Tokyo Events by Month: Festivals, Seasons and Sumo

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Researched guide · Checked on Nov 11, 2026

What is on in Tokyo when you visit? Here are the seasons, festivals, sumo tournaments and holidays month by month, with links to our guides. Dates change every year, so check the official calendar for your dates.

Month	Highlights
January	New Year and winter sumo
February	Plum blossoms
March	Cherry blossoms begin
April	Cherry blossom peak
May	Golden Week, Sanja Matsuri and sumo
June	Rainy season
July	Fireworks and summer
August	Summer festivals and Obon
September	Autumn sumo and typhoons
October	Cooler days
November	Autumn leaves and lights
December	Illuminations and year-end

January: New Year and winter sumo

Full guide: Tokyo in January

• New Year: around December 29 to January 3 some shops and museums close, and shrines are packed for the first prayers of the year. See Winter in Tokyo.
• Sumo: the January tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan. See Sumo in Tokyo.
• Winter illuminations continue in many places.

February: Plum blossoms

Full guide: Tokyo in February

• Plum blossoms: about 100 plum trees bloom in mid-February at Seiseki Kamata Umeyashiki Park. See Kamata and Haneda.
• Cold, dry and clear: good for Mt. Fuji views. See Mt. Fuji day trip.
• Illuminations end around February, depending on the place.

March: Cherry blossoms begin

Full guide: Tokyo in March

• Cherry blossoms usually open in late March. See Cherry blossoms in Tokyo.
• Evenings can still be cold.

April: Late cherry blossoms and spring flowers

Full guide: Tokyo in April

• Cherry blossoms are usually at their best from late March to the first days of April, including the Meguro River in Nakameguro.
• Azalea Festival at Nezu Shrine. See Yanaka.
• Golden Week begins in late April. Book hotels early.

May: Golden Week, Sanja Matsuri and sumo

Full guide: Tokyo in May

• Golden Week (late April to early May): one of the busiest travel periods in Japan.
• Sanja Matsuri: Asakusa’s big festival, held in mid-May (May 15 to 17 in 2026). See Asakusa.
• Sumo: the May tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

June: Rainy season

Full guide: Tokyo in June

• The rainy season usually starts in early June. Plan some indoor days: see Tokyo when it rains.

July: Fireworks and summer

Full guide: Tokyo in July

• The rainy season usually ends around mid-July, and then it gets hot and humid.
• Sumida River Fireworks Festival: held on the last Saturday of July near Asakusa, with almost 20,000 fireworks and huge crowds.

August: Summer festivals and Obon

Full guide: Tokyo in August

• The hottest month. Summer festivals and fireworks across the city.
• Obon (mid-August): a busy holiday period, with crowded trains and day trip spots.

September: Autumn sumo and typhoons

Full guide: Tokyo in September

• Sumo: the September tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
• Still hot and very rainy, with typhoons possible.

October: Cooler days

Full guide: Tokyo in October

• On average the rainiest month, but temperatures are pleasant. Typhoons are still possible. See Tokyo weather by month.

November: Autumn leaves and lights

Full guide: Tokyo in November

• Autumn leaves usually from mid-November to early December. See Autumn leaves in Tokyo.
• Winter illuminations start from mid-November.

December: Illuminations and year-end

Full guide: Tokyo in December

• Illuminations and Christmas markets. See Winter in Tokyo.
• The New Year holidays begin around December 29.

Sumo tournaments in Tokyo

Three of the six grand sumo tournaments are held at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo: in January, May and September. See Sumo in Tokyo and our Ryogoku guide.

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