Summer Flowers Archives

Rainy and humid June is the calm before summer's event storm. Tokyo is relatively quiet compared to May's slew of blooming flowers and July's fireworks season. Still, that doesn't mean that June doesn't have its share of events, the best of which we've compiled here. For the top events in Tokyo throughout the year, check out our complete guide -- organized by month. 1. Sanno Festival June 7–17, 2026 Hie Shrine, Nagatacho One of Tokyo's three great festivals Labeled one of Tokyo's three great festivals (see the Kanda Matsuri and Sanja Matsuri for the other two), the Sanno Festival occurs only in even-numbered years -- so count yourself lucky if you're in Tokyo when it's on. There are traditional performances every day at Hie Shrine, but the main event takes place on the first Friday and includes an elaborate procession featuring extravagant floats, musicians, and portable shrines. The latter half of the festival features a large Bon dance in the evenings. Visitors are encouraged to dance in a circle around a stage -- you don't have to be an expert to join in. 2. Torigoe Festival June 6–9, 2026 Torikoe Shrine, Taitō Featuring the largest portable shrine in Tokyo The Torigoe (also spelled Torikoe) Festival is a Shinto festival that involves a procession. It's much smaller in scale than the major festivals, but rowdy and crowded nonetheless. What sets it apart is that it features the largest mikoshi (portable shrine) in Tokyo -- the four-ton Senkan-Mikoshi. On Sunday (the main day of festivities), processions start as early as 6:30 a.m. and last well into the night (to around 9 p.m.). You'd be mistaken to think that the festivities taper off in the evening, because that's actually when the festival becomes even more spectacular. Lanterns are illuminated and hung on the Senkan-Mikoshi for the miya-iri, the return ceremony. 3. Tsukiji Lion Dance Festival June 10–14, 2026 Namiyoke Inari Shrine, Tsukiji See a parade of giant lion heads What makes this festival different from all the other mikoshi (portable shrine) processions is the giant lion heads that are carried beside the shrines. The main event takes place on the Sunday. Street stalls will be buzzing throughout the weekend, and there will be a small festival on Friday too. See our event listing below for the full schedule. 4. Tokyo Pride June 6–7, 2026 Yoyogi Park, Harajuku Expressing what it means to be LGBTQ+ in Tokyo This year's Tokyo Pride features a roster of six major events spanning the majority of the month. The main festival will take place on June 6 and 7 in Yoyogi Park Events Square, and the fabulous parade will commence on Sunday, the 7th at noon from the same spot before heading around Shibuya. Other events include Youth Pride and the program's Queer Art Exhibition and Human Rights Conference, happening later in the month 5. Hydrangea festivals Throughout June All over Tokyo Hydrangeas are beautiful, especially in light rain Rainy season may be a mood-killer for many, but it also welcomes some of the most famous flowers on Japan's calendar: ajisai (hydrangeas). There are many festivals in and around Tokyo. Here are some highlights: Bunkyō Hydrangea Festival (June 6–14, 2026): 3,000 hydrangeas will be in bloom around Hakusan Shrine and nearby Hakusan Park. Find concerts, a procession, stalls every weekend, sketching meetups, and free toothbrushes -- yes, really. Takahata Fudōson Hydrangea Festival (June 1–30, 2026): Gander at 7,500 flowers as you walk through expansive temple grounds in Hino. Kamakura Hasedera Temple Hydrangea Path (June, exact date TBD): See a path filled with colorful blooms on a day trip from Tokyo. Odawara Castle Hydrangea and Iris Festival (May 30–June 14, 2026): Combine two flowers in one on another trip. Hakone Hydrangea Train (June 13–30, 2026): One more journey from Tokyo will take you to Hakone for illuminated hydrangeas on a mountain railway. 6. Firefly festivals June–July All over and around Tokyo Family fun with extra special lights Light up the start of your summer. June is mating season for fireflies, so this is the time to see the little bugs aglow. We've got a compilation of Tokyo firefly festivals, but note that some of the locations are not in central Tokyo. After all, you can't really expect to see too many fireflies in this urban jungle. Here are some highlights: Hotel Chinzanso (May 13–June 30, 2026) Nerima Firefly Festival (June 12–21 and July 3–12, 2026) Kugayama Firefly Festival (early June 2026) 7. Candle Night for 1 Million People June 19, 2026 Zōjōji Temple, Shibakoen Switch off the lights and turn on the candles During the summer solstice each year, the lights of Tokyo Tower and buildings close to Zōjōji Temple are switched off for two hours, and hundreds of candles are lit. This is to encourage thoughts about how we can best protect the earth and the people in it. Stalls and kitchen cars will be open at the temple on the day, but the lighting of the candles won't start till around 6 p.m., and the lights won't go off till 8 p.m. 8. Yokohama Port Festival June 1–2, 2026 Yokohama Port Yokohama’s largest public event of the year There is a variety of community events taking place across the days, all with the aim of further promoting Yokohama and its culture. As well as being able to board ships at the port, you can also watch live performances, eat some good food, and see fireworks. Check out the expansive schedule via our event page below. 9. Oku Asakusa Bon Odori Festival June 27 Sumida Park, Asakusa Get in the mood for summer Bon Odori are traditional dance events that take place in Japan every summer. You'll see a lot of festivals popping up around July and August, but this is one of the earliest in the city. Created to celebrate the area of Oku Asakusa, the festival involves anyone and everyone forming a dance circle around a yagura (a decorated scaffold), which usually holds a taiko drum on the top. While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post first published in May 2016. Last updated in May 2026 by Patrick Balfe.

Summer Flowers Posts

June 2026: 9 Tokyo Events Not To Miss

10 Stunning Spots for Hydrangeas Around Tokyo

The 6 Best Day Trips from Tokyo During the Olympics

A Ride Through the Wild Side on Hakone's Ajisai Train

Summer Flowers Posts

June 2026: 9 Tokyo Events Not To Miss

10 Stunning Spots for Hydrangeas Around Tokyo

The 6 Best Day Trips from Tokyo During the Olympics

A Ride Through the Wild Side on Hakone's Ajisai Train

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