Written by TC Team
Originally conceived in 1956 as an April Fool’s festival (“Baka” is the Japanese word for fool or idiot) the festival now happens closer to May 1 and isn’t all monkey business.
It’s Akabane‘s biggest festival of the year with attendance estimated at 400,000 people.
What happens?
Most of the entertainment is fairly conventional, with troupes from all the popular summer dance forms taking part — from samba to yosakoi to awa-odori. The fool part involves some participants dressing in comedic costumes and a parade.
Suggested Activity
Get Tickets To the Samurai Restaurant in Shinjuku (Up to 30% Off)
Experience one of the craziest, most colorful places in Tokyo — the all-new Samurai Restaurant, from the creators of the Robot Restaurant. Get your tickets and sit back for a wild show of lasers, lights, samurai, dancers and other uniquely Japanese weirdness.
Schedule 2025
The festival takes place on April 26 and 27.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.