Written by Alexandra Ziminski
Tokyo events for Monday, April 28 to Sunday, May 4, 2025.
This week we are treated to not one, not two, but three public holidays: Shōwa Day, Constitution Memorial Day, and Greenery Day. (Don’t worry, there will be plenty more next week too.)
This means you can expect a lot of traditional annual festivals held at shrines and temples around Tokyo, including the very popular Meiji Shrine. What else? Giant kites, gun shows, food fairs, and acrobatics on ladders.
Kurayami Festival
Take your slice of horse racing and archery, shrine jostling, and giant drum performances. The Kurayami Festival is also known as the Darkness Festival because the most important parades take place under the cover of… well… darkness.
Kazo Citizens’ Peace Festival
This festival claims to have the biggest koinobori (koi carp streamer) in the world. The streamer will stay in the sky for 30 minutes each time. There will be drums, music, stage shows, a ceremony, and speeches from the mayor.
Ōme Grand Festival
This traditional festival features twelve giant wheeled floats known as dashi — each representing one of the neighborhoods of the city of Ōme in far western Tokyo. The festival has a history of more than 100 years and draws 130,000 visitors each year.
Meiji Shrine Spring Grand Festival
Every year during Golden Week, a Spring Grand Festival is held at Meiji Shrine (the biggest and most important shrine in Tokyo). The festival will set up a stage in front of the main shrine.
Odawara Hōjō Godai Festival
The Odawara Hōjō Godai Festival is a must-see event held annually in Odawara, a city just an hour outside of Tokyo. Almost 2,000 people will parade through the streets of Odawara, emulating the Hōjō lords of the past. There will also be music from brass bands and a gun show. The aim of this festival is to promote friendship between Japan and the Kingdom of Cambodia. The festival features Khmer products and traditional food as well as dance and cultural performances. Get up close with bluefin tuna, penguins, and marine life from Tokyo and beyond at Tokyo Sea Life Park, an impressive aquarium right here in Tokyo. Make sure you ask a guide what time the penguin feeding times are. 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. On these two days, you can watch the large kites soar, participate in the Kasukabe Original Kite Flying Competition, and enjoy local food from a variety of stalls. Get ready for a huge classical music festival set around Tokyo Station and Nihonbashi. 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. Hawarin Bayar are the Mongolian words for Spring Festival. You can expect to see stalls selling traditional Mongolian food, art, and crafts throughout Hikarigaoka Park. 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. Going back 1000 years, Fujiwara no Hidesato prayed for victory before a battle at Katori Shrine. Claimed to be Japan’s largest outdoor cinema, Seaside Cinema Yokohama is also completely free. Top films from Japan and around the world will be shown at spots around Yokohama: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, Marine & Walk Yokohama, Yokohama Bay Quarter, and Yokohama World Porters. Everyone’s invited to this fun food extravaganza at Saint Maur International School. Take the chance to try international bites, with sampling menus of different cuisines available to buy. Watch as local construction workers perform acrobatics on bamboo ladders. As the spiritual descendants of the firemen of Edo (aka hikeshi), they perform as a memorial to the 120 firefighters (including those in the metropolitan police) who died in the Edo-Showa period. With mega-fests like Sanja Matsuri and the Golden Week holiday, you're spoiled for choice. Tokyo events for Monday, April 21 to Sunday, April 27, 2025. The big daddy of Tokyo fireworks festivals is back with a bang. Exclusive teas and sweets, craft beer, and an unusual bookstore beckon. Watch as we take you around Sensōji Temple, Kitchen Street, and matcha and sweet stores.
You've seen cherry blossoms in the daytime; now see them shine at night. Pair this long-form guide with our video to experience the best of the neighborhood. A chance to see the infamous penis festival, processions, and more! 
Cambodia Festival
Tokyo Sea Life Park: Free Admission Day
Kasukabe Giant Kite Festival
La Folle Journée Classical Music Festival
Hawarin Bayar Mongolia Spring Festival
Kachiya Festival (Samurai Procession)
Seaside Cinema Yokohama
International Food Fair at Saint Maur International School
Edo Firemen’s Annual Memorial
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