At Tokyo Tower, a special arrangement for Children's Day (May 5th) will feature a colorful display of koinobori, or carp streamers, traditionally used to wish for the healthy growth of boys. In honor of Tokyo Tower's height of 333 meters, 333 vibrant carp streamers will be hoisted in front of the main entrance on the first floor, creating a spectacular sight as they "swim" energetically in the wind.

Among these, look out for a unique 6-meter-long "sanma nobori," cleverly mixed among the koinobori. This special streamer is hoisted in homage to Ofunato City in Iwate Prefecture, known for its leading catch of sanma (Pacific saury) and a friend of Tokyo Tower. It also sends a message of support for the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Don't miss the majestic view of 333 colorful koinobori swimming boldly against the backdrop of Tokyo Tower and the clear blue sky.

Event details
・Location: In front of the main entrance on the first floor of Tokyo Tower
・Dates: March 20, 2024 to May 6, 2024
・Time: Displayed throughout the day
・Cost: Free; separate fees apply for entrance to Tokyo Tower's Main Deck and Top Deck
・Closed: Open daily during the event
・Phone: 03-3433-5111 (main)

During the Golden Week period, Tokyo Skytree Town becomes a vibrant hub of activity, highlighted by the "Tokyo Skytree Town Koinobori Festival 2024" on May 5, which coincides with Children's Day. The festival features nearly 1,500 carp streamers fluttering energetically across various locations, including the Soramachi Plaza at the base of Tokyo Skytree and the nearby Kitajikkengawa River. These streamers create a colorful spectacle against the backdrop of the Skytree.

Adjacent to this, Sumida Aquarium, located within Tokyo Skytree Town, celebrates "Garden Eel Day" on November 11, marking its 11th anniversary this year. This year's event will see the addition of 11 Garden Eels and 11 White-Spotted Garden Eels, designed to blend into the sea of carp streamers, creating a fun hunt for visitors to find these uniquely designed streamers hidden around the area.

Event Details
・Locations: Various sites around Tokyo Skytree Town
・Dates: April 12 to May 6, 2024. (Please note that some carp streamers will be displayed during different periods.)
・Open daily during the event
・Contact: Tokyo Skytree Call Center: 0570-55-0634 (10 AM to 6 PM); Tokyo Solamachi Call Center: 0570-55-0102 (10 AM to 6 PM)

Tokyo Port, inaugurated in 1941 as an international trading hub, will host an array of events at the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal to commemorate its anniversary. This celebration includes public tours of normally inaccessible ships, a mystery quiz rally where participants can win lunch and dinner cruise tickets, food trucks, and character events on the Port Stage, offering a diverse range of exciting activities for visitors.

Event Details
・Location: Tokyo International Cruise Terminal
・Dates: May 18-May 19, 2024
・Time: 10 AM to 5 PM
・Admission: Free
・Open daily during the event
・Contact: 03-5379-1336 (Weekdays from 10 AM to 5 PM)

Within the expansive forest in the Harajuku area, Meiji Shrine, one of Tokyo's premier sanctuaries, hosts the annual "Spring Grand Festival." The festival features the sacred Kagura dance, "Urayasu no Mai," inspired by the poetry and Waka of Emperor Showa, created in prayers for world peace. Additionally, top performers in traditional Japanese arts dedicate performances of "Bugaku" (court music and dance), Noh, and Kyogen (classical theater). The event also showcases traditional arts like archery competitions organized by the Tokyo Archery Federation and Taiko drum performances by TIAKO-LAB Aoyama. This year, for the first time in four years, a stage for dedicatory performances will be reinstated in front of the shrine, accompanied by displays of Ikebana and offerings of sake in the shrine's corridors. Visitors can also enjoy strolling among spring blossoms such as irises, dogwoods, and wisterias during the festival.

Event Details
・Location: Meiji Shrine
・Dates: May 2-3, 2024
・Time: Varies by event, please refer to the official website
・Admission: Free
・Open daily during the event
・Contact: 03-3379-5511 (General)

On May 3, 2024, the "Odawara Hojo Godai Festival" will take place in Odawara City, commemorating the rich history of the Hojo clan, which ruled over the Kanto region during the Sengoku period from their base in Odawara. The festival will see around 1,700 participants, including warriors and musketeers, along with local school bands and music teams, parading through the streets. The day will kick off with a dramatic departure ceremony at 11:10 AM, featuring performances by the Odawara Hojo Taiko drummers. Additionally, performances such as the Odawara Lantern Dance will be held in the castle park and at various street corners. A highlight is the musket demonstrations, where commands are given for volleys of matchlock guns to be fired simultaneously—an impressive display of historical reenactment. Spectators can also marvel at participants dressed in full armor, riding horses, and carrying flags, swords, and spears, making for a compelling sight.

Event Details
・Location: Around Odawara Castle Park
・Date: May 3, 2024
・Time: Varies by event, please refer to the official website
・Admission: Free
・Contact: 0465-20-4192 (Odawara City Tourism Association)

The Asakusa Shrine hosts the grand Sanja Matsuri, expected to draw an impressive crowd of 1.8 million people over three days, engulfing the entire Asakusa area with fervor. The festival reaches its climax on the final day with the early morning "Honsha Mikoshi Kakuchoto-gyo," where the three main shrine mikoshi (portable shrines) each take different routes through the alleys. There are two types of mikoshi carried during the Sanja Matsuri: the main shrine mikoshi and the neighborhood mikoshi, with about 100 neighborhood mikoshi being paraded on the second day. After a purification ceremony at Asakusa Shrine, they are paraded back to their respective neighborhoods. The practice of vigorously shaking the mikoshi, known as "Tamafuri," is believed to amplify the deity's power, offering a display of the carriers' spirited energy. Additionally, visitors can enjoy a variety of food stalls set up within the grounds of Asakusa Shrine and Sensoji Temple, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Event Details
・Location: Asakusa Shrine
・Dates: May 17-19, 2024
・Time: Varies by event, please refer to the official website
・Admission: Free
・Open daily during the event
・Contact: 03-3844-1575

Hanazono Shrine, known as the guardian shrine of Shinjuku since before the establishment of Tokugawa Ieyasu's Edo Shogunate in 1603, celebrates its annual festival near May 28th, from Friday to Monday. In 2024, the festival will prominently feature the "Shinko-sai" on Sunday, May 26th, a celebration that only occurs biennially in even-numbered years. During this festival, vibrant floats featuring lion heads and Shimada festival music lead the procession, followed by the shrine's main mikoshi and the Raiden mikoshi, parading through Yasukuni Street, Shinjuku Street, and Meiji Street. This event fills Shinjuku with energy and enthusiasm as the mikoshi are carried with spirited shouts. On odd-numbered years, eight mikoshi from Hanazono Shrine's parish communities gather for a combined procession along the same streets. The shrine grounds buzz with about 100 food stalls offering treats like yakisoba and takoyaki, particularly bustling on Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26.

Event Details
・Location: Hanazono Shrine
・Dates: May 24-27, 2024
・Time: Varies by day, please refer to the official website
・Admission: Free
・Contact: 03-3209-5265

Nemophila, also known affectionately as "Baby blue eyes" due to its clear blue, charming blossoms, is an annual herb in the Boraginaceae family. At Hitachi Seaside Park in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, an impressive display of about 5.3 million nemophila flowers covers the 4.2 square meter area of Miharashi Hill from mid-April to early May. This spectacular sea of blue, known as the "Blue Scenic View," draws visitors from both Japan and abroad. The variety grown here is "Insignis Blue," which blends seamlessly with the sky and sea, creating an almost indistinguishable horizon of blue. Additionally, visitors can purchase nemophila-themed goods like keyholders and necklaces made from the flowers blooming on Miharashi Hill.

Event Details
・Location: Hitachi Seaside Park
・Peak Viewing: Typically early May, with the best views expected until May 4, 2024
・Hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM (opening at 7:30 AM during the Golden Week period in May)
・Admission: 450 yen; an additional seasonal fee of 350 yen applies during the peak nemophila season (April 6, 2024, to May 6, 2024); free admission on May 12 and May 19, 2024
・Open daily
・Contact: 029-265-9001

Showa Memorial Park, a vast recreational facility spanning 180 hectares, is set to host the "Flower Festival 2024." In celebration of the park's 40th anniversary, the festival will feature the planting of 1.8 million nemophila at "Hana no Oka" (Flower Hill), transforming the area into a refreshing sea of blue. As a special anniversary event, "Nemophila × Bubble Photography Time" will take place on May 11 from noon to 12:30 PM, where visitors can enjoy the scenic blend of blooming nemophila and floating bubbles, free of charge. Refreshments themed around the blooms, such as Nemophila Soda for 650 yen at the Hanaki Garden shop and Nemophila Soft serve for 450 yen at Harappa South shop, will also be available.

Additionally, May marks the peak viewing for other garden attractions such as the bouquet garden in Harappa South. Unique to this year, the park will also feature new plantings of chamomile at Herb Hill, among other activities.

Event Details
・Location: Showa Memorial Park
・Dates: March 16 to May 26, 2024
・Hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM (extended to 6 PM on weekends and holidays in April and May)
・Admission Fee: 450 yen
・Open daily during the event
・Contact: 042-528-1751

Dive into the world of craft dumplings at the Gyoza Festival, where each dumpling is meticulously crafted from scratch, focusing on the ingredients, wrappers, fillings, and sauces, with a unique Japanese twist. This year features a diverse menu of 28 types of gyoza, including 18 new entries ranging from the classic pan-fried to soup, deep-fried, steamed dumplings, and even Xiao Long Bao. Highlights include innovative creations like "Cheese-topped Burst Juice Round Gyoza" and "Cilantro Walnut Gyoza," alongside regional specialties like "Little Edo Black Pork Winged Gyoza" and "Tokachi Rich Miso Butter Beef Cutlet Gyoza," each plate priced at 700 yen. Additionally, the festival offers exclusive craft beers such as "Niagara Honey" and "Fuji Sakura Kogen Beer Pilsner," enhancing the culinary experience.

Event Details
・Location: Komazawa Olympic Park Central Plaza
・Dates: April 26 to May 6, 2024
・Hours: 10 AM to 8 PM (weekdays open from 11 AM)
・Admission: Free, with food and drink costs separate (food tickets and electronic money accepted)
・Open daily during the event

Experience the world's largest beer festival, Oktoberfest, right in Odaiba, Tokyo, mirroring the festive spirit of Munich, Bavaria. This edition boasts a selection from among the most popular of Germany's approximately 1,500 beer producers, featuring 13 top brewers. One of the event's highlights is the variety of uniquely designed beer glasses available, ranging from 1-liter mugs to massive 3-liter glasses, enhancing the beer tasting experience. The festival is also a haven for German culinary delights such as sausages, schnitzels, giant pretzels perfect for social media snapshots, whole steamed lobsters, and roast chickens. Adding to the authenticity, the official band from Munich's Oktoberfest, DIE KIRCHDORFER®, will perform live, providing the perfect backdrop to enjoy your beer just like in Germany.

Event Details
・Location: Symbol Promenade Park Central Plaza
・Dates: April 26, 2024, to May 6, 2024
・Hours: 11 AM to 9:30 PM (Last order at 9 PM), opening day: 4 PM to 9:30 PM (Last order at 9 PM)
・Rain or shine; event canceled in severe weather
・Admission: 500 yen, includes an original reusable cup
・Open daily during the event
・Contact: 050-1807-3588

Experience the Traditional Arts Festival set against the enchanting backdrop of the Kagurazaka area, where the Edo period's ambiance lingers in cobblestone alleys and historical landmarks. This festival allows you to easily enjoy a variety of traditional Japanese performances such as shamisen, koto, and shakuhachi music played outdoors in noh theaters, temple grounds, and on the streets. Highlights include the "Shinnai Nagashi," where musicians stroll the alleys playing shamisen, and interactive sessions with geisha through "Ozashiki Asobi" experiences. On May 18 (Saturday) and May 19 (Sunday), the festival also offers traditional Japanese games like spinning tops and kendama at Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji Temple’s Children's Square. Additionally, on May 19, SEION TOKYO will host a workshop titled "Try Playing! Japanese Instruments," where participants can learn the basics of playing and handling the koto and shamisen.

Event Details
・Location: Kagurazaka Area (including Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji, Akagi Shrine, Yarai Noh Theater, Shirogane Park, Kagurazaka Street, and other historic sites)
・Dates: May 18-19, 2024 (Event will proceed in light rain, canceled in severe weather)
・Time: Varies by event
・Admission: Free
・Open daily during the event
・Contact: 03-5478-8265 (Weekdays from 10 AM to 6 PM)

Held one to two times a month at the Tokyo International Forum in Yurakucho, the Outdoor Antique Market is Japan’s largest of its kind. Started in September 2003 to commemorate 400 years since the establishment of Edo, the market now takes place on the first and third Sunday of each month. With around 250 vendors, the market features a wide array of items including fine art, antiques, and everyday vintage goods, ranging from 300-year-old Japanese antiques to more recent American vintage items. This market not only offers a chance to delve into Japanese history and culture but is also conveniently accessible—a short walk across the street from Yurakucho Station and just a five-minute walk from Tokyo Station.

Event Details
・Location: Tokyo International Forum, Yurakucho
・Dates: May 12 and May 18, 2024
・Time: 9 AM to 4 PM
・Admission: Free
・Open daily during the event

*Please note that the schedule is subject to change.

Design Festa is an art event that provides a platform for free expression, open to artists regardless of their professional or amateur status, age, nationality, or genre. This year, the event expects over 10,000 artists participating across approximately 6,500 booths, attracting an estimated 100,000 visitors over two days. The venue is divided into seven distinct areas: the "Bright Booth Area" where professional and amateur boundaries disappear, the "Dark Booth Area" featuring visually impactful works utilizing subdued lighting, the "Workshop Area," the "Show Stage & Performance Area" with live music, fashion, and dance, and the "Food Area" offering international cuisine. This variety allows visitors to experience and appreciate a wide range of artistic expressions and unique items, from handcrafted works and unique goods to live performances and global flavors.

Event Details
・Location: Tokyo Big Sight, West & South Exhibition Halls
・Dates: May 18-19, 2024
・Time: 10 AM to 6 PM
・Admission: Single-day ticket: 800 yen in advance, 1,000 yen on the day; Two-day ticket: 1,500 yen in advance, not available on the day
・Open daily during the event
・Contact: Not available

This year's May events in Tokyo and its surrounding areas offer a refreshing mix under the clear blue skies—whether it’s outdoor events showcasing traditional arts, trendy gourmet festivals, or historic annual celebrations. From engaging with traditional performances in an open-air setting to enjoying the flavors at a food festival, and participating in enduring festivals, there’s a wide variety of events where you can relax and have fun. Make sure to visit and experience them yourself!

(*Please note that the information provided is based on April 2024. For the latest updates, please check the official websites.)