This Week: Tokyo Area Events for August 7 – 13
Celebrate Summer in Tokyo
As we head toward the middle of summer expect more festivals celebrating the season. Make a wish at the Asakusa Paper Lantern Festival or experience what visiting the zoo at night is like at Zoorasia, there's always a reason to step outside and enjoy your weekend.
Japan Jam
Citta' Summer Festival
Back after four long years, visit Kawasaki for an unforgettable summer festival. In addition to striking performances with traditional Japanese instruments such as shamisen and Japanese drums, there will be dynamic performances by dancers and other entertainers here. This summer festival celebrates classical Japanese entertainment in a modern and extravagant way.
- Date
- SAT, AUG. 11-MON, AUG. 13, 2023
- Time
- 2 P.M.-9 P.M.
- Location
- LA CITTADELLA VIA CINECITTA' STREET, 4-1 OGAWACHO, KAWASAKI, KANAGAWA - Map
- Fee
- FREE!
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: JAPANESE CULTURE FANS, FAMILIES, FRIENDS, PHOTOGRAPHERS
Floating Wishes
Asakusa Paper Lantern Festival 2023
One of the most beautiful and symbolic festivals in the capital, this event sees thousands of visitors write their wishes on paper lanterns and releasing them in the Sumida River from the Sumida Park Shinsui Terrace near Azuma-bashi Bridge.
- Date
- SAT, AUG. 12, 2023
- Time
- 6:45 P.M. - 8 P.M. (PURCHASE OF PAPER LANTERNS STARTS AT 2 P.M.)
- Location
- SUMIDA PARK SHINSUI TERRACE, A 5-MIN WALK FROM ASAKUSA STATION - Map
- Fee
- FREE (PAPER LANTERNS COST ¥1,500 EACH)
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, COUPLES, PHOTOGRAPHERS
Your Wish In The Sky
Kumagaya Fireworks
Marriage proposals, birthday celebrations, vows for an endless friendship...whatever message you're hiding in your heart, it can light up the sky at this enormously popular summer event happening in central Saitama. Enjoy the lights and heartwarming messages as they make their way to the stars.
- Date
- SAT, AUG. 12, 2023
- Time
- 7 P.M. - 9 P.M.
- Location
- ALONG ARAKAWA RIVER, A 5-MIN WALK FROM KUMAGAYA STATION - Map
- Fee
- FREE!
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: COUPLES, FRIENDS, FAMILIES, PEOPLE WHO DON'T MIND LARGE CROWDS
Purifying Splashes
Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri
One of the three great Shinto festivals in Tokyo, along with the Kanda Matsuri and Sanno Matsuri, the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival is held at the vintage Tomioka Hachiman Shinto shrine in Tokyo’s Koto district. Dated back to 1642, the festival sees the shrine’s 120 mikoshi being carried down the local streets while the onlookers splash purifying water at the mikoshi-bearers. You will definitely get wet at this event, so go well prepared.
- Date
- FRI, AUG. 11-TUE, AUG. 15, 2023
- Time
- 9 A.M. - 8 P.M. (SEVERAL EVENTS ON ALL DAYS, TIMES VARY)
- Location
- TOMIOKA HACHIMAN, 1-20-3 TOMIOKA, KOTO-KU, TOKYO - Map
- Fee
- FREE!
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: MATSURI FANS, FAMILIES, SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS
Nocturnal Adventures
Night Zoo At Zoorasia
Let the kids stay up for a little longer and take them on a date to a night zoo where they can see the usually sleeping fauna in their usual habitats late in the evening. The zoo will also be illuminated for the event, turning it into quite a unique date spot.
- Date
- SAT, AUG. 5 -SUN AUG. 27, 2023 (WEEKENDS ONLY)
- Time
- 4:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
- Location
- ZOORASIA, 1175-1 KAMISHIRANECYOU, ASAHI-KU, YOKOHAMA - Map
- Fee
- ¥800 (ADULTS), FREE (UNDER 6)
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, KIDS, COUPLES, FRIENDS
Weekend In The Park
Shibuya Summer Park 2023
Join the city's hottest neighborhood for a fun three-day festival featuring everything from live music shows, performances, food, traditional snacks stalls (lots of kakigori), kids playgrounds and more!
- Date
- Fri, Aug. 11 - Sun, Aug, 13, 2023
- Time
- 3 p.m.-8 p.m. (Fri), 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (Sat and Sun)
- Location
- Yoyogi Park event space, 2-3 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo - Map
- Fee
- Free
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, KIDS, COUPLES, FRIENDS
City Breeze
Midtown Summer 2023
Tokyo Midtown once again shows us what it's like to be the coolest event organizer in a city that already has it all. This summer, stop by at Midtown in Roppongi for an experience of traditional Japanese summertime right in the heart of Tokyo: From a digital art space surrounded by mist at night to foot bathing in a brook to windchime-filled walls and cafes. A great place to bring friends to if they're visiting you in town.
- Date
- FRI, JUL. 14-SUN, AUG. 27, 2023
- Time
- DIGITAL ART GARDEN: 5 P.M.-11 P.M., FOG: 3 P.M.-11 P.M.
- Location
- TOKYO MIDTOWN, 9-7-1 AKASAKA, MINATO-KU, TOKYO - Map
- Fee
- FREE!
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FRIENDS, FAMILIES, COUPLES, TOURISTS
© Photo by iStock: Hakase_The Symbol Of Sunny Summer Has Arrived
Sunflower Season: 5 Splendid Himawari Gardens in the Tokyo Area
As the rainy season comes to a close in Japan, several things emerge along with the scorching sun: cicadas, peaches and, of course, sunflowers! If you’re in and around the Tokyo area, check out the gardens below which offer a dazzling display of these flowers from late July throughout all of August.
- Date
- ANYTIME
- Location
- VARIOUS
- Fee
- VARIOUS
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FRIENDS, FAMILIES, COUPLES, TOURISTS
What are your plans for the weekend? If you’re organizing a fun or interesting online event, or you know someone who is, contact us to get it listed!
Attending any of these events? Send us photos through Facebook or Instagram for a chance to be published on the site. #SavvyTokyo
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