Tanabata Archives | Tokyo Cheapo

July marks the start of the summer festival season in Japan, and that means fireworks, traditional matsuri (festivals), and plenty of delicious yakisoba. Yoyogi Park is busy with large-scale events every weekend, and the Tanabata holiday paints the town of Asakusa in technicolor. Don't miss out on the dancing, merriment, and summer atmosphere taking center stage this month. For the top events in Tokyo throughout the year, check out our complete guide -- organized by month. 1. Tokyo fireworks festivals Throughout July All over and around Tokyo Put on a yukata and experience a true Tokyo summer Tokyo fireworks are back with a bang, and this July and August there is a colorful assortment of displays to be seen. There's the massive Sumida River Fireworks taking place on July 26, as well as a few other mid-sized and smaller events on the same day. Take your pick of what style of party suits you. Here are a few: July 2: Tokyo Racecourse Fireworks July 18: Kamakura Fireworks Festival July 22: Katsushika Fireworks Festival July 26: Sumida River Fireworks Festival July 26: Showa Kinen Park Fireworks Festival July 26: Hachiōji Fireworks Festival 2. Tanabata festivals Around July 7 All over and around Tokyo Make a wish and tie it to bamboo These festivals are known for their colorful decorations and events that mark the annual tanabata celebration on July 7. The legend speaks of two star-crossed lovers, only able to meet on the Milky Way once every year. For us common folk, it is a time to write a wish on a strip of paper and tie it to some bamboo. There will be events all around Tokyo, with the main ones in Asakusa and Shonan, but there will be more moving into August. Check them out: July 4–6: Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival July 5–6: Shitamachi Tanabata 3. Yoyogi Park festivals Throughout July Yoyogi Park Events Square Something on every weekend at Yoyogi Park A host of international and interesting festivals will fill the Yoyogi Park Events Square this July. The Star and Sun Market and Earth Garden join forces for a winning combination of eco-friendly products and late-night food stalls. The Brazil Festival and Taiwan Festa will offer trucks of delicious regional dishes, as well as musical performances and plenty of dancing. Check these out: July 4–6: Earth Garden Summer Festival and Star and Sun Market (July 2–6) July 10–13: Inspire Tokyo July 19–20: Brazil Festival July 25–27: Taiwan Festa 4. Shinjuku Eisa Festival July 26 Shinjuku Watch traditional Okinawan dances This is your chance to see eisa, Okinawa's traditional dance, without having to travel to Okinawa. Featuring brightly clad performers dancing, singing, and chanting to the accompaniment of drums and the sanshin (a three-stringed instrument that originated in Okinawa), eisa is an upbeat, colorful, energetic spectacle. The Shinjuku Eisa Festival offers a different feel and sound from many other Japanese matsuri, and the diverse teams performing will surely not disappoint. This is one of Tokyo's more popular summer festivals, so expect crowds to gather to watch the performances. 5. Mitama Matsuri July 13–16 Yasukuni Shrine, Kudanshita Lanterns, lanterns, everywhere Held at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Kudanshita, this festival is famous for the 30,000 bright yellow lanterns that line the main approach. Although the path is quite wide, the festival attracts huge crowds, so it is sure to be packed with locals who have dusted off their yukata and jinbei for a summer outing. 6. Chidorigafuchi Moat Lantern Floating Festival July 30–31 Chidorigafuchi Moat, Chiyoda Glittering lights Speaking of lanterns, at the Chidorigafuchi Moat Lantern Floating Festival, around 2,000 lanterns are set off down the river close to the Imperial Palace. You must enter a lottery to ride a boat and float the lanterns ( per boat), but you can also purchase a lantern in advance and write on it at the venue for a more reasonable -- you won't personally get to float the lantern this way, though. 7. Narita Gion Festival July 4–6 Narita 300-year-old festival with elaborate floats This centuries-old festival takes place near Narita Airport and lasts for three days. The Narita Gion Festival features portable shrines and towering floats pulled and clambered on by locals. In the evenings, the floats will be lit up. 8. Enoshima Tenno Festival July 13 Enoshima A portable shrine gets a bath Watch as a portable shrine, called a mikoshi, is paraded around the tiny streets of Enoshima. On the way to another shrine, the procession takes a side trip into the sea for around 30 minutes. There will be blessings, purifications, and music. The festival symbolizes the enshrined god's return to the sea. While we do our best to ensure it's correct, information is subject to change.

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