July 2019 events in Tokyo

According to legend, the warlord Minamoto no Yoriyoshi and his son Yoshiie stopped to pray for victory in the Zenkunen War (1051-1063) at this Fuchu shrine. Their wish was eventually granted, and the Sumomo (named after the plum that Yoriyoshi is said to have offered to the gods) festival began. You'll be able to try the plums for yourself at the many food stalls set up on the grounds, and if you're an amateur farmer, don't forget to participate in waving a fan decorated with drawings of crows – this is supposed to help keep the birds away from your crops.

Spreading out all over Ikebukuro, the annual Hula Festival paints the area in distinctly Hawaiian colours. Outdoor gigs by Hawaiian bands and a dizzying variety of food and drink stalls complement the main event − as of last year, 181 teams and up to 5,000 dancers  showed off their hula skills across six stages. If you feel like swinging your hips too, start at the hula workshop or join the open Hula Night.

Annually held at Kawasaki Daishi temple, this festival is dedicated to traditional Japanese wind bells and has been going on for the better part of two decades now. Chime craftspeople from Hokkaido to Okinawa peddle their wares (which number in the tens of thousands), there's a recycling corner for old and decrepit bells, and tasty festival food is of course also available.

Expect a colourful, caipirinha-fuelled, energy-packed couple of days as the Brazil Festival takes over Yoyogi Park's event square. There’ll be plenty of live music and dancing including bossa nova singers, percussionists and capoeira performances, plus grilled meats, churros and a lineup of fruity beverages. Organised by the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, the theme this year is ‘From Rio to Tokyo’, with Rio de Janeiro's famous samba team ‘Rainha de Bateria’ (Queen of the Drum) making an appearance. With over 300,000 Brazilians living in Japan, it’s safe to say the festival will get a good turn out.

The Edogawa area has been known for its goldfish breeding since the late 1800s, and this festival also boasts decades of history. Stroll around admiring shiny specimens of more than 20 kinds, buy some for your own aquarium, or try kingyo sukui (goldfish scooping). Great for families with small kids – especially if you live nearby.

While it is one of the more popular Bavarian beer fests in Tokyo, this Setagaya soiree at Komazawa Park doesn't really bring anything original to the table: you'll find the familiar sausages and quality German beer served from hefty glass tankards, plus contributions from Japanese craft breweries – exactly what the masses desire. This year's edition features the German oom-pah band Die Kirchdorfer, who have been firing up the crowds at the original Oktoberfest in Munich since 1994.

For this annual event, the night sky of Yokohama will become a canvas for the brilliant fireworks made by the experts in Tohoku, Niigata and Nagano, areas that are famous for pyrotechnics. To commemorate its 80-year anniversary, there will be 80 different types of fireworks on display, some of which will create explosions depicting faces and animals. The show will conclude with a dazzling shower of golden sparks, which makes for an unmissable spectacle of its own. Paid bar seats and special tables with prime views are available for reservation if you don’t want to compete for a free viewing spot.

If fireworks at the beach are your thing, there's no better summer event than Hayama's annual hanabi festival. Around 1,200 fireworks are shot up from the Isshiki tide embankment, making for a small-scale but spectacular show as the colourful explosions reflect off the water. Consider heading over early, finding a comfy spot on the sand and watching the fireworks rise from behind Mount Fuji while the last rays of the sun are still visible on the horizon.

According to legend, the warlord Minamoto no Yoriyoshi and his son Yoshiie stopped to pray for victory in the Zenkunen War (1051-1063) at this Fuchu shrine. Their wish was eventually granted, and the Sumomo (named after the plum that Yoriyoshi is said to have offered to the gods) festival began. You'll be able to try the plums for yourself at the many food stalls set up on the grounds, and if you're an amateur farmer, don't forget to participate in waving a fan decorated with drawings of crows – this is supposed to help keep the birds away from your crops.

Spreading out all over Ikebukuro, the annual Hula Festival paints the area in distinctly Hawaiian colours. Outdoor gigs by Hawaiian bands and a dizzying variety of food and drink stalls complement the main event − as of last year, 181 teams and up to 5,000 dancers  showed off their hula skills across six stages. If you feel like swinging your hips too, start at the hula workshop or join the open Hula Night.

Annually held at Kawasaki Daishi temple, this festival is dedicated to traditional Japanese wind bells and has been going on for the better part of two decades now. Chime craftspeople from Hokkaido to Okinawa peddle their wares (which number in the tens of thousands), there's a recycling corner for old and decrepit bells, and tasty festival food is of course also available.

Expect a colourful, caipirinha-fuelled, energy-packed couple of days as the Brazil Festival takes over Yoyogi Park's event square. There’ll be plenty of live music and dancing including bossa nova singers, percussionists and capoeira performances, plus grilled meats, churros and a lineup of fruity beverages. Organised by the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, the theme this year is ‘From Rio to Tokyo’, with Rio de Janeiro's famous samba team ‘Rainha de Bateria’ (Queen of the Drum) making an appearance. With over 300,000 Brazilians living in Japan, it’s safe to say the festival will get a good turn out.

The Edogawa area has been known for its goldfish breeding since the late 1800s, and this festival also boasts decades of history. Stroll around admiring shiny specimens of more than 20 kinds, buy some for your own aquarium, or try kingyo sukui (goldfish scooping). Great for families with small kids – especially if you live nearby.

While it is one of the more popular Bavarian beer fests in Tokyo, this Setagaya soiree at Komazawa Park doesn't really bring anything original to the table: you'll find the familiar sausages and quality German beer served from hefty glass tankards, plus contributions from Japanese craft breweries – exactly what the masses desire. This year's edition features the German oom-pah band Die Kirchdorfer, who have been firing up the crowds at the original Oktoberfest in Munich since 1994.

Gin is having a moment in Japan, and we’re not complaining. Next up on the year’s juniper-driven calendar is the Gin Live Festival, held in Akiba Square for just one day in July. Taste over 60 varieties of gin, including international labels like Sweden’s Göteborg and Scotland’s The Botanist as well as domestic Japanese products like Awa from Tokushima and Hinata from Miyazaki. If you’re a fan of the big-name gin celebrities like Tanqueray, Hendrick’s and Roku, rest assured, they’d be there too.