Welcome to August! While the sweltering heat and humidity are in full force, summer is when Japan truly comes alive. Across the country, centuries-old festivals, dazzling fireworks displays, and seasonal celebrations bring neighborhoods and communities together, offering visitors a chance to experience traditions that have been passed down for generations.

 

Read on to discover what’s happening across Japan this August.

 

 

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Tokyo

 

ROPPONGI HILLS ICE! ICE! ICE! 2026

 

 

Cool down from Tokyo’s summer heat at ROPPONGI HILLS ICE! ICE! ICE! 2026. Held across 16 restaurants and cafes within Roppongi Hills, the event brings together a wide variety of chilled treats, including classic ice cream, kakigori (Japanese shaved ice), and gelato. Running until the end of August, the event offers plenty of opportunities to sample refreshing desserts while exploring the complex.

 

 

Image courtesy of Roppongi Hills.

 

📍 Roppongi Hills

📅 until August 31

💰  Free Entry

 

For full details of the event, please check their official website.

 

 

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Kanagawa

 

 

Zama Sunflower Festival

 

See one of the largest sunflower displays in the Tokyo metropolitan area at the Zama Sunflower Festival. Vast fields of vibrant yellow sunflowers transform the riverside landscape each summer, creating spectacular photo opportunities. Visitors can take in panoramic views from observation platforms, browse stalls selling local produce and freshly cut sunflowers, and enjoy festival food while soaking up the seasonal scenery. Visitors can also take a direct shuttle bus from Odakyu Line Sobudaimae Station to the sunflower festival venue for ¥260.

 

 

Image courtesy of Zama City Tourism Association.

 

📍 Zama Sunflower Fields Yotsuya Venue

📅 August 14 ~ 16

💰 Free Entry

 

For full details of the event, please check their official website.

 

 

 

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Nagano

 

Stardust Theater in Haramura 2026

 

 

Spend a summer evening watching a film beneath the stars at the Starry Sky Film Festival. Held at the Yatsugatake Park of Nature and Culture in Hara Village, the outdoor cinema sits at an altitude of approximately 1,300 meters and is surrounded by the forests and mountains of Yatsugatake. Ten films will be screened during this year’s festival, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and screenings beginning at 7:30 p.m. It is a memorable opportunity to enjoy cinema in the cool mountain air under Nagano’s night sky.

 

 

Image courtesy of Stardust Theater in Haramura Executive Committee.

 

📍Yatsugatake Nature and Culture Park

📅 August 2 ~ 16

💰 ¥ 1,500

 

For full details of the event, please check their official website.

 

 

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Izu

 

Ito Anjin Festival

 

 

The Ito Anjin Festival commemorates Miura Anjin (William Adams), the English navigator who became Japan’s first Western samurai and helped build the country’s first Western-style sailing ships in Ito. The three-day celebration begins with lanterns floating along the Matsukawa River on August 8, followed by a lively taiko drum competition on August 9. The festival concludes on August 10 with its signature fireworks display over the sea.

 

 

Image courtesy of Ito Tourism Association.

 

📍Ito City

📅  August 8 ~ 10

💰 Free 

 

For full details of the event, please check their official website.

 

 

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Aomori

 

Aomori Nebuta Festival

 

 

One of northern Japan’s most spectacular summer festivals, the Aomori Nebuta Festival fills the streets with enormous illuminated floats depicting legendary warriors, historical figures, and scenes from folklore. Accompanied by the energetic sounds of Nebuta Bayashi, dancers known as haneto leap and chant alongside the illuminated floats as they make their way through the city. The festival concludes on August 7 with a daytime parade of big floats, followed by a marine procession and fireworks over Aomori Bay.

 

 

Image courtesy of Aomori Tourism and Convention Association. 

 

📍 Central Aomori City

📅 August 2 ~ 7

💰 Free 

 

For full details of the event, please check their official website.

 

 

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We hope this August event guide helps you make the most of your summer in Japan. As event schedules and programs are subject to change, be sure to check each event’s official website for the latest information before visiting.

 

Have a wonderful time exploring Japan this summer and don’t forget to stay hydrated!

 

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