With one step in the past and one step in the future, Tokyo embraces both its ancient and modern times, unlike many other famous cities. The concrete jungle forming the cosmopolitan city and the wooden castles adding the touch of by-gone days, Tokyo blankets some of the most spellbinding experiences. Known for clasping its culture real tight, the capital city of Tokyo allows the visitors to experience celebrations of everything ranging from age-old rituals to the latest pop culture. Tokyo festivals attract flocks of tourists from different parts of the world. From music and films to art and flora, everything is celebrated in this enchanting capital city of Japan. With one or the other festival being celebrated throughout the year, visitors get ample of opportunities to witness the vibrant and lively city that Tokyo is. Go through this list of major festivals in Tokyo that one should definitely be a part of at least once in their lifetime!
Summer Festivals In Tokyo
Summer festivals in this enthralling capital city of Japan are all about celebrating the traditions and cultures that have been a part of the lives of locals for years. Colorful ornaments, traditional costumes, local food, stunning lanterns, and cheerful vibes around the city are a few features of the summer festivals in Tokyo. Take a look at three of the best festivals that one must engage in when visiting Tokyo in the summer season.
1. Mitama Matsuri
Image Courtesy: japan-web-magazine
Celebrated to honor the spirits of the dead, Mitama Matsuri is a summer Tokyo festival that takes place around Yasukuni Shrine. Bringing the communities and people together, twenty thousand lanterns are lit up for four days during this festival. Mitama Matsuri features authentic food, traditional dance and theatrical performances, and the essence of spirituality all around. The locals can be seen in traditional kimonos that are made of cotton and are known as yukata.
Month: July
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2. Tsukiji Honganji Temple Bon Odori Festival
Tsukiji Honganji Temple Bon Odori Festival is a four-day celebration that is hosted by Tsukiji Honganji Temple every year. Attracting numerous visitors from all over the country and abroad, this festival features some of the beautiful and traditional dance that anyone can be a part of. The medley of traditional songs like ‘Tsukiji Ondo’ and live taiko drum performances are some of the highlights of this festival.
Month: Late July to Early August
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3. Harajuku Omotesando Super Yosakoi
Featuring a team performance dance contest, Harajuku Omotesando Super Yosakoi takes place on an extensive scale. Allowing the spectators to witness the Japanese culture in an extremely fun-filled manner, there are around 6,000 artists performing various traditional dances forms of the country. The sounds of laughter, vibes of happiness, and music of traditional songs fill in the atmosphere of the capital city of Japan, Tokyo.
Month: August
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Music Festivals In Tokyo
Emerging as one of the popular cosmopolitan cities in the world, music festivals in Tokyo are one of a kind. Allowing travelers to witness mind-blowing performances by both the local and international artists, these festivals feature some of the most famous forms of music including rock, hip-hop, electronic, pop, and much more. Take a look at these music festivals in Tokyo that will surely make one dance the night away.
1. Summer Sonic
One of the biggest music festivals in Japan, Summer Sonic Festival is held annually in Tokyo as well as Osaka. Witnessing performances by some of the famous local and international bands, the Summer Sonic Festival attracts thousands of tourists and locals alike to lose in the beats and dance the night away. This rock festival continues for two to three days and allows the tourists along with the locals to spectate the famous bands like Coldplay, the Chainsmokers, Weezer, and others.
Month: August
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2. Ultra Japan
A part of the world famous Ultra Music Festival, Ultra Japan makes the visitors go crazy with amazing beats and shake their legs like no one’s watching. Celebrating the electronic dance music form, this festival attracts hundreds and thousands of travelers and locals, especially the youth. There are three stages that are taken by the performers participating in this festival. The first one is taken by the renowned EDM performers, the second stage is occupied by performers playing underground techno, and local or upcoming artists cover the third stage.
Month: September
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3. S20 Japan Songkran Music Festival
Image Courtesy: moshimoshi-nippon
Giving an amazing opportunity to the visitors to escape the summer heat of Tokyo, s20 is a festival that combines music, dance, and water. Collaborating with the Thai traditional festival, s20 features performances by some of the top international DJs and allows the visitors to dance their hearts out under the water showers! Started in 2018, this festival is all set to be celebrated annually, without any year breaks!
Month: July
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Art Festivals In Tokyo
Allowing visitors to witness the age-old and contemporary art, art festivals in Tokyo exhibits hundreds of artwork by local and famous artists. Nothing less than a paradise for art fanatics, Tokyo is home to a fair number of galleries and museums. Scan through this list of art festivals that will make one appreciate various art forms.
1. Roppongi Art Night
Taking place on the streets of Tokyo’s Roppongi district, Roppongi Art Night is an all-night art event. This festival showcases exhibitions of contemporary art, design, music, and much more all over the town. Roppongi Art Night allows travelers and locals to indulge in an extraordinary experience and have a cherishable night. Started in 2009, this festival attracts numerous tourists from all over the world, especially the art buffs. This is one of the most offbeat Tokyo festivals celebrated in Japan.
Month: May
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2. Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale
Celebrating modern art, the Echigo Tsumari Art festival is held at Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art. Housing various forms of art like conceptual, immersive, and progressive, this festival takes place in the open and wide art field. Echigo Tsumari blankets around 200 artworks of both local and international artists.
Month: All year round
3. The Toshima International City Of Arts And Culture
Image Courtsey: plus1day-ikebukuro
Toshima International City Of Arts and Culture is a festival that celebrates local artworks, traditions, music, and culture. This festival is held every year and brings together communities like nothing else. The Toshima International City of Arts and Culture embraces the Japanese art and encourages others- locals and tourists alike, to do the same. Participants dressed in various traditional and mythological costumes are the highlight of this event.
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Film Festival In Tokyo
Appreciating each and every form of art, Tokyo also hosts an annual film festival celebrating the emerging film industry in the world. The film festival takes into account all genres of movies including romance, comedy, thriller, action, sci-fi, and much more. Find below the complete details of the International Film Festival in Tokyo that one should not miss out on!
Tokyo International Film Festival
Taking place annually, the Tokyo International Film Festival is one of Asia’s competitive film festival. An award ceremony being the major part of this festival, TIFF is held over one week. Awards for best actor, best movie, best actress, best director, and many others are handed to the deserving candidates. The festival features open-air screenings, premiers, voice-over screenings, seminars, symposiums, and much more. The actors appearing to promote their movies or for the premiers is nothing less than a cherry on top. This festival allows visitors to have a star-struck night!
Month: October
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Celebrating each and every form of art, Tokyo festivals exhibit the vivacious, vibrant, and lively side of this beautiful capital city. Traditional costumes, colorful decorations, international DJs, authentic food, cheerful crowd, contemporary art displays, screening of famous films, and happy vibes are some of the entrancing features of festivals in Tokyo. Embracing the culture and art, Tokyo blankets festivals for every kind of art buff ranging from films and music to art and dance. When planning an excursion to Japan, do not forget to add these festivals on the bucket list!
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A pastry-chef turned writer, Srishti has a knack for traveling to various corners of the country and penning them down in the most justifiable manner possible. When she’s not writing you can find her petting mountain dogs and not eating cottage cheese!
