21 Best Things to Do in Tokyo This Summer
Kawasaki Daishi Wind Chimes Festival
Despite the heat and humidity, summer is an amazing time to be in Tokyo. There are plenty of seasonal activities, events and food to try, and many ways to beat the heat! Every summer I spend in Tokyo makes me wonder if this isn't my favorite season, because of the lush greenery and colorful, joyful matsuri.
If you're not convinced, you can check out this list of 21 best things to do in Tokyo in summer, which offers plenty of suggestions for a fun and active time in Tokyo during this season. I had a fun time writing this article and I hope you enjoy it too!
Participate in the Summer Festivities
1/ Join a Local Summer Matsuri
There are matsuri all year round, but there's something very special about the atmosphere of a summer matsuri, when you see people strolling around in yukata, traditional summer dances like Bon Odori and children having fun with traditional festival games like goldfish or ball scooping or fishing yoyo. With their street stalls, lanterns and colorful decorations, matsuri are my favorite part of the Japanese summer, as they are the perfect way to enjoy Japan’s delicious street food, and fascinating traditional culture and entertainment!
If I had to pick my 2 favorite matsuri in Tokyo (which is hard because they each have their own specificities and particular atmosphere), it would likely be the Mitama matsuri (13-16 July 2024) and the Asagaya Tanabata Matsuri (7-12 August 2024).
Mitama Matsuri at Yasukuni Jinja
Asagaya Tanabata Matsuri
You can find matsuri around Tokyo every weekend or so. I usually check websites like Time Out Tokyo or Tokyo Cheapo to find out what the upcoming matsuri are.
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2/ Marvel at a Breathtaking Fireworks Show
Adachi Fireworks festival
Fireworks displays in Japan are on a completely different level (and I say that as a fireworks enthusiast). They usually last between 1 and 2 hours, and tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of fireworks are launched into the sky. But with such a feast for the eyes, you can expect big crowds, especially in Tokyo, so plan to come early to secure your viewing spot. The Japanese generally gather 3-4 hours before the fireworks and picnic on site while waiting for nightfall and for the show to begin.
The most popular fireworks shows in Tokyo are the Sumida River Fireworks festival (27 July 2024), Adachi Fireworks (20 July 2024) and Edogawa Fireworks festival (20 August 2024). If the crowds scare you, I recommend you to look for fireworks shows in Tokyo suburbs or in neighboring cities, where it might be a little less crowded.
3/ Wear a Yukata
A yukata (浴衣) is a traditional Japanese cotton outfit, light and colorful, worn in summer, especially at outdoor events like matsuri or fireworks shows. They’re easier to put on, more casual and affordable than kimonos. If you’re planning to attend a matsuri or firework show, why not go all the way and wear a yukata too? You can find rental stores or buy them at Don Quijote shops or areas such as Asakusa.
If you’re looking to buy a yukata, here’s a little advice from personal experience. If you’re not sure you can tie the belt (obi) on your own, even with a video tutorial, and don’t have anyone to help you, you should consider buying a yukata with a pre-tied obi (called tsuke obi).
While yukata can be worn by both men and female, jinbei (甚平) are another summer alternative to yukatas for men, which I often see worn at summer festivals.
Photo by @bonjour.dora
4/ Attend a Seasonal Flower Event
Kiyose Sunflower Festival in August
If you’ve read my other articles, you’ll know that, as a flower lover, exploring Tokyo through its seasonal flowers is one of my favorite things to do. In June, the rainy season brings colorful hydrangea bushes to life, and and you can head to beautiful Tokyo spots such as Tamagawadai Park, as well as Kamakura to admire them. From mid-June, irises begin to appear in several parks in Tokyo, such as Horikiri Iris Garden, Mizumoto Park or Meiji Jingu Iris Garden. In July, it’s the lotus flowers’ turn to bloom. Head to Ueno Park early in the morning to admire them at Shinobazu Pond. August is the month of sunflowers, and several sunflower festivals are held around Tokyo, such as the Kiyose Sunflower Festival. In September, you can admire red spider lilies, and I can’t recommend the Kinshakuda Red Spider Lilies Festival in Saitama enough!
Lotus flowers at Shinobazu Pond, Ueno
Kinshakuda Red Spider Lilies Festival
Cool Down
5/ Go to the Beach for a Dip in the Ocean
One of the things I love most about living in Tokyo is how easy it is to spend a day at the beach. You're spoilt for choice, starting with Tokyo's Odaiba beach and the beaches of Enoshima or Kamakura, which you can easily visit as day trips. If you want to get away from Tokyo further, head southwest to the Izu Peninsula, to one of the charming coastal towns of Atami, Ito or Shimoda, or northeast to the beaches of Chiba Prefecture.
Kamakura Beach
Katase Higashihama Beach near Enoshima
6/ Go on a Week-end Trip at Higher Altitude
If, instead of the beach, you prefer slightly lower temperatures, there are plenty of weekends at higher altitude and therefore a little cooler, starting with Nikko, in Tochigi Prefecture. In addition to its historical and cultural importance, as home to a major temple complex, Nikko offers picturesque mountain scenery, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs and hiking trails. And in summer, the temperature is pleasant, around 25-28 degrees. Other suggestions in my top pick are Suwa, with its stunning lake and 4 beautiful shrines (I can’t wait to write more about this incredible place) and Karuizawa, a resort town in the mountains with serene nature, in Nagano Prefecture.
Chuzenji Lake in Oku-Nikko
View of Lake Suwa from Tateishi Park
7/ Try Japanese Cooling Products
If humidity and heat are a problem for you, head to your local drugstore or to Don Quijote to find all the cooling products you need to face the Japanese summer. Whether it's a shirt mist that creates an icy sensation, a refreshing eye gel mask or cooling wipes, I find Japanese cooling products very inventive and sometimes fun, and effective for cooling off, in combination with sufficient hydration, if, like me, you prefer to stay active and spend your summer outside!
8/ Hunt for Summer Drinks
One fun thing I like to do in summer in Tokyo is go beverage hunting to try the seasonal summer drinks sold at coffee chains such as Starbucks, Doutor, Excelior Cafe, and many others, or check out the new summer arrivals from konbinis, such as 7-Eleven’s frozen smoothies. Last summer, Starbucks’ watermelon frappucino was a marvel!
Enjoy the Lush Summer Nature
9/ Relax in One of Tokyo's Parks and Green Spaces
Yoyogi Koen in summer
There are so many parks in Tokyo that you can choose to spend a relaxing afternoon in the shade of a tree. I particularly like to take my picnic mat, a book and some badminton rackets to the big green and comfy lawns of Shinjuku Gyoen or Yoyogi Koen, or, in Setagaya, to the banks of the Futako-Tamagawa River.
Shinjuku Gyoen
Futako-Tamagawa Park
10/ Go on Nature Escapades and Hikes
On days when it’s not too hot, nature lovers can enjoy one of the many hiking opportunities available in the Tokyo area.
Within Tokyo, I highly recommend Todoroki Valley (or Todoroki Ravine), which is a nice and quiet nature walk in Setagaya. This pocket of nature actually becomes a refreshing corridor in summer, sometimes several degrees below the valley's outside temperature. Please note that Todoroki Valley is still closed and has been since September 2023 due to falling trees with heavy rains and the resulting safety measures. Although it is not possible to descend into the valley from the entrance under the Golf bridge near the station, you can still visit the Todoroki Fudoson temple, the tea house and the Japanese garden entering by the southern entrance or the temple entrance. If you’d like to go, I recommend you to check Google Maps regularly to see when it fully opens again.
There are also plenty of nature day trips that can be very enjoyable in summer when nature is lush and saturated in bright green, and you can walk under the canopy of trees. To name but a few examples, you could head to Mount Takao, Okutama, Mount Nokogiriyama, or the magnificent Izu Peninsula. But don’t forget to bring plenty of water, sun protection and cooling products with you!
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11/ Hike to the Top of Mount Fuji
Sunrise from the top of Mt Fuji
If like me, reaching the top of Mt Fuji was on your bucket list, then this can definitely be added to your summer plan, as Mt Fuji can only be climbed during the summer months. This year, the climbing season runs from July 1 to September 10. Climbing Mt Fuji requires good preparation and equipment, so be sure to check out the official Mt Fuji Climbing Website which contains all the information you need. You can also consult this website, See Mt Fuji, to find out a few days in advance what the visibility will be on the day of your climb.
IMPORTANT: As of this year, Japanese authorities have introduced new rules to address the problems of overtourism and environmental preservation. All climbers using the popular Yoshida trail must pay a mandatory ¥2,000 fee to access the trail from the 5th station. To limit overcrowding, a daily limit of 4,000 climbers has also been set (3,000 can be booked online, while the remaining 1,000 can be booked in person on the day of the climb). Note that these regulations do not apply to other trails.
12/ Explore Nearby Islands
Sarushima
One idea is to take a day trip to Sarushima, the only uninhabited island of Tokyo Bay. With its fort ruins, luxuriant forest, clear sea and barbecue and leisure facilities, it’s an ideal destination for a half-day or a full day trip from Tokyo.
I haven’t been myself yet, but high on my Japan bucket list is to explore the Tokyo’s nine islands, from the nearest and most easily accessible Oshima to the most remote and secluded Ogasawara. Each island has its own charms, natural wonders and activities. What’s really convenient is that you can reach them by a ferry or fast boat conveniently from Tokyo’s Takeshiba Terminal (some islands may also be reached by plane or by ferries from other ports like in Yokohama or Shizuoka). It is easy to organize a weekend trip to the closest islands from Tokyo, such as Oshima, To-shima or Niijima. Please note that during the Japanese summer holidays season, accommodation tends to be fully booked as they are limited. So be sure to secure an accommodation in advance, before reserving your transport.
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Escape the Heat by Exploring… Indoors
13/ Wander around in Tokyo's Malls
If you can’t stand the humidity and heat some days, you can head to one of Tokyo’s malls, like Sunshine city in Ikebukuro or Tokyo Solamachi just below the Skytree tower.
The reason I particularly like these malls is that they both have a Donguri (Ghibli) store as well as a Pokemon store, which I never fail to visit when I go!
Tokyo Solamachi
14/ Lose Yourself in Museums
In a city with dozens of museums, there's always a new or permanent exhibition to discover while cooling off in summer!
Ghibli Museum in Mitaka
Among my favorites, I would recommend the Ghibli museum for Ghibli lovers (advance reserversation in required), the National Art Center, a free museum for lovers of Japanese art and architecture, or the Mori Art Museum which always has new contemporary art exhibitions, to name but a few. For a different kind of exhibition, you can also visit TeamLab Borderless, a breathtaking digital art museum that will transport you to another world.
15/ Break Your Voice in a Karaoke
When I was exploring Tokyo in summer, I often ended my day at a karaoke to cool off (my body, not my voice) after a day of exploring. They're everywhere, making it a convenient and easy activity to do. The most popular karaoke chains in Tokyo are Karaoke Kan, Big Echo and Joysound. Personally, I like Uta Hiroba for its low prices (although some buildings are a little bit “vintage”).
16/ Go to the Movies
109 Cinemas Premium Shinjuku’s Lounge
As an avid cinephile, going to the movies is a year-round pastime. But air conditioning is a salvation in the summer months. It’s always fun to go to the cinema in other countries, and I really like going to the movies in Japan. Seats are spacious and I love the popcorn. Popular cinemas chains are 109 or Toho cinemas.
If you're looking for a unique cinematic experience in Tokyo, I recommend going to the 109 Cinemas Premium Shinjuku in the recently open Tokyo Kabukicho Tower. Tickets are more expensive as regular cinema tickets, but for a good reason. With its elegant lounge where you can wait for your movie with a view on Shinjuku and Godzilla, while eating free popcorn and drinks, you can experience cinema in an all-premium seating, high-spec projection and sound equipment.
17/ Other Indoors Ideas to Try Out
This being Tokyo, there’re no shortage of ideas for indoor fun. You can go to one of the Konica Minolta Planetariums to see the starry skies that you can't admire in a big city like Tokyo. You can also visit one of Tokyo's aquariums. If you’re looking for an original experience, then I recommend Ga-Kyo Aquarium in Odaiba or the art aquarium museum in Ginza where colorful fishes, lights and decoration create an enchanting setting.
Duo seat at Konica Minolta Planetarium in Yurakucho
Ga-Kyo Aquarium in Odaiba
You can also add to this list manga cafés or cat cafés, or even a combo of both, like it is the case at Cat Café Mocha, which I like because you can see how well cared for the cats are.
Fill up Your Belly with Summer Treats
18/ Try All Kinds of Ice Cream
Eating ice cream in Japan is a lot of fun, between the wide choice available in konbini and supermarkets and the original texture and flavors. When I travel around Japan, I find it very fun to taste soft serve made with local specialties such as wasabi, flowers, sake or even oysters! And let’s not forget about kakigori (shaved ice with syrop), often found at summer festivals.
19/ Eat Like a Local Resident
Some Japanese dishes are particularly popular in summer, such as cold somen, white wheat noodle, or zaru soba, cold buckwheat noodles dipped in a flavorful Tsuyu or Menstsuyu sauce. Another popular summer noodle dish is hiyashi chuka, made of ramen noodles served with fresh vegetables, ham, and egg, then topped with a soy and sesame sauce.
A summer tradition to try if you're in Japan at the end of July is to eat unagi (grilled freshwater eel, うなぎ) on Doyo no Ushi no Hi (which can be translated as "Midsummer Ox Day", celebrating the transition period between seasons, which falls at the same time as Ox Day according to the Chinese calendar). On this day, the Japanese usually eat unagi, which can be found in all supermarkets at a discounted price in the form of a dish called unaju (うな重), which consists of grilled eel fillets served with rice cooked in a rectangular lacquered box. It's an ideal dish for summer, as unagi is highly nutritious and contains protein, calcium and various vitamins that help maintain stamina and combat summer fatigue.
For those with a sweet tooth, like myself, one of the pleasures of summer is eating watermelon, which can be found in big quantities in the fruit corner of any supermarket. You might even see or try suikawari (スイカ割り), a traditional Japanese game that involves splitting a watermelon with a stick while being blindfolded. I’m also a big fan of coffee jelly, a refreshing Japanese summer treat made with coffee, powdered gelatin, and sugar, often topped with a vanilla ice cream.
Zaru soba with tempura
Unaju lunch set
20/ Have a Barbecue with Friends
Barbecuing is a popular summer activity in Japan. As in Tokyo, most people have little lawn and no place to use a barbecue, you can find barbecue areas in parks and other dedicated spaces that you can rent when you want to organize a barbecue party. There are many places where you can hold barbecue parties, such as Showa Kinen Park, the Tamagawa BBQ Area green space, or if you want a more original location, on Sarushima (which I mentioned earlier)! You'll probably need to book in advance.
21/ Sample Cafes for Fresh Desserts
The choice of cute cafés where to try pretty, fresh and delicious desserts is huge in Tokyo, whether you’re just looking what is around you or plan a dedicated trip to a cafe that you’ve heard about. For example, a restaurant chain I enjoy for a sweet break is Jonathan’s, with its delicious and inexpensive parfaits and its soft drink bar.
I’ll be publishing an article dedicated to my favorite cafés in Tokyo in the future, so don’t hesitate to sign up for my newsletter, which I’ll be launching soon, so you don’t miss it!
Mango parfait at Jonathan’s
A Few Tips to Enjoy the Summer in Tokyo
Take a good care of your body. The warmth and humidity in Tokyo can really be suffocating, so my best recommendation is always to have water on you, protect yourself from the sun sufficiently and listen to your body’s needs when you go out. If the heat is too much to handle one day, don’t be frustrated, as there are so many things you can enjoy indoors as well in Tokyo.
Always take a small jacket with you. You may need it on trains or indoors, as the air conditioning can be very cold.
Don't forget your mosquito repellent, and be ready for a possible encounter with Japanese cockroaches.
Be prepared for the crowds in big matsuri on weekends or firework shows. In a way, crowds are part of the experience, but if you have trouble being in a crowd, you might want to go to events on a weekday or early in the weekend.
Plan your holidays in advance in case you are traveling around the Obon celebrations (mid-August).
To Conclude
I hope that after reading this article, you'll have discovered some new ideas for things to do in Tokyo this summer. I've made this list based on my experience of Japanese summers over the last few years. If you have any other ideas in mind, please feel free to leave a comment and share them!
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