Yanaka in July 2025: Highlights, Events & Festivals
In July, Tokyo emerges from the rainy season known as tsuyu, marking the beginning of summer with hot days that continue throughout the month. This time is famous for summer festivals held across the city that attract large crowds.
Yanaka, located in Tokyo's Taito Ward, is a neighborhood where many historic buildings remain, allowing visitors to experience traditional Japan. The area features charming old-style shopping streets and numerous temples, offering many points of interest.
In July, Yanaka hosts numerous events, with fireworks displays and festivals featuring many street vendors in the shopping district being particularly popular. This article will introduce basic information about events held in Yanaka during July, including schedules and access to event locations.
In July at Yanaka, the "Chugen Period Great Thanksgiving Festival" eagerly awaited by locals will be held
Source:Official website
At YanakaGinza in Yanaka, an event called the "Chugen Period Great Thanksgiving Festival" that locals eagerly await is held every July. The reason this event is popular is that shoppers receive twice the usual number of shopping stamps with their purchases.
On the day of the Chugen Period Great Thanksgiving Festival, YanakaGinza becomes lively and filled with crowds of people aiming to collect stamps. YanakaGinza has an official character, a black cat named Senchan, and on the festival day, the Gachagasha (capsule toy machines) selling Senchan merchandise are extremely popular.
The charm of YanakaGinza is that you can enjoy delicious food at reasonable prices while strolling leisurely. Many shop owners are friendly people, creating a warm atmosphere throughout the shopping street, so when visiting Tokyo, it's definitely worth a visit.
Must-see events in July held in Taito Ward, where Yanaka is located
In Taito Ward, where Yanaka is located, numerous events are held when July arrives. Yanaka has many shrines and temples, and the festivals held there are also famous.
Here, I'll introduce events held around Yanaka in July 2025. The Yanaka Event calendar for July 2025 features several attractions that tourists shouldn't miss.
Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival
Source:Official website
The Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival is Tokyo's largest fireworks display held in late July each year. It is known as Japan's oldest fireworks festival, continuing since the Edo period, and on the day of the event, a total of 20,000 fireworks are launched.
The venue has two locations, in Asakusa and Kuramae, allowing viewers to enjoy fireworks over a wide area. Since a competition among fireworks craftsmen is also held, you can see many beautiful fireworks at this festival.
As the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival is held in the middle of the city, there are no seats available for sitting and watching the fireworks. In some places, buildings may obstruct the view of the fireworks, so it's advisable to arrive at the venue early to secure a good spot.
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- Date: July 26, 2025
- Access: First venue: About 5 minutes on foot from Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station / Second venue: Immediately from Toei Subway Kuramae Station
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.sumidagawa-hanabi.com/
Shitamachi Tanabata Festival
Source:Asakusa Tourism Federation
The Shitamachi Tanabata Festival is a celebration held on the main street of Kappabashi in Taito Ward. Tanabata is based on the tradition of Orihime and Hikoboshi from Chinese Mythology who meet in the Milky Way.
During this event, the area becomes vibrant with colorful Tanabata decorations. The festival bustles with many visitors enjoying parades, street performances, and food stalls.
Since Kappabashi's main street faces Tokyo Sky Tree, you can capture beautiful photos of the Tokyo Sky Tree matched with Tanabata decorations. If you're visiting Asakusa in July 2025, be sure to attend the Shitamachi Tanabata Festival as a highlight of your yanaka area tour.
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- Dates: Several days around July 7
- Access: 3-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Tsukuba Express / 5-minute walk from Tawaramachi or Inaricho Stations on Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://shitamachi-tanabata.com/
Iriya Morning Glory Festival
Source:Wikipedia
The Iriya Asagao Matsuri (Morning Glory Festival) is held annually from July 6-8 at Shigenji Temple. This festival features the sale of Morning glory flowers that bloom beautifully in summer, filling the temple grounds with colorful blossoms.
The Iriya district was known for Morning glory cultivation since the Edo period, but the number of growers declined over time. However, in 1948, the Asagao Matsuri was revived to brighten the post-war mood, and it has since become a summer tradition in Iriya.
In addition to Morning glory sales, food stalls add to the lively atmosphere of the festival. If you want to see beautiful Morning glories, this is definitely worth a visit.
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- Dates: July 6-8
- Access: 1-minute walk from Iriya Station on Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line / 3-minute walk from JR Uguisudani Station
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.asagao-maturi.com/
46,000 Day Festival - Ground Cherry Market
Source:Official website
Asakusa Temple's 46,000-day festival is held at Sensoji Temple every year on July 9 and 10. The temple grounds become filled with about 100 stalls selling Ground Cherries, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
According to tradition, visiting on July 10 has a special connection to the main deity Kannon Bodhisattva, and praying on this day is believed to bring the same benefits as 46,000 days of worship.
Ground Cherries are sold at the festival because they have traditionally been believed to calm the mind when brewed as tea.
The sight of Ground Cherries filling the entire Sensoji area is impressive, so if you plan to visit Asakusa in July, this is a must-see event.
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- Dates: July 9-10, 2025
- Access: 5-minute walk from Asakusa Station on Tobu Skytree Line / 3-minute walk from Asakusa Station on Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Toei Asakusa Line, or Tsukuba Express
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.senso-ji.jp/annual_event/13.html
Enjoy Tokyo's Retro Town Twice as Much! A Tour Guided by Experts Who Know Yanaka Inside Out
If you want to fully experience Yanaka, one of Tokyo's neighborhoods that preserves its historical townscape, join a tour that lets you feel the daily life of local residents in Yanaka. During this July 2025 event, you'll walk through Yanaka's streets and visit shrines, enjoying the nostalgic atmosphere of old Tokyo.
The tour begins at Nezu Shrine, known as Tokyo's oldest shrine, where you'll experience traditional worship under the guide's instruction. Afterward, you'll visit a traditional Japanese house converted into a café, where you can enjoy painting beckoning cat figurines that are said to bring good fortune.
Later, you'll explore Yanaka Ginza and visit a restaurant serving authentic Japanese cuisine, where you can enjoy lunch and shopping. This tour provides a relaxed experience of old Tokyo, so if you're interested in Yanaka's neighborhood, this is perfect for your audience of tourists looking for authentic experiences.
- Meeting Point: Tokyo Metro Nezu Station
- Tour Area: Yanaka
- Start Time: 13:30
2025 Katsushika Summer Fireworks Festival
Source:FASHION PRESS
The Katsushika Fireworks Festival is held at the Edogawa riverbank in Katsushika Ward. Approximately 15,000 fireworks will be launched on the day, beautifully coloring the night sky of Katsushika and known as a representative fireworks display of Tokyo.
The venue, Edogawa, is famous as a fireworks display where the distance between the launch site and the audience is close due to the relatively narrow width of the river. As a result, the sound of fireworks strongly resonates through your body, allowing you to experience vibrant fireworks up close.
Shibamata, the venue, has tourist attractions such as Taishakuten, so it's also recommended to visit before the fireworks. This is a highly recommended fireworks festival for anyone visiting Japan who wants to enjoy powerful and beautiful fireworks.
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- Date: July 22, 2025
- Access: 10-minute walk from Shibamata Station on the Keisei Kanamachi Line
- Admission: Free
Mitama Matsuri
Source:PR TIMES
Mitama Matsuri is a festival held annually from July 13 to 16 at Yasukuni Shrine, known for enshrining war dead. It's a festival to commemorate the heroic spirits who died for the country and attracts many people every year as a representative summer festival in Tokyo.
On the festival day, more than 30,000 large and small lanterns called "Kagebonbori" are decorated in the shrine grounds, glowing yellow after sunset. The yellow wall created by the Kagebonbori is spectacular, and it's recommended to photograph it together with Japan's largest Torii gate, which is a symbol of Yasukuni Shrine.
During the festival period, religious ceremonies to comfort the divine spirits and processions of portable shrines are also held. For those who want to enjoy a traditional Japanese summer festival in Tokyo, this is the perfect event for your audience visiting Yanaka in July 2025.
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- Date: July 13-16
- Access: About 5-minute walk from Kudanshita Station on Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, Hanzomon Line, and Toei Shinjuku Line
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.yasukuni.or.jp/
Lantern Festival at Chidorigafuchi 2025
Source:Chiyoda City
The Lantern Festival held at Chidorigafuchi every July is a festival where lanterns called "Okuribo" are released on the water surface to pray for various wishes. This festival, which began in 1958 to heal the hearts of people devastated after the war, offers a fantastic view of countless lanterns shining in the moat.
Anyone can release a lantern by applying, and there are two methods: boarding a boat and releasing it directly on the water, or writing a wish on a lantern and having staff release it. Although quantities are limited, lanterns can be purchased for 2,000 yen each.
On the festival day, about 2,000 lanterns are released into Chidorigafuchi with prayers of gratitude, hope, and peace. If you want to see this magical scenery, please visit this event near Yanaka, where the audience can experience one of Tokyo's most enchanting July 2025 traditions.
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- Date: July 24, 25
- Access: 3-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Kudanshita Station or Hanzomon Station
- Admission: Free
- Official website: https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/en/floating.lantern/
Ueno Summer Festival
Source:TAITO Odekake Navi
Ueno Summer Festival is a representative festival of Ueno held for about one month from July to August every year in Ueno Park. During the festival period, Ueno Park not only hosts various events but also becomes lively with food stalls from Ueno's representative restaurants.
At the Waterside Music Hall in Ueno Park, events such as music, traditional performing arts, and professional wrestling are held. In Shinobasu Pond at Ueno Park, the popular sight of approximately 2,000 wind chimes decorated together creating a symphony of sounds is a highlight.
There are also plenty of other attractions including an antique market and a VR haunted house.
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- Dates: July 12 - August 12
- Access: 5-minute walk from JR Ueno Station
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://ueno.or.jp/summerfes2024/
If you're interested in Japanese traditions, culture, and retro streets, let a knowledgeable local guide show you around
If you're interested in Japanese traditions, culture, and retro streets, it's recommended to have a knowledgeable local guide show you around rather than sightseeing on your own.
Here are two recommended guided tours where you can learn about Japanese traditions and culture.
Asakusa Cultural Walk & Matcha Making Tour
On this tour, you can explore Asakusa with an English-speaking Japanese guide, learning about Japanese history while viewing traditional streetscapes. After exploring temples, visit a calm Japanese-style room to enjoy premium matcha.
After enjoying matcha, visit a Monjayaki restaurant in the back streets of Asakusa. Monjayaki is a dish you cook yourself on an iron plate at the table, but the guide will instruct you on everything from preparation to eating, so even first-timers need not worry.
- Meeting Point: In front of the Asakusa Kaminarimon Police Box
- Tour Area: Asakusa
- Start Time: 11:00
All-You-Can-Drink Bar Hopping Tour in Ueno
The All-You-Can-Drink Bar Hopping Tour is a tour where you can go bar hopping in Ueno, a town with many delicious izakayas. You'll stroll through Ueno with a guide, visit two izakayas, and enjoy Japan's unique "all-you-can-drink" culture.
After enjoying all-you-can-drink, you'll visit popular standing bars and ramen shops around Ueno to enjoy interactions with locals. If you want to thoroughly enjoy Japanese izakaya culture, please participate in this tour.
- Meeting Point: Near the object at Ueno Station's Hirokoji Exit
- Tour Area: Ueno
- Start Time: 18:00