Looking forward to spending summer in Tokyo but don’t know what are the fun festivals and events to go to and experience? I’ve got you.
Keep on reading and find out the best events and festivals in Tokyo in August.
Through this article, I’m going to share with you not only the events and festivals in Tokyo in August but also some travel tips and more recommendations.
August Events and Festivals
It’s summer in August! It’s the time where Japan is filled with many festivals and events, so if you are in Tokyo in August, you’re in luck! Experience some of the best festivals you can’t find anywhere else.
Fireworks Festivals
Different from most countries, where fireworks are used to celebrate the New Year, Japan doesn’t do the same, but it has its own fireworks festivals.
The fireworks festival, known also as Hanabi festival, is definitely the most prominent festival during summer. Hanabi festivals have a long history in Japan and are an important tradition during summer. It tends to be very crowded as locals and tourists gather to watch the fireworks. People show up hours in advance before the firework shows start to reserve the best viewing spots.
Not only fireworks, the streets are lined with food and game stalls for people to enjoy before the shows. People come to enjoy not only the fireworks, but also the festive atmosphere, some people even dressed in yukata (a light cotton kimono).
Again, keep in mind that it can get really crowded, not only in the venues but also for transportation to the venues and accommodation around the venues.
Some of the best places to enjoy fireworks festivals in Tokyo:
|
Event |
Date |
Venue (location) |
|
Koto Fireworks Festival |
Early August (no specific date yet) |
Arakawa Sunamachi Riverside Park (map) |
|
Ome City Nohryo Fireworks Festival |
Early August (no specific date yet) 7:30- 8:50 pm |
Nagayama Park (map) |
|
Akishima Citizen Whale Festival Yume Hanabi |
Early August (no specific date yet, usually first Sunday of August) |
Showa Park (Athletics Stadium) - (map) |
|
Itabashi Fireworks Festival |
Early August (no specific date yet) |
Itabashi Fireworks Festival Venue (map) |
|
Edogawa Fireworks Festival |
Early August (no specific date yet) |
Edogawa Fireworks Festival Venue (map) |
|
Okutama Nohryo Fireworks Festival |
Mid August (no specific date yet) |
In front of Okutama Station (map) |
|
Tamagawa Fireworks Festival |
Mid August (no specific date yet) |
Above Tama River near Futakotamagawa Station (map) |
|
The Tsurumi River Summer Festival 2018 |
Mid August (no specific date yet) |
Near Tokyo, in Tsukuno Park (map) |
|
Jingugaien Fireworks Festival |
Mid August (no specific date yet) |
Meiji Jingu Stadium (map) |
Fussa Tanabata Festival
Tanabata festival, known also as the star festival. The Fussa Tanabata festival started in 1951, celebrating the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi. There will be a wide range of events, including character shows, Princess Orihime Contest, and various parades, including a folk dance parade, and 100 stalls will line the street.
|
Date |
Early August (specific date to be determined) |
|
Location |
Near Fussa Station and Okana Plaza (map) |
Ueno Summer Festival
During this 5-week-long festival, there will be various events and festivities including parades, paper lantern floating festival, antique market, and an ice sculpture market display. The highlight of the festival is the parade consisting of 38 teams of dances, ranging from Yokasoi to Samba.
|
Date |
Mid July –Mid August 2018 |
|
Location |
around Shinobazuno-ike Pond in the center of Ueno Park (map) |
Fukagawa Festival
One of the big three Shinto festivals of Tokyo along with Sanno and Kanda Matsuri. Experience the festivities and enjoy the food stalls around.
The festival is centered around Tomioka Hachiman Shrine (also referred to as Fukagawa Shrine). The closest stations are Monzennakacho on the Oedo and Tozai lines and Kiba Station on the Tozai Line.
|
Date |
Mid August 2018 (specific date to be determined) |
|
Location |
Tomioka Hachiman Shrine (map) |
Summer Comiket
Known also as Comic Market, is one of Japan’s biggest comic-related events occurring twice a year. There will be an incredibly wide range of genres and styles displayed. You can even cosplay (with a fee of 800 yen). If you are a fan of manga, comic, and sort of things like this, this is definitely a must-visit! Keep in mind that it tends to be crowded.
| Date | 10th Aug–12th Aug, 2018 10:00am – 4:00pm |
| Location | Tokyo Big Sight (map) |
| Website | https://www.comiket.co.jp/ |
Shimokitazawa Awa Odori Festival
Awa Odori is a traditional dance festival consisting of many groups of choreographed dancers. They will parade through the streets and you can see participants wearing traditional Obon outfits, singing, chanting and dancing. Where else can you experience this!
|
Date |
Mid August (specific date to be determined) |
|
Location |
Shimokitazawa’s Ichibancho |
Hibiya Park Marunouchi Ondo Bon-Odori Festival
One of Tokyo’s largest and most accessible Bon-Odori (Bon dance) festivals. Tens of thousands of participants will dance in circles around the central fountain to the Marunouchi song, one of the most famous Bon-Odori song. You can enjoy the culture through the dance and the food from the food vendors.
|
Date |
Late August 2018 (specific date to be determined) |
|
Location |
Hibiya Park (map) |
Asakusa Toro Nagashi
Toro Nagashi is a tradition where candle-lit lanterns are set afloat on rivers to guide spirits of the ancestors back to the other side during the Obon Holiday. See the beautiful view of 2,500 candle-lit lanterns with handwritten messages being floated down the Sumida River in the evening.
|
Date |
Mid August (specific date to be determined) |
|
Location |
Sumida Park (map) |
Koenji Awa Odori Festival
The festivities start during the cool evening, with around 10,000 dancers and musicians filling the street and 1 million people turned up to watch and enjoy the festivities. This is a great way to experience the culture of Japan through the Awa dance festivals.
|
Date |
August 25- 26, 2018 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
|
Location |
Koenji |
Other events in Tokyo in August
Here are some other events in Tokyo you can visit during your trip to Tokyo in August:
|
Event |
Date |
Location |
|
Design Festa Summer + Gakuten 2018 |
4th –5th August 2018 11:00am – 7:00pm |
Tokyo Big Sight (map) |
|
Tsukiji Honganji Bon Dance Festival |
Early August 2018 |
Tsukiji Honganji (map) |
|
Nogi Shrine Summer Festival |
Early August 2018 |
Nogi Shrine (map) |
|
Sri Lanka Festival 2018 |
4th Aug–5th Aug 2018 10:00 am – 7:00 pm |
Yoyogi Park Events Square (map) |
|
Asagaya Tanabata Festival |
Early Aug 2018 |
Mode Off Asagaya Pearl Center |
|
Shimokitazawa Summer Festival |
Mid Aug 2018 |
Near Shimokitazawa Station (map) |
|
Summer Sonic 2018 |
18th Aug–19th Aug 2018 |
Zozo Marine Stadium Chiba (map) |
|
Minato Mirai Bon Dance Festival |
Mid Aug 2018 |
Rinko Park (map) |
|
Golden Gai Chill Out Festival |
Late Aug 2018 |
Golden Gai (map) |
|
Hodogaya Candle Night |
Late Aug 2018 |
Hodogaya Park (map) |
|
2018 Asakusa Samba Carnival |
25th Aug, 2018 1:00pm – 6:00pm |
Kaminarimon (map) |
|
Chofu Yosakoi 2018 |
Late Aug 2018 |
Street of that connects Fuda and Chofu |
|
Roppongi Hills Bon Dance 2018 |
Late Aug 2018 |
Roppongi Hills Arena (map) |
|
Azabu Juban Festival |
25th Aug–26th Aug 2018 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm |
Azabu Juban Shopping Street |
|
Super Yosakoi 2018 |
Late Aug 2018 |
Yoyogi Park Events Square (map) |
|
Art Aquarium 2018 |
Early Jul–Late Sep 2018 |
Coredo Muromachi (map) |
|
Forest Beer Garden |
Mid May–Late Sep 2018 |
Forest Beer Garden (map) |
|
Mt. Takao Beer Mount |
Mid June–Mid Oct 2018 |
Mt. Takao (map) |
August Travel Tips
- It’s summer and scorching hot during August with the average temperature of 31°C (88°F) at highest and 24°C (75°F) at lowest. But, it can get (will be!) even hotter and very humid, so wear clothes accordingly and hydrate.
- It’s also summer break for students in Japan, so places and transport can get very crowded, so book ahead if you are traveling to other places in Japan other than Tokyo.
- Keep in mind that it’s peak season, so the cost of transport can go a little higher.
Make your Tokyo trip more interesting! How?
If you want to make your August Tokyo trip filled with more interesting events and things to do, you can hire a private guide.They know the best places and events to go to, and things to do while you are in Tokyo! Especially if it’s crowded, you can ask your private guide for recommendations to less-stuffy places or off-the-beaten-path spots.
By hiring a private guide, you will also get a free itinerary made by your guide to meet your preferences and needs. You can customize them. There are still more advantages in hiring a private guide in Tokyo, including an enhancing your experience and make it more interesting.
Don’t know where to hire them?
The thing is that there are many places on the web offering private tours in Tokyo, or private guides. However, it’s difficult to determine whether it’s good and trustworthy website or not. That’s why I’m recommending you GoWithGuide website. The website offers many local tour guides and also private tour options in Tokyo, from which you can choose according to your needs and preferences.
Recommended tours in Tokyo
There are so many great private tours available from the website, but one of my recommendations is Private tour as-you-like in Central Tokyo, you can choose where you want to go in Tokyo, including the festivals and events along the way!
Another recommended one is One day-Private Tour based on your request, where you can explore Tokyo anywhere you’d like, major spots, off-the-beaten-path ones, or even events and festivals of your choice!
Wait, there's more:
Here is a list of more tours in Tokyo to take into consideration to make your trip more interesting, and also you can click here for tours in other areas of Japan.
If you don’t prefer looking through the private tour options but prefer to find the perfect guide for you, here is a list of great tour guides in Tokyo.
I hope this article helps provide useful information you can use for your trip to Tokyo in August, including the events and festivals in August, where to enjoy the fireworks, travel tips, and more recommendation. Wishing you a great time in Tokyo!
