Summer festival season (夏祭りシーズン natsumatsuri shīzun) runs from July through August in Tokyo. Nearly every neighborhood hosts at least one festival, ranging from quiet shrine ceremonies to massive street-closing events.
What Happens at a Matsuri
Yatai (屋台): Food stalls line the approach to the shrine. Standard offerings:
- Yakitori (grilled chicken skewers): ¥300–500
- Takoyaki (octopus balls): ¥500–600
- Kakigori (shaved ice with syrup): ¥400–500
- Kingyo-sukui (goldfish scooping game): ¥300 per try
Mikoshi (神輿): Portable shrines carried through the streets by neighborhood groups. The bearers chant “Wasshoi! Wasshoi!” (わっしょい！) in rhythm. Anyone can join the carrying, just find the edge and lift.
Bon Odori (盆踊り): Traditional circle dances held in shrine grounds. Simple repetitive movements, join the circle and follow along. No skill required.
Major Summer Festivals in Tokyo
Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri (Mid-August): One of Tokyo’s most energetic festivals, centered around Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine in Monzen-Nakachō. Known for mizukake (water-throwing), spectators douse mikoshi carriers with buckets of water.
Azabu Juban Matsuri (Late August): A more relaxed neighborhood festival with a well-known nighttime parade.
Koenji Awa Odori (Late August): Not a traditional matsuri, but Tokyo’s largest dance festival. Over 10,000 dancers parade through Koenji’s streets in coordinated groups.
Words to Know
While walking through a matsuri, you’ll hear these constantly:
- わっしょい！ Wasshoi!: The chant used by mikoshi carriers. No literal meaning: it’s festival spirit vocalized.
- かき氷 kakigori: Shaved ice. The definitive summer festival food.
- 法被 happi: The short coat worn by festival participants, often bearing the neighborhood or shrine name.
Vocab: 夏祭り natsumatsuri: Summer festival. 神輿 mikoshi, Portable shrine carried during festivals.