Nothing says Japan like walking around with your high school sweetheart, dressed in yukatas, as you walk around from stall to stall, trying to show your affection to each other through sweets and games. But rather than fantasize about how your life could be as an anime, wouldn’t it be better to actually experience a real Japanese “Omatsuri” in this only life that you’ll have on this Earth? Thankfully, Tokyo has a bunch, with several having histories going back hundreds of years! As such, in our efforts to always bring you the best and most interesting experiences, here are 3 of our recommendations for some of the best fun you’ll have at a summer festival in Tokyo!

Harajuku Omotesandō Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi

Yosakoi refers to a particularly energetic and colorful dance originating from Kochi prefecture. While very fun by itself, what would happen if it was combined with modern, contemporary styles and sensibilities? Then we would get this sprightly festival of unmeetly proportions! More than 6,000 dancers from across Japan gather in the nation’s fashion capital of Harajuku, each competing over two days to be the number one in all the land! Watch as traditions of both 20th and 21st Centuries combine for an entertainment-filled day! Make sure to enjoy some festival favorites from the various stalls too; for me personally, nothing gets me in the summertime mood like yakisoba and a cold beer! Music, dance, food, and drink – how about that for Japanese summer tradition?

When? August 23/24, 2025
Where? Harajuku/Yoyogi

原宿表参道元氣祭 スーパーよさこい

原宿表参道元氣祭 スーパーよさこい公式サイトです。

www.super-yosakoi.tokyo

Fukagawa Hachiman Festival

Summer in Japan is hot. I mean really hot, with temperatures going as high as 29 °C (84.2 °F) on some days! So what better way to cool off than a nice splash of water? This nearly 400-year-old festival is well-known for its calls of “wasshoi, wasshoi”, as people are doused with purifying water, to much revelry and popularity. So much in fact, that this is known as one of the Three Great Festivals of Tokyo! This year, the festival will be on the smaller side, as the full version (which is only observed triennially) won’t be celebrated until 2026, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t good moments to be had! Hear taiko drums bang as crowds of both locals and visitors intertwin, make merry, and carry on a tradition that has existed since before Japan’s Sakoku period! And do be sure to look out for the shrine’s mikoshi, adorned with diamonds and said to be the largest in Kanto at 4.5 tons! You won’t regret it!

When? August 16/17, 2025
Where? Monzen Nakacho/Kiba

Fukagawa Hachiman Festival | 深川あちらこちら／深川・門前仲町周辺観光ガイド

www.fukagawa-kanko.com

Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival

This is easily the largest fireworks show in all of Tokyo and there’s no question about it! Starting from 7 PM and for a full 90 minutes, the Tokyo skyline is lit in a flurry of different greens, golds, violets, reds, and other colors! The ever-present Skytree glowing fluorescently also serves as a great contrast to the flickering, ephemeral “fire flowers” from which the Japanese word for “firework” derives. Do be aware, however: this event is incredibly popular, with over a million visitors, so it can be very, very crowded! If you can’t find a local friend’s or hotel’s rooftop in the area to look up at the skies from, try Shiori Park! Or, if you have the extra cash floating around, then try a pleasure boat offering a buffet experience for you to enjoy! Be aware: getting home from the festival is infamous for its difficulty, so we recommend sticking around Asakusa to have some fun while the crowds die down!

When? July 26, 2025

Where? Asakusa Area

Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival | Travel Japan - Japan National Tourism Organization (Official Site)

One of Tokyo's most beloved summer events, on the last Saturday of July, the sky over the Sumida River shines with tens ...

www.japan.travel

Every anime that takes place in modern-day Japan has at some point featured its characters wearing yukata and having fun at a festival. These Japanese “Omatsuri” are famous the world over for their energy, which combines a love of fun with a tradition and history unique to this land. Though every region in Japan has its own unique way of celebrating its past, for those staying in Tokyo for the summer, we recommend these three as a way of making great memories and experiencing the richness of Japan’s culture. Harajuku Omotesandō Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi, Fukagawa Hachiman Festival, and Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival, all of these are great and famous events that you’ll want to experience at least once while you’re here! It’s our guarantee that you’ll have the time of your life!