Ultimate Guide to Tokyo Events September 2025: World Athletics Championships, Tokyo Game Show, Traditional Festivals & Must-Do Activities
The intense heat of August subsides, and as September arrives, the scorching summer heat diminishes, making daytime temperatures a comfortable average of 27°C (80°F). September is truly the perfect season to enjoy outdoor events and festivals.
In Japan's capital city "Tokyo," various events are held throughout September, ranging from traditional Japanese cultural festivals to vibrant events that showcase the energy of Japanese people, and even outdoor beer gardens where you can enjoy food and drinks.
This time, as someone born in Tokyo, I will pick and introduce the recommended Tokyo Event September 2025 experiences! Please use this as a reference when sightseeing in Tokyo.
Must-See September Festivals in Tokyo That Let You Experience Japanese Culture Firsthand
I'll introduce three representative festivals held in Tokyo during September where you can experience Japanese culture firsthand. Opportunities to see traditional culture and religious ceremonies in the city streets are rare, so if you're interested in Japanese culture and history, please be sure to visit Shibuya!
Konno Hachimangu Shrine Festival
Source:Play Shibuya
"Konno Hachimangu Shrine" is a shrine located in the heart of "Shibuya," Tokyo's representative entertainment district. Established in 1092, this prestigious shrine with its impressive red gates and main halls has been protecting the Shibuya area for over 1,000 years.
Every September at Konno Hachimangu Shrine, the year's largest festival is held to praise the gods and pray for good health and the prosperity of the city. It's a very energetic festival, and the sight of people carrying "Mikoshi" (portable shrines containing deities) marching through the streets of Shibuya with powerful chants of "Wasshoi!" is truly a must-see. This is a festival where you can feel the strength and tradition of the people.
Information:
- Date: Mid-September 2025
- Venue: Konno Hachimangu Shrine
- Access: 5-minute walk from JR Shibuya Station Exit C1
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://shibuyamatsuri.com/ (This is the 2024 site)
- Konno Hachimangu: https://www.konno-hachimangu.jp/index_en.html
Sakurashinmachi Nebuta Festival
Source:Sakura Shinmachi Shotengai
"Sakurashinmachi Shopping Street" has been supporting people's daily lives for over 90 years since around 1932. Since this is also the town where the characters from the Japanese anime "Sazae-san," which depicts everyday Japanese life, live, you can see character monuments throughout the shopping street.
Since 2004, the "Nebuta Festival" has been held annually at Sakurashinmachi Shopping Street. Nebuta are giant lanterns made of Japanese paper in the shapes of demons and people from ancient times. Their slightly frightening appearance stems from the wishes to ward off illness and evil spirits.
When night falls, the Nebuta are illuminated and a parade begins, bringing the festival to its climax. The power of the Nebuta and the sight of people dancing with chants make you feel the strength that Japanese festivals possess.
Information:
- Date: September 2025
- Venue: Sakurashinmachi Shopping Street
- Access: From Shibuya Station, take Tokyu Railways "Den-en-toshi Line" and get off at "Sakurashinmachi" Station
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.sakurashinmachi.net/distinations/%e7%ac%ac19%e5%9b%9e%e6%a1%9c%e6%96%b0%e7%94%ba%e3%81%ad%e3%81%b6%e3%81%9f%e3%81%be%e3%81%a4%e3%82%8a9-21%e3%81%ab%e9%96%8b%e5%82%ac%e6%b1%ba%e5%ae%9a%ef%bc%81%ef%bc%81/
- Sakurashinmachi Shopping Street: https://www.sakurashinmachi.net/
Ark Hills Autumn Festival
Source:Mori Building
Ark Hills is an urban community consisting of hotels, embassies, shopping centers, and more. Every September, Ark Hills hosts the "Ark Hills Autumn Festival."
This festival has over 30 years of history and is beloved by locals. It features essential elements of Japanese festivals, including Mikoshi processions, "Bon Dance" (traditional Japanese dance), and Japanese taiko drum performance stages.
During the Autumn Festival period, traditional stalls called "Ennichi" line up, selling cotton candy and water balloons, along with bamboo lanterns, creating an attractive atmosphere where you can experience the feel of traditional Japanese festivals firsthand.
Information:
Date: September 2025 (scheduled)
Venue: Ark Hills
Access: 7-minute walk from JR Tokyo Station to "Kyobashi Station," then take "Tokyo Metro Ginza Line" and get off at "Roppongi-itchome Station," 5-minute walk
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.arkhills.com/
Author's Recommended Events You Can Only Enjoy in September Tokyo
September is also characterized by large-scale events, including those that blend Japanese culture with exotic atmospheres, and fireworks displays that are essential to Japanese festivals. Here, I'll introduce three Tokyo Event September 2025 experiences that I recommend.
40th Chofu Fireworks Festival
Located in Chofu city in western Tokyo, fireworks festivals have been held since 1933. Every year, approximately 10,000 fireworks illuminate the urban night sky.
The "Chofu fireworks festival" is characterized by its highly narrative fireworks displays synchronized to music. It is also said to be a pioneer of music-synchronized firework shows. This year, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the event, 70 consecutive large-scale fireworks called "shakudama" will be launched, allowing you to enjoy spectacular and powerful views.
Fireworks festivals held in autumn are rare even in Japan, so if you want to watch fireworks, please definitely visit Chofu!
Information:
- Date: September 20, 2025
- Venue: Tama river riverside
- Access: Take Keio line from Shinjuku station, 20-minute walk from "Chofu" station or 5-minute walk from "Keio Tamagawa" station
- Admission: Free, premium seats from 4,500 yen
- Website: https://hanabi.csa.gr.jp/
Oktoberfest 2025 in Shiba Park・Onarimon Station Area
Source:Official website
As September arrives, the heat subsides and the perfect season for enjoying beer even during the day begins. Tokyo regularly hosts Oktoberfest events where you can enjoy authentic German-brewed beers.
Over 10 breweries representing Germany gather here, including Germany's largest brewery "Krombacher & Leikeim" and "Karmeliten," famous for pilsner with 650 years of tradition. You can enjoy these beers along with traditional German cuisine such as sausages and potato fries.
What I find attractive about Shiba park's Oktoberfest is that you can enjoy singing, dancing, and dining while watching performances by artists and idol groups gathered from both domestic and international locations. Please enjoy this beer festival where the charms of Japan and Germany merge!
Information:
- Date: September 12-23, 2025
- Venue: Shiba park
- Access: Take "Yamanote line" or "Keihin-tohoku line" from JR Tokyo station, get off at "Hamamatsucho station," 10-minute walk
- Admission: 500 yen
- Website: https://www.oktober-fest.jp/shiba/
Asakusa Samba Carnival Parade (Held in August in 2025)
Source: TAITO Odekake Navi
The "Asakusa Samba Carnival" is the second-largest Samba carnival after Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the home of samba, with approximately 20 groups and 5,000 dancers from all over Japan energizing Asakusa.
The Asakusa Samba Carnival has been held since 1981 and, like the authentic Rio de Janeiro carnival, is conducted in a competition format where participants compete in dance and costumes. The passionate dances of dancers wearing attractive costumes make you feel cheerful just by watching, making this one of my favorite events. Please come experience the hot wind of Rio de Janeiro in Asakusa, a town where you can deeply feel Japanese tradition!
Information:
- Date: August 30, 2025, from 1:00 PM
- Venue: Asakusa
- Access: 7-minute walk from JR Tokyo Station to "Kyobashi Station," then take "Tokyo Metro Ginza Line" and get off at "Asakusa Station"
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.asakusa-samba.org/
To Fully Enjoy Tokyo: Private Tours with Expert Local Guides Recommended
For those who want to maximize their enjoyment of Tokyo's attractions, we recommend participating in the "1-Day Tokyo Highlights Tour with a Private Car and Guide" provided by "Magical trip."
This tour involves chartering a dedicated taxi and touring Tokyo's most popular tourist destinations with a local guide who knows the area well. Since you travel by taxi, you can enjoy the tour without worrying about weather conditions on rainy or hot days. Also, without public transportation transfers, you can smoothly visit multiple spots in one day.
The tour includes popular spots like Meiji Jingu Shrine, Asakusa, and Tokyo tower, but it's also possible to change to spots you want to visit according to your schedule. Lunch costs are included in the fee, making this a tour where you can maximize your enjoyment of Tokyo's attractions from sightseeing to dining.
- Meeting point: Hotel pickup or meet the guide and driver at the designated meeting point
- Tour area: Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tsukiji Fish Market, Asakusa, Zojoji Temple and Tokyo Tower
- Start time: 9:00
3 Cultural and Artistic Events I'm Eagerly Awaiting
Autumn in Japan is also called "the autumn of arts," and many events where you can experience art are held during this season. Here I'll introduce 3 carefully selected events where you can experience culture and art that I look forward to every year as part of the exciting Tokyo Event September 2025 lineup.
Gei-sai
Source:Tokyo Art University
"Gei-sai" is a school festival held at "Tokyo University of the Arts," Japan's premier art university. The school festival is packed with projects where you can experience art firsthand, including exhibitions of student creations and stage performances of instruments and vocal music. Among these, the art market is the project I look forward to most, where you can purchase artistic works created by students in a marché-style setting.
The festival's climax is a parade where portable shrines of monuments such as animals and fictional creatures created by students march through the streets. Although everything is made from styrofoam, these works that seem to have souls as if they were alive are a must-see spectacle.
Information:
- Date: September 5-7, 2025
- Venue: Tokyo University of the Arts
- Access: Take "Yamanote line" or "Keihin-tohoku line" from JR Tokyo station, get off at "Uguisudani station," 10-minute walk
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.geidai.ac.jp/english/
- X: https://x.com/geisai_koushiki
Special Exhibition "Edo☆Ooku"
Source:Official website
"OOKU: WOMEN OF POWER IN EDO CASTLE" is an exhibition featuring the women called "Ooku" who served the "Tokugawa clan" that governed the Edo era, which lasted for over 200 years from 1603.
Ooku was also the admiration of people at that time. This exhibition allows you to view not only the glamorous world through gorgeous kimono and other items, but also the negative aspects such as power struggles and anguish among women in Ooku through nishiki-e prints and related artifacts. Even as a Japanese person, I'm very curious about the real lives of the women who lived in Edo castle. Please experience the world of women from that era firsthand!
Information:
- Date: July 19 - September 21, 2025
- Venue: Tokyo National Museum
- Access: Take "Yamanote line" or "Keihin-tohoku line" from JR Tokyo station, get off at "Uguisudani station," 5-minute walk
- Admission: 2,100 yen
- Website: https://ooku2025.jp/english.html
ABEMA Anime Festival 2025
Source:Cyber Agent
A must-see event for anime lovers will be held in Shibuya. "ABEMA ANIME MATSURI" will feature talk shows by voice actors from anime broadcasted on ABEMA, screening events, as well as sales of event-original goods and food items in collaboration with anime.
Recent hit works such as Spy×Family, Jujutsu Kaisen, and My Hero Academia have been picked up as event content, so even I, as an anime lover, am very much looking forward to it. Let's participate together and enjoy the hot world of anime!
Information:
- Date: September 20-23, 2025
- Venue: MIYASHITA PARK
- Access: 2-minute walk from JR Shibuya Station "B1 Exit"
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://contents-abema.com/anime-matsuri2025/
Beer Garden Events Recommended Only for September-October
During the pleasant weather of September and October, "beer gardens" where you can enjoy beer outdoors are recommended. Tokyo has plenty of spots where you can enjoy beer gardens. Here, I'll introduce three of my favorite spots where you can enjoy drinks while feeling the outdoor breeze.
Forest Beer Garden
Source:PR TIMES
"FOREST BEER GARDEN" is a beer garden where you can enjoy food and drinks in the open forest of the urban oasis "Jingu Gaien." This summer tradition has been held since 1984, and even I, who wants to enjoy alcohol in nature, look forward to this event every year.
The charm of "FOREST BEER GARDEN" is the all-you-can-drink selection of 7 types of beer and all-you-can-eat BBQ. Since you grill meat at your own table, you can easily experience an authentic outdoor atmosphere. Furthermore, this year marks the 40th celebration, so in addition to the regular menu, you can enjoy craft beer and seafood for an additional 1000 yen.
Single-item menus are also available, so even those who want to drink lightly can easily participate in this beer garden. Since it's close to Shinjuku, why not enjoy beer while feeling the outdoor air at the beer garden when you're in the area?
Information:
- Date: April 15 - September 23, 2025
- Venue: Jingu Gaien Park for Children
- Access: Take "Chuo-Sobu Line" from JR Shinjuku Station, get off at "Shinanomachi Station," 5-minute walk
- Price: 7,000 yen (includes all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink)
- Website: https://www.morinobeergarden.com/en/
THE ROOF SHIBUYA SKY
Source:PR TIMES
SHIBUYA SKY is an observation deck located at the top of "SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE," a complex facility directly connected to Shibuya Station. From the open observation deck at 229m with no obstructions, you can view Tokyo's representative structures such as "TOKYO TOWER" and "TOKYO SKYTREE," and even see Mt. Fuji.
On the rooftop of SHIBUYA SKY, the bar "THE ROOF SHIBUYA SKY" operates for a limited time until December. While it's a casual standing bar where you can easily enjoy drinks, the 7,000 yen plan that includes observation deck admission with beer and snacks allows you to relax on sofas while savoring your drinks.
Drinks enjoyed while overlooking the night view are perfect for dates. Please enjoy a romantic nightlife at SHIBUYA SKY!
Information:
- Date: April 28 - December 25, 2025
- Venue: SHIBUYA SKY
- Access: Right outside the East Exit of JR Shibuya Station
- Admission: From 7,000 yen
- Website: https://www.shibuya-scramble-square.com/sky/the-roof/
TOKYO TOWER "ROOFTOP" HIGHBALL GARDEN
Source:PR TIMES
At the complex facility "FOOT TOWN" located directly under Tokyo's symbol "TOKYO TOWER," beer gardens are being held at two locations until October 13.
"ROOF TOP" on the 6th floor offers a beer garden where you can enjoy all-you-can-drink alcohol including beer, highball, and wine, plus all-you-can-eat "Jingiskan" (grilled lamb meat), sausages, edamame, and other dishes that pair well with alcohol.
At "CHO-TEN" in front of the main entrance on the 1st floor, you can enjoy à la carte menus while savoring their specialty highball in an atmospheric Japanese-modern space, looking up at the illuminated TOKYO TOWER.
Both locations offer beer gardens where you can enjoy Japan's representative alcohol and dishes that pair well with them. Please enjoy alcohol at your preferred location according to your mood of the day!
Information:
- Date: March 18 - October 13, 2025
- Venue: TOKYO TOWER
- Access: 5-minute walk from JR Tokyo Station to "Otemachi Station," take "Toei Mita Line" from Otemachi Station, get off at "Onarimon Station," 10-minute walk
- Admission: From 6,000 yen
- Website: https://en.tokyotower.co.jp/event/highballgarden2025/
For September in Tokyo When the Heat Subsides, the Author Recommends Enjoying Bar Hopping
During September nights when the heat subsides and you can feel the pleasant breeze, enjoying bar hopping is also recommended! Magical Trip offers the "Tokyo Bar Hopping Night Tour in Shinjuku." This tour was selected as the #1 Best of the Best in TripAdvisor's 2024 Choice Awards and is acclaimed by tourists worldwide as Japan's most satisfying tour.
The tour involves visiting 3 bars in "Shinjuku," one of Tokyo's premier nightlife districts, together with local guides. You'll visit izakaya where you can enjoy pairings of Japan's representative snacks and alcohol in a retro atmosphere, and all-you-can-drink establishments in "Kabukicho," Shinjuku's deepest nightlife area, where you can interact and enjoy food and drinks with locals through quizzes and games.
Since you'll visit local favorites unknown to tourists, you can experience nightlife just like people living in Shinjuku!
- Meeting point: In front of Black Pillar (Next to Uniqlo Shinjuku Nishiguchi shop)
- Tour area: Shinjuku
- Start times: 17:00/18:00/18:30/19:00