Tokyo events for Monday, July 31 to Sunday, August 6, 2023.
Just like the events of last week, the next seven days won’t disappoint when it comes to traditional festivals, explosive fireworks, and compelling exhibitions.
This time of year sees Bon Odori — a dance to honor one’s ancestors — take center stage. You’ll find many of these festivals in major spots around Tokyo, such as Shimokitazawa, Nakano, and Tsukiji, as well as in local areas.
DinoScience Exhibition
Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, and more dinosaurs. This isn’t a regular old exhibition about prehistoric creatures. You’ll be taken on a story millions of years old, told through skeletons, special technology, and sound. The adventure doesn’t stop on land; you will also see animals that once lived beneath the surface.
Edogawa Fireworks Festival
Running for nearly 50 years, the Edogawa Fireworks Festival is one of the more senior fireworks festivals in Tokyo. You can enjoy the fireworks display from either side of the Edo River.
Shimokitazawa Bon Dance Festival
Shimokitazawa is a tight but very welcoming community, so this festival (formerly known as the Shimokitazawa summer festival) draws in the locals as well as the many fans of the trendy neighborhood. As is common with festivals of this type, the festival (literally) revolves around a yagura (festival tower) with kimono-clad bon dancers circling around.
Nakano Bon Dance Festival
The Bon Odori festival held annually at Nakano Central Park attracts huge numbers of revellers. Luckily, the park is big, so there should be plenty of space to spread out. The Nakano Bon Odori is a little different to regular bon-odori festivals. The major difference is that there is a main stage with highly varied live acts and DJs playing from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Asagaya Tanabata Festival
The festival in Asagaya was set up in 1954 by merchants seeking to increase their customers. The festival is famous for its paper-mâché recreations of cartoon characters as well as the traditional Japanese games and a great diversity of foods.
Hakone Ashinoko Summer Festival
Held every year, this summer nights festival incorporates a series of local festivals held around the water’s edge of Lake Ashi in Hakone. Moto-Hakone is the center of festivities with food stalls and festival games to keep you entertained and in the festival spirit. There will also be another large festival on August 16.
Nakameguro Summer Festival
Returning for the 58th time, the Nakameguro Summer Festival takes over this fashionable neighborhood for two nights of outdoor dance performances. Saturday evening sees more than 20 teams of distinctive Awa Odori dancers sashaying and striking poses along the street, while Sunday evening features more than 28 troupes of Yosakoi dancers parading along the route.
Ōme City Nohryo Fireworks Festival
The Ōme City Nohryo Fireworks Festival features more than 4,000 fireworks hurled into the night sky over Nagayama Park in Ōme City in the evening of the first Saturday in August.
Itabashi Fireworks Festival
The Itabashi Fireworks Festival is always a good show. Roughly 13,000 fireworks are expected to go off this year — and there should be some colorful characters and flower shapes in the mix. The event goes on for an hour and 30 minutes. There are reserved seats and general sitting areas at the venue.
Tsukiji Honganji Bon Dance Festival
Dance to the beat of the taiko drums — or just watch — at this annual Bon dance festival at Tsukiji Honganji Temple.
Red Brick Beach Island
The event space between the Red Brick Warehouses in Yokohama transforms every summer into a beach. Admittedly, not one with a sea you can jump into (only to look at), but one with a selection of food stalls and a Thai island-style party every Saturday.
Nihongo Wakara-Night! Comedy Show
Come down to Tokyo Comedy Bar every Thursday in August for a special comedy show shining the light on the difficulties of learning the Japanese language. If you have JLPT PTSD, then this is the show for you.
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