Ueno Summer Festival

Ueno's 'natsu matsuri' kicks off with a parade down the area's central street on July 16, followed by a picturesque toro nagashi ceremony from 7pm on the evening of the 17th, in which paper lanterns are floated on Ueno Park's Shinobazu Pond. Further photo ops come on the afternoon of July 19, when ice sculptors will conjure some (doubtless short-lived) works in the park, and during the yukata show on the 24th. There will be market stalls in the park throughout the three weeks of the festival selling antiques and potted plants, as well as a variety of performances on the Suijo Ongakudo open-air stage. And if you're going at the weekend, beware: there might be clowns, too.