April 2025 events in Tokyo

Better known as the Penis Festival, this annual highlight at Kawasaki's Wakamiya Hachimangu is all about praying for and celebrating fertility, strong marriages and protection against sexually transmitted diseases, hence the profusion of phalluses. The main festivitiess are typically held on the first Sunday of every April, but a few events are scheduled to take place on Saturday April 5, as well as on the following weekend. Here are a few highlights to look forward to.

April 5 (Sat), 2pm-3.30pm: Daikon carving event, in which radishes are made to look like penises.

April 5 (Sat), 5pm-6pm: Yoimiya Festival, a small festival typically held the evening before the main event.

April 6 (Sun), 10am-10.15am: Sacred Fire Ceremony.

April 6 (Sun), 10.15am-10.45am: Main Ceremony.

April 6 (Sun), 11.30am-2pm: Mikoshi Togyo Parade, during which a giant mikoshi (portable shrine) containing a variety of phalluses is paraded through the streets.

April 12-13, 10am-5pm: Flea market and food stalls. Visitors can also enjoy (in)appropriately shaped candy, vegetables and decorations while helping raise money for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. There will also be a photo spot to take pictures with the mikoshi.

The colourful Children’s Day koinobori carp streamers are an annual sight at Tokyo Tower, and this year you can see them at the main entrance from March 25 through Golden Week until May 6. There are 333 streamers set-up here, signifying the 333m height of the iconic tower. 

Among the 333 streamers, there's one that's not a carp – see if you can spot the sanma (pacific saury) nobori. This unique inclusion is Tokyo Tower's way of sending hope to the region affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

As this display is held right outside the tower on the ground level, you don't need a ticket to see this joyous sight.

For 11 months of every year, Nezu Shrine doesn't attract all that much attention from the outside world. Then spring rolls around, and its remarkable crop of azaleas burst into bloom. The shrine precincts are home to some 3,000 azalea plants – roughly 100 varieties in total, including rare breeds such as the black karafune flower – and has to find space for at least as many flower aficionados during the month-long Bunkyo Tsutsuji Matsuri. 

Another highlight of Nezu Shrine is its red torii gate tunnel, similar to the ones at Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine but in a much smaller scale.

Tokyo’s Kameido Tenjin Shrine is famous for its wisteria flowers, and with good reason – the shrine has over 50 wisteria trees, which usually reach their flowering peak between mid-April and early May. 

This annual festival features a handful of food stalls and an evening wisteria light up (times still unannounced for 2025). The purple blooms also look quite stunning during the day, when you can get a spectacular view of Tokyo Skytree in the background. The shrine is in the shitamachi (old downtown) part of Tokyo, so while you’re there, make sure to take a stroll around the area to explore the old-fashioned local shops and eateries.

To check the current flowering status, visit the shrine's Instagram.

Head up to Ibaraki's Hitachi Seaside Park from mid-April to early May and see a whopping 5.3 million 'baby blue eyes' – also known as nemophila – flowers in full bloom. The hilly grounds span 3.5 hectares and are almost completely covered with the little blue blossoms, making for a pretty spectacular sight.

The blooms are usually at their best from mid- to late April, but they are still a magnificent sight if you catch them a bit earlier or even right after peak bloom. According to this year's forecast, the flowers will be in their full glory between April 17 to 25.

Along with the flowers, the park has gone all-out with blue food and drink for you to enjoy during your visit. Sample blue ramune-soda-flavoured soft cream served with nemophila-shaped cookies, pretty blue lemonade, lattes and even a blue-tinged curry ramen. While you're at it, pick up a few souvenirs to take home with you including nemophila macarons, cookies and jewellery featuring the flower of the season. 

The park is home to various other spring flowers, too, including daffodils and tulips, which also bloom between April and May.

The annual Fuji Shibazakura Festival is returning this spring with a staggering 500,000 pink, purple and white blooms from April 13 to May 26. With its seemingly endless fields of shibazakura (pink moss) and view of majestic Mt Fuji on the horizon, it's no wonder that this annual spring festival out at Lake Motosu in Yamanashi typically attracts hordes of Tokyoites over Golden Week. 

In addition to the eight kinds of shibazakura, you’ll get to see other colourful blooms like cherry blossoms, grape hyacinth, poppy anemone and forsythia. While you’re here, it’s also worth checking out the adjacent Peter Rabbit-themed English Garden, decorated with around 300 kinds of plants as well as figurines of the characters from the storybook. 

One of the best ways to get here is by highway bus. A round-trip ticket including festival entry fee starts from ¥8,800, with the bus departing from Ueno Station Park Exit, in front of Tokyu Plaza Ginza and in front of Kogakuin University near Shinjuku Station West exit. It takes you directly to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival in around two and a half hours. We recommend making reservations in advance because seats can fill up quickly during spring.

Otherwise, you can opt for the two-hour-long Limited Express Fuji Excursion train from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko Station, and hop on the Fuji Shibazakura liner shuttle bus for another 50 minutes to get to the venue.

Asakusa Yabusame is a horseback archery performance that started as a New Year’s tradition at Asakusa Shrine during the Edo period (1603-1867). The spectacular event was revived in 1983 and now takes place every spring with plenty of pomp and circumstance.

The day starts out with kusajishi archery from 11.45am at Sanyabori Park, where men wearing formal samurai court robes and traditional headgear compete in aiming at a 110cm-tall deer-shaped target from about 20 metres away. This event is free to watch and doesn't require tickets.

Tickets for the main yabusame archery event are now available to purchase online. This show, which starts at 1pm at Taito Municipal Sumida Park, features mounted archers in traditional samurai hunting costumes aiming at targets while doing their best to stay in the saddle.

Tickets for the yabusame display cost ¥3,000 per seat. Check the event website for more information.

Even among Tokyo's innumerable flower-viewing spots, Ueno Park stands out with its sheer scale and tasteful lantern decorations. Turned on at sunset, these beautiful lights help make Ueno's nighttime sakura a must-see spectacle.

This year, the 20-day event unfolds across three areas within the park, all centred on the theme of food. At Takenodai Square (also known as the Fountain Square), food trucks from across Japan will serve regional specialties and festival favourites. The park entrance area near Keisei Ueno Station will feature food stalls from local Ueno vendors alongside shops from Wajima, a city in Ishikawa prefecture recovering from the 2024 earthquake disaster. Meanwhile, the square overlooking Shinobazu Pond will showcase food trucks offering cuisines from around the world.

Note that the festival period may change depending on the cherry blossom blooming dates.

Light up daily from 5pm to 10pm

This cherry blossom festival, one of Tokyo's most popular, takes place along the 700m-long Chidorigafuchi Ryokudo promenade near the Imperial Palace, around which there are some 250 sakura trees. During the day, you can take a stroll along the Chidorigafuchi moat or even rent a rowboat to see the cherry blossoms from the water. By night, you can enjoy the pink flowers lit up with LEDs.

If you’re interested in viewing the cherry blossoms from the water, boat rentals are available but require payment. Fortunately, a new pre-reservations system is available from this year, designed to minimise wait times.

Advance reservations cost ¥10,000 per boat and allow you to select your preferred date and time (change of date and time can be made until 8pm of the day before the desired date, availability permitting). A portion of the proceeds will go to the Chiyoda Ward Sakura Fund for the conservation of the Chidorigafuchi landscape.

Same-day tickets purchased onsite at the Chidorigafuchi boat pier cost ¥1,600 per boat for one hour of use, which is inarguably the more affordable option. Be sure to get in line fast though, as tickets will be distributed from 9am daily and are sure to run out quickly. 

For those who can’t get a hold of tickets during the peak period between March 29 and April 8, shorter 30-minute rides are available for ¥800 outside the event period.

For the sakura illuminations that start at sunset, expect lights out at 9pm. The boats, on the other hand, will be available from 9am to 8pm. 

The cherry blossoms will be illuminated from March 29 to April 8 2025.

Tachikawa's Showa Kinen Park isn't content with merely hyping sakura: its Flower Festival takes place over three months and celebrates the blooms of winter rapeseeds (in March), tulips (April), nemophilia (April-May), poppies and German chamomile (May), of course in addition to the cherry blossoms in March and April.

Along with flower-viewing, the park will be hosting a number of floral-themed events, and dedicated photo spots will be set up on the premises. Don't miss the chance to see a beautiful field of nemophila flowers in late April, which turn into a gorgeous sea of blue once 2 million nemophilia plants bloom at once.

Flower and Light Movement is an initiative by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government aimed at creating new and attractive – and eye-catchingly large – flowerbeds in city parks. The project is returning to Toneri Park in Adachi from April 11 to April 29 for a spectacular display of illuminated baby blue eyes (nemophilia). Both this vast field and the park’s around 1,000 cherry trees will be illuminated from 6pm to 8pm (until 8.30pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays). With several photo spots on site, be sure to bring a camera for that perfect Instagram photo-op.

Welcome the arrival of the warmer months with spring flowers and a gorgeous panoramic view of Tokyo this spring at Shibuya Sky’s Flower View. The popular observatory is bringing back its botanical garden-themed decorations at the 46th-floor indoor Sky Gallery for a special, limited-time flowerful makeover from April 8 to May 30. 

Expect to see giant art installations inspired by spring flowers such as cherry blossoms, tulips, lilies, dandelions and roses – making for an amazing photo-op with the city skyline as the background. While you’re there, make sure to drop by the Paradise Lounge on the same floor for their special spring-inspired drink menu. There’s a sweet and aromatic lychee and grapefruit China Blue cocktail (¥1,000) and a refreshing non-alcoholic orange squash soda infused with blood orange (¥850). 

If you’re planning to visit in May, don’t miss the chance to see the free rooftop live dance and music performance on May 4 from 4pm. (Admission ticket required)

Visit the Shibuya Sky website for more information on the Flower View event.

Experience Vietnam's fast-growing entertainment industry firsthand at the Vietnam Festival Next Culture Day on April 5 and 6. Held at Ikebukuro’s outdoor Global Ring Theatre, the festival brings the best of Vietnam to Tokyo, with stage performances by some of the country’s top up-and-coming artists, such as Erik, Duc Phuc, Vu Thao My, and more. 

If you’re looking to fill your stomach while enjoying the live performances, make your way to the courtyard outside for some veggie-filled banh mi sandwiches. The nearby lantern photo spot, where you can take pictures with vibrantly lit Vietnamese lanterns as the backdrop, is a must-visit. There will also be stalls selling festival merchandise such as the iconic non la cone hat and an official T-shirt designed by an up-and-coming Vietnamese graphic designer. 

Since starting in the US in 1970, Earth Day has spread to around 170 countries. It's celebrated every year in Tokyo with this festival at Yoyogi Park, which takes place on April 19 and 20. 

You'll find non-profit organisations and charity groups of all kinds setting up shop, as well as plenty of stalls selling eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle goods, clothes, handmade accessories and organic foods. Expect a massive gathering of eco-conscious Tokyoites, and don’t forget to bring your own shopping bag.

There will also be live performances over the weekend. You can catch sets by artists including healing artist duo Manakana, singer Tokiko Kato, jazz trio Sakata Akira SOS and many more. You can see the full list of artists on the website.

Paella Tapas Matsuri is one of Japan’s biggest Spanish festivals and will take place at Hibiya Park this year for its tenth edition, with plenty of tapas and paella to go around for the expected 30,000 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 oyster ajillo and Basque cheesecake. There will also be a competition for the best paella and tapas.

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)

Head over to Komazawa Olympic Park during Golden Week to spend an entire day sampling some of Japan’s best gyoza. There will be 17 stalls offering more than 30 different styles of this quintessential Japanese dumpling. Enjoy deep fried shoyu butter corn gyoza from Hokkaido, juicy seafood squid dumplings from Fukuoka, baked xiaolongbao-style gyoza from Osaka, Hakata-style hitokuchi (bite-size) gyoza, strawberry milk cheese dessert gyoza from Tokyo, and much more.

There will also be other dishes like fried rice to go with the gyoza, as well as craft beers from Hokkaido Brewing, Fujizakura Heights Beer and Fuji Premium Brewing. There’s no entry fee, so you can just pay as you go. If you want to forgo the hassle of paying at each store, there is a package deal sold online for ¥4,000, which includes five meal tickets and a fast ticket to skip one queue.

Held in Nagoya, Kyoto and Tokyo, this fully vegan festival is a welcome celebration in meat-mad Japan. The Tokyo event, which is held both in spring and autumn, is Japan's biggest plant-based festival. Expect a strong line-up of over 80 stalls at Kiba Park, selling everything vegan including veggie burgers, curries, burritos, doughnuts, ice cream, gelato and plenty more.

Every food stall will list the ingredients used (in Japanese), so you can be 100 percent sure that no animal was harmed or involved in the process of making your meal.

Niku Fes is back this Golden Week, bringing one of Tokyo's biggest meat festivals to Odaiba. The festival is being upgraded this year with more seats than ever before, plus plenty of live music as well as an extensive line-up of meat dishes.

You can feast on meaty delights such as A5-ranked steak, wagyu sushi, slow-roasted beef, beefy cheeseburgers and kebabs from around two dozen restaurants across Japan. Make sure to also try dishes from one of the eleven restaurants participating in the Steak King Championship. These restaurants are serving up their own unique takes on the classic steak, and it’s up to you to crown the winner.

As for the drinks, there will be craft beer from Abashiri Beer in Hokkaido and refreshing Mexican Cuervo lemon sours to accompany your meal. You can enjoy desserts, too, including churros, gelato and kakigori shaved ice. 

While there are plenty of benches to sit on, including a family area which is available after buying 10 meal tickets, purchasing the VIP experience gets you a dining space for four people. This deal features table service in a comfortable, shaded seating area. You can reserve it in advance on the website for ¥9,800. 

On April 28, 30, May 1 and 2, the entire facility will transform into a beer garden from 4pm to 9pm, when all beers will be ¥500. The first 500 people to enter from 4pm will receive free Niku Fes official goods. 

Need a break from all the eating? Head over to the stage area for live music during the day. Headliners and specific event details are yet to be disclosed.

Entry to Niku Fes is free and you can just buy food and drink as you go. But note that meal tickets can only be purchased through the official Niku Fes app.

Welcome the warmer months with a cool pint from one of the many brewers from around the globe that are gathering at Shimokita Craft Beer Fest this weekend. Celebrate the season with two days of top-tier brews, creative cocktails and even an exclusive festival-only collaboration brew. The Passion Impact NZ Pilsner 5.0% is made with Kohia Nelson hops, a blend of New Zealand-grown crops infused with passion fruit powder. Find this refreshing drink at the Shiokaze Brewlab booth while supplies last.

Boasting the presence of prominent brewers such as West Coast Brewing as well as lesser-known gems such as Kobo Brewery and Kaigan Brewery, the festival is sure to satiate the thirst of all beer lovers. Pair the best local brews with festival grub such as hot dogs, curry and Cuban sandwiches, all while soaking up the effortlessly cool Shimokita atmosphere. 

Admission is free, but reusable cups have been introduced to reduce the number of disposable plastic cups. Cups can be purchased for 300 yen.

As the temperature rises, so does our thirst for some good beer. Come down to Hibiya Park for a pint in the sun, as Belgian Beer Weekend is returning to the area for the first time in three years from Thursday April 10 through Sunday April 13. 

Boasting an extensive menu with over 100 options of lambic, witbier, trappist and more, the Belgian Beer Weekend may just be what you need to find your new favourite brew. Don’t miss the popular Belgian-style Frikandel sausages, roast beef or fries, as they make the perfect accompaniment to a cold pint.

Admission is free but you’ll need to get a starter set, which comes with a tasting glass as well as 13 tokens for redeeming food and drinks. Make sure you purchase this in advance on the event website for ¥3,700; it’s ¥3,990 at the door. You can buy additional tokens as needed at the festival (set of five for ¥1,150).

Check the event website for the full line-up of Belgian brews.

The iconic Tsukiji Hongwanji temple is hosting a one-day music and food fiesta organised by local volunteers. Pair delicious festival grub with smooth jazz this spring as over 20 stalls highlighting Tsukiji’s culinary traditions will set up shop next to an outdoor jazz stage. Six groups of artists will be strutting their stuff, including the Banksia Trio, saxophonist Sadao Watanabe and keyboardist Bigyuki. Be sure to check the event Instagram for more details.

Tickets are available to purchase now via Ticketpia.

This stunning afternoon tea is inspired by Tomokazu Matsuyama’s exhibition ‘First Last’, which is now showing at Azabudai Hills Gallery. The two coinciding events are a unique way of introducing art through food, created by the talented chefs at Janu Tokyo’s Janu Lounge & Garden Terrace.

Bites are embellished with intricate imagery from works shown at the exhibition, with items showcased on the first and third tiers taking inspiration from Matsuyama's art pieces including 'Passage Immortalitas' and 'Keep Fishin' For Twilight'. 

Highlights from the sweets menu include a decadent New York cheesecake with white chocolate, Janu's signature 'Januron' macaron, and a sakura and berry mousse featuring seasonal fruit. As for savoury options, look forward to a roast beef open sandwich made with beef sourced from Matsuyama's hometown in Gifu prefecture, and a salmon mousse and vegetable mille-feuille topped with caviar. Of course, no afternoon tea is complete without scones, and here you can enjoy a selection of plain and cherry scones served with unique spreads like soybean whipped cream and koji syrup, in addition to the obligatory strawberry jam.

Reservations for the afternoon tea can be made online.

Picking out some special treats from its plentiful permanent collection to celebrate the onset of spring, the National Museum of Modern Art displays sakura-themed art from March 13 to April 6. You’ll get to see Kawai Gyokudo's folding-screen masterpiece 'Parting Spring' and classics such as Hobun Kikuchi's 'Fine Rain on Mt Yoshino' at this seasonal exhibition. A visit here is best combined with cherry blossom-viewing at the nearby Imperial Palace, the Chidorigafuchi promenade and Kitanomaru Park. Make sure to stop by the museum shop on the first floor to pick up some seasonal stationery decorated with floral motifs.

The exhibition is closed on Mondays (except March 31).

Time to don those wizardly robes. From April 18 to September 8, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo are bringing the set of 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' to life to celebrate the film's 20th anniversary. The tour will feature recreations of props, costumes and locations from the film, such as the Great Hall, the Prefects' Bathroom and the Goblet of Fire itself. Themed food and merch will be available for purchase.

Times and ticket prices vary, so be sure to check their website for availability, as tickets must be purchased in advance and currently are only available until June 30.

Yebisu Brewery Tokyo is holding a collaborative art exhibit between Yebisu Beer and manga artist Hirohiko Araki, creator of the bestselling series Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. Widely known for his unique artistic style and poses, Araki was invited to collaborate with Yebisu Beer to draw bijin-ga portraits inspired by advertisements produced by the brewery in the early 1900s. Bijin-ga is a term used for portraits of beautiful women in Japanese art, and the style was often applied to beer advertisements back in the day. 

The exhibit will display Araki’s two three-metre tall modern interpretations of bijin-ga, drawn in his signature vivid style: ‘Western’ and ‘Peach Patrol.’ Don’t forget to get the limited-edition Araki-designed Ebisu Beer cans and merch on your way out, as they’re being released in limited quantities.