What's on in Tokyo
Tokyo events in May 2027
236 events in May 2027: 93 festivals, 54 markets, 32 exhibitions, 26 gardens, 15 food events, 7 anime and games events, 6 performances and 3 illuminations, from headline festivals to neighbourhood fairs. 130 of them are annual events whose 2027 dates are still to be confirmed, listed with their usual window.
Golden Week fills the first week with domestic travellers. After it, warm dry days, and the big shrine festivals: Kanda Matsuri in odd years and Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa every year. More on the season in Tokyo in spring.
MapTokyo weather in May
- Average high
- 24°C (74°F)
- Average low
- 15°C (58°F)
- Rain
- 140 mm
- Rainy days
- about 10
Light clothes work in the day, with a thin layer for evenings around 15°C (58°F). Pack a small umbrella too, as it rains on about 10 days.
Averages from the Japan Meteorological Agency normals for 1991 to 2020, Tokyo station (rain table). Rainy days have at least 1 mm of rain.
Don't miss in May 2027
Food event Thai Festival Tokyo 8 to 9 May, dates to be confirmed · Harajuku Thai food and culture weekend in Yoyogi Park, hosted by the Royal Thai Embassy since 2000, with food stalls, Thai products and stage shows. Photo: Roam Tokyo
Performance May Grand Sumo Tournament (Natsu Basho) 9 to 23 May · Ryogoku The 15-day May tournament of professional sumo runs from Sunday 9 May to Sunday 23 May 2027 at the Kokugikan in Ryogoku. Advance tickets go on sale on 10 April 2027, and the final day is the championship bout. Photo: Gregg Tavares, CC BY 2.0
Festival Kanda Matsuri 13 to 18 May, dates to be confirmed · Kanda One of Tokyo's three great festivals, held at full scale only in odd years, so 2027 is a main festival year. A day-long costumed procession winds through Kanda, Nihonbashi and Akihabara, and some 200 neighbourhood mikoshi converge on the shrine the next day. Kanda Myojin hasn't published the 2027 dates yet, so these are the usual mid-May dates. Photo: 江戸村のとくぞう, CC BY-SA 4.0
Festival Sanja Matsuri 14 to 16 May, dates to be confirmed · Asakusa Asakusa's rowdiest weekend, when around 100 mikoshi including the shrine's three great portable shrines are carried through the neighbourhood's streets by roughly two million participants and spectators. Held the third Friday to Sunday of May. Photo: 江戸村のとくぞう, CC BY-SA 4.0
Festival Nikko Toshogu Spring Grand Festival 17 to 18 May · Nikko Toshogu's main festival of the year: yabusame horseback archery on 17 May, then a procession of 1,000 people in samurai dress escorting the mikoshi through town on 18 May, re-enacting the move of Tokugawa Ieyasu's grave to Nikko. Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0
Exhibition Design Festa (Spring Edition) 22 to 23 May, dates to be confirmed · Ariake Asia's largest freeform art event, with thousands of booths of independent illustrators, craftspeople, fashion makers, and performers selling and showing work across Tokyo Big Sight's halls. The spring edition lands on a May weekend (a second edition runs in November); dates are announced on the official site. Photo: Kanesue, CC BY 2.0
Calendar
Showing all 247 events in May 2027
118Heiwajima Antiques Fair (May)Meiji Jingu Spring Grand FestivalCraft Gyoza Fes TOKYO+15 more+31 on for weeks221Tokyo Game Dungeon 16 (indie game exhibition)Heiwajima Antiques Fair (May)Meiji Jingu Spring Grand Festival+18 more+31 on for weeks316Cambodia FestivalMeiji Jingu Spring Grand FestivalCraft Gyoza Fes TOKYO+13 more+31 on for weeks417Craft Gyoza Fes TOKYOKurayami Matsuri (Darkness Festival)Cambodia Festival+14 more+31 on for weeks517Craft Gyoza Fes TOKYOKurayami Matsuri (Darkness Festival)+15 more+31 on for weeks64Kurayami Matsuri (Darkness Festival)+3 more+30 on for weeks72+2 more+29 on for weeks822Hino Shinsengumi FestivalThai Festival TokyoFarmers Market at UNU+19 more+29 on for weeks932Hino Shinsengumi FestivalThai Festival TokyoFarmers Market at UNU+29 more+30 on for weeks102+2 more+28 on for weeks113+3 more+27 on for weeks122+2 more+27 on for weeks134Kanda Matsuri+3 more+27 on for weeks1410Sanja MatsuriTokyo Tokyo Delicious MuseumKanda Matsuri+7 more+27 on for weeks1533Okinawa Fes MilafeteKanda MatsuriSanja Matsuri+30 more+29 on for weeks1648Shibuya Kagoshima Ohara MatsuriKanda MatsuriSanja Matsuri+45 more+30 on for weeks173Nikko Toshogu Spring Grand FestivalKanda Matsuri+1 more+26 on for weeks186Kanda MatsuriNikko Toshogu Spring Grand Festival+4 more+26 on for weeks194+4 more+26 on for weeks204+4 more+26 on for weeks2110+10 more+26 on for weeks2227Design Festa (Spring Edition)Game Market Spring (board game fair)OFFKAI 2027 (VRChat offline meetup and creator market)+24 more+27 on for weeks2341COMITIA 160 (original self-published manga fair)Design Festa (Spring Edition)Game Market Spring (board game fair)+38 more+27 on for weeks242Togenuki Jizo Ennichi (Sugamo Temple Fair)+1 more+17 on for weeks252+2 more+17 on for weeks261+1 more+16 on for weeks271+1 more+16 on for weeks2815+15 more+16 on for weeks2923Adachi Fireworks (Adachi no Hanabi)Vietnam FestivalFarmers Market at UNU+20 more+16 on for weeks3029Vietnam FestivalFarmers Market at UNUTokyo City Flea Market at Oi Racecourse+26 more+16 on for weeks31+13 on for weeks
Day by day
Each event on its first day still ahead, regular markets on each of their days. Tap a day in the calendar for everything on that day.
7 events
Meiji Jingu Spring Grand FestivalHarajuku · Meiji Shrine · 29 Apr to 3 MayFree
Craft Gyoza Fes TOKYOKomazawa · Komazawa Olympic Park Central Plaza · 29 Apr to 5 MayFreeUsual dates
Kurayami Matsuri (Darkness Festival)Fuchu · Okunitama Shrine · 30 Apr to 6 MayFree
Farmers Market at UNUAoyama · United Nations University plaza · also 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and more MayFreeRegular market
Hills Marche at Ark HillsAkasaka · Ark Hills, Ark Karajan Place · also 8, 15, 22, 29 MayFreeRegular market
Tokyo City Flea Market at Oi RacecourseShinagawa · Oi Racecourse · also 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and more MayFreeRegular market
5 events
Tokyo Game Dungeon 16 (indie game exhibition)Hamamatsucho · Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho (three floors this time) · 2 May
Hanazono Shrine Antique MarketShinjuku · Hanazono Shrine · also 9, 16, 23, 30 MayFreeRegular market
Oedo Antique MarketYurakucho · Tokyo International Forum · also 16 MayFreeRegular market
Tomioka Hachimangu Antique and Flea MarketsFukagawa · Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine · also 9, 16, 23, 30 MayFreeRegular market
Yasukuni Shrine Antique MarketKudanshita · Yasukuni Shrine outer approach · also 9, 16, 23, 30 MayFreeRegular market
1 event
Cambodia FestivalHarajuku · Yoyogi Park Event Plaza and outdoor stage · 3 to 4 MayFreeUsual dates
1 event
Togenuki Jizo Ennichi (Sugamo Temple Fair)Sugamo · Koganji Temple and Jizo-dori Shopping Street · also 14, 24 MayFreeRegular market
2 events
Hino Shinsengumi FestivalTakahata Fudo · Around Takahata Fudo (Saturday) and the Koshu Kaido at Hino-juku (Sunday) · 8 to 9 MayFreeUsual dates
Thai Festival TokyoHarajuku · Yoyogi Park Event Plaza · 8 to 9 MayFreeUsual dates
1 event
Kanda MatsuriKanda · Kanda Myojin Shrine and surrounding districts · 13 to 18 MayFreeUsual dates
2 events
Sanja MatsuriAsakusa · Asakusa Shrine · 14 to 16 MayFreeUsual dates
Tokyo Tokyo Delicious MuseumAriake · Symbol Promenade Park, Stone and Light Square and Flower Square, Ariake · 14 to 16 MayFreeUsual dates
1 event
Okinawa Fes MilafeteHarajuku · Yoyogi Park Event Plaza, outdoor stage and Keyaki Namiki · 15 to 16 MayFreeUsual dates
3 events
Shibuya Kagoshima Ohara MatsuriShibuya · Dogenzaka and Bunkamura-dori, Shibuya · 16 MayFreeUsual dates
Takahata Fudo Gozare-ichi Antique MarketHino · Takahata Fudoson Kongoji TempleFreeRegular market
Zoshigaya Kishimojin Handmade Market (Tezukuri-ichi)Zoshigaya · Kishimojin TempleFreeRegular market
1 event
Nikko Toshogu Spring Grand FestivalNikko · Nikko Toshogu Shrine · 17 to 18 MayFree
3 events
Design Festa (Spring Edition)Ariake · Tokyo Big Sight · 22 to 23 MayUsual dates
Game Market Spring (board game fair)Makuhari · Makuhari Messe (last two spring editions) · 22 to 23 MayUsual dates
OFFKAI 2027 (VRChat offline meetup and creator market)Akihabara · AKIBA_SQUARE and UDX Gallery, Akihabara UDX · 22 to 23 May
2 events
COMITIA 160 (original self-published manga fair)Ariake · Tokyo Big Sight, East Halls 4 to 8 · 23 May
Akasaka Antique Market in Ark HillsAkasaka · Ark Hills, Ark Karajan PlaceFreeRegular market
2 events
Adachi Fireworks (Adachi no Hanabi)Kita-Senju · Arakawa riverbank between the Chiyoda Line bridge and Nishiarai Bridge · 29 MayFreeUsual dates
Vietnam FestivalHarajuku · Yoyogi Park Event Plaza, outdoor stage and Keyaki Namiki · 29 to 30 MayFreeUsual dates
Nothing matches these filters. Clear one and try again.
Also on dates the organisers post: Heiwajima Antiques Fair (Four times a year (March, May, September and December) on a Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00 (16:00 on the second day)).
On for weeks
36 long runs, such as exhibitions and illuminations: on for more than a week, so shown once instead of every day.
Sanrio Characters Exhibition: Hotel Floria TokyoShinjuku · Tokyu Kabukicho Tower 4F · 15 Jul to 31 May
How Making Gives a Story Life: the Special Edition of Murakami Haruki's What I Talk About When I Talk About RunningWaseda, Shinjuku · Waseda University International House of Literature (Haruki Murakami Library), 2F exhibition room · 19 Nov to 23 May
Chickens Capture the Human Heart, University Museum special exhibitionHongo · The University Museum, University of Tokyo (Hongo main building) · 7 Dec to 25 MayFree
TimeRoppongi · 21_21 Design Sight · 5 Feb to 23 May
Hans HaackeKiyosumi · Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT) · 6 Feb to 16 May
Montmartre: Lautrec, Suzanne Valadon and the Unknown Painters of Paris (provisional title)Marunouchi · Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum · 19 Feb to 23 May
MOT Annual 2026Kiyosumi · Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT) · 20 Feb to 30 May
ARTIZON NOW: A Collection That Grows and ConnectsKyobashi · Artizon Museum · 23 Feb to 30 May
Kitano Ken (provisional title)Ebisu · Tokyo Photographic Art Museum (TOP Museum) · 6 Mar to 6 Jun
Kiriko: Japanese Cut Glass (20th anniversary in Roppongi, part 1)Roppongi · Suntory Museum of Art · 10 Mar to 16 May
Dinosaur Expo 2027Ueno · National Museum of Nature and Science · 13 Mar to 13 Jun
Tokyo Tower 333 KoinoboriShibakoen · Tokyo Tower · 17 Mar to 6 MayFreeUsual dates
Exhibition: Manseibashi Police Box and the Entertainment DistrictsKoganei · Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum · 20 Mar to 20 Jun
Masterpieces from the Japanese Sword Museum Collection (provisional title)Ryogoku · Japanese Sword Museum · 20 Mar to 23 May
Showa Kinen Park Flower FestivalTachikawa · Showa Kinen Park · 20 Mar to 23 MayUsual dates
Hayami Gyoshu (provisional title)Hiroo · Yamatane Museum of Art · 20 Mar to 16 May
DivaRoppongi · The National Art Center, Tokyo · 24 Mar to 19 Jul
1,300 Years of Japanese Calligraphy (grand opening exhibition)Otemachi · The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan · 25 Mar to 16 May
Treasures of the Idemitsu Collection at Geidai (Idemitsu Museum 60th anniversary)Ueno · The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts · 27 Mar to 23 May
Japanese Ceramics: Kyoyaki, Ko-Imari and Tea WaresMarunouchi · Seikado Bunko Art Museum (Seikado@Marunouchi) · 10 Apr to 27 Jun
Tagasode: Whose Sleeves? (25th anniversary special exhibition)Roppongi · Sen-oku Hakuko Kan Tokyo · 10 Apr to 23 May
National Treasure Irises screens and the garden irises at the Nezu MuseumMinami-Aoyama · Nezu Museum · 10 Apr to 9 MayUsual dates
Kameido Tenjin Fuji Matsuri (Wisteria Festival)Kameido · Kameido Tenjin Shrine · 10 Apr to 5 MayFreeUsual dates
Henshin: Transformation (special exhibition)Odaiba · Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation) · 23 Apr to 31 Aug
Raoul Dufy Dans Tous Ses ÉtatsUeno · Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum · 24 Apr to 22 Aug
New Rules of Play: Art, Children, and SocietyRoppongi · Mori Art Museum · 29 Apr to 23 Sept
Kyu-Furukawa Gardens Spring Rose FestivalNishigahara · Kyu-Furukawa Gardens · 29 Apr to 30 JunUsual dates
Hata Teruo: The Sacred and the Profane (provisional title)Marunouchi · Tokyo Station Gallery · 29 Apr to 20 Jun
45th Ueno Royal Museum Grand Prize ExhibitionUeno · Ueno Royal Museum · 29 Apr to 10 MayUsual dates
Jindai Botanical Garden Spring Rose FestaJindaiji, Chofu · Jindai Botanical Garden (rose garden) · 1 to 30 MayUsual dates
Romeo and Juliet, New National Theatre BalletHatsudai · New National Theatre Tokyo, Opera Palace · 1 to 9 May
May Grand Sumo Tournament (Natsu Basho)Ryogoku · Ryogoku Kokugikan · 9 to 23 May
Firefly Evenings at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo (Hotaru no Yube)Sekiguchi, Bunkyo · Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo garden · 15 May to 30 JunUsual dates
Tokyo Architecture Festival 2027Ginza · Buildings across central Tokyo (Ueno, Kanda, Nihonbashi, Marunouchi, Ginza, Shinbashi, Shinagawa, Roppongi, Akasaka, Aoyama, Shibuya); pinned at Meiji Seimeikan, Marunouchi · 15 to 23 MayFree
Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky), New National Theatre operaHatsudai · New National Theatre Tokyo, Opera Palace · 16 to 23 May
Genso Suikoden I and II 30th anniversary exhibition FINAL (Genso Museum, Tokyo return)Suidobashi · Gallery AaMo, Tokyo Dome City · 22 May to 6 Jun
Planning a trip in May
National holidays in May 2027:
- Monday 3 May Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日)
- Tuesday 4 May Greenery Day (みどりの日)
- Wednesday 5 May Children's Day (こどもの日)
Holidays from the Cabinet Office's list of national holidays.
The calendar above lists 236 events in May 2027, and it's updated every week. Where to stay in Tokyo compares the main areas, and the Tokyo hotel price index tracks what a night costs in each.
More things to do in Tokyo in May
Beyond the dated events, here's what the season brings and which guides cover May.
At their best in May
Guides for May
Also worth a look
Good to know
What is on in Tokyo in May 2027?
236 events are listed for May 2027: 93 festivals, 54 markets, 32 exhibitions, 26 gardens, 15 food events, 7 anime and games events, 6 performances and 3 illuminations. The big dates are Thai Festival Tokyo (8 to 9 May, dates to be confirmed), May Grand Sumo Tournament (Natsu Basho) (9 to 23 May), Kanda Matsuri (13 to 18 May, dates to be confirmed), Sanja Matsuri (14 to 16 May, dates to be confirmed), Nikko Toshogu Spring Grand Festival (17 to 18 May) and Design Festa (Spring Edition) (22 to 23 May, dates to be confirmed). 106 have confirmed dates and 130 are annual events whose exact 2027 dates are still to be announced, shown with their usual window. Every listing links to the interactive map.
What's on in Tokyo during Golden Week 2027?
Golden Week is the run of national holidays from Showa Day (29 April) to Children's Day (5 May), when domestic travellers fill the trains and hotels. 13 listed events are on during it, among them Bunkyo Azalea Festival (Nezu Shrine Tsutsuji Matsuri) (1 to 30 Apr, dates to be confirmed), Kameido Tenjin Fuji Matsuri (Wisteria Festival) (10 Apr to 5 May, dates to be confirmed), National Treasure Irises screens and the garden irises at the Nezu Museum (10 Apr to 9 May, dates to be confirmed), Meiji Jingu Spring Grand Festival (29 Apr to 3 May) and Kurayami Matsuri (Darkness Festival) (30 Apr to 6 May).
What's the weather like in Tokyo in May?
In May Tokyo averages a high of 24°C (74°F) and a low of 15°C (58°F), with 140 mm of rain on about 10 days. Those are the Japan Meteorological Agency's averages for 1991 to 2020 at its Tokyo station, counting days with at least 1 mm of rain.
What festivals are on in Tokyo in May 2027?
11 festivals are listed for May 2027, among them Kurayami Matsuri (Darkness Festival) (30 Apr to 6 May), Cambodia Festival (3 to 4 May, dates to be confirmed), Kanda Matsuri (13 to 18 May, dates to be confirmed), Sanja Matsuri (14 to 16 May, dates to be confirmed) and Nikko Toshogu Spring Grand Festival (17 to 18 May). Smaller shrine and shopping street festivals are under Around the neighbourhoods, further down the page.
Are there free events in Tokyo in May 2027?
Yes. 187 of the 236 events listed for May 2027 are free to attend, including Kameido Tenjin Fuji Matsuri (Wisteria Festival) (10 Apr to 5 May, dates to be confirmed), Kanda Matsuri (13 to 18 May, dates to be confirmed) and Sanja Matsuri (14 to 16 May, dates to be confirmed). Food stalls and games at festivals cost extra.
Is May a good time to visit Tokyo?
Golden Week fills the first week with domestic travellers. After it, warm dry days, and the big shrine festivals: Kanda Matsuri in odd years and Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa every year.
How current is this list?
Near-term events are refreshed every week as organisers announce dates, and finished events drop off automatically. Annual events further out carry their typical dates until the official ones are published.
Running an event? Add your event and it's checked for the next weekly update.