Another summer weekend, another jam-packed itinerary. We are now firmly in the heat of the summer – both literally and figuratively – and Tokyo is just teeming with events and festivals. If you're keen to go all-out this weekend, start with the Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple Noryo Bon Odori on Friday August 2, then head over to the spectacular Itabashi Fireworks Festival on Saturday August 3. End your weekend at the Nakano Bon Odori Festival on Sunday August 4, where you could be dancing, Bon Odori style, to a Bon Jovi hit song.
Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple Noryo Bon Odori Festival
July 31–August 3
This Bon Odori celebration at Tsukiji Hongwanji is one of Tokyo’s most popular summer festivals. So don a yukata and join the dancing crowd in circling the yagura stage from 7pm to 9pm (6pm to 8.30pm on Saturday). Not to worry if you don’t know the steps – just mimic the dance moves of the locals around you.
The festival is also famous for its delectable street food selection, many of which are provided by popular restaurants from the nearby Tsukiji outer market. So go early and dance up an appetite for a feast.
Itabashi Fireworks Festival
August 3
Taking advantage of a serendipitous schedule clash, Itabashi's annual fireworks display takes place at the same time as the one in Toda City (Saitama prefecture), just across the Arakawa River. This year, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the nearby Arakawa flood bypass, the organisers are pulling out all the stops to make this fireworks show the biggest in its history.
You can expect a combined 15,000 shells of fireworks at this 90-minute event. On show are various styles of pyrotechnics, including an enormous star mine and the spectacular ‘Niagara Falls’, a 700-metre chain of explosions that always draws the biggest cheer of the night. As a special treat this year, there will be giant Poké Ball and Captain Pikachu-themed fireworks, too.
Nakano Bon Odori Festival
August 3–4
This Bon Odori festival, one of the biggest of its kind in Tokyo, will be held right outside Nakano Station. But unlike most Bon Odori festivities in Tokyo which take place in the early evening, this Nakano edition has an early start at around 10am with a series of music and dance performances. However, the main attraction only begins at 4pm, featuring celebrity guests and DJs playing J-pop tunes.
You can expect a good workout dancing to upbeat tracks from spinners including DJ Koo and DJ Celly. But what we are really looking forward to is matching Bon Odori dance steps to classic hits from Bon Jovi, who have endorsed the use of their songs at the festival.
For more things to do this weekend, see our curated list of events.
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