July 2019 events in Tokyo

Hundreds of thousands of people flock to Yasukuni Shrine during its annual Mitama Matsuri, one of Tokyo's biggest Obon festivals. First held in 1947, the festival is best known for the 30,000 lanterns that light the way to the shrine each evening – so don't forget your camera. There are mikoshi (portable shrines) parades, concerts and traditional dance performances held over the four days, as well as some food and drink stalls.

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.

An Edo-era legend holds that paying one's respects at a temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon on shimanrokusen-nichi (July 10) will count for the same as 46,000 such visits on any other day. Such convenience obviously appealed to Edoites, who never passed on the opportunity to receive a few extra blessings. The Hozuki-Ichi, named after the flower that resembles a red paper lantern and was once believed to have healing properties, takes place over this lucky pair of days and will see up to 100 flower stalls set up around Sensoji Temple. Special charms are also sold at the temple during the festival, so remember to check out the selection.

It's worth getting up early for Japan's largest morning glory festival, held on July 6-8 every year in and around Iriya Kishimojin temple. Around 400,000 people head to the event each year, perusing the 60 flower booths and 80 festival stalls on display, so prepare to battle some serious crowds.

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.

Shinbashi gets into the summer spirit again at this two-day festival of dancing, boozing and taiko drumming. The highlight is the yukata beauty contest on Friday evening (6.30pm start), the winner of which stands to walk away with ¥100,000 and a four-night trip to Hawaii. There'll be bon odori dancing both evenings, along with a range of food stalls and stage entertainment, and if you head to the fourth floor of the New Shinbashi Building you'll find an evening beer garden that runs from 5pm to 9pm.

Fermentation is a process that is almost indispensable to Japanese food. Sake, miso, soy sauce and natto cannot exist without fermentation. But there are also many other fermentation techniques and practices from around the country that are little known outside their native regions. This exhibition at the d47 Museum attempts to features the various local fermented specialties in a group show. Curated by fermentation experts, the local food found at the exhibition are also available for sale. The adjacent restaurant, on the other hand, will also serve fermented food and sake.

Known as a 'love shrine', Kawagoe Hikawa out in Saitama attracts plenty of fed-up singles looking for help in finding the partner of their dreams. This relatively new summer festival is another chance to do just that, as the hot summer night atmosphere and pretty light-ups ensure that love will be in the air. Colourful fuurin (wind chimes) adorn the grounds and the food and drink stalls include a shrine café.

Hundreds of thousands of people flock to Yasukuni Shrine during its annual Mitama Matsuri, one of Tokyo's biggest Obon festivals. First held in 1947, the festival is best known for the 30,000 lanterns that light the way to the shrine each evening – so don't forget your camera. There are mikoshi (portable shrines) parades, concerts and traditional dance performances held over the four days, as well as some food and drink stalls.

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.

An Edo-era legend holds that paying one's respects at a temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon on shimanrokusen-nichi (July 10) will count for the same as 46,000 such visits on any other day. Such convenience obviously appealed to Edoites, who never passed on the opportunity to receive a few extra blessings. The Hozuki-Ichi, named after the flower that resembles a red paper lantern and was once believed to have healing properties, takes place over this lucky pair of days and will see up to 100 flower stalls set up around Sensoji Temple. Special charms are also sold at the temple during the festival, so remember to check out the selection.

It's worth getting up early for Japan's largest morning glory festival, held on July 6-8 every year in and around Iriya Kishimojin temple. Around 400,000 people head to the event each year, perusing the 60 flower booths and 80 festival stalls on display, so prepare to battle some serious crowds.

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.

Shinbashi gets into the summer spirit again at this two-day festival of dancing, boozing and taiko drumming. The highlight is the yukata beauty contest on Friday evening (6.30pm start), the winner of which stands to walk away with ¥100,000 and a four-night trip to Hawaii. There'll be bon odori dancing both evenings, along with a range of food stalls and stage entertainment, and if you head to the fourth floor of the New Shinbashi Building you'll find an evening beer garden that runs from 5pm to 9pm.

Fermentation is a process that is almost indispensable to Japanese food. Sake, miso, soy sauce and natto cannot exist without fermentation. But there are also many other fermentation techniques and practices from around the country that are little known outside their native regions. This exhibition at the d47 Museum attempts to features the various local fermented specialties in a group show. Curated by fermentation experts, the local food found at the exhibition are also available for sale. The adjacent restaurant, on the other hand, will also serve fermented food and sake.