Written by Lily Crossley-Baxter
Researched by Aarohi Narain
Dance to the beat of the taiko drums — or just watch — at this annual Bon Odori dance festival at Tsukiji Honganji Temple.
What happens?
This large Bon Dance celebration takes place at the Tsukiji Honganji Temple, just a couple of minutes on foot from Tsukiji Station. One of the highlights is a special song played only in this part of Tokyo, which is known as Tsukiji Ondo.
In addition to dancing, there are food stalls vending the usual festival favorites, including takoyaki, fried chicken, French fries, yakisoba and nama beer.
As a bonus of being so close to the gourmet hot spots of Tsukiji Market, there are also a few Tsukiji restaurants with their own stalls — think tamagoyaki or Japanese rolled omelettes, Wagyu beef stew, yakitori or grilled chicken skewers and more.
Schedule 2025
The dancing gets underway after sunset from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on all days except the last (Aug. 2), where it will take place from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
However, keep in mind that people tend to show up early with picnic blankets and claim their spot in the garden area — the number of chairs and tables are limited. So, if you want to relax, it’s a good idea to get there a good hour or two before the dancing actually begins and come prepared wih a picnic blanket to lay out.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.- 160 m from Tsukiji Station Hibiya Line (H11)
- 468 m from Shintomichō Station Yurakucho Line (Y20)
- 0.5 km from Tsukijishijo Station Oedo Line (E18)
