7 best summer Bon Odori festivals happening in Tokyo 2024

While it may be tempting to just stay indoors to avoid Tokyo's sweltering summer heat, the Marunouchi Summer Matsuri is giving us many reasons to be out and about instead, with a host of events taking over the picturesque Gyoko Street opposite Tokyo Station.

Held for two days on July 26 and 27, this fun-filled event revolves around a Bon Odori yagura stage equipped with a cooling mist fan. Everyone is welcome to join the communal Bon Odori dance against the striking backdrop of Tokyo Station and the best part is, the cold mist will surely feel like a treat. Moreover, on Saturday starting at 6pm, DJ Tomono will be spinning city pop and disco tracks from the yagura, transforming the bustling plaza into a party zone.

At the festival site, expect to see food trucks selling street grub from around the world, such as Vietnamese banh mi, French galettes and Korean sotteok sotteok skewers. Plus, there will be two shaved ice vendors serving up cooling treats to help you beat the heat.

Don’t miss the opening ceremony on July 26 (5pm-7pm) – there will be a demonstration of a traditional water sprinkling ritual known as uchimizu.

Join in and dance to the infectious rhythm of taiko drums at the Ebisu Bon Odori Festival on July 26 and 27. This summer tradition will surely attract large crowds, as the event is held right in front of Ebisu Station, occupying a fairly spacious area outside the West gate.

For two days, a towering yagura stage will take over the taxi and bus drop-off zone while the entire area is closed off to traffic, allowing the public to move and dance around freely. Moreover, food stalls are making a comeback for the first time in five years, serving up delicious festival grub such as fried dumplings, cucumber on a stick and fried chicken – but only on Friday. 

Summer in Tokyo is defined by festivals and one of the most spectacular is the Bon Odori dance, which takes place in several neighbourhoods across the city. Originally a way to honour the spirits of the dead, Bon Odori is now a fun, engaging family-friendly affair.

The celebration at Tsukiji Hongwanji from July 31 to August 3 is one of Tokyo’s most popular Bon Odori festivals. So don a yukata and join in the dancing crowd circling the yagura stage from 7pm to 9pm (6pm to 8.30pm on Saturday).

Not to worry if you don’t know the steps – just mimic the dance moves of the locals next to you. The festival is also famous for its delectable food selection, so go early and dance up an appetite for a feast.

Put on a yukata and head over to Sunshine City’s 45th Bon Odori dance festival. The lively outdoor event, which is accompanied by invigorating taiko drum beats, takes place around a six metre-tall yagura turret decorated with colourful festive lanterns. 

Inexperienced participants can simply copy the moves of the professionals who’re dancing at the top of the turret. The night will feature various traditional dances, including the Tokyo Ondo and Otsuka Monogatari Ondo, and early birds will receive a free tenugui (traditional cotton handkerchief).

There will be food and entertainment stalls this year, where you can enjoy traditional Japanese festival grub and games like shateki shooting and superball fishing for free. The event takes place from 7pm to 9.15pm at Sunshine Hiroba, which is on the rooftop of Sunshine City's Alpa shopping mall.

In the event of rain, the event will be cancelled.

Bon Odori is a traditional summer dance festival held during Obon, a Buddhist custom to commemorate one's ancestors. This particular festival, one of the biggest in Tokyo, will be held right outside Nakano Station. 

Unlike most Bon Odori festivities in Tokyo which take place in the early evening, this Nakano event has an early start at around 10am with a series of music and dance performances. However, the main attraction only begins at 4pm, featuring celebrity guests and DJs playing J-pop tunes.

You can expect a lot of traditional dance sessions, where you’ll learn the classic Bon Odori choreography. But what we're really looking forward to is doing the Japanese dance to modern pop songs, like Bon Jovi ('Living on a Prayer') and Abba ('Dancing Queen') in 2022.  

Everyone is welcome to join in the Nakano Bon Odori Festival and it’s free.

Kanda Shrine’s Noryo Matsuri takes place over four days in August. The all-encompassing summer fest is set to feature everything from Bon Odori dancing to the obligatory matsuri grub and even a small beer and sake fest which starts a day earlier on August 8.

During the Bon Odori session on Friday (5pm-9pm), you can dance to popular anime songs, while the ones over the weekend feature Kanda Shrine’s original song ‘Kanda Myojin Ondo’. The organisers uploaded a practice video to its YouTube channel, so make sure to learn the steps before heading over. The festival ends at 9pm on all four days.

There's no Bon Odori dancing on Thursday August 8.

This lively Roppongi Hills event features traditional Bon Odori dance by yukata-clad performers in a purpose-built arena. So put on your favourite yukata and feel free to join in. 

Traditional Japanese lanterns add to the festive atmosphere while the surrounding food stalls cater to hungry crowds. You can expect a varied gourmet selection prepared by popular restaurants in the area, including 37 Steakhouse and Bar, Diya, Rigoletto Bar and Grill, Grand Hyatt Tokyo, Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse, and more. There will also be plenty of activities like yo-yo fishing, ring tossing, and a face mask stall for both children and adults to enjoy.

While there's no Bon Odori dancing on Friday, you’ll get to watch a modern interpretation of Gigaku (masked drama performance) and Dengaku (traditional Japanese dance) instead. The shows are put on by Roppongi Raku, the venue’s performing arts group that consists of about 150 people, starting at 7pm.