Tokyo, Japan: Matsuri!! (Summer Festivals We Attended)
Japan has a humid subtropical climate and its summer heat is insane. This is coming from someone who lives in the Philippines where it's summer all year long. I mean, okay, we're used to hot humid weather but Tokyo heat felt different. I imagined myself placed in a convection oven.
We chanced upon three matsuri/festival during our trip. All three were held in one day but in different areas so that day was pretty packed. It was the most tiring yet most unforgettable out of all the days we spent in Tokyo.
1. Shinjuku Eisa Festival
2. Marunouchi Summer Festival
3. Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival
Announcements for 2024 schedule of these festivals will be posted when the date comes closer next year but they're usually held late July. We didn't know about these until around three weeks before our trip.
Actually, there are a lot of festivals in Japan throughout the year so check websites to know more if there's one during your travel.
Shinjuku Eisa Festival
Eisa is a folk dance that originated in Okinawa to honor the spirit of ancestors, typically performed by younger members of the community. This festival has been held annually for the past 20 years.
This is held near Shinjuku Station's East Exit. If you're unfamiliar with Shinjuku then make sure you're heading the right way. We got lost and almost didn't find our way here since found ourselves far in the West Exit. HAHAHA.
Marunouchi Summer Festival
This was held for two days outside Tokyo Station. This place became a windchime street with Tokyo Station's Marunouchi Building as the backdrop. There was a program during the first night but we were in Yokohama so we weren't able to attend that.
Again, being able to attend festivals/seasonal attractions made this trip so worth it despite the scorching heat. You wouldn't be able to attend these out of season.
But unless I'd have a lot of surplus money, given a free trip, or other circumstance when I need to go back - this is probably my first and last summer trip in Japan. I love Japan but I prefer spring, autumn, and winter. Okay na po ako sa summer ng Pilipinas.
Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival
Tokyo's #1 Fireworks Festival. It is called Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival or Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai in Japanese. 🥰
The best!!!!! I don't have pictures of the festival but I recorded some videos. It was an extremely busy night that I wasn't able to record the experience of walking etc.
So lucky to time our trip on its resume after four years of COVID hiatus, and we were two of the 1.035 million attendees.
From Hanami in 2019 to Hanabi in 2023, we have so much love for Japan! 🌸🎆 🇯🇵 We hope to visit more places and attend more festivities (different season) next time. ❤️
From Hanami in 2019 to Hanabi in 2023, we have so much love for Japan! 🌸🎆 🇯🇵 We hope to visit more places and attend more festivities (different season) next time. ❤️
Additional kilig pa nga since attending these felt like experiencing scenes I've watched in anime. Alam mo 'yon. ahaha
Thank you, Universe for giving us the chance to heal our 2020 heartbreak! Tokyo trip finally came true after three years and three months of waiting. 💖
Everything, in time. 💖
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