As much as the Japanese love everything new and modern, they also honor traditions and nature as much as possible. Whatever the season, from cherry blossoms to New Year’s Eve, visitors will find that in Tokyo, the changing of the seasons are a cultural event.
Fukagawa Hachiman Festival
August brings hot and humid days and one of the biggest festivals in downtown Tokyo. Portable shrines representing Fukagawa’s 54 districts are paraded along a five-mile course. Spectators throw water on the shrine carriers to purify and cool them down. While the main festival is held once every three years, a smaller version takes place annually.
Autumn Colors at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gardens
Starting in November when temperatures drop, Japan’s many maple trees don their red and orange hues. Visitors can take in the natural beauty at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gardens and stroll along the perfectly groomed gardens complete with historical buildings, ponds and red-leafed trees. Many special events happen in Tokyo during this time.
A Romantic Christmas
In Japan, Christmas is for lovers. Borrowed from Western culture, the Japanese have turned the celebration into a romantic holiday. Visitors can join in on the fun by taking a stroll along Harumi Triton Square and Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu, where Tokyo decks the streets with Christmas lights.
New Year's
The last and first day of the year is a very important time for the Japanese and is spent exclusively with family. A watch-night bell called Jyoyanokane is rung to signal the arrival of New Year. Nishiaraidaishi, one of the city’s most popular temples, is believed to bring visitors longevity; Tokyoites visit it on the first day of the year.
Plum Blossoms
The three-week Setagaya Plum Blossom Festival takes place in February to celebrate the impending arrival of spring. Each year, 700 plum trees come into bloom during the course of a week or two. At the end of the blossoming period, plum delicacies such as pickled plums, jellies, juice, and rice cakes are sold everywhere.
Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in Tokyo
Although cherry blossoms can be spotted in various places around the city in March, the most popular viewing point is Ueno Onshi Park, where families and friends have picnics and enjoy the scenery. To see the biggest concentration of blossoms, head to the park’s main path, Chuouen-ji. In Ueno, visitors shouldn’t miss the Ueno Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival), where approximately 1,300 paper lanterns illuminate the cherry trees.
