As Japan’s new emperor ascended the throne on May 1, ushering in the Reiwa Era, the entire country has been celebrating with an unprecedented 10-day Golden Week holiday, which officially comes to an end on May 6. Enjoy the last weekend of the nationwide party with an eclectic mix of fun and wild festivals in Tokyo.
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Niku Fes Tokyo 2019
All the meat you could ever want to eat, plus craft beers, sweet treats and wide array of live entertainment – it’s no surprise this is one of Odaiba’s most popular Golden Week activities.
Bunkyo Azalea Festival
Stroll through mounds of pink and purple azalea bushes and a stunning torii-gate pathway in an exclusive area of the Nezu Shrine that is usually inaccessible to the general public.
Hibiya Festival
Since the opening of the Midtown Hibiya development last year, this vibrant downtown neighborhood has angled to wrangle the title of Tokyo’s center for the arts. The second annual Hibiya Festival is chock full of cultural events from song to dance to theater.
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Odaiba Hawaii Festival
Did you know there are 2 million hula dancers in Japan? Hawaii itself only has 50,000. That’s a whole lot of shakin’ going on. See some of Japan’s best hip-swivelers at Venus Fort in Odaiba during 10 days of Hawaiian festivities.
Kameido Tenjin Wisteria Festival
Kameido Tenjin Shrine is home to around 50 blooming wisteria trees and striking views of Tokyo Skytree visible in the background skyline.
Spring Oktoberfest: Nakano
Tokyo loves it some Oktoberfest with two festivals alone taking place during Golden Week in Nakano and Odaiba, with several more planned throughout the summer.
This 10-day festival at Cinecity Square adjacent to the Toho Cinema in Shinjuku includes fashion shows, samba and salsa dance, African drumming and the Miss & Mister African American Caribbean Beauty Contest.
Cambodia Festival 2019
From modern Cambodian hip hop to traditional dance from the home of Angkor Wat, this colorful annual celebration also showcases authentic Cambodian food and goods.
