Festivals and Annual Events

This event refers to the Japanese New Year. This festival is held annually at the various temples in and around Tokyo. This is supposed to be a very significant day and celebration. The residents of Tokyo after having a traditional breakfast head to their religious and spiritual temples/ shrines to pray for good fortune.

This event takes place annually in the month of July. The venue is Sumida Gawa. The Hananbi (Japanese for fireworks) display at this time of the year all along the river is absolutely brilliant. The atmosphere is electric too with food stalls set up here and there for spectators to indulge in local delights while enjoying the breathtaking display. These aren’t just any old fireworks- companies compete with each other to see whose display is best using advanced technologies.

This festival lasts one whole month and is held annually. It is characterized by a vast array of performing arts. There are a number of venues around the city commemorating the occasion, including concerts, dance shows and plays. The city comes to life during this one month and residents and tourist’s alike look forward to it.

This event takes place annually in the month of August. The venue is the Asakusa district but the parade visits other parts of the city too. The residents of Tokyo have taken to this dance form most commonly identified with Latin America. Groups from all over Japan converge on Tokyo to perform the Samba. The costumes worn by the girls are beautiful and the parade is grand.

Tokyo hosts the finals of this important international event every year in the month of August. This is one of the most prestigious tournaments in women’s volleyball and many countries participate in it.

This event is held annually in the month of September. The venue is the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Hall. Sumo wrestling has, through the ages, always been identified with Japan. This ancient sport involves a battle of mind and matter. The sumo wrestlers are huge and seeing them is truly remarkable. But it is not to be forgotten, that this sport is a kind of art involving over 60 different kinds of techniques and maneuvers. This sport also embodies the culture and traditions of Japan itself. It has retained some of its ancient symbolic features- for instance salt is still scattered over the clay ground before the competition and the referee still holds the fan; a symbol of his power over authority.

This festival is held annually at the Tokyo International Forum. Jazz artists and bands from around the globe converge on Tokyo at this time of the year to treat the city’s residents to some wonderful jazz. The festival lasts about three days.

This event is held annually. The venue is the beautiful Meiji Jingu Gaien garden. It lasts three days and is a treat for the fashion conscious populace of Tokyo. Primarily European designers display their collections- clothes, accessories, jewelry as well as furniture are exhibited.

This festival takes place every year and lasts about three days. The event marks the death anniversary of the High Priest Nichiren’s death. People from all over Tokyo converge at this temple for a somber parade marked by blaring sounds of gongs and carriages bearing lanterns.

This event takes place twice every year. The city and its residents become gripped with excitement over the launching of new collections by designers from Japan itself and abroad. Tokyo is the fashion capital of Japan and its residents are known to be consciously following and keeping up with the latest trends.

This event is held annually. It lasts one whole week and the venue is Roppongi Hills. Japanese films as well as those from around the globe are screened here. The festival is divided into sections including Japanese Eyes, World Cinema and Special Screenings amidst others. Japanese cinema is famed the world over especially its horror classics. Some of the biggest Hollywood Blockbuster Horror films such as the Grudge and The Ring were originally Japanese. This festival is a great way to get acquainted with the works of Japanese directors.

This event is held annually. It lasts one week and takes place at the Ariake Colosseum. This is a women’s tennis tournament with a generous cash award to the winners. Lady tennis players from the globe over converge in Tokyo at this time of the year. Tennis starts including Hingis, Davenport and the William sisters have participated in this tournament.

This event is held annually in Odaiba. Yosakoi is a traditional form of dance. This event is characterized by people and teams from all over Japan performing this dance to contemporary music. There also various workshops that are held where people can acquaint themselves with this dance form.

This event is held every year in November at the Tokyo Big Sight venue. Various cycles are put on display. A number of companies participate in this exhibition. The latest technologies utilized in producing comfortable, safer and more environmentally conscious bicycles are displayed as well. Lately there has been an emphasis on using cycles as an alternative to carbon emitting cars to take a stand against global warming which the Japanese are quickly capitalizing on.