July is Tokyo's peak summer festival season: Sumida River Fireworks, Ueno Shinobazu Pond lotus flowers, Kawagoe Summer Festival. Here are 5 major events with recommended itinerary schedules.
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On July nights in Tokyo, the sky is always filled with the sound of fireworks and the beating of festival drums.
As the rainy season ends and temperatures rise, summer festivals begin to unfold. Here are 5 must-see summer festival schedules that you shouldn't miss when visiting Tokyo in July.
5 Summer Festivals and Fireworks Schedule
01 | Sumida River Fireworks Festival | Last Saturday in July
Tokyo's largest fireworks festival. Held on the last Saturday of July each year (estimated July 25, 2026), featuring approximately 20,000 fireworks over 90 minutes.
Recommended viewing spots: Asakusa, Sumida Park, Tokyo Waterfront. **Crowds are extremely heavy; we recommend securing your spot by 2:00 PM**.
02｜Edogawa Fireworks Festival｜Same Day as Last Saturday in July
Held on the same day as Sumida River, with approximately 14,000 fireworks. **Less crowded than Sumida River**, making it ideal for those who prefer to avoid large crowds.
Viewing spot: Edogawa Ward Ichikawa City Riverbank.
03｜Hachioji Festival｜Early July Weekend
As a representative summer festival in the Tokyo area, the **grand parade of festival floats (dashi)** is the main attraction. It takes place over 3 days during the first weekend of July.
35 minutes from Shinjuku to Hachioji by Chuo Line.
04｜Ueno Shinobazu Pond Lotus｜Mid to Late July
Shinobazu Pond's lotus flowers are in full bloom, visible in their complete splendor only from 5:00 to 9:00 AM. **Free admission**.
Recommended Route: Ueno Zoo, Ueno Park, Ameya-Yokocho Shopping Street.
05｜Yukata Styling｜Available for Rental in Shinjuku
Wearing a yukata to summer festivals is a tradition. **Shinjuku has 2-3 yukata rental shops**, with rates of ¥4,000–8,000 for a complete set including obi and accessories.
We recommend making a reservation before 9:00 AM on the day of your visit. The fitting process at the shop takes approximately 30 minutes.
July in Tokyo is packed with summer festivals — **just pick one fireworks display and one summer festival to have a rich experience**.
From IGO HOTEL, you can reach Sumida River and Ueno by train in under 30 minutes.
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