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Updated: August 14, 2026

Best Things to Do and See in Tokyo in September

Is September a good time to visit Tokyo?

This is the month when Tokyo glides from summer to autumn. You can enjoy elements of both seasons, with quintessential summer activities, such as fireworks displays, plus autumnal flowers and art.

What is the weather like in Tokyo in September?

In Tokyo, the summer heat continues into September. Daytime temperatures often exceed 30℃ (86℉) and it's extremely humid, so it feels as hot as August. The average temperature is 26.5℃ (79.7℉), with highs of 30.9℃ (87.6℉) and lows of 23℃ (73.4℉). Typhoons may approach Tokyo at this time of year. The average rainfall is around 200 mm, making this one of Tokyo's rainier months. Temperatures can drop suddenly during rain, so bring rain gear and light jackets. Keep an eye on the news for the latest typhoon information.
Note: This guidance is based on meteorological data for 2025.

Best events, festivals, and other things to do in September

Tokyo Festival 2026

Tokyo Festival is an urban performing arts festival that develops Tokyo as an international platform for performing arts. In 2026, it takes place throughout the city from September 1 to November 3. The festival includes the international performing arts festival "Autumn Meteorite 2026 Tokyo"; performances of 100 different works selected from open-call entries; "Performing Arts Base," a free showcase presented by Tokyo International Forum and MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives; and more. The event brings Tokyo together and is presented in collaboration with local theater festivals.

Cosmos Festival

The Cosmos Festival takes place at Showa Kinen Park from September through October. Around 4 million cosmos flowers of multiple varieties come into bloom. During the festival, there will be places set up to take memorable photos to post on social media.

Chofu's Autumn Fireworks

Chofu's Autumn Fireworks are famous in the Kanto region and have been around for over 40 years. This year's festival will feature 50 large fireworks in rapid succession and "Hanabillusion," a display that combines music and fireworks. There's also "Takumi no Hanabi," an unmissable display of fireworks crafted by artisans from all over Japan. The beauty and splendor of the fireworks will be a sight to remember.

Hagi (bush clover) tunnel

Hagi (bush clover) is another flower associated with autumn. One of the best places to see these delicate blooms is Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden, a beautiful flower garden with over 200 years of history. Every September, hagi is grown over a 30-meter-long bamboo frame to create a Hagi (bush clover) tunnel is in bloom.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden Open-air Noh Performances (Mori no Takigi Noh)

Shinjuku Gyoen hosts the annual Mori no Takigi Noh event sometime between September and October. This event features traditional performances of Noh drama and kyogen (Japanese comedy) in a spectacular garden setting. Flaming torches light the stage. The garden is kept open late for this event, allowing you a rare nighttime glimpse of Shinjuku Gyoen.

Nezu-jinja Shrine Annual Grand Festival

Nezu-jinja Shrine Annual Grand Festival is said to have originated in 1714, when it was founded by the shogun. One of the biggest events in the country back then, it remains a lively affair with many stalls and traditional dance performances. Nezu-jinja Shrine's 18th-century buildings deepen a sense of history.
In 2026, the festival features the Jinkosai, a ritual procession that's held every four years. It takes place on September 27 and involves a parade of people guiding a portable mikoshi shrine through the local area.

Kita City Fireworks Festival

The Kita City Fireworks Festival is one of the best-known autumn fireworks events. It takes place along the Arakawa River, conveniently located within an hour's trip from central Tokyo. Marugo, a manufacturer known as the "magician of fireworks," makes the 10,000 fireworks. These are synchronized to moving lights and music, producing a magnificent spectacle.
There are paid reserved seats available on the Akabane side of the river, aimed at international tourists. Japanese fireworks are world famous, and you can enjoy the very latest they have to offer.

Shinagawa Shukuba-matsuri Festival

Shinagawa was once the first stop on the road connecting Tokyo (then called Edo) and Kyoto. Each September, people celebrate that heritage at Shinagawa Shukuba-matsuri Festival and dress up in period costumes.

Fukuro Matsuri (Ikebukuro Festival)

Fukuro Matsuri is held on the west side of Ikebukuro Station. The festival was first held in 1968, when it was centered on a local shopping street. Fukuro Matsuri now attracts tens of thousands of people, with a mikoshi (portable shrine) parade as well as energetic music and dance performances.

Event on This Month

 

Calendar

January January in Tokyo speaks of traditions. Start the New Year in good spirits and head to a temple or shrine for Hatsumode on January 1 and pray like the locals do for peace and good health. Some begin their sojourn the night before on New Year's Eve to hear temple bells chime 108 times as the new year dawns, but Hatsumode is drawn out and takes place over 2-3 days.
February Setsubun, a Japanese tradition in which beans are thrown to bring good luck, is held at homes, temples, and shrines. Plum blossoms are in full bloom, and plum festivals take place across the city. On Valentine's Day, Japanese people often give chocolate as gifts, so department stores stock a wide variety.
March Temperatures and moods begin to thaw in March, the month heralding the start of spring. While cherry blossoms or sakura appear at month's end and are eagerly awaited, the rest of March offers much to see and do.
April April in Tokyo is when the cherry blossoms are at their best. In early April, cherry blossom festivals are held in many areas, and crowds come out to enjoy hanami (flower viewing). As the cherry blossoms fade, you can also look forward to azaleas and wisteria. Spring is also a busy season for events at shrines and temples, including traditional ceremonies designated as Intangible Cultural Properties of Tokyo.
May May festivals and events begin with the latter half of Golden Week holidays. Greenery or Arbor Day (May 4) sees entry fees waived in many of the city's parks and gardens, including Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Rikugien Gardens, and Hama-rikyu Gardens. Children's Day (May 5) heralds the arrival of brightly colored carp or koi streamers festooned around the city.
June Visit Tokyo in June, and the weather begins to get steamy. Rainy season arrives, but not all days are marked by wet weather. Embrace the increasing humidity with the official opening of Tokyo's many beer gardens and imbibe in a glass of your favorite ale. From the lofty heights of the beer garden atop Mt. Takao to the elegant surrounds of Meiji Kinenkan, you'll find a beer garden for every occasion.
July In Tokyo, events throughout July evoke the Edo period (1603–1867) and celebrate the season of summer. The night sky is illuminated by fireworks at displays like the Sumida River Fireworks Festival and the Tachikawa Showa Kinen Park Fireworks. The streets are filled with markets and local festivals. Traditional events and large-scale celebrations offer great opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. It's a time of year when the city buzzes with excitement.
August August sees Tokyo at it’s hottest, but a continuing cascade of fireworks, traditional obon dances, multicolored tanabata lantern events, and the height of official water park and beach season all provide welcome distractions.
September September means sayonara, or goodbye, to the soaring heat of summer. Nights begin to cool and temperatures become more bearable, but these changes also see the occasional typhoon. Many of the city’s beer gardens remain open, however, a reminder that there’s still fun to be had outdoors yet.
October October is one of the best times of year to visit Tokyo. From ongoing traditional festivals to art and cultural soirees to culinary-focused events celebrating the bounty of the season the city's event card is full.
November November is the season of beautiful autumn foliage in Tokyo. By day the colors are stunning, and by night the illuminated leaves create a dreamlike spectacle. The ginkgo-lined avenues, which turn the city a brilliant yellow, are also an iconic sight of autumn in Tokyo.
December Tokyo is dazzling in December–literally–when the city lights up with illuminations. The dark nights are an ideal canvas for intricate and elaborate light displays and the illuminations are a signature winter sight.

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