Summer days are likely to continue in Tokyo in September and beyond, but many summer festivals and events unique to this season are only available in August. From fireworks displays to music festivals, why don’t you go and make memories unique to this summer with our guide to the best things to do in August?
1, Itabashi Fireworks Festival (August 3)
Tokyo’s largest “Shaku-gosun-dama” (five-size ball) will be launched in this fireworks display. The program is full of highlights, such as a competition of new fireworks by 10 of Japan’s best pyrotechnicians, a 300-meter-long “Niagara Falls,” and a joint launch with the Todabashi Fireworks Festival on the other side of the river.
📍A 20-minute walk from Takashimadaira, Nishidai, Hasune, and Ukima Funawatari Stations.
2, Hotel New Otani’s Midnight Pool (August 9 – August 11)
GARDEN POOL, an open-air urban resort surrounded by a vast Japanese garden with a refreshing breeze, is open from July 12 to September 8. The Midnight Pool, which is open to visitors 18 years and older only, will be open from August 9 to 11. The Midnight Pool, which is only open to visitors 18 years and older, will be open from 10:00 to 24:00 for three days only from August 9 to August 11.
📍4-1 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku
3, Perfume Disco-Graphy: 25 Years of Tracks and Miracles (August 9 – October 14)
Perfume, which will enter its 25th year of existence this September, will be performing a new piece of music based on the theme of “miraculous synchronization” that is created through the study of their astonishing “physicality” and the “technology” of the creators who support their stage . TOKYO NODE” will host an experiential exhibition that recreates the challenges of expression and stages that Perfume has created. For fans, it will be an opportunity to relive legendary live performances of the past right before their eyes, and for those who have never seen a live performance or are unfamiliar with Perfume’s music, it will be an opportunity to feel the amazing synchronization between humans and technology through the simulated experience of the production.
📍Toranomon Hills Station Tower 45F, 2-6-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku (TOKYO NODE GALLERY A/B/C)
4, 2024 Jingu Gaien Fireworks Display (August 10)
10,000 fireworks illuminate the night sky with music This is a pay-per-view fireworks display, and since 2011, the Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival has been supporting the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake by donating a portion of the proceeds to the areas affected by the disaster. This year’s event will also be a charity event to pray for the recovery from the Kumamoto earthquake. The reserve date is August 11.
📍Jingu Stadium (3-1 Kasumigaoka-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)
5, Sumida River Touro Nagashi (August 10)
The Sumida River Touro Nagashi (floating float) began as a memorial service for those who died in the war or suffered water damage during the Asakusa Fukko (reconstruction) Festival in 1946. The beauty of the floating lanterns flowing down the quiet surface of the river creates a relaxing waterside space. Pre-registration is required for the self-flowing float.
📍Sumidagawa Azumabashi Waterfront Terrace
6, SUMMER SONIC 2024 (August 17 & 18)
The leading urban music festival will be held at ZOZO Marine Stadium and Makuhari Messe again this year. This year’s lineup will again feature top artists from Western music, J-POP, K-POP, and other genres, including MÅNESKIN, CHRISTINA AGUILERA, New School Leaders, IVE, etc. Starting July 10, a limited number of 1DAY tickets for each day will be available. tickets and platinum tickets for each day are additionally on sale.
📍ZOZO Marine Stadium & Makuhari Messe
7, The 49th Edogawa-ku Fireworks Festival (August 24)
The Edogawa-ku Fireworks Festival, which has been held since 1976, is one of the largest fireworks festivals in Japan, boasting a total of 14,000 shots per venue. Soke Hanabi Kagiya Co., Ltd. of Higashi-Komatsugawa 2-chome, a long-established company that has been in business for over 360 years since the Edo period, has been in charge of launching fireworks since the first event. This year, the fireworks in each program will be more voluminous than ever before. Among them, this year’s best programs are No. 4 “RED x GOLD -Endless Battle-” and No. 6 “IROTORI DORI -Niji Kakeru-“.
📍Edogawa riverbed (1-25 Kamishinozaki, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo, at the end of Shinozaki Park)
8, The 58th Azabu Juban Noryo Festival (August 24 & 25)
The Azabu Juban Shopping Street Summer Festival, also known as Tokyo’s most crowded summer festival, is held by the Azabu Juban Shopping Street. Every year, popular restaurants from the neighborhood open their stalls, and traditional night stalls are lined up, including cotton candy, shaved ice, target practice, goldfish scooping, and more. Families are often in attendance.
📍Azabu Juban Shopping Street
👉Official website
9, The 65th Tokyo Koenji Awa Odori Dance (August 24 & 25)
A summer tradition in Koenji, with 10,000 people dancing and one million people cheering, the Tokyo Koenji Awa Odori Dance Festival began in 1957 in the shopping district as a way to liven up the town, and has since expanded to include neighboring shopping districts and neighborhood associations, becoming a major event in Koenji. Depending on the type of sponsorship amount, one can also obtain tickets for special pier seats.
📍Koenji Station North-South Shopping Street and Konan Street
10, Candlelight Concert (August 30)
On Friday, August 30, at Ginza Oji Hall, “Joe Hisaishi’s Masterpieces”</ “Karaoke Songs of the Heisei Era Special” at 7:15pm</ shortcode> will be presented by the quartet.
The quartet will perform “Joe Hisaishi’s Masterpieces,” including “Summer” from “The Summer of Kikujiro” and “Wind Path” from “My Neighbor Totoro,” as well as “Heisei Karaoke Song Special,” featuring “Spitz” by Cherry and “First Love” by Utada Hikaru. The “Heisei Karaoke Song Special” features “Spitz” by Cherry and “First Love” by Utada Hikaru.
📍 4-7-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (Ginza Oji Hall)
🎫Click here for tickets to “Joe Hisaishi’s Masterpieces”
🎫”Heisei no Karaoke Song Special” tickets here