January - March
| Date | Name | Map | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1-3 | Hatsumode (初詣) | - | Hatsumode is the fisrt visit of the new year to shrines and temples practiced in early January. Meiji Shrine (明治神宮) and Sensoji Temple (浅草寺) are the top two destinations in Tokyo in that they attract the most visitors in Tokyo. Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社) holds many events during this period. |
| Jan 2 | New Year Greetings at Imperial Palace (皇居 新年一般参賀) | MAP | Can get in front of the palace building to greet the imperial family. |
| 2nd Mon of Jan | Kagamiwari-shiki at Nippon Budokan (日本武道館 鏡割り式) | MAP | A ceremony breaking hard rice cakes wearing armor. Demonstrations of martial arts are performed also. |
| Feb 3 | Setsubun Mame-maki (節分豆まき) | - | Many shrines and temples hold mame-maki (bean throwing) events on this day. Sensoji, Zojoji, Ikegami Honmonji, etc. are famous for conducting them in a large scale. Ukera-no-shinji at Gojoten Shrine is a Setsubun event which conserves an old form. At Hosenji, there's a monk warrior procession. |
| Early Feb - Early Mar | Ume-matsuri at Yushima Tenjin Shrine (湯島天神 梅まつり) | MAP | Many events are held on weekends while 300 ume (Japanese apricots) bloom. |
| Feb 11 | Kigen-sai at Meiji Shrine (明治神宮 紀元祭) | MAP | A relatively large parade, including mikoshi (portable shrines) march toward and inside Meiji Shrine. |
| Early Mar | Ume-matsuri at Akatsuka Tameike Park (赤塚梅まつり) | MAP | Martial arts demonstrations and stage events are held. |
| Mar 17-18 | Honzon-jigen-e at Sensoji Temple (浅草寺 本尊示現会) | MAP | Three mikoshi of Asakusa Shrine stay overnight at the main hall of Sensoji Temple. There's also a short procession and dance on 18th. |
| Mar | Asakusa Kodomo Kabuki Matsuri at Asakusa Shrine (浅草神社 浅草こども歌舞伎まつり) | MAP | For several days, children perform short kabuki theaters at the stage. |
| Mid-Mar - mid-Apr | Garden Opening at Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館 春の庭園開放) | MAP | The museum's Japanese garden will be open to the public without extra charge. |
| Mid-Mar - early May | Denboin Garden Opening at Sensoji Temple (浅草寺 伝法院庭園公開) | MAP | The area which was not destroyed in WWII will be open to the public for 300yen at Sensoji. |
April - June
| Late-Mar - early Apr | Ueno Sakura Matsuri at Ueno Park (うえの桜まつり) | MAP | One of the most renowned hanami spot in Tokyo. |
| Late-Mar - early Apr | Chiyoda no Sakura Matsuri at Yasukuni Shrine & Chidorigafuchi Moat (千代田のさくらまつり) | MAP | Another prestigious hanami spot in Tokyo. |
| Apr 2-7 | Gyoki-daie at Zojoji Temple (増上寺 御忌大会) | MAP | Relatively large parades in traditional outfits, along with other rituals, are carried out. |
| Early Apr | Hono-Ozumo at Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社 奉納大相撲) | MAP | Professional sumo wrestlers dedicate their bouts on the shrine grounds. |
| Mid-Apr | Asakusa Yabusame (浅草流鏑馬) | MAP | Shooting arrows from running horseback. |
| Apr 21-23 | Shunki Reitaisai at Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社 春季例大祭) | MAP | This is a semiannual grand festival of the shrine, and many performances are dedicated. |
| Late Apr - early Mar | Fuji-matsuri at Kameido Tenjin Shrine (亀戸天神 藤まつり) | MAP | Kameido Shrine is known for its fuji (wisteria) flowers blooming over the pond. |
| Late Apr - early Mar | Tsutsuji-matsuri at Nezu Shrine (根津神社 つつじまつり) | MAP | Nezu Shrine is famous for its tsutsuji (azaleas). Many events are also held on weekends. |
| May 2-3 | Haru-no-taisai at Meiji Shrine (明治神宮 春の大祭) | MAP | This is the semiannual grand festival of Meiji Shrine, and is one of the largest traditional festivals in Tokyo. |
| 2nd weekend of May | Kanda Matsuri at Kanda Myojin Shrine (神田明神 神田祭) | MAP | The annual grand festival of the shrine. It's one of the largest traditional festivals in Tokyo, though fully conducted in odd-numbered years only. |
| Mid-May | Sanja Matsuri at Asakusa Shrine (浅草神社 三社祭) | MAP | The annual grand festival of the shrine. It's one of the largest traditional ceremony in Tokyo. |
| Late May | Reitaisai at Yushima Tenjin Shrine (湯島天神 例大祭) | MAP | The annual grand festival of the shrine. Though relatively a large traditional festival in Tokyo, it's fully conducted in even-numbered years only. |
| Mid-Jun | Sanno Matsuri at Hie Shrine (赤坂日枝神社 山王祭) | MAP | The annual grand festival of the shrine. It's one of the largest traditional festivals in Tokyo, though fully conducted in even-numbered years only. |
July to September
| Jul 13-16 | Mitama Matsuri at Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社 みたままつり) | MAP | A large festival in summer. Main part held in the evenings. |
| Mid-Jul | Ueno Summer Festival Parade (うえの夏まつりパレード) | MAP | A relatively large procession composed of various traditional performances from across Japan, held adjacent to Ueno Park. |
| Mid-Aug | Fukagawa Hachiman-matsuri at Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine (富岡八幡宮 深川八幡祭り) | MAP | The annual grand festival of the shrine. It's one of the largest traditional festivals in Tokyo, though fully conducted every three years (2017, 2020, ...) only. |
| Late Aug | Kameido Tenjin-matsuri at Kameido Tenjin Shrine (亀戸天神 例大祭) | MAP | The annual grand festival of the shrine. Though being a relatively large traditional festival, it's fully conducted every four years (2018, 2022, ...) only. |
| Late Aug | Tokyo Otsuka Awa-odori (東京大塚阿波おどり) | MAP | A large awa-odori dance festival. |
| Late Aug | Marunouchi Ondo Dai-bon-odori Taikai (丸の内音頭大盆踊り大会) | MAP | A large bon-odori dance festival. |
| Late Aug | Tokyo Koenji Awa-odori (東京高円寺阿波おどり) | MAP | A large awa-odori dance festival. |
| Mid-Sep | Akasaka Hikawa Matsuri at Akasaka Hikawa Shrine (赤坂氷川神社 赤坂氷川祭) | MAP | The annual grand festival of the shrine. Fully conducted in odd-numbered years. |
| Mid-Sep | Grand Festival at Ushijima Shrine (牛嶋神社 例大祭) | MAP | The annual grand festival of the shrine. It's a relatively large traditional festival, though fully conducted every five years (2017, 2022, ...) only |
| Mid-Sep | Mirai-to-terasu at Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社 みらいとてらす) | MAP | A large festival which kicked off in 2015. Invites a few traditional performances from across Japan. |
| Late Sep | Feudal Firing Troops Parade at Kaichu Inari Shrine (皆中稲荷神社 鉄砲組百人隊) | MAP | The annual grand festival of the shrine. Conducted in odd-numbered years. |
| Late Sep & early Oct | Fukuro Matsuri (ふくろ祭り) | MAP | This event consists of mikoshi procession in late Sep and yosakoi dance in early Oct. |
| Late Sep | Shinagawa Shukuba Matsuri (しながわ宿場まつり) | MAP | Various events including parades in traditional outfits are held. |
October - December
| Oct 12 | Oeshiki Mando-nerikuyo at Ikegami Honmonji Temple (池上本門寺 お会式 万灯練供養) | MAP | A huge parade held at night. One of the largest traditional festivals in Tokyo. | |
| 2nd Mon of Oct | Takadanobaba Yabusame at Anahachimangu Shrine (穴八幡宮 高田馬場流鏑馬) | MAP | Archers shoot arrows from running horseback. | |
| Oct 17-18 | Oeshiki Neri-kuyo at Zoshigaya Kishimojin Temple (雑司ケ谷鬼子母神堂 御会式大祭 練供養) | MAP | Large parades held at night. One of the largest traditional festivals in Tokyo. | |
| Oct 17-18 | Nihonbashi Kyobashi Matsuri at Nihonbashi area (日本橋・京橋まつり) | MAP | A large parade of traditional dances from around the nation takes place. | |
| Oct 17-20 | Shuuki Reitaisai at Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社 秋季例大祭) | MAP | It's the semiannual grand festival of the shrine. Many performances are dedicated. | |
| Late Oct - Early Dec | Garden Opening at Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館 秋の庭園開放) | MAP | The musuem's Japanese garden will be open to the public without extra charge. | |
| Nov 1-3 | Aki-no-taisai at Meiji Shrine (明治神宮 秋の大祭) | MAP | It's the semiannual grand festival of the shrine. One of the largest traditional festivals in Tokyo. Many events, including dances, music and martial arts demonstrations, are held. | |
| Nov 1-23 | Kiku Matsuri at Yushima Tenjin Shrine (湯島天神 菊まつり) | MAP | Many kiku (chrysanthemum) flowers will be exhibited. | |
| Nov 23 | Niname-sai at Meiji Shrine (明治神宮 新嘗祭) | Tori-no-ichi at Otori Shrine (浅草鷲神社 酉の市) | MAP | The largest Tori-no-ichi Market (sells decorated rakes as amulets) in Tokyo. |
| 2 or 3 days in Nov | Tori-no-ichi at Hanazono Shrine (花園神社 酉の市) | MAP | Second largest Tori-no-ichi Market in Tokyo. | |
| Dec 23 | Emperor's Birthday Greetings at Imperial Palace (皇居 天皇誕生日一般参賀) | MAP | Can get in front of the Imperial Palace to greet the imperial family. | |
| Dec 31-Jan 1 | Fox Procession at Oji Inari Shrine (王子稲荷神社 狐の行列) | MAP | People disguised as foxes start parading when New Year arrives. | |
| Dec 31-Jan 1 | Nawatoki-kuyo at Nanzoin Temple (南蔵院 しばられ地蔵縄解き供養) | MAP | Untying a stone statue of Jizo covered with ropes. |
Below are some of notable traditional events held within the 23 wards of Tokyo.
Details of them and many other events will be announced at "Upcoming Events" on this page when their dates draw near.