Special Summer Festivals in Tokyo! 2016 Edition

Special Summer Festival in Tokyo! 2016 Edition

Summer festivals offer an easy way to experience a special, emotional summer atmosphere. There are many festivals held in Tokyo. This time, we'll bring you a selection of the best summer festivals in 2016.
(Information as of June 2016).

The 63rd Asagaya Tanabata Festival

The festival began in 1954 and this year is the 63rd-anniversary Asagaya Tanabata Festival. This is a festival held for five days in the Pearl Center, an arcade street that stretches for about 700 meters. The special things of the festival are the blowing streamers and lanterns that decorate the Pearl Center, as well as the hand-made "papier-mache" with motifs of various characters made by shopkeepers and students from nearby schools. The usual time spending plan is to walk and eat the street food, which each shop in the shopping district has devised.

Held: August 5th (Fri) - 9th (Tue), 2016 at Asagaya Pearl Center.

Access: 1-minute walk from JR "Asagaya" station.

Fukagawa Hachiman Festival (Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine annual festival)

The Fukagawa Hachiman Festival is one of the three major festivals in Edo, along with the Kanda Festival at Kanda Myojin and the Sanno Festival at Hie Shrine. The highlight of the festival is the joint parade of portable shrines by many children. Several dozen children's portable shrines are paraded through the town, and "mizukake" (sprinkling with water to purify) is performed by spectators along the route. The scene is just like an adult portable shrine at the main festival held once every three years. It's a great way to get to know the local people.

In addition, a variety of votive events such as taiko-drum performances, Noh plays, song shows, karate, and Shorinji Kempo martial art are also performed in the precincts.

Dates: Friday, August 12 - Monday, August 15, 2016 at Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine and surrounding areas.

Access: 3-minute walk from Monzennakacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line.

Sumiyoshi Shrine Annual Festival

The Sumiyoshi Shrine annual festival, also known as the Tsukuda Festival, is also famous as a festival where water is poured on the bearers of the portable shrine, similar to the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival. At this festival, which is held once every three years, six nobori (flags) are raised on Tsukuda Island, and the lion heads of the dragon tiger and the lion head of Kurokoma, which are valuable cultural assets, are also displayed to convey the essence of Edo to the present day. Furthermore, the octagonal portable shrine, "Octagonal portable shrine," is a rare portable shrine in Tokyo. This year is the year after the main festival. Although it is inferior to the main festival in terms of liveliness, you can truly enjoy the unique atmosphere of a festival in downtown Tokyo.

Held: August 6th (Sat) and 7th (Sun), 2016 at Sumiyoshi Shrine and precincts

Access: About a 5-minute walk from Tsukishima Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line.

Azabu-Juban Noryo Festival

The Azabu-Juban Noryo Festival is a lively event with many stalls lining the Azabu Juban shopping street. Originally it was a festival in the local shopping district, but due to the location, the opening of embassies of countries, and the appearance of stalls of famous Azabujuban stores, it is now crowded with nearly 500,000 people.

"Fureai Children's Square" where you can enjoy the proud tastes of various parts of Japan from Hokkaido to Kyushu, band performances on special stages, banquets and performances, cotton candy, goldfish scooping, yo-yo, and other night shops are also popular.

Held: August 27 (Sat) and 28 (Sun), 2016 in the Azabu Juban Shopping District area.

Access: 1-minute walk from Azabu Juban Station on the Toei Oedo Line.

The 62nd Oi Dontaku Summer Festival

Held in front of Oimachi Station, the Oi Dontaku Summer Festival is a rather unique summer festival event. The first of the two days of the festival will feature a dance contest, J-League FC Tokyo events, Shinagawa Pro Wrestling, Oi Gongen Taiko-drum performances, Bon Odori and other sports-related events.

On the second day, there will be a variety of cultural events, including a music festival, an international friendship fair, the Hotel Village (food and drink provided by city hotels located in Shinagawa Ward), and the Feast Festival. With a lot of content, it is crowded with not only local residents but also visitors who want to enjoy the event.

Held: August 27th (Sat) and 28th (Sun) at Oimachi Ekimae Chuo-dori.

Access: 1 minute walk from JR Oimachi Station.

From festivals held at traditional shrines to unique festivals sponsored by the shopping district, there are many variations of summer festivals that you can enjoy in Tokyo. Please feel free to visit them.

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