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Brandon Spencer is at present an intern from the US. He not too long ago graduated from Berry School, majoring in sports activities communications, and is at present searching for many alternative work alternatives in numerous international locations around the globe. He loves exercising, video video games, anime, and professional wrestling. He’s additionally an enormous fan of soccer, so you possibly can catch him watching a sport or participating in a single!
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Through the month of April, Japan is often full of vacationers roaming the cities, taking within the lovely surroundings of cherry blossoms flowing via the wind in the course of the prime season of spring. This 12 months, Japan has been experiencing report stage tourism and we will anticipate April to be one of many busiest months. With many individuals planning to go to Japan, we determined to offer everybody a serving to hand as to what sort of enjoyable you could possibly get into throughout your go to, extra particularly in Tokyo.
Hold studying for our picks of occasions and issues to do in Tokyo in April!
1. Bunkyo Azalea Competition
Whereas cherry blossoms are the be-all, end-all for many vacationers coming to Japan in the course of the spring, Tokyo has a wide range of totally different festivals associated to other forms of flowers as effectively, considered one of which being the Bunkyo Azalea Competition. On the Azalea pageant, you possibly can see over 3000 azalea flowers which have over 100 totally different varieties, and better of all they bloom firstly of April. There are additionally numerous varieties of performances all through the day, in addition to a restaurant close to the pond, so you possibly can take pleasure in scrumptious meals while viewing the flowers. We couldn’t consider a spot extra suited to the time period “wanting a change of surroundings” as you bask within the enjoyable ambiance of the Azalea pageant!
When: Runs all through April (9:30 AM-5:30 PM besides April 1 it opens at 11 AM, 500 yen admission price)
Web site: Bunkyo Azalea Competition
2. Yoyogi Park Wanwan Carnival
Cat-lovers beware! Defend your eyes as you would possibly get swayed by the perpetually higher world of being a dog-lover at this considered one of a form carnival (Sure, I’m biased. However I’m additionally allergic to cats so don’t blame me). The Yoyogi Park Wanwan Carnival is a pageant catered to all issues canine, as you’ll get the possibility to see skilled canine photoshoots, canine grooming, meals vans (each for individuals and canine) and contests to showcase your doggos capabilities. There are even on-site veterinarians to offer your canine a check-up, freed from cost! For those who’re within the Tokyo space and are lacking your little ones again house, swing by the Wanwan carnival and meet some new furry buddies.
When: April 12 – 14, 2025 (10 AM-5 PM, free)
Web site: Yoyogi Wanwan Carnival
3. Nomihodai at a Beer Backyard
For these questioning what beer gardens are, beer gardens are extraordinarily social environments designed to attach strangers. It’s a spot the place yow will discover your self surrounded by bushes and vegetation, whereas having fun with scrumptious meals and freshly served beers. Sounds tempting, proper? Properly, the excellent news for you is that Tokyo has a lot to select from! One in all our fav’s for 2025 is the Forest Beer Backyard in Shinjuku. Forest Beer Backyard often opens across the center of April and is situated at Meiji Jingu Gaien outer gardens. Alternately, when you’d like your beer with a view, try Shinjuku Beer Backyard Tenku Hills or Kagurazaka Rooftop Beer Backyard (additionally in Shinjuku). All of those spots supply attractive all-you-can-eat and drink menus! For those who’re on the lookout for a pleasant evening out with buddies or household in the course of the spring, don’t miss testing considered one of Tokyo’s beer gardens.
4. Niku Fes
Meat lovers, get able to drool! Neglect making buddies with salad, as a result of Niku Fes is returning to Odaiba, and it’s a carnivore’s dream come true. Celebrating its eleventh 12 months, this isn’t only a meals fest, it’s a full-blown occasion, full with stay music. Neglect your traditional dinner plans, since you’ll be diving headfirst right into a world of A5 steak, melt-in-your-mouth wagyu sushi, slow-roasted goodness, loaded beef bowls, and scorching kebabs. With heaps of Japan’s greatest meat eating places multi function place, you’ll have tons to select from together with loads of scrumptious craft beer to clean it down with. You may even take part within the World Meat Showdown, with dishes impressed by 9 totally different international locations. You get to style them and vote to your favourite! Consider it as a worldwide meat tour with out the jet lag. For those who’re anyplace close to Tokyo and love meat, that is your (and my) pleased place.
Professional ideas: Food and drinks tickets are ¥700 a pop, and also you’ll want them to seize your grub. Arrive after 4 PM for the “secret menu,” or carry a crew for group offers. And bear in mind, it’s a cashless affair, so load up your app or IC card.
When: Apr 26 (12 PM-9 PM), Apr 27-29 (10 AM-9 PM), April 30-Could 2 (11 AM-9 PM), Could 3-6 (10 AM-9 PM)
Web site: Niku Fes
5. Cherry Blossoms
Properly, we had been sure to say them sooner or later, proper? To make use of a sports activities analogy, Cherry blossoms are the Lionel Messi of vacationer sights right here in Japan. Which means they’re the marquee, the primary occasion, and the rationale individuals got here to the present within the first place! And due to its stardom, there are an absurd quantity of viewings and festivals associated to cherry blossoms in Tokyo in the course of the months of March and April. Simply in Tokyo alone, yow will discover wonderful cherry blossom viewing areas, equivalent to Tokyo Midtown, and festivals just like the Nakameguro Cherry Blossom Competition. With all the alternatives on the market, we determined it was unimaginable to slender it all the way down to only one cherry blossom viewing or pageant. Nonetheless, when you’re in Tokyo throughout April, it is best to positively try considered one of these occasions!
If you wish to discover out extra about cherry blossom season in Japan this spring, try our article down beneath!
6. Catch a Baseball Recreation at Tokyo Dome
Springtime rolling round can solely imply one factor on the planet of sports activities right here in Japan, baseball season! For those who didn’t know, considered one of Japan’s most beloved sports activities is baseball and the start of the season is all the time a sight to behold. When speaking about baseball, one can be remiss in the event that they didn’t point out the Tokyo Dome, fairly presumably THE stadium for baseball right here in Japan. The Tokyo Dome is house to the Yomiuri Giants, not simply one of the vital well-liked groups, but additionally arguably essentially the most profitable groups within the NPB (Nippon Skilled Baseball). So, if you wish to expertise the fervour for baseball right here in Tokyo, we suggest catching a glimpse of the magic at Tokyo Dome!
Web site: Yomiuri Giants Schedule/Tickets
7. Asakusa Yabusame (Horseback Archery)
Witness the joys of historical Japanese archery on the Asakusa Yabusame. That is your likelihood to step again in time and expertise the breathtaking martial artwork of horse-mounted archery, a practice deeply rooted in Edo-period Asakusa. Expert archers, using at full velocity, intention to strike three targets, incomes prizes in a swish ceremony. Past the primary occasion, you possibly can watch the historic coaching technique of kusajishi, the place archers take a look at their intention towards a grass deer goal. Whereas kusajishi is free to take pleasure in, you’ll have to safe your tickets to see the fascinating yabusame up shut. It’s a possibility to catch a uncommon glimpse into Japan’s martial arts heritage, and be a part of a sporting spectacle that many vacationers by no means have an opportunity to see!
When: April 19, 2025 (11:45 AM-2:30 PM with yabusame from 1 PM-2:30 PM, free, 3000 yen to look at yabusame)
Web site (ticket info): Asakusa Yabusame
8. Artwork Aquarium Meccha Sakura Occasion
The Artwork Aquarium in Ginza transforms the standard goldfish right into a residing, respiratory artwork set up. You may admire hundreds of those creatures gliding via illuminated glass vessels, bathed in a symphony of vibrant, shifting lights and projections. This isn’t your common artwork gallery or aquarium; it’s a full-blown sensory journey that’s enhanced by cherry blossoms throughout spring. You may discover 9 distinct exhibition areas, from the intricate Origamirium to the enchanting Goldfish Bamboo Grove and the fascinating Goldfish Hall, showcasing each uncommon and acquainted breeds. Through the Meccha Sakura occasion, a sea of cherry blossoms, each actual and projected, envelopes all the area. Goldfish dance amidst cherry-colored lights, the fragile perfume of blossoms fills the air, and soothing music completes the immersive expertise.
When: February 28-April 23, 2025 (for the Meccha Sakura occasion, purchase tickets right here)
Web site: Artwork Aquarium Ginza
9. Nakizumo Crying Child Competition
Sure, your eyes will not be deceiving you; that is really a pageant that’s held right here in Tokyo throughout April (and it’s not even essentially the most intriguing one). The Nakizumo crying child pageant has been happening for over 400 years, and the importance of the pageant really has a larger that means than one would have anticipated. In Japanese tradition, it’s stated that when infants cry it permits them to develop sooner, encourages good well being, and rids them of any evil spirits.
Yearly, dad and mom carry their dressed up infants to this hilarious competitors. The purpose? To make their child cry first! Sumo wrestlers gently bounce the infants within the ring, whereas a referee taunts them. If that isn’t sufficient to carry on the tears, then uut comes a scary tengu masks (suppose bird-demon). And if the 2 little ones occur to begin bawling on the similar time? Then it’s a cry-off! The loudest, most decided wailer wins. The pageant occurs throughout Japan, however when you’re in Tokyo you possibly can head to Asakusa, or the Yukigaya Hachiman Shrine to take part. It’s a chaotic, cute, and completely distinctive Japanese custom.
When: April 29, 2025 (differs relying on the situation)
Web site: Nakizumo Crying Child Competition at Yukigaya Hachiman Shrine
10. Kanamara Competition
Yeah, bear in mind once I stated that there’s an much more intriguing pageant held in Japan in the course of the month of April? Welp, right here it’s, and to cite the present How I met your Mom, “That’s a penis!”. I do know what you’re pondering, the idea of a pageant like this must be a “phallacy” (Okay, I’ll cease), however tis true because the Kanamara Competition, just like the Nakizumo pageant, has an attention-grabbing backstory. It’s stated that the gods of the Kanayama shrine healed the Shinto goddess, Izanami, after she gave delivery to a hearth god. Due to this, many intercourse staff across the native teashops would start to hope on the shrine for defense towards STDs. These days, individuals have gone to the shrine to hope for success in marriage, fertility and childbirth. Whereas technically, the Kanamara Competition is simply outdoors of Tokyo (Kawasaki), it’s nonetheless an occasion that I might suggest attending. I imply, the place else would you see individuals proudly showcasing their shiitake mushroom-like appendages?!
When: April 6-14, 2025 (11 AM-4 PM, parade begins at 11 AM on April 6)
We hope you loved studying about a few of the occasions in Tokyo throughout April. We all know there are in all probability different occasions round Tokyo which will have been neglected however fret not, as we might point out them in a future article, particularly in the event that they’re attention-grabbing! For those who’re in Japan in the course of the month of April, be sure that to take a look at a few of these well-liked and distinctive occasions that Tokyo has to supply!
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Blissful touring!
