and Korean culture and cuisine.
Ohara Naked Festival
Well, almost naked. A parade of men in loin cloths walk the streets of Ohara carrying mikoshi (portable shrines) on their shoulders. The parade route leads to the sea where the shrines will be dunked before heading back to Ohara Shrine.
Okunitama Shrine Autumn Festival/Chestnut Festival
The Autumn Festival at Okunitama Jinja Shrine is also called the Chestnut Festival because—you guessed it—the region is known for its top-quality chestnuts. Another highlight is the 260 paper lanterns that light up the area.
Takigi Noh (Firelight Noh)
A rare opportunity to see a free performance of noh, a live classical Japanese musical drama, at Zojoji Temple. Usually this type of performance is held in a theater, but this one will be held outdoors and illuminated by firelight.
National Museum of Western Art – Free Admission Day
Check out the extensive permanent collection at the Museum of Western Art in Ueno Park for free. Works include paintings from the late Medieval period through to the 20th century and modern French sculpture.
Shinagawa Shukuba Matsuri
Shinagawa was, historically, the first rest stop between Tokyo and Kyoto during the Edo period. Calling back to those times, locals dress up (pretending to be samurai, geisha, courtesans and other historical characters) and parade the streets tracing a section of the old route.
Nikkan Festival
This is the annual Japan–South Korea Exchange festival held simultaneously in Tokyo and Seoul. Head down to Hibiya Park for two days of entertainment: from dancing and cheerleading to musical performances (traditional, K-POP, instrumental) and taekwondo displays. Plus lots of tasty Korean cuisine offerings to be had.
Namaste India 2019
An Indian cultural festival at Yoyogi Park with over 30 different food and drink stalls, plus musical and dance performances, lectures and other displays. There are scheduled performances all day on both Saturday and Sunday.
Czech Festival 2019
Visitors will have a unique opportunity to experience Czech traditions, music and cuisine. There will also be various stalls selling traditional cosmetics, books, toys, jewelry, accessories, print textiles and more.
Red Spider Lily Festival
One of the more impressive flower festivals, the Red Spider Lily blankets the Kinchakuda fields in Hidaka, Saitama (just a short jaunt outside of Tokyo).
| At the door: ¥500 | ||
Hagi Festival
Hagi is Japanese for bush clover, a lovely fall flower you can see at the even lovelier Mukojima-Hyakkaen Gardens.
| At the door: ¥150 | ||
| At the door: ¥70 | ||
Cosmos Flower Festival at Showa Kinen Park
Autumn at Showa Kinen Park holds a special place in our hearts as fields of picturesque cosmos flowers bloom during the season.
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