Five July Events to Enjoy in Tokyo!
Sophia Wasylinko
Summer is a busy time for tourists in Japan, especially in Tokyo. These natsu matsuri (summer festivals) range from traditional holidays to modern celebrations of nature, music, and art. We hope you’re inspired to check out one of these July events. What are you waiting for? Ikimashou (let’s go)!
Kagaya Starry Sky World Exhibition (May 1-July 1)
Located on the sixth floor of the Yokohama SOGO Department Store, the SOGO Museum of Art showcases different exhibitions from Japanese and Western artists every year. Its newest collection highlights Saitama photographer and digital artist Kagaya Yutaka, bringing the wonders of the sky to city dwellers and guests. The Kagaya Starry Sky World Exhibition will take your breath away and is an excellent choice for a date or family outing. Pair your visit with a trip to the rest of the mall.
Access: A three-minute walk from Yokohama Station’s East Exit
Hours: 10 am to 8 pm
Admission: 1200 JPY ($8 USD) in advance, 1400 JPY ($9 USD) at the door
Ocean Peoples Tokyo (July 6-7)
Moving northeast, we go to Chiba’s Sunset Beach Park Inage for this fun sea festival. Ocean Peoples Tokyo aims to connect people to the ocean to protect the waters and all creatures that live in it. There are surfboards, an open market, seafood, and live music. This year’s lineup includes YONA YONA WEEKENDERS on July 6th and ZEN-LA-ROCK on July 7th. If you’re in Chiba this weekend, we strongly encourage you to check out Ocean Peoples Tokyo.
Access: A 20-minute walk from Inage Kaigan Station
Hours: Open all day. The timetable to be announced soon
Admission: 8000 JPY ($51 USD) for a 1-day pass, 12000 JPY ($77 USD) for a 2-day pass. Entrance to the market is free
Shitamachi Tanabata (July 6-7)
Held on Kappabashi Hondōri between Asakusa and Ueno, the tanabata (star festival) remembers star-crossed lovers Hikoboshi and Orihime. A parade on the 6th will also feature police motorcycles and school bands, street performances, including dancing and taiko drumming, on the 7th, and a street market on both days. You’ll also get to write wishes on bamboo strips that will be burned or floated away. If you cannot attend Sendai’s Tanabata in August, please check out Tokyo’s Shitamachi Tanabata in July!
Access: Three-minute walk from Asakusa Station and five from Iriya Station, Tawaramachi, and Inaricho Stations. Kappabashi Hondōri will be closed to vehicle traffic that weekend
Hours: 10 am to 7 pm
Admission: Free
Are you looking for amazing snacks while checking out July events in Tokyo? Check out TokyoTreat! TokyoTreat delivers the best Japanese snacks, drinks, sweets, and noodles straight from Japan to your door so that you can have a fun summer party at home!
Enoshima Tenno Festival (early July)
Said to ward off natural disasters and epidemics, the Enoshima Tenno Festival is usually held around July 14 and lasts five days. On the main day, a mikoshi (portable shrine) is carried from Enoshima’s Yasaka Shrine and plunged into the ocean waters in purification rites. It then joins the mikoshi from the Koyurugi Shrine in Koshigoe, Kamakura; the two are carried together before returning to their home shrines in the evening. It is an exciting event that you must experience if you’re in Enoshima this summer.
Access: 15 to 23-minute walk from Enoshima, Katase Enoshima, and Shonan Enoshima Stations
Hours: 9:30 am to 6 pm. The dates for 2024 will be posted soon
Admission: Free
Windmill Sunflower Garden (July 6-21)
Our final entry takes us back to Chiba Prefecture. Sakura City’s Windmill Sunflower Garden is home to over 15,000 sunflowers. While there, you can ride a boat on Lake Inba, visit the Liefde windmill, and eat delicious soft-serve ice cream. We also recommend getting the “Traveling Sakura 1-Day Ticket” as a smartphone app or paper ticket. Give this garden a try!
Access: 10 minutes by taxi or 40 minutes by foot from Keisei Sakura Station. You can also rent a regular bicycle for 600 JPY ($4 USD) or an electric one for 1200 JPY ($8 USD)
Hours: 9 am to 4 pm
Admission: Free. You can pick up to two sunflowers for 100 JPY ($1 USD) each
Why should I check out these July events?
You should check out these July events because they’re perfect for the summer! Tourists will also learn and explore more about Shintoism, local art and cuisine, and the natural beauty surrounding Tokyo with less hustle and bustle. While some of these festivals have admission fees, they are more affordable compared to other tourist attractions and events, allowing you to save money for future activities. (Or spend more on market wares and street food!)
Finally, all the natsu matsuri highlighted here offer chances for amazing photoshoots. The sunflower shots and seaside selfies you take will capture these moments better than the priciest souvenirs can. Which of these July events are you planning to attend? Tell us in the comments!
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