Tokyo in Summer: Where to Stay, Festivals, & How to Keep Cool
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Summer is my favorite time to visit Tokyo. Sure, it’s sweltering hot, but it’s also one of the most culturally festive times of the year!
I won’t paint it lightly: Tokyo’s summer heat can be brutal. If you’re planning a trip here in summer, expect high humidity and the occasional torrential thunderstorm. But, it’ll be worth it!
With summer festivals and events, such as Tanabata, Bon Odori, Sumida River fireworks, and Obon, stretching throughout June, July, and August, the city is even more alive than usual.
I’ve been lucky to spend my last two summers in Tokyo (house/petsitting), soaking up the city’s sunshine and festivities.
In this guide, I’ll share all of my personal favorite things to do, places to visit, and tips for staying cool!
Here’s how to survive summer in Tokyo and make the most of your trip!
What to Expect from Tokyo in Summer
If I could summarize Tokyo in the summer in a few points, it would be:
- Noisy cicadas (they’re so loud, it’s shocking!)
- Locals and tourists wearing yukata gowns on balmy evenings
- Festive street parades with dancers for Bon Odori, a celebration (and memory) of ancestors
- Extreme heat 🫠
- and more!
Expect high heat and humidity hovering around 30°C (85°F). However, temperatures can often exceed that. That summer, we had a high-heat warning!
But as I mentioned above, there are ways to stay cool. Japan has even invented air-conditioned jackets (you’ll see motorists and service workers wearing these!), portable fans, cooling mist sprays and wipes, and more.
Aside from the heat, expect lots of fireworks and Bon Odori festivals featuring dancing, music (taiko drums), and street food!
Where to Stay in Tokyo in Summer
In my opinion, the best places to stay in Tokyo for the summer are in neighborhoods with access to green space close by and where the festival fun takes place.
In general, try to avoid the crowds of downtown Shibuya or Shinjuku. Instead, I would recommend:
- Asakusa: Best for cultural stays; nearby to Sumida River and Skytree which is ideal for festival season.
- Ueno: Great for having quick access to Ueno Park, museums, plus lesser-known areas such as Yanaka.
- Minato/Tokyo Tower: This is great for staying central without being in the heart of Shibuya. Azabubaijan, Daikanyama, Ebisu, and other cool, trendy neighborhoods with small, local parks are also nearby.
For your hotel search, double-check the location. You’ll want to be within an easy 5–10 minute walk of a convenient metro/subway line, such as the JR Yamanote Line (green), the Hibiya Metro (gray) or the Maranouchi Metro (red).
I wouldn’t recommend a ryokan stay—not that they’re popular in Tokyo anyway (they’re more commonly found in traditional cities such as Kyoto or onsen towns such as Hakone or Fujikawaguchiko).
Instead, check for something easy for getting around, and don’t forget to check AC! Air conditioning (not just a fan) will be a must.
Here are some options for the neighborhoods I mentioned above!
- Budget: Wise Owls River Sumida (we stayed here for a few nightsand it’s so close to Skytree!)
- Boutique: &here Tokyo Ueno Hotel
- Luxury: HOTEL みなと MINATO
Festivals & Top 5 Things to Do in Tokyo During Summer
The main reason to plan your trip to Tokyo in summer (aside from your vacation days/PTO), is for the summer festivals and events.
From mid-June to mid-August, Tokyo will be covered in colorful streamers, lanterns, street food stalls, and parades!
Taiko drummer- Wearing a yukata for bon odori is fun!
Here are some of the best things to do that you shouldn’t miss out on!
1. Enjoy Hanabi (Fireworks)
Tokyo hosts the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival every last Saturday of July. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), it is considered one of the oldest fireworks festivals on record.
“The Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival is said to have originated from the Ryogoku Kawaki-no-Kiraki Fireworks launched by the 8th shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, in 1733 to pray for the end of a famine and to ward off evil spirits.“
Approximately one million people come out alongside the river, so go early to get a good viewing spot, and wear comfortable clothes.
I’m so excited to see Hanabi this year! The show will start around 7pm (19:00) and last 1–2 hours.
So that you’re not far from the event, I recommend staying around the Asakusa or Skytree area.
2. Witness Tanabata (The Star Festival)
Tanabata, or Star Festival, is another of Tokyo’s biggest summer festivals. And I think, the cutest festival!
Tanabata, an ancient Chinese-originated legend, celebrates the reunion of two star-crossed lovers, Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair), who are “separated by the Milky Way.” This night falls on July 7th (or sometimes August 7th) each year.
I experienced Tanabata at Zojoji Temple, near the Tokyo Tower, on the evening when hundreds of washi paper lanterns were lit and placed across the temple grounds and leading up the temple steps.
There are other Tanabata festivals that take place at Zojoji Temple, Asakusa, and Hiratsuka.
3. Join Bon Odori Dances for Obon
More festivals? Yes! Told you, summer is festival season in Tokyo. Obon is Japan’s cultural festival celebrating the dead—similar to Mexico’s Día de Muertos!
This festival honors and celebrates ancestors, who are believed to visit the living at this time.
In late July, I attended a Bon Odori celebration at a local park in Sumida (across the river from SkyTree) and fell in love.
I was swept into it all! The beat of taiko drums, the circular dancing, the way the locals dance together in synchronicity… all of it was mesmerizing and so special!
Everyone joins in the dances, and you can too!
Bon Odori dances take place all across Tokyo throughout the summer. Follow Tokyo’s official social media accounts or media sites like Time Out Tokyo to get updated event times and directions.
🎊 Similar to Bon Odori, Awa Odori Festivals are also in Tokyo! But instead of joining in on the dancing like for Bon Odori, this street festival features dance performers, and it is all about the traditional culture of Tokushima spanning 400 years of history.
4. Cool Down on a Tokyo Day Trip
Stay in the city for the festivals, but then get out and explore beyond the concrete jungle! The solution to Tokyo’s heat is to escape to the forests, mountains, and beaches surrounding it.
Last summer, we drove 1.5-2 hours west out of the city to Akigawa Valley and Toyko’s only village of Hinohara. We got to dip our toes in an outdoor footbath, wade in the river, hike to a waterfall, and eat at a local fish restaurant.
Even though it’s still technically in Tokyo, it feels worlds away.
Kawagoe, also a cute day trip, is nicknamed Little Edo for its preserved historical streets. In summer, you can stroll past old clay warehouses, pop into shaved ice shops, and wear yukata.
Kamakura is another favorite summer escape. Visit ancient temples in the morning, grab matcha gelato in Komachi Street, and cool off in the ocean by late afternoon. It’s only about an hour from Tokyo!
For more temples and lush greenery, head to popular Nikko. It feels more like a mountainous retreat with shrines, forest walks, and waterfalls like Kegon Falls. You can even go rafting on the beautiful emerald-green Kinu River.
And if you’re just craving a beach day, Fujisawa and Enoshima have that vibe with beach bars, ramen shops, and breezy evenings. It’s where many Tokyoites go to escape the heat on summer weekends.
5. Seek Shade in Tokyo’s Parks, Galleries, & Museums
There’s more to do in Tokyo in summer beyond the festivals.
Midday, I love to take advantage of the air conditioning in museums and art galleries, before finding shade in a coffee shop or local park for a late afternoon break.
My top indoor activities in Tokyo for avoiding the sweltering heat:
- teamLab museum is always popular, but I found that summer had more availability for timeslots! I was almost cold in teamLab Borderless 😅
- The tour of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter is one of my favorite things to do in Tokyo!! And since it takes 5-6 hours, plan to go through the hottest part of the day.
Ueno Park, Yoyogi Park, and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden are massive parks with beautiful landscaping, shady trees, and lots to see and do.
Final Tips for How to Beat the Heat & Pack for Tokyo in Summer
Before you jetset to Tokyo, pack these summer essentials!!
Wear breathable clothing: I can’t stress this enough! However, avoid thin spaghetti straps. Revealing chest or shoulders is a no-go in Japan, but miniskirts and high-legged shorts are ok!
Hydrate: Drink water more frequently. Every summer, there are always reported cases of heat stroke.
UV umbrella: You can pick this up when you’re in Tokyo, but as you’ll see, most locals will walk around with a UV umbrella. If you opt out, wear sunscreen and clothing to cover up!
Portable fan: I don’t think you really need this, but it’s such a trend in Tokyo. You’ll see everyone with them. I bring a little pack of refreshing wipes, though, because the sweat can sometimes be intense. 😅
If you can manage the humidity, summer in Tokyo is one of the most culturally rich times to visit.
There will still be crowds, but much less so than in spring for hanami (cherry blossom season).
Did I just convince you to plan a summer stay in Tokyo? I hope so! If you have any questions about what else to do, please comment below!