Best Living Japan – Tokyo Expat Family Guide Tokyo with Kids Guide for Globally Minded Families 
10 Tokyo Festivals To Catch This Summer
Want to experience a summer matsuri (a Japanese festival) in Tokyo, but don’t want to brave the crowds and heat? We’ve rounded up several Tokyo festivals that are perfect for families. Put on your yukata, dress the kids in their jinbei, fill your water bottles with mugi cha (barley tea) and off we go!
Eco Edo Nihonbashi (Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku)
Want to see what happens when tradition meets technology? That’s that the Eco Edo Nihonbashi Art Aquarium is all about. Projection mapping and bright lights put a 21st century spin on traditional goldfish bowls featuring more than 8,000 goldfish on display. Visit in the daytime with kids to be mesmerized by the fantastic visuals. Then visit again at night with your partner or friends for after-hour fun at the Night Aquarium, a stylish adults-only event featuring live music, DJs and even a geisha show.
Event: Friday, July 6 – Monday, September 24 (Art Aquarium 11:00 – 19:00 pm; Night Aquarium 19:00 pm – 21:00)
Address: 2-2-1 Nihonbashi-Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-3270-2590
Website:http://artaquarium.jp/en/
Access: 3 minute walk from Mitsukoshimae Station on the Ginza and Hanzomon Lines
Edogawa is one of the few places in Japan that farms goldfish, and the festival is a celebration of this industry. Families flock to the Edogawa Goldfish Festival mainly to participate in kingyo-sukui, or goldfish scooping. Another highlight of the Edogawa Goldfish Festival is foods and drinks made from komatsuna, a healthy nutrient-rich green leafy vegetable.
Event: Saturday, July 21 (10:00 – 18:00) — Sunday, July 22 (10:00 – 16:00). You can do goldfish scooping from 10:00 to 16:00 p.m on Saturday and 10:00 to 14:30 on Sunday, with a 2 hour break on both days from 11:30 a.m. to 13:30 p.m
Address: 3-2-1 Kita Kasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03‐5662‐0539
Website: http://www.city.edogawa.tokyo.jp/kingyo/index.html
Access: 15 minutes walk from Nishi-Kasai Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line.
Tokyo Goldfish Wonderland (Oshiage, Sumida-ku)
For the ultimate retreat from Tokyo’s sweltering hot days, simply head to the Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo Skytree Town. A section of the aquarium becomes a literal goldfish wonderland, with beautiful ornate displays of goldfish decorations. The highlight is a 100 meter long hallway filled with 1000 live goldfish with 100 paper goldfish floating above your head.
Event: Saturday, June 30 — Sunday, September 30 (9:00 — 21:00 daily)
Address: 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-5619-1821
Website: http://www.sumida-aquarium.com/news/2018/06/0620_news01.html
Access: Located inside Tokyo Skytree Solamachi next to Oshiage Station
Disney Summer Festival (Maihama, Urayasu)
The Disney Summer Festival is an annual event that promises to delight all 5 senses. With 2018 being the 35th anniversary of Tokyo Disney Resort, this year’s summer festival puts a unique Disney spin on the traditional Japanese festival. From live shows to the smells and tastes of limited edition menu items, there’s plenty to enjoy at both Tokyo Disney Sea and Tokyo Disneyland.
Event: Tuesday, July 10 — Sunday, September ２ (9:00 – 21:00 daily)
Address: 1-1 Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba
Phone: 045-330-5211
Website: http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/treasure/fantasy/summer2018/tdl/index.html
Access: Maihama Station on the Keiyou and Musashino Line
The Odaiba 2018 (Odaiba Koto-ku)
Every summer, the shopping complex of Odiba becomes a food and entertainment extravaganza. Every 3 or 4 years the event gets a new name but the structure of the festival is largely unchanged. Odaiba is divided into different sections, with center stage right in front of the iconic Fuji TV station. You can expect crowds, especially on weekend afternoons. What makes this summer festival so great is there’s plenty of places to cool down (and go to the bathroom!) thanks to all the Odaiba shopping malls.
Event: Saturday, July 28 — Sunday, September 2 (10:00 — 18:00 daily)
Address: 2-4-8, Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 0570-092-888
Website: http://www.fujitv.co.jp/odaiba2018/2018contents/info.html
Access: 3 minute walk from Odaiba Station on the Yurikamome Line; 5 Minute walk from Tokyo Teleport Station on the Rinkai Line
Taiwan Festa
No time to travel during the summer months? Head to the Taiwan Festa at Yoyogi Park for a weekend getaway complete with a replica Shilin night market, live entertainment, and of course, tasty Taiwanese food. The goal of the Taiwan Festa is to foster and support a strong relationship between Japan and Taiwan.
Event: Saturday, July 28 — Sunday, July 29 (10:00 –- 21:00)
Address: 2, Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Website: http://twfes.com/
Access: 6 minute walk from Meiji Jingu Mae Station or Yoyogi Koen Station
Nakameguro Festival (Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku)
This two day dynamic dance event is filled with good food and positive vibes. Even dance teams from neighborhood daycares participate in the festivities. It’s a great way to experience two vibrant and traditional styles of Japanese dance, Awa odori and yosakoi.
Event: Saturday, August 4 — Sunday, August 5 (17:30 –- 21:00)
Address: 2, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Phone:
Website: http://www.e-nakameguro.com/
Access: 5 minutes walk from Naka-Meguro Station
Tsukiji Honganji Temple Bon Dance Festival (Tsukiji, Chuo-ku)
Ever wanted to try Bon dancing around the yagura? You’ll get your chance at Tsukiji Honganji Temple Bon Dance Festival. Anyone is free to participate, making it a great opportunity to make some new friends and memories, too. You’re in Tsukiji, Tokyo’s fish market, so you know you’ll be able to get some fresh and tasty eats while you’re there, too.
Event: Wednesday, August 1 — Saturday, August 4 (19:00-21:00)
Address: 3-15-1 Tsukiji, Chuo, Tokyo
Phone: 03-3541-1131
Website: http://www.tsukijihongwanji.jp/eng/?fr=top_pickup
Access: 1 minute walk from Tsukiji Station
Ebisu Bon Odori Festival (Ebisu, Shibuya-ku)
More than 60,000 people flock to Ebisu Station to see dancers and taiko drummers perform around a 3 story tall yagura. But, don’t let the numbers of attendees stop you from attending one of Tokyo’s hottest summer events. This is in fact one of Tokyo’s largest, but little known festivals. Last year’s theme celebrated the recovery efforts of the regions struck by the Kumamoto earthquake
Event: Friday, July 27 – Saturday, July 28 (18:00 – 21:00)
Address: 1-5-5 Ebisu Minami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 090-4953-2474
Access: Right outside of JR Ebisu Station, West Exit
Fussa Tanabata Festival (Hon-cho, Fussa-shi)
Missed the festivities of Tanabata in July? You can celebrate the meeting of star-crossed lovers Hikoboshi and Orihime during the Fussa Tanabata Festival. It’s held during the first week in August, around the traditional calendar date. Not to be missed is the Orihime Contest and parade
Event: Thursday, August 2 — Sunday, August 5 (13:00-21:00)
Address: 137 Hon-cho, Fussa-shi, Tokyo
Website: http://www.fussa-tanabata.com/
Access: Right in front of Fussa Station
Great Tokyo Cool Locations with Kids – How to Stay Cool in Tokyo
2018 Tokyo Area Wading Pools and Splash Ponds – Keep Cool This Summer
***********
10 Tokyo Festivals To Catch This Summer
***********
Written by: Teni Wada. American by birth, Japanese by choice, and traveler at heart. Tokyo-based content creator who enjoys browsing combini shelves for limited edition drinks and snacks. Discover her travel adventures and life as a first-time mom on her lifestyle blog babykaiju.com and Instagram @wadateni.
***********
Brighten up your Inbox with the Best Living Japan newsletter and never miss any great info. It is easy to sign-up. Just click here, and enter your email.
