From early summer to the height of summer, Tokyo truly comes alive at night when the heat eases. The city is illuminated by a variety of nighttime events, including the enchanting light-ups of Tokyo Tower and TOKYO SKYTREE®, atmospheric lantern floating ceremonies, festivals, and projection mapping displays. There are also many events that evoke a sense of coolness through lush nature, water, and colorful lights. In this article, we introduce events where you can enjoy Tokyo’s summer nights. Why not head out this summer and experience Tokyo’s vibrant nights filled with lights and excitement?
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[Tokyo Tower] Light-up and Summer-Only Events
Tokyo Tower’s Summer Version Light-up (Limited to July, August, and September)
Tokyo Tower is illuminated every day after sunset. There are two lighting patterns: one is the "Landmark Light," which is lit daily from sunset until 8:00 p.m. Starting July 7, it switches to a cool summer version featuring mainly white lights. The other is the "Infinity Diamond Veil," which lights up in a designated color for each month every Monday and Thursday from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Tokyo Tower Summer Night Event: "Milky Way Illumination"
The "Milky Way Illumination" is held every summer on the Main Deck of Tokyo Tower. LED bulbs are used to represent stars, recreating a sky filled with twinkling stars and the Milky Way. The lights reflected in the windows blend with the city lights, creating a magical starry sky above Tokyo. Occasionally, shooting stars appear as part of the production, allowing visitors to enjoy a collaboration with the night view. This special event lets you spend a summer evening as if you are wrapped in a sky full of stars.
Tokyo Tower Milky Way Illumination
- Address: 4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Access:
- About 5 minutes on foot from Akabanebashi Station
- About 7 minutes on foot from Kamiyacho Station
- Typical event period: Mid-June to mid-September (For 2025: June 12 to September 23)
[TOKYO SKYTREE] Illuminations and Summer-Only Events
Tokyo Skytree® Summer Light-up
Every summer, Tokyo Skytree® offers special lighting displays. In 2025, in addition to "Fireworks," there were "Sunflower," which expresses the growth of a sunflower until it blooms, and "Goldfish Swimming (Oyogu Yo Kingyo)," which depicts goldfish swimming in a cool blue aquarium. These annual summer-themed illuminations, together with the nearby Sumida River Fireworks Festival, delight many people.
Tokyo Skytree Summer Night Event: "Tokyo Solamachi® Summer Festival"
The "Tokyo Solamachi® Summer Festival" is held every year at the Tokyo Skytree® commercial complex. Food stalls from popular Tokyo Solamachi shops line Solamachi Hiroba, offering summer festival-exclusive food and drinks. The Solamachi Shopping Street and Food Marche inside the building are also filled with a festive atmosphere.
The "Sumida Ward Residents' Summer Bon Dance Festival" is held at Soramachi Hiroba on the same day as the Tokyo Solamachi® Summer Festival. You can enjoy Bon Odori around a yagura (raised platform) set up at the base of TOKYO SKYTREE®.
Tokyo Solamachi® Summer Festival
- Address: 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
- Access: Right next to Tokyo Skytree Station and Oshiage Station
- Usual event period: During August (For 2025: August 1–3)
Otemachi, Marunouchi, Yurakucho Summer Festival 2026
The "Otemachi, Marunouchi, Yurakucho Summer Festival," held annually in the Marunouchi area, is known for its wide variety of events and attractions. In 2025, "Marunouchi Summer Festival" was held on Gyoko-dori Avenue, and "Otemachi Ennichi" took place on Otemachi Nakadori. At the "Marunouchi Summer Festival," visitors enjoyed displays of Japanese umbrellas, Bon Odori, and a "Uchimizu" event where water is sprinkled on the streets to create a cooling effect. At "Otemachi Ennichi," there were food stalls offering festival games and food, as well as special limited-edition dishes created by the head chef of the Japanese-style inn HOSHINOYA Tokyo.
Marunouchi Summer Festival
- Address: 2-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About 1 minute walk from Tokyo Station
- Usual event period: Late July (For 2025: July 25–26)
Otemachi Ennichi
- Address: 1-9-7 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- Access: Directly connected to Tokyo Metro Otemachi Station
- Period: July 31 (Thu), August 1 (Fri) (For 2025)
Imperial Palace Chidorigafuchi Lantern Floating
The "Lantern Floating" event at Chidorigafuchi, a famous cherry blossom spot at the Imperial Palace, is a traditional event with a magical atmosphere where a total of 2,000 lanterns are floated on the moat over two days. You can write your wishes on the lanterns, so you can not only watch but also write your own message.
There are two ways to participate. One is the "Boat Lantern Floating," where you board a boat and float your lantern directly on the water (by lottery). The other is to have staff release a lantern with your written wish on your behalf. In both cases, advance online application and purchase are required.
Imperial Palace Chidorigafuchi Lantern Floating
- Address:
(1) Chidorigafuchi Boat Pier: 2 Sanbancho (Viewing area, beverage sales, lantern reception, boat boarding reception)
(2) Kudanzaka Park: 2-2-18 Kudanminami (Viewing area) - Access:
(1) About 10 minutes on foot from Kudanshita Station or Hanzomon Station
(2) About 3 minutes on foot from Kudanshita Station - Usual event period: End of July (For 2025: July 30–31)
Sumida River Lantern Floating
The "Sumida River Lantern Floating (Toro Nagashi)" is held annually on both banks of the Sumida River. This magical event features 5,000 lanterns set afloat from both sides, with their lights reflecting beautifully on the river’s surface. Participants write their wishes—such as prayers for ancestors, peace, or disaster recovery—on the lanterns and release them into the river by hand. This interactive format has become increasingly popular, with more participants each year. Since the lantern sales booths at the venue are expected to be crowded on the day of the event, it is recommended to purchase your lanterns online in advance if you wish to avoid the crowds.
Sumida River Toro Nagashi
- Venue: Sumida River, Azumabashi to Kototoibashi
- Address: Around 1 Hanakawado, Taito-ku (Sumida River Azumabashi Waterside Terrace)
- Access: About 5 minutes on foot from Asakusa Station
- Usual event period: Obon in August (August 16 in 2025)
Summer-Only Tokyo Sea of Clouds (Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo)
Every year, Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo hosts summer events. The "Tokyo Sea of Clouds," which can be seen year-round in the garden, is lit up at night. In 2025, a turquoise blue production in collaboration with L'Occitane became a hot topic. The misty sea of clouds envelops the entire area, making you forget the summer heat and humidity.
In addition, the daytime "Sea of Clouds Splash" is also a popular summer event. The mist produced around Yusuichi Pond in the garden forms larger droplets than usual, and sometimes rainbows appear as the light reflects off them.
Summer-Only Tokyo Sea of Clouds
- Address: 2-10-8 Sekiguchi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About 10 minutes on foot from Edogawabashi Station (Tokyo Metro)
- Period: Tuesday, July 1 – Monday, September 15 (2025 event)
Time-Travel Evening Cool Breeze with Spectacular Views (Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
Three Prince Hotels in the Shinagawa and Takanawa area host the "Time-Travel Evening Cool Breeze with Spectacular Views" event. The theme is "Takanawa Nijurokuya," inspired by the Edo-period "moon-waiting culture" of eagerly awaiting the moonrise, reimagined in a modern style. During the event, you can enjoy an evening stroll in a lush Japanese garden, surrounded by the magical atmosphere created by over 400 bamboo lanterns. As you hold a bamboo lantern and feel the evening breeze, you'll feel as if you've traveled back to the Edo period.
Time-Travel Evening Cool Breeze with Spectacular Views
- Address: 3-13-1 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Access:
- About 5 minutes on foot from Shinagawa Station
- About 3 minutes on foot from Takanawadai Station
- Period: Friday, July 18 – Wednesday, September 10 (2025 event)
Yoimichi Toro (Tokyo Station)
"Yoimichi Toro," held every summer at the Granroof Garden at Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit, is a popular event. The 2025 theme is "Yaesu Fireworks," with about 100 lanterns decorated with fireworks patterns set up at the venue. Dynamic projection mapping fireworks also are projected across the 40-meter-long grand roof. On weekends, festival stalls appear to enhance the festive mood. In addition, there are various attractions to enjoy, such as hand-held lantern rentals and a stamp rally in collaboration with Tokyo Midtown Yaesu.
Yoimichi Toro
- Address: 1-chome, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- Access: Right next to JR Tokyo Station
- Usual Event Period: Weekends from late August to early September (For 2025: August 29–31, September 5–7)
Star and Sun Market produced by Tokyo Night Market
"Star and Sun Market" is a spin-off event of the "Tokyo Night Market," which is held in May, July, and October at the Keyaki-lined avenue in Yoyogi Park, and takes place in July.
The concept is "Tokyo × Asian Night Market." In addition to popular food and goods stalls, there are live stages, DJ booths, festival games, street performances, and more—offering a wide variety of content. The special atmosphere, different from the usual night market, is a major highlight.
Star and Sun Market produced by Tokyo Night Market
- Address: Jinnan 1-chome & 2-chome (B Area), Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Access:
- About 3 minutes on foot from Harajuku Station or Meiji-Jingumae Station
- About 3 minutes on foot from Yoyogi-Koen Station
- Period: July 1 (Wed) – July 5 (Sun), 2026
Enoshima Lantern Festival 2026
The "Enoshima Lantern Festival," held every summer on Enoshima Island in Kanagawa Prefecture, is a magical light-up event themed on the founding myth of Enoshima Shrine, "Enoshima Engi." Around 1,000 lanterns line the venue, creating a "picture scroll of light."
In 2025, the area was expanded. Since 2024, the event has been held in two phases: the first phase features light-cut art at Zuishinmon Gate, and the second phase showcases ukiyo-e projected onto fabric at Hetsunomiya. The immersive experience of being enveloped in a world of light is a major attraction of this event.
Enoshima Lantern Festival
- Address: 2-3-8 Enoshima, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa
- Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Katase-Enoshima Station
- Usual Event Period: Mid-July to the end of August (For 2025: July 19–August 31)
Fireworks Festivals in Tokyo in July & August
From July to August, Tokyo hosts numerous fireworks festivals that light up the summer nights. These range from large-scale events with a long history to shows featuring musical performances, offering a truly diverse experience. To fully enjoy the fireworks festivals, it’s essential to check the schedule and highlights of each event in advance.
For more details, be sure to check out this article!
🎆List of Fireworks Festivals in Tokyo: Not Only in July and August, but Also in Autumn and Winter!
Check Out Events in Tokyo in June, July, and August
Summer in Tokyo is a season filled with a wide variety of events, including traditional festivals. From time-honored traditions like mikoshi processions and Bon Odori dances to events related to anime, manga, and art, there’s something for everyone.
Don’t miss out—take a look at this article packed with summer events!
✨Recommended Events in Tokyo in June, July, and August: Experience Japanese Culture
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