Shibuya in August 2025: Highlights, Events & Festivals
Tokyo's climate in August has an average high temperature of about 31 degrees Celsius and a low temperature of about 23 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest time of the year. The humidity is also high and muggy, so it's recommended to choose well-ventilated clothing such as sleeveless tops and shorts.
Shibuya is one of Tokyo's leading entertainment districts, known for offering various entertainment options such as shopping, gourmet dining, and theaters. In August, Shibuya hosts numerous events that bring the entire town together and can only be enjoyed during this time. This article will introduce their highlights, basic information, event dates, and access to the venues.
August's Biggest Shibuya Event: Three Different Types of Events for the Entire Town to Enjoy
Shibuya's biggest event in August allows you to enjoy three different types of events throughout the entire town. These events, which offer various attractions, are enjoyed by many people from both Japan and abroad every year.
Shibuya Bon Dance Festival
Source:Shibuya Bunka Project
Do you know about Bon Dance, one of Japan's summer traditions? Bon Dance originally refers to dances performed during Obon (a period in summer for honoring deceased ancestors) to comfort the spirits of the deceased, and nowadays it is performed at summer festivals as part of community activities.
You can experience such bon dancing in Shibuya at the Shibuya Bon Dance Festival. It has been held since 2017 with the theme of "creating a place for interaction between people in Shibuya and people who come to Shibuya."
Bon Dancing with "Standard Songs" and "Original Songs" That All Participants Can Enjoy
Source:Official website
The Bon Dance performed on a special stage in front of SHIBUYA109, with traffic restrictions on Bunkamura-dori and part of Dogenzaka, features not only standard songs but also original songs as an attractive highlight. Many of the original songs incorporate contemporary elements such as pop music and anime songs, so even people experiencing Bon Dance for the first time will naturally find their bodies moving!
While Bon Dance has a unique rhythm, it has simple choreography that even children can quickly learn, making it easy for people to join spontaneously. When I participated, it was impressive to see many foreigners dancing Bon Dance by watching and imitating others.
"Unique Japanese Summer Festival" Experiences You Can Enjoy at Food Stalls
Source:Official website
Besides Bon Dance, you can also enjoy "unique Japanese summer festival" experiences at the food stalls.
At the venue, you can enjoy Japanese summer festival classics such as super ball scooping (a game where you scoop floating super balls from water with a special tool), target shooting (a game where you aim and shoot at toys with a gun), and mask-making workshops, or eat at food trucks that offer light meals and drinks. I tried super ball scooping with a friend, and we both enjoyed returning to our childhood.
The food stalls can be enjoyed before the Bon Dance begins, so please arrive at the venue early and try challenging yourself with traditional Japanese games.
Highly Anticipated Stage Events by Various Groups
Source:Official website
The special stage also hosts highly anticipated stage events by various groups.
On stage, music by club DJs and dance and live performances by artists are showcased, befitting Shibuya's reputation as a town for young people, and the entire venue becomes immersed in festival mode. Even those who are not comfortable dancing in public can fully enjoy it!
You can enjoy entertainment packed with the unique charm of urban-style Bon Dance and experience something out of the ordinary, which has gained a good reputation. Why not casually participate while visiting Shibuya for sightseeing?
Meiji Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival
Source:Official website
When it comes to traditional summer events in Japan, fireworks festivals are iconic. Originally, fireworks were launched to ward off evil spirits and for memorial purposes, but during the Edo period, they evolved into entertainment events for viewing pleasure, much like modern fireworks festivals.
The Meiji Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival is a popular fireworks display launched at Meiji Jingu Gaien, attracting as many as one million people annually. At Jingu Stadium, which features official paid viewing seats, visitors can also enjoy live concerts by artists, making it known as an urban-style fireworks festival.
10,000 Fireworks - The Metropolitan Area's Largest Scale Spectacular Display
Source:Official website
The fireworks festival features a spectacular display of 10,000 fireworks, the largest scale in the metropolitan area, drawing crowds from children to adults. The event is particularly characterized by large and small starmine (rapid-fire consecutive fireworks), and the sight of fireworks illuminating the urban night sky amidst towering buildings is absolutely breathtaking!
I once went to see it with my nephew, and we were so captivated by the successive fireworks launches that we forgot about eating our meal. Since fireworks constantly change their expressions, you can't take your eyes off them for even a moment! The one hour from 19:30 to 20:30 when the fireworks festival takes place will pass by in the blink of an eye.
Securing Paid Viewing Seats Allows You to Enjoy the Fireworks Leisurely
Source:Official website
While the fireworks launched high into the sky can be seen from various locations throughout Tokyo, securing paid viewing seats allows you to enjoy the fireworks leisurely.
There are several locations where you can watch the Meiji Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival from paid viewing seats, but if you want to experience the powerful fireworks, two official paid viewing seats are recommended:
・Jingu Stadium (A seats: 9,000 yen / SS seats: 13,000 yen)
・Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium (All seats: 7,000 yen)
I reserved seats at Jingu Stadium, which had backrests, so I could lean back in the chair and look up at the night sky stress-free. Those who want to comfortably enjoy the inevitably crowded fireworks festival should reserve paid seats in advance.
Harajuku Omotesando Genki Festival Super Yosakoi
Source:Official website
The Harajuku Omotesando Genki Festival Super Yosakoi is the largest yosakoi festival in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which began in 2001. "Yosakoi" originated in Kochi Prefecture for economic revitalization and regional development, and is renowned for its rhythmic dancing performed to the "Yosakoi Bushi" melody.
The Harajuku Omotesando Genki Festival Super Yosakoi preserves the traditional "yosakoi" culture of Kochi while being held as part of the Meiji Shrine dedication festival. Yosakoi teams gather not only from Japan but also from overseas, and during the two-day event period, the entire Harajuku Omotesando area is painted in yosakoi colors.
Various Groups Showcase Numerous Yosakoi Performances
Source:Official website
At the venue, you can witness numerous yosakoi performances by various groups. Over 100 teams participate in the festival, including those from Kochi Prefecture, the birthplace of yosakoi. You can enjoy energetic dancing at multiple venues including Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park, where performers dance while shaking naruko (percussion instruments that make sounds when shaken by hand). Watching the dancers' rhythmic movements will undoubtedly make you want to dance too!
Pay attention not only to the perfectly synchronized dancing but also to the colorful costumes. Each team's unique costumes showcase their individual characteristics, so it's fun to look for your favorite costume style.
Performances are Also Held on the Special Stage at Yoyogi Park!
Source:Kochi Shimbun
Yosakoi can be seen at Yoyogi Park as well as Harajuku Omotesando and NHK Keyaki Namiki Street. My personal recommendation is the performances on the special stage at Yoyogi Park.
While the sight of dancers parading through the streets is wonderful, watching teams dance together on Yoyogi Park's large stage is spectacular and captivating. The large-scale dancing that makes full use of the big stage excites the audience and energizes the entire venue!
The sight of dancers performing vibrantly with spirited calls is full of energy, and just watching gives you power.
Yoyogi Park Features Many Food Stalls Typical of Japanese Summer Festivals
Source:Shibuya Keizai Shimbun
At Yoyogi Park, in addition to watching yosakoi on the special stage, you can also enjoy food stalls typical of Japanese summer festivals.
When I participated, there was a bustling gourmet event featuring local specialties from all over Japan. From Kochi Prefecture, the birthplace of yosakoi, there were udon and charcoal-grilled local chicken, while other prefectures offered yakisoba and salt-grilled sweetfish - perfect menu items for food walking.
In the food stall area, you can also see dancers walking around still in their costumes. This is a precious chance to see the dancers' gorgeous costumes up close! Since the event runs throughout the day, take a break and try some exquisite gourmet food.
If You Visit Tokyo in August, Enjoy Bar Hopping in Shibuya Where Cool Evening Breezes Blow
If you visit Tokyo in August, enjoy bar hopping in Shibuya where cool evening breezes blow! The Shibuya Bar Hopping Night Tour in Tokyo is a tour where you can visit three izakaya-style bars in Shibuya.
The highlight is a street where 28 meat-themed restaurants gather, where you can taste exquisite wagyu beef and alcohol. Savoring Japan's world-renowned, umami-rich brand wagyu beef with beer, sake, or shochu will undoubtedly create a blissful dinner time. Vegetarian and allergy accommodations are also possible, so if you have concerns, consult with the guide in advance.
Why not enjoy Tokyo's nightlife while strolling through Shibuya's dazzling neon-lit night streets? This Shibuya Event August 2025 promises to be an unforgettable experience for tourists seeking authentic Tokyo nightlife and cultural immersion.
Information:
Meeting Point: SHIBUYA TSUTAYA
Tour Area: Shibuya
Start Times: 18:00, 19:00
Traditional and Cultural Events You Must Participate in When Visiting Tokyo in August
Here we introduce traditional and cultural events that you absolutely must participate in when visiting Tokyo in August. These are events that can only be experienced here, so they will definitely create unforgettable memories.
Fukagawa Festival
Source:Koto City
Fukagawa Festival is one of the three great Edo festivals, held at Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine in Koto Ward. The main festival takes place once every three years, where the sight of 120 large and small town mikoshi (portable shrines believed to carry gods during festivals) parading through the streets overwhelms viewers.
The festival's greatest highlight is when spectators perform "mizukake" (water splashing) on the mikoshi carriers, where audiences splash water on the carriers wishing for purification and good health. I have experienced mizukake myself, and while getting completely soaked, I felt a sense of unity with the carriers and enjoyed the festival while forgetting the heat. Since there are few festivals nationwide where you can participate in "mizukake," Fukagawa Festival can be said to be a festival of high cultural value.
Anyone who is a festival participant can join in the mizukake, so please try this summer memory-making challenge.
<Information>
Date: Around August 15, 2025
Access: 3-minute walk from Monzen-nakacho Station (Tozai Line), 6-minute walk from Monzen-nakacho Station (Oedo Line)
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.baynet.ne.jp/fukagawamatsuri/
Tsukiji Honganji Bon Dance Festival
Source:PR TIMES
Tsukiji Honganji Bon Dance Festival is Tokyo's largest Bon Dance event held at Tsukiji Honganji Temple. Along with classic songs, many unique tracks that can only be heard here are played, attracting large crowds every year.
What's noteworthy is that the festival is also called "Japan's most delicious eco-friendly Bon Dance Festival," where you can taste specialty dishes from Tsukiji Outer Market at food stalls within the venue. I enjoyed walking around eating tamagoyaki (rolled omelet) from Tsukiji Shouro and karaage (fried chicken) from Torito while enjoying the spectacular Bon Dance festivities.
Since it's easily accessible from Ginza and admission is free, many foreign tourists participate. Why not casually drop by while sightseeing in Ginza and enjoy traditional Japanese dance and cuisine?
<Information>
Date: TBD August 2025
Access: Right from Tsukiji Station (Hibiya Line), 5-minute walk from Shintomicho Station (Yurakucho Line), Higashi-ginza Station (Asakusa Line), and Tsukijishijo Station (Oedo Line)
Admission: Free
Website: https://tsukijihongwanji.jp/
Itabashi Fireworks Festival
Source:Go Tokyo
Itabashi Fireworks Festival is a fireworks display launched from the Arakawa riverbed in Itabashi Ward. There are three highlights:
• Tokyo's largest-scale 15-go size fireworks launches
• 300-meter-wide "Great Niagara Falls"
• Competition of new fireworks by Japan's top-level fireworks artisans
While most Tokyo fireworks festivals feature 4-8 go size fireworks, only Itabashi Fireworks Festival allows you to view the spectacular 15-go size fireworks. I have attended before and enjoyed the highly entertaining fireworks from start to finish without getting bored.
On the opposite bank across the Arakawa River, Saitama Prefecture's Toda City simultaneously holds the "Todabashi Fireworks." Combined from both banks, you can see 15,000 fireworks, so please visit and enjoy the fireworks that color the night sky.
<Information>
Date: August 2, 2025
Access: 20-minute walk from Takashimadaira Station, Nishi-dai Station, and Hasune Station (Mita Line)
Admission: Free (paid seating available)
Website: https://itabashihanabi.jp/
The Oriental Entertainment District "Shinjuku" - 2024's Tripadvisor No.1 Tour is Also Recommended
The 2024 Tripadvisor No.1 tour that can be enjoyed in the Oriental entertainment district "Shinjuku" is also highly recommended. The Tokyo Bar Hopping Night Tour in Shinjuku is a tour where you can savor Tokyo's food culture at hidden famous establishments in Shinjuku.
The tour takes you to bars in Shinjuku's retro drinking district "Omoide Yokocho" and Tokyo's premier entertainment district "Kabukicho," where you can choose your favorite meals from over 30 menu items including yakitori, sashimi, and gyoza, accompanied by beer and sake. Since the menu features distinctly Japanese dishes, please select the best dishes together with guides well-versed in Japanese cuisine.
All shops are popular with locals, so why not experience Japan's drinking culture by mingling with the locals?
For an even more comprehensive Tokyo experience, consider exploring additional events like the exciting Shibuya Event August 2025, which offers another fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in Tokyo's vibrant cultural scene during your summer visit.
<Information>
Meeting Point: Uniqlo Shinjuku West Exit Store
Tour Area: Shinjuku
Start Times: Every 30 minutes from 17:00-19:00
