Ginza in August 2025: Highlights, Events & Festivals
The reason I made this article is the growing interest in tours that allow visitors to enjoy Japanese food culture and delicious dishes. As these tours gain popularity, Magical Trip's tour, which ranked #1 among all tours on Tripadvisor, has been receiving numerous applications.
For those interested in traditional Japanese cuisine, join the "Wagyu Beef & Sake Paring Foodie Tour in Ginza," where a knowledgeable local guide will take you to their highly recommended Japanese restaurants. While enjoying Wagyu and sake, your local guide will teach you proper dining etiquette and the best ways to savor each dish.
If you want to enjoy exceptional Japanese cuisine in Tokyo, consider joining one of these tours. With expert guides who know Tokyo inside and out showing you their recommended restaurants, you'll have an unforgettable Japanese dining experience.
・Tokyo Bar Hopping Night Tour in Shinjuku（ranked #1 among all tours on Tripadvisor）
・Finest Quality Sushi & Tempura Dining Experience in Ginza
We hope you'll have a wonderful time experiencing everything Ueno has to offer by joining a Magical Trip tour!
Introduction
As August arrives, Tokyo enters the peak of summer climate and becomes enveloped in a vibrant mood despite the heat. In particular, the attractive district of Ginza, where luxury brand shops and historic established stores gather, is one of Tokyo's most popular areas, and many people visit even on the hottest summer days.
In Ginza, you can have unforgettable Japanese experiences not only through sightseeing and shopping, but also through gourmet cuisine. During August 2025 in Ginza, traditional bon dance festivals and unique summer festival events are scheduled to be held. This article will thoroughly introduce the highlights and detailed information of these events.
Please use this as a reference to make your summer trip to Japan even more memorable.
2025 Year-round Event calendar in Ginza↓
・Ginza: List of Events & Festivals for 2025
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2 Must-See Traditional Events Recommended for Visitors to Ginza in August
Visitors to Ginza in August should try participating in Japan's unique traditional events. These events offer special experiences that you cannot have during regular sightseeing.
Discover the side of Japan not found in guidebooks, from the fantastical night scenery created by lantern lights to local street food beloved by residents.
Tsukiji Honganji Bon Dance Festival
Every summer, many people eagerly await the "Tsukiji Honganji Bon Dance Festival." The Tsukiji Honganji Bon Dance Festival is a traditional summer festival held on weekends from late July to early August at Tsukiji Honganji, which is close to Ginza.
This festival, set against the backdrop of a temple, provides an excellent opportunity for foreign tourists to experience Japanese traditional culture firsthand.
The specific dates for 2025 are yet to be determined, so please check the official website regularly for information updates.
<Information>
- Schedule: Late July to early August 2025
- Access: Exit immediately at "Tsukiji" on Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, exit at "Shintomicho" on Yurakucho Line (about 5-minute walk), exit at "Higashi-ginza" on Toei Subway Asakusa Line (about 5-minute walk), exit at "Tsukiji-shijo" on Toei Subway Oedo Line (about 5-minute walk)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://tsukijihongwanji.jp/
Main Event "Bon Dance" - A Dreamlike Experience on Summer Nights
Source:PR TIMES
The highlight of the Tsukiji Honganji Bon Dance Festival is undoubtedly the "bon dance."
Bon dance is a traditional Japanese dance that involves repeating simple movements to music. People form circles around a yagura (tower) erected in the center of the temple grounds and dance together.
The essence of bon dance is that everyone at the venue participates. When the music begins, the venue suddenly becomes lively, and people of all ages move their bodies together as one.
The tempo is relaxed, so it's not difficult for beginners. Take this opportunity to visit Japan and join the rhythm alongside the locals. It will undoubtedly become an unforgettable memory.
Powerful "Oedo Sukeroku Taiko Dedication Performance"
Source:Kokuritsu Ongakuin
Along with bon dance, what enlivens the Tsukiji Honganji Bon Dance Festival is the powerful taiko drum performance.
Among these, what I pay attention to every year is the dedication performance by "Oedo Sukeroku Taiko," whose powerful resonating drum sounds provide such moving experiences that they give you goosebumps.
The sound of taiko, a traditional Japanese instrument, will give foreign tourists a sense of Japanese "wa" (harmony). From the dynamic performance unfolding before your eyes, you can glimpse the energetic side of the traditions that Japan has cherished since ancient times, captivating even first-time spectators.
Please experience the overwhelming resonance that can only be felt at the venue.
Food Stalls Where Famous Tsukiji Outer Market Shops Serve Exquisite Cuisine
At the Tsukiji Honganji Bon Dance Festival, the variety of food stalls is also one of the enjoyments.
While it's not unusual for food stalls to appear at Japanese summer festivals, the reason I especially recommend this event is the high quality of the street food.
The venue, Tsukiji Honganji, is adjacent to Tsukiji Outer Market, where fresh seafood gathers. Therefore, famous shops from Tsukiji Outer Market also set up stalls, allowing you to taste exquisite cuisine that doesn't seem like typical street food.
It would be great to visit the venue with delicious gourmet food as your main purpose.
Hibiya Park Bon Odori Festival
Every year in August, the "Hibiya Park Bon Odori Festival," which boasts one of the largest scales in Tokyo, is held at Hibiya Park located right next to the Imperial Palace. This event, where you can observe traditional Japanese festival scenes in an urban oasis surrounded by high-rise buildings, is indispensable for summer Tokyo tourism.
Please experience the fusion of historic traditions and modern new culture at the venue. As one of Tokyo's premier cultural celebrations, this August 2025 event rivals even the sophisticated entertainment found in nearby Ginza, making it a must-visit destination for tourists exploring the capital.
<Information>
- Schedule: TBD
- Access: Direct from Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line・Chiyoda Line "Kasumigaseki" station, direct from Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line・Chiyoda Line・Toei Subway Mita Line "Hibiya" station, Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line "Sakuradamon" station (about 5 minutes walk), JR "Yurakucho" station (about 8 minutes walk)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.hibiyabonodori.com/about
Tokyo's Largest Scale Bon Dance
Source:Visit Chiyoda
The main event of the Hibiya Park Bon Odori Festival is the bon dance competition, which boasts one of the largest numbers of participants in Tokyo. When music begins to flow through the venue, people gather around the large wooden tower erected in the center of the park, forming multiple concentric circles.
The sight of people in yukata cheerfully keeping rhythm to traditional music as well as recent popular songs is a quintessential summer scene in Japan. The Hibiya Park Bon Odori Festival attracts many people from both within Japan and abroad to enjoy dancing together.
This makes it an attractive point that even first-time foreign tourists can immediately blend into the venue atmosphere.
Unique Bon Dance Related to Pop Culture
Source:Official website
What I particularly look forward to at the Hibiya Park Bon Odori Festival's bon dance is the music from pop culture such as anime and movies. While the famous traditional performance at the Hibiya Park Bon Odori Festival has long been "Marunouchi Ondo," recently other unique song selections have appeared.
For example, in 2023, characters like Darth Vader appeared on top of the wooden tower while the globally recognizable Star Wars theme song played.
This humor unique to this event, which attracts many foreign tourists, creates memorable experiences that transcend national borders - much like how the upscale Ginza district attracts international visitors for its unique blend of tradition and modernity during this special August 2025 event.
Various Food Stalls Offering Exquisite Foods Unique to Japanese Summer Festivals
Source:Visit Chiyoda
Many people want to enjoy Japanese-style street food at Japanese summer festivals. Of course, the Hibiya Park Bon Odori Festival also features numerous stalls of various types. Please try classic Japanese foods like yakisoba, takoyaki, yakitori, and okonomiyaki, as well as cold shaved ice and other foods perfect for hot summer weather.
While daytime temperatures in August often exceed 30 degrees Celsius, the heat subsides somewhat in the evening hours after sunset. Therefore, visiting the venue during dinner time and eating your way through the street food is one of the recommended ways to enjoy the Hibiya Park Bon Odori Festival.
If You're Interested in Japanese Traditional Culture, Let a Local Guide Show You Tokyo's Tourist Destinations Where Traditions Live On!
If you've come all the way to Japan, you'll want to experience traditional culture firsthand. Particularly when it comes to culture and customs, having locals explain them allows you to discover charms of Japan that you wouldn't notice on your own.
The Asakusa Cultural Walk & Matcha Making Tour takes you through the historic streets of Asakusa with a local guide while learning about culture and history. You'll not only visit the famous Sensoji and Nakamise Shopping Street, but also be guided to spots where traditions are rooted that only locals know about.
The tour also includes an experience of whisking your own "matcha," which has been gaining popularity overseas recently, and is extremely popular with users. This tour is perfect for foreign tourists who want to directly experience Japanese traditions, not just observe them.
- Meeting point: In front of Asakusa Sensoji Kaminarimon Police Box
- Tour area: Around Asakusa
- Start time: 11:00
Two Must-See Events to Enjoy in Ginza During August 2025
Planetaria TOKYO "Summer Star Festival"
Source:PR TIMES
During August in Tokyo, with its continuous hot summer days, indoor events where you can experience summer festivals are being held. At Planetaria TOKYO in Yurakucho, the "Summer Star Festival" event is scheduled to be held, where you can experience a Japanese summer festival under a beautiful starry planetarium. This is especially a must-see for foreign tourists as you can experience a Japanese summer festival regardless of weather or schedule constraints.
At the venue, you can not only enjoy traditional festival virtual scenery with lanterns and festival stall lights, but also taste actual festival street food that's being sold. Photogenic foods like fireworks-inspired drinks and toffee apples are also prepared, so please be sure to take Instagram-worthy photos with the fantastical venue scenery as your backdrop.
<Information>
- Date: TBD
- Access: Get off at JR Yamanote Line/Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line "Yurakucho" (about 2-minute walk), Tokyo Metro Ginza Line/Hibiya Line "Ginza" (about 7-minute walk)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://planetarium.konicaminolta.jp/planetariatokyo/
Yukata de Ginbura (Strolling Ginza in Yukata)
Source:Official website
To enjoy Ginza's summer, participating in "Yukata de Ginbura" is also essential. Yukata de Ginbura is an event where you stroll through Ginza's streets wearing yukata, which is a symbol of Japanese summer.
The scenery of streets colorfully decorated with people in yukata attire is sure to appear fresh to foreign tourists' eyes. At this event, you don't just walk down Ginza street - depending on the time, you can also experience various activities such as taiko drum performances, sprinkling of water experiences, and bon dance.
Ginza has many shops where you can rent yukata, so please take this opportunity to wear yukata and participate in the event. If you wear yukata on the event day, you can receive discounts and get presents at shops in Ginza.
<Information>
- Date: TBD
- Access: Get off at Tokyo Metro Ginza Line/Marunouchi Line/Hibiya Line "Ginza" (about 1-minute walk), Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line/Toei Subway Asakusa Line "Higashi-ginza" (about 3-minute walk), Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line "Ginza-itchome" (about 7-minute walk)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://ginbura.ginza.jp/#about
If You Visit Ginza in August, Create Lifelong Memories at Firework Festivals!
Source:TOKYO Ichioshi Navi
If you visit Ginza in August 2025, you should also experience the magnificent firework festivals that illuminate Japan's summer night sky. The fireworks launched generously into the urban night sky are full of power and will overwhelm foreign tourists seeing them for the first time. In particular, the finale presentation where thousands of fireworks go off one after another, creating a scene as if stars are falling from the sky, is sure to be moving.
Ginza has excellent transportation access and allows smooth access to various areas within Tokyo. In August 2025, firework festivals are scheduled to be held as exciting events in Koto Ward and Edogawa Ward, which are close to the city center, so please check the schedule.
You can experience a different atmosphere from the Ginza you experienced during the day.
<Information>
- Kōtō Fireworks Festival
- Date: August 11, 2025 (Monday) from 7:00 PM
- Access: Get off at "Minami-sunamachi" on Tokyo Metro Tozai Line (about 15 minutes walk)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://koto-hanabi.com/
Edogawa Fireworks Festival
- Date: August 2, 2025 (Saturday) from 7:15 PM
- Access: Get off at "Shinozaki" on Toei Shinjuku Line (about 15 minutes walk)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.city.edogawa.tokyo.jp/hanabi/
When You Come to Ginza, Don't Forget to Enjoy Japan's Highest Level Japanese Cuisine!
Gourmet food will also be one of the enjoyments of Japanese tourism. Among Tokyo areas, Ginza is a gourmet district where Japan's finest restaurants gather. Since you're visiting Ginza, please experience the special Japanese cuisine that can only be tasted in this location.
Finest Quality Sushi & Tempura Dining Experience in Ginza
For those who want to truly enjoy famous sushi and tempura restaurants, participating in the Finest Quality Sushi & Tempura Dining Experience in Ginza event is recommended.
This tour is accompanied by a guide well-versed in food culture, who will teach you not only about ordering dishes and dining etiquette, but also about the background of Japanese cuisine and delicious ways to eat. Therefore, it's sure to be a memorable dinner time.
Also, the ability to dine smoothly at popular restaurants that are normally difficult to book is an attractive point for foreign tourists who want to make effective use of their limited stay time.
- Meeting point: In front of the Lion statue at Ginza Mitsukoshi
- Tour area: Ginza
- Start time: 3:30 PM
Wagyu Beef & Sake Pairing Foodie Tour in Ginza
At the Wagyu Beef & Sake Pairing Foodie Tour in Ginza, you can experience all-you-can-eat of the highest quality wagyu beef and Japanese sake at carefully selected restaurants in Ginza.
Foreign tourists eating the finest wagyu beef for the first time will be moved by the marbled meat with its melting texture and the lean meat that becomes more flavorful the more you chew.
Also, Japanese sake has different flavors depending on the type, and by comparing drinks, you can find your favorite cup.
This tour includes a stroll through the streets of Ginza after the meal. It's an "authentic tour" where you can feel firsthand how Japanese people spend their nights in Ginza.
- Meeting point: In front of the black pillar near SAZA Coffee inside Ecute Edition - Shinbashi at JR Shinbashi Station North Exit
- Tour area: Shinbashi・Ginza
- Start time: 5:00 PM
