With the beautiful cherry blossoms being replaced with the magical rainy season, it’s common to feel a bit lost when trying to put together an itinerary for a Tokyo trip in June, but I promise you, there is so much to do and see! The rain can make some things look even more beautiful by adding delicate raindrops to the surrounding landscapes, and it will make you appreciate the drier days and the beginning of the summer heat even more when the sun does occasionally fight its way through the clouds. From outdoor festivals and markets, so you can enjoy the warmer weather, as well as some indoor activities for those days you need to keep out of the rain, we’ve got you covered! So let’s jump into some of the best things you can find in Tokyo this June!
Exclusive art on display at the exhibit. Photo Credit – Godzilla: The Art Official Website
Godzilla: The Art Exhibition
Having celebrated the 70th anniversary last year, the Mori Arts Center Gallery has set out to display as many artworks of Godzilla as possible, showcasing just how many different revisions and versions have been created over the years. Whilst this may not be the only Godzilla exhibition to hit Japan, there are some venue exclusives such as a diorama and special video produced just for this location, so it’s worth catching before it closes at the end of the month!
Dates: 26th April – 29th June
Time: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Admission: regular ticket (weekdays): 2,200 yen; regular ticket (weekends): 2,500 yen
Location: Mori Arts Center Gallery
Website: https://godzillatheart.com/exhibition/#exhibition-section-ticket
Short Shorts Film Festival Official Poster. Photo Credit – Short Shorts Official Website
Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia
Interested in the film industry and looking for something related to this to do this summer? Well, you’re in luck because the Short Shorts Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to short films! Showing a variety of films across several days and locations, it’s easy to find something everyone will enjoy, and there are even some online screenings the week before the Tokyo dates if you can’t make it but still want to join in on the fun!
Dates: 28th May – 11th June
Time: TBC (film dependent)
Admission: advance admission: 1,500 JPY; day of admission: 1,800 JPY; children under elementary age: free
Location: THE LINKPILLAR 1 SOUTH
Website: https://www.shortshorts.org/2025/en/
Fireflies in the garden. Photo Credit – Japanistry Festival Page
Fussa Firefly Festival
What better way to start the summer than to witness the incredible vision of hundreds of fireflies lighting up the sky? Approaching its 60th year, this festival is a sight to behold as 500 fireflies are released in Hotaru Park. Starting a few hours before the sun sets, you’ll have enough time to explore the park and have a picnic dinner, either of your own food or something from the many street vendors present at the festival, before the real show begins.
Dates: 1st June
Time: 3 pm – 9 pm
Admission: Free
Location: Hotaru Park
Website: https://www.fussakanko.jp/2025/02/18/675/
Irises in the garden of Horikiri. Photo Credit – Katsushika Iris Festival Official Website
Japanese Iris Festival
If you’ve come to Japan too late to see the cherry blossoms but still want to appreciate some beautiful flowers, the Japanese Iris Festival is for you! Spanning across several weeks, this festival showcases not only around 200 different varieties of Iris (with over 5,000 flowers in total in Horikiri Garden alone) but also events such as live music and performances to celebrate the beginning of summer!
Dates: 26th May – 15th June
Time: All Day!
Admission: Free
Location: Horikiri Iris Garden
Website: https://www.city.katsushika.lg.jp/tourism/1000064/1028427.html
Display of Turkish foods. Photo Credit – Meruyert Gonullu
Turkey Food and Culture Festival
Spanning across two whole days, the Turkey Festival is a great place to try some authentic Turkish ice cream or kebabs. In addition to the rich foods on sale, there’s also plenty of workshops, dancing and handicrafts to experience at this annual event, allowing you to discover an entirely different culture without having to leave central Tokyo. Taking place in Yoyogi park also means this is an easy place to stop for lunch on your way to Meiji Jingu or Takeshita Street – even more reason to add it to your itinerary!
Dates: Early June (TBC)
Time: 10 am – 7 pm
Admission: Free
Location: Yoyogi Park
Website: Turkey Festival Facebook Page
Stalls at the Romantic flea market. Photo Credit – Romantic Flea Market Official Instagram
Tokyo Romantic Flea Market
If you’re looking for something a bit more low-key than a full-on festival, or frantically searching train stations, the Tokyo Romantic Flea Market is the best place to spend a warm Sunday afternoon. Held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month, these quaint local markets are the ideal place to find trinkets and souvenirs that you may not find at your typical tourist spots. With plenty of clothes, antiques and handmade crafts to choose from, this is an ideal chill post-lunch activity.
Dates: 8th June
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Admission: Free
Location: Sumitomo Fudosan, Shibuya Garden Tower
Website: https://tokyo-romantic.com
Hydrangeas in Hakusan Park. Photo Credit – Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival Website
Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival
If the Irises aren’t your thing, or alternatively, if flower festivals are very much are your thing and you want to see more, then you can check out the Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival! Not only is there a vast variety of beautiful Hydrangeas in all different hues, but there is an abundance of other activities throughout the week, including a children’s sketching party and even a dental health prayer festival!
Dates: TBC (2024: 8th-16th June)
Time: 10 am – 4 pm daily
Admission: free
Location: Hakusan Park
Website: https://honyaku.j-server.com/LUCBUNKYAI/ns/tl.cgi
A portable shrine carried at Torikoe Festival. Photo Credit – Go Tokyo
Torikoe Festival
Torikoe, or Torigoe, festival dates back to the Heian Era and is most well-known for showcasing one of the biggest portable shrines in Japan – the Senkan Mikoshi, which weighs about 4 tons. Taking place in Asakusa and offering a variety of Japanese street food, dances and beer, this festival is sure to make you truly appreciate everything a traditional Japanese festival has to offer and is a must-see for those of you wanting to experience a slice of Japanese culture.
Dates: 7th – 9th June
Time: 6:30 am – 9 pm
Admission: Free
Location: Torikoe Shrine
Website: https://www.city.taito.lg.jp/event/kanko/torikoematsuri.html
Official poster for Candle Night. Photo Credit – Official Candle Night Website
Candle Night for 1 Million People
Twice a year, on summer and winter solstices, all lights are turned off, including the iconic Tokyo Tower, and the area is instead lit by thousands of lanterns in all shapes, sizes and colours. Intended as a time for people to come together and wish for protection, or personal desires, the event itself opens during the daytime to allow people to celebrate, pray, and prepare their lanterns, before the lights are turned off from around 8 pm to 10 pm creating a heart-stopping landscape of physical representatives of a cities’ wishes.
Dates: Summer Solstice (exact date TBC)
Time: 12 pm – 10 pm
Admission: Free
Location: Zōjō-ji Temple
Website: https://candle-night.tokyo/
My Hero Academia exhibition poster. Photo Credit – Official Exhibition Website
‘My Hero Academia’ Original Art Exhibition
As one of the most well-known anime worldwide, and over 150 episodes, it’s no wonder that there’s a lot of hype about this new exhibit. Showcasing original concept art from the manga and anime, there’s plenty to see at this incredible Exhibit. Step into the mind of Kohei Horikoshi and the world that he created. The perfect place to place to find some sketching inspiration (or just an excuse to reread the beloved manga series), you can even upgrade your ticket to include exclusive merch!
Dates: 21st June – 31st August
Time: 10:00 AM – 08:00 PM
Admission: regular ticket: 2,200 JPY; ‘with goods’ ticket: 3,900 JPY
Location: CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO
Website: https://heroaca-ex.com/
And there you have it! A mix of flowers, art, film and some traditional festivals to enjoy throughout June. With Tokyo being as big of a city as it is, you’ll no doubt be able to find something to do this summer, whether it’s outside enjoying the beginnings of that summer heat or inside sheltering from the showers. And if the rain gets too bad, or you find yourself getting tired from walking around in the sun all day, you can always relax by indulging in some delicious treats on one of our Tokyo food tours.
Featured Photo Credit: Preeyaporn Suwanprasert
Now that we’ve talked about Tokyo, find out what you can do across Japan this summer with one of our amazing Summer Food Tours!
