June 2026 events in Tokyo

See a huge four-tonne mikoshi (portable shrine) being shuttled through the streets near Torigoe Shrine in Asakusabashi at this traditional festival known for the intense fights that invariably break out over who gets to carry the monster mikoshi.

The main event is on Sunday June 7 from 6.50am to 9pm, when the mikoshi is carried through the streets. If you want to catch the best of the action with beautifully lit lanterns, be here at around 8.30pm to see the mikoshi make its way back to the shrine.

Meanwhile on Saturday June 6, local neighbourhood associations parade their own, much smaller portable shrines around the area. Also don’t miss the food stalls that are set up along the streets during the festival.

For more details, check the event Facebook page.

Celebrated since the early 17th century and recognised as one of the three great festivals of Edo (along with the Kanda and Fukagawa festivals), the Sanno Matsuri marks the start of Tokyo's summer festival season.

The highlight of the 10-day festival is the Jinkosai Grand Procession, a biennial event that will take place for the first time in two years on Friday June 12. The procession features around 500 participants dressed in imperial court attire, who will march approximately 23km through Tokyo, passing landmarks including the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station and the Ginza Crossing. This year, the main mikoshi float will feature Ebisu, the god of fortune, riding atop a giant shrimp.

Meanwhile, a series of smaller-scale events will still take place at the festival’s main site, Hie Shrine. Events include a lantern display of children's drawings within the shrine grounds from Sunday June 7 and the chigo-gyoretsu parade (Sunday June 14 at 12noon and 2.30pm), where children dress up in orange, green and purple to wish for health and growth. Another highlight is the Sanno Kasho Festival on Tuesday June 16 at 1pm – a Heian period ritual where wagashi (Japanese sweets) artisans present their creations to the gods, praying for protection against epidemics. Check out the schedule (in Japanese only) for all the details.

Coinciding with the festivities at Hie Shrine, the public square at Sanno Park Tower will host the Sanno Ondo Bon Odori Festival. Taking place daily from 6pm between Saturday June 13 and Monday June 15, the event invites visitors to enjoy the summer evening breeze while joining in communal bon odori dances accompanied by the rhythmic beats of taiko drums. There will also be plenty of food stalls, making this a quintessential summertime matsuri experience.

Held in its grandest form only once every three years, the Tsukiji Shishi Matsuri, or Lion Dance Festival, takes place over three days around Namiyoke Inari Shrine at the edge of Tsukiji Outer Market. This year, the festival returns in its largest and most spectacular scale.

On Thurday June 11 at 11am, you can join in a ritual to ward off bad luck and infectious diseases, while on Saturday June 13, you can watch Edo no Sato Kagura, a sacred Shinto music and dance performance from the Edo period. 

The festival’s main event happens on Sunday June 14, when a series of mikoshi parade through the streets with the eponymous lion dance. The procession starts at 8.30am at Namiyoke Inari Shrine and ends when the mikoshi make their return to the shrine at 3.40pm.

If you can’t make it to the shrine in the morning, download this map (in Japanese only), as it shows the parade's route and the arrival time at each checkpoint.

Make sure to fuel up on some tasty festival grub at the food stalls that will be there on Saturday and Sunday.

Zojoji Temple is most notable for its scenic location right in front of the brightly lit Tokyo Tower. And it’s about to look even more magical.

For one night only on June 19, the stately temple is putting on its annual candlelight show – ongoing since 2003 – to help shake people off their dependence on electricity and enjoy a slow night. Candles are lit at 6pm, and surrounding lights are turned off at 8pm, allowing more than 1,000 candles to illuminate the staircase and path approaching the temple. The lights on Tokyo Tower will be switched off at the same time as well until 9pm.

Of course, it will not just be about looking at candles at night. The event will start at 2pm with the Candle Night Marche, where you can shop for seasonal fruit and organic vegetables, and join special candle workshops. Later in the evening, there will be performances as well as a lights-out countdown. 

Close out the parade and festival with a big ol’ party in the beating heart of queer Tokyo: Shinjuku Nichome. On the night of June 7 from 6pm to midnight, head to Aisotope Lounge and nightclub Arch for a night of dancing and fun. Tickets are ¥3,000 (two drinks included).

The second day of the festival (June 7) is the Pride Parade, which saw over 15,000 participants last year. The shebang starts at 12noon at the Yoyogi Park Event Plaza, continuing throughout the Shibuya and Harajuku area. Participation is free.

Pride Festival is the event for Tokyo Pride. Taking place at the Yoyogi Park Event Plaza June 6-7 from 11am to 6pm, the event welcomes over 200 exhibition booths and food and drink stalls from LGBTQ+ organisations both domestic and international.

For entertainment, stage performances The festival features a number of stage performances, with singer Thelma Aoyama and drag queen Dorian Lollobrigida, both co-stars of the hit Netflix reality series The Boyfriend acting as MCs on the first day. The second day of the event welcomes actress Miyu Nakagawa to the stage, plus the return of drag queen and entertainer Baby Vaggy as MC.

Aimed at queer teenagers and young adults, Youth Pride acts as a place to network and meet other LGBTQ individuals in a welcoming and safe space. The two-day event features several goings-on from panel discussions to a fashion show, all aimed at encouraging LGBTQ youth and proving opportunities for connection and growth.

This year’s Youth Pride takes place at With Harajuku Hall June 13 from 12noon to 5pm and June 14 from 10am to 5pm. Entry is free with no pre-registration required.

Yebisu Garden Place’s annual outdoor cinema returns this summer to the roofed Center Plaza, offering 15 free screenings on astroturf with food trucks on site. Held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until July 5, Picnic Cinema combines film, food and fitness into one ultimate urban picnic experience.

Open-air mobile theatre company Kino Iglu is organising and curating this year’s film selection, offering something for just about every kind of moviegoer. Expect everything from coming-of-age stories like 'Lady Bird' (2017) and nostalgic classics such as 'Melody' (1971), to acclaimed dramas including 'Past Lives' (2023) and 'Still Walking' (2008). There are also crowd-pleasing picks like 'The Truman Show' (1998) and 'Galaxy Quest' (1999), plus action-packed Hong Kong newcomer 'Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In' (2024). While shows start at 7.30pm, we recommend arriving early to secure a good spot to lay down your mat. Check the event website for the full list of films.

Popular restaurants from the Ebisu area – all winners of the local ‘Best Dish to Pair with Yebisu Beer’ gourmet contest – including Japanese comfort food favourite Taishu Kissa Tsubaki, will be setting up stalls at Clock Square for the ‘Foodies’ Picnic’ held alongside the outdoor cinema. Grab a bite and unwind with great food and drinks on the spacious artificial grass lawn at the central plaza. Food trucks serving smaller, easy-to-eat snacks will also be on-site.

For fitness-minded folk, morning and evening yoga sessions are also held on the aforementioned lawn. Slots are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Check the event website for details.

You'll find a variety of family-friendly activities at this nautical festival, which commemorates the opening of Tokyo Port to international trade in 1941. It takes place over two days at the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal, where you’ll get to take a tour of Japan Coast Guard survey vessel Heiyo, the city-owned dredging vessel Kairyu and a frigate from the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force. You can also ride the 50-minute Tokyo Port Cruise for free (times unannounced for 2026) without any reservations (limited to 300 people per session).

Away from the boats, you can feast on food truck bites, watch stage performances like cheerleading, musical performances, detector dog demonstrations and plays, take a look inside freezer storage, and watch a demonstration of the workings of an ocean cleanup vessel.

If you’re a fan of umeshu – the sweet and tangy Japanese liqueur made by infusing ume plums in shochu or sake – this boozy festival deserves a spot on your calendar. Visitors will be able to sample more than 120 varieties of umeshu from across Japan, including winners of the 2025 National Umeshu Tasting competition.

Alongside classic styles, expect unfiltered and long-aged umeshu, versions infused with spirits like gin and brandy, and even refreshing umeshu-beer blends.

Tickets cost ¥1,900 with 19 tokens at the door or 21 tokens if purchased in advance online. These physical umesen tokens can be used to redeem drinks and food at the venue.

Paella Tapas Matsuri is one of Japan’s biggest Spanish festivals and will take place at Hibiya Park this year for its 11th edition, with plenty of tapas and paella to go around for the expected 80,000 visitors. Enjoy various takes on the classic Spanish rice dish paella with a range of seafood and meat toppings, as well as side dishes like shrimp ajillo and Basque cheesecake. Alongside visitor-voted competitions for the festival’s best paella and tapas, there will also be a separate contest to determine who can make the most authentic ‘Valenciana Paella’ – prepared using traditional methods with chicken and rabbit meat and cooked over a wood fire.

The festival offers refreshing pints of Spanish cervezas, too. Compare the flavours of Estrella Galicia lager beer and pilsner-style Mahou beer, two of Spain's leading beer brands. Don’t miss out on the stage performances where you’ll get to see flamenco dancers, live music, and much more.

Check the event website for the performance schedules. (Japanese only)

Get ready to soak up the vibrant energy and infectious beats of Jamaica at Yoyogi Park this June, bringing together the best of Jamaican culture with a full day of reggae rhythms, sizzling festival grub and high-energy performances.

The main stage will feature selectors spinning classic 7-inch reggae records, as well as dancehall and roots reggae performances to energise the crowd. Don’t miss the live painting sessions and participatory ‘Let’s Dance’ programmes, designed for everyone to jump in and dance alongside seasoned reggae heads.

While you’re there, don’t miss the Jerk Chicken Fest, which is happening alongside the main performance programme. Top jerk chicken vendors from across Japan will converge to showcase their takes on the dish, all packed with Caribbean flavour.

Explore Africa’s vibrant cuisines, music, dance, art and fashion at this year’s Africa Heritage Festival at Yoyogi Park Event Square. Returning to Tokyo this June, the festival takes place on June 20 and 21, featuring food trucks serving dishes from across the continent alongside a bazaar selling folk crafts and goods from around the world.

The highlight of the event is the Japan-Africa Friendship Memorial African Parade that’s scheduled from 2pm on June 21. This celebration will feature musicians on djembe drums accompanying a mikoshi (Japanese portable shrine) with African motifs – a symbolic testament to the long friendship between Japan and many African nations. Anyone is free to join in the fun.

Kyu Furukawa Gardens in Tokyo’s Kita Ward is known for its colourful roses that start to bloom in May, and this festival is your best chance to enjoy them all. The Western-style garden on the upper grounds is adorned with 200 roses of 100 different varieties. In addition to your vivid red and pink blossoms, you’ll get to see pastel-coloured ones including Kinda Blue, Cinderella, Manyo and New Dawn roses, too.

There will also be musical performances held on the lawn on May 23 and June 21 from 12noon and at 3pm.  Expect to also see a market in the garden selling potted roses, rose-inspired gelato and gardening goods from 10am to 4.30pm.

Check the garden's Twitter account for the most up-to-date flowering status.

Held every second and fourth Sunday of the month, this antique market gathers around 100 vendors outside Shibuya Garden Tower. You’ll find all sorts of antiques and vintage handicrafts, jewellery, art, home goods, clothing, plants and organic food from all over the world. The market also features a few food and drink stalls, perfect for when you want a breather from all the shopping. 

Note that the market will be cancelled in the case of rain. Check the event Instagram for updates.

Adachi-ku's brilliantly named Park of Living Things brings back its lunchtime firefly-watching event, which takes place on Saturdays and Sundays in June. Observe the magical dance of these symbols of early summer up close, and be sure to take the chance to visit the park's wide range of other displays, including the large greenhouse with dozens of butterflies, a glass tunnel where kids can observe Japanese insects and a corner with tropical fish, reptiles and other animals.

The event takes place from 1pm to 4pm. A session is held every 20 minutes.

Yomiuri Land amusement park has been breeding and raising fireflies to help conserve the species since 2009. This summer, you can watch genji botaru fireflies in June and heike botaru fireflies in July illuminate the beautiful Hana Biyori garden after dark, with the display running until July 1.

Hana Biyori is open from 10am, but the fireflies viewing time is from 7.40pm until 9pm (8.30pm on weekdays). 

A Hana Biyori ticket (¥800) and a separate Hotaru Biyori ticket (¥400) are required for admission.

Hydrangeas, also known as ajisai in Japanese, are commonly associated with the onset of the rainy season – just like cherry blossoms are with spring. Their vivid blue, purple, pink, or even snow-white colours make them instantly identifiable and enliven those dreary, wet days of the rainy season, which usually hits Tokyo from June to July.

Every year, you can spot these charming flowers throughout Tokyo, with bushes blooming in some of the city's best parks such as Ueno Park and temples like Takahata Fudoson. So grab your umbrella and head to these spots to see the most beautiful hydrangeas in Tokyo.

As the weather warms up, bars, hotels and even department stores in Tokyo are opening their roofs and terraces to the public – and with this, the beer garden season officially begins. As we say every year, it just wouldn't be summer without an evening spent idly sipping frosty pints or cool cocktails out in the open air. 

But how do you, the discerning drinker, find the most attractive deals among the myriad of beer events and festivals out there? Fret not; we’ve done the leg work for you, so go ahead and choose from our list below. Cheers!