Tokyo in June: Recommended sightseeing events and scenery unique to this time of year!

If you are going to go sightseeing, you want to incorporate into your itinerary things that you can only see and experience during that time of the year. In this issue, we will introduce the conditions, events, and recommended spots in June in Tokyo for those who are interested in such things!

*The events introduced here are subject to cancellation, so please check the official website before heading out.

To learn more about Tokyo in summer, check here!

About Tokyo in June

Weather

June in Tokyo is the season of early summer, with average temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius. Daytime highs are around 25 degrees Celsius and lows around 17 degrees Celsius. In addition to the heat of early summer, the rainy season can be humid and muggy, but nights are often relatively cool. Temperatures will fluctuate widely, with some days being hot and sweaty and others feeling chilly when it rains.

Events

Various events are held in Tokyo in June. There are traditional events held at shrines, flowers unique to this time of year, and even events where you can enjoy fireflies, an early summer tradition.

Travel

June is the rainy season, which means many rainy days, but there are many indoor spots in Tokyo that can be enjoyed even in the rain. Furthermore, plants that can only be seen in June during the rainy season, such as hydrangeas, are beautiful sights unique to this time of year. Although it may be difficult to go out when it rains, you will be able to fully enjoy your trip if you are aware of fashion for changing temperatures and weather conditions, and don’t forget to bring rain gear.

June Fashion

June is the season when the heat gradually increases, so cooler clothing is best. Lightweight shirts, T-shirts, pants, and other breathable clothing are recommended. However, since the temperature changes from day to night and the rainy season can be chilly, it is recommended to wear a cardigan that can be layered in case of changeable temperatures, or a long-sleeved shirt that is easy to adjust. Also, please remember to bring rain gear.

Traditional Festivals in Tokyo

Tsukiji Lion Dance Festival (つきじ獅子祭)

Namiyoke Shrine in Tsukiji is known for its prayers for disaster and misfortune prevention, business prosperity, and construction safety, and holds the Tsukiji Lion Dance Festival for four days from early to mid-June every year. This festival has been held since the early Edo period and is popular as a festival in Tsukiji that informs the coming of summer.

The highlight of the festival is the parade of a cart carrying a huge shishi lion’s head through the town. Also, many stalls line both sides of the street from the shrine to the main street, making it a lively and enjoyable event.

Torikoe Festival (鳥越神社大祭)

Torikoe Shrine, located in Taito Ward, boasts a history of approximately 1,370 years. The Torikoe Shrine Festival, held annually in early June, is one of the most representative festivals of traditional town Tokyo. The festival features a portable shrine procession rooted in tradition and a solemn and fantastic night festival.

“Sengan-mikoshi” is the heaviest mikoshi (portable shrine) in Tokyo, weighing approximately 4 tons. The highlight of the festival is the procession of the mikoshi, which is the largest in scale in Tokyo, carried by the shrine’s Ujiko (shrine parishioners).

At night, the festival reaches its climax when the lanterns and tall lanterns around the portable shrines are lit. This is known as “Torikoe night festival,” and the lights of the lanterns flickering in the darkness create a fantastic atmosphere that is very popular. It has become a June tradition in the area.

Sanno Matsuri (山王祭)

The Sanno Matsuri held at Hie Shrine is the first of the three major festivals in Edo (Tokyo) along with the Kanda and Fukagawa festivals, and is also one of the three major festivals in Japan along with the Gion Festival in Kyoto and the Tenjin Festival in Osaka. It is held from early to mid June every year.

The festival will be held for 11 days, but there is so much to do that you could visit every day during the festival period and not get bored. In addition to the solemn ceremonies that remind us of the weight of history, there will be a wide variety of other events, including traditional Japanese performing arts and a folk dance.

Flowers in June

Bunkyo Ajisai Festival (文京あじさいまつり)

During the rainy season, more than 3,000 hydrangea (Ajisai) plants bloom from Hakusan Shrine to Hakusan Park, which are even more beautiful when wet from the rain. The annual “Hydrangea Festival” is held from early to mid-June, during which hydrangea plants are sold at stalls and food stands.

Bunkyo-ku, which retains the atmosphere of Edo period (1603-1868), is known for its greenery and beautiful flowers even though it is located in the heart of the city, and you can enjoy various flowers throughout the year, starting with the “Five Major Bunkyo Flower Festivals” held in February. It is about a 3-minute walk from Hakusan Station on the Toei Subway Mita Line.

Katsushika Iris Festival (葛飾菖蒲まつり)

The irises in Horikiri Shobuen have long been known as one of Edo’s most famous landmarks, and the landscape has been the subject of ukiyoe paintings by Hiroshige Ando and Toyokuni Utagawa, both ukiyoe artists of the Edo period. The park is home to 6,000 irises of about 200 varieties. Mizumoto Park is the only park in Tokyo with a suigo (water village) landscape, and its seasonal views attract visitors. During this season, 14,000 irises of about 100 varieties are in full bloom.

The “Iris Festival” is held in these two parks from late May to late June every year, during which various events are held, including a singing stage, a parade, and illuminations.

Firefly Viewing in Tokyo

Fussa Firefly Festival (福生ほたる祭)

The Fussa Firefly Festival, which heralds the arrival of early summer in Fussa, is usually held around mid-June around the “Firefly Park” in Fussa City. Visitors can enjoy the fantastic sight of approximately 500 genji botaru (Japanese fireflies), carefully nurtured by local residents, flying around the park. In addition, various events will be held around the festival site, such as kitchen car stalls and other events that will liven up the early summer evening.

In 2024, the festival returned for the first time in five years.

Firefly Night (Hotaru no Yube /ホタルの夕べ)

At “Yuyake Koyake Fureai no Sato” in Hachioji City, fireflies grown in the park color the night sky over the site. This is a facility where visitors can experience recreational activities in the mountains and feel close to nature, surrounded by lush green mountains.

Usually from mid to late June, about 2,500 genji botaru (fireflies) can be seen in the creek that runs through the park and in the clear waters of the Kita Asa River. During the daytime, the fireflies rest in the deep shadows of the grass, but at night they light up and fly about fantastically, allowing visitors to feel the change of the season from spring to early summer.

Enjoy early summer with beer!

Mt. Takao Beer Mount (高尾山ビアマウント)

One of the largest beer gardens in the Tama area, “Mt. Takao Beer Mount” in Hachioji City, is open from June to October. The event takes place at an observatory 488 meters above sea level, just a short walk from Mt. Takao Station,the last stop on the Mt. Takao Cable Car. During this period, it opens every day at 1:00pm, so you can enjoy alcohol and food in the daytime amidst the fresh air and scenery.

More than 30 kinds of Japanese, Western, and Chinese food, and of course beer, are always available. Eating and drinking in the midst of nature is exceptional.

Meiji Kinenkan Beer Terrace Sekirei (明治記念館ビアテラス「鶺鴒」)

Meiji Kinenkan, located about a 3-minute walk from Shinanomachi Station on the JR Chuo and Sobu lines, will hold a beer terrace “Beer Terrace Sekirei” from May to October only. This beer garden said to be the best in Japan, is an event held in an open location overlooking the sky.

During the festival, visitors can enjoy high quality food and beer in the Meiji Kinenkan Main Building, designated as a Tangible Cultural Property, as well as in the garden. The beer is exceptional while enjoying the view of the beautifully manicured lawn.

Since this is a popular event, it is recommended to make reservations in advance.

Editor’s Comment

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