Obon Archives | Tokyo Cheapo

August marks the peak of the Japanese festival season. It offers the best opportunity to break out that yukata and get a dose of summer fun. We can't fit all the fantastic events into this article, so make sure to check out our full events listings for August to see what you're missing (it includes dance parades, tanabata displays, anime exhibitions, and sunflower festivals). For the top events in Tokyo throughout the year, check out our complete guide -- organized by month. 1. Bon Odori festivals All over and around Tokyo Dance, dance, dance According to Japanese Buddhism, Obon (also known as Bon, or the Bon Festival) in August is the time of year when the dead visit the living. Bon dances, or Bon Odori, are an offshoot of this belief, as these dances were held to welcome deceased ancestors. While most Japanese these days are not particularly religious, Bon dances live on, and that's why August is (usually) filled with Bon festivals galore. Here are a few to try out: July 31–August 3: Tsukiji Honganji Bon Dance Festival August 3–4: Nakano Bon Dance Festival August 24–25: Shimokitazawa Bon Dance Festival August 16–17:Minato Mirai Bon Dance Festival 2. Awa Odori festivals Shimokitazawa and Kōenji Everyone looks a little tipsy at this dance festival Different regions have their take on the Bon dance, and one such variation is the Awa Odori, which originated in Tokushima Prefecture. The Awa Odori is characterized by frenzied movements, and the steps and music alternate between mellow and energetic. It's a sight to behold not only because of the moves, but also because of the dancers' colorful costumes. The most famous Awa Odori festival in Tokyo is the Kōenji Awa Odori Festival (August 24 to 25), which will be held right outside Koenji Station. Alternatively, Shimokitazawa's Awa Odori (August 17 to 18) is another Awa Odori event with a slightly smaller crowd. 3. Asakusa Lantern Floating Sumida Park, Asakusa See the lanterns reflect on the most famous river in Tokyo Asakusa Tōrō Nagashi (lantern floating) is an event related to Obon in which lanterns are floated out on the Sumida River, lighting the way for the spirits of ancestors to return to the other side. Around 2,500 lanterns covered in handwritten messages are sent out. You can pre-order a lantern and ship it to a residence in Japan. Candles are given out at the venue, on the day. 4. Fukagawa Hachiman Festival Tomioka Hachimangū Shrine, Fukagawa Get wet! Going all the way back to 1642, the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival is considered one of the three great festivals of Edo (the former name of Tokyo). Prepare to get wet here; this festival isn't nicknamed the water-splashing festival for nothing! The water is believed to have purifying purposes, but whether or not you believe that, the festival is a fun way to cool off and beat the summer heat. 5. Summer Comiket Tokyo Big Sight, Ariake For anime and manga lovers Summer Comiket is arguably Tokyo's biggest and best-known pop-culture event in summer. Fans seeking to buy doujinshi (fan-made comics) or Comiket-exclusive official merchandise, cosplayers, photographers, and spectators all converge in Tokyo Big Sight for a few days of geekery. Comiket being huge, it is not the place for window-shopping; be sure to check your favorite artists' or series' websites and/or social media accounts to know where their booths will be located. More importantly, stay hydrated -- note that Comiket is extremely crowded, so as much as you may enjoy what Comiket has to offer, don't forget that it's still sweltering (and packed) outside and most likely stuffy (and just as packed) inside. 6. NAKED “Omatsuri” Festival Marunouchi Building, Marunouchi Digital art meets traditional Japanese festival Instead of sweating on the streets at your local matsuri, head indoors for a modern twist on a Japanese festival. The popular art collective NAKED is transforming the Marunouchi Building into a bustling event, filled with interactive games. Shoot, don't point, at your desired yakisoba toppings, and look out for the ginormous AI daruma doll teaching people how to dance (no, we aren't kidding). 7. Fireworks festivals All over Tokyo See the summer out with a bang July isn't the only month to see goosebump-inducing fireworks in Tokyo (in fact, they go on into autumn). A pyrotechnic show is a quintessential Japanese experience, as flocks of fireworks chasers don traditional summer outfits and food stalls brim with festival fundamentals. If we hadn't mentioned before, August is hot, and so the relative "cool" of the night is when most Tokyoites take to the streets. Here are some of our fireworks recommendations for August: August 5: Minato Mirai Smart Fireworks Festival August 12: Kōtō Fireworks Festival August 16: Hakone Daimonji-yaki August 24: Edogawa Fireworks Festival August 24: Kanazawa Fireworks While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post first published in July 2016. Last updated in July 2024, by Alex Ziminski.

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