Tokyo July 26 & 27 (Sat and Sunday) Recommendations?

[JoeMomma]

Hello all,

I'll be traveling for work and will be in Tokyo with free time on July 26 & 27

I have no plans right now, and am looking for something to do, that might only be seasonal or taking place during that weekend (event, festival, music performance, art exhibition, food, beer/sake garden, tour..etc)

Can anyone point toward a good calendar of events for Tokyo?

My interests are quite broad so pretty much everything is on the table as a possibility.

Arigato gozimas!

Joe

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Sumida River Fireworks Festival

Date: Sat. July 26, 2008
The festival will be cancelled in case of rain.
Time: 7:10 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: Sumida River .
http://sumidagawa-hanabi.com/index_eg.html


2008 Shinjuku Eisa Festival
July 26, 2008 (soil)
Shinjuku east exit shopping district district around Shinjuku street
Time: 13:30～17:30
http://shinjuku-eisa.jp/

Ueno summer festival
http://www.guidenet.jp/sp/index.php/archives/1924

[JoeMomma]

Thank you very much Hiroyuki-san!

That sounds like a perfect Saturday. I will definitely attend the Eisa festival and the fireworks!

Joe

[Dogen Z]

I hate to disagree with Hiroyuki but the Sumidagawa Hanabi might be too much of an effort for casual visitors.

A couple of years ago, a friend and I tried to go see the Sumida River fireworks. The subway train to the station was jam packed and it wouldn't stop at our station because of the crowds. So we had to walk from the next station. Then there was no way to get to the river because of the crowds. We just followed the crowd that left the subway station to a street where a LOT of people had set up places to sit. It was still too crowded but since we had come this far we waited in the humid evening. It was nice to see so many young people wearing yukatas and the yakitori sold by street vendors was delicious but.... When the fireworks started, all we could see was the black sky. Tall buildings completely hid the firework show. It was so disappointing that I vowed never to go again.

A better option might be the Kagurazaka Matsuri held on the same day. You'll be able to watch a lot of different clubs performing Awaodori.