Japan in May – 17 Things to See and Do in 2024

As the spring season comes to a close the average temperature in Japan rises in May before the arrival of the rainy season at the end of the month. Now is the perfect time of year to do some outdoor activities before the uncomfortable humidity levels of the summer months arrive. 

The beginning of May also sees the opening of summer beer gardens across the country, these are usually outdoor areas converted into temporary dining spaces on rooftops and terraces featuring all-you-can-eat and drink packages.

While there is plenty of good weather and things to see and do throughout Japan in May, including numerous festivals, anniversary celebrations, and new flowers coming into full bloom, many events often require booking in advance and some forward planning. So let’s take a look at some of the best things to see and do around Japan in May to help you plan your Japanese spring vacation for 2024!

Planning a trip to Japan in the spring? Check out my How to Hanami Like a Local article for top tips on viewing cherry blossoms in Japan.

Average Temperatures in May Across Japan

Japan in May is generally a very mild and comfortable time to travel. The temperatures are warm and it is mostly sunny, public travel and outdoor areas can become extremely busy with both foreign and domestic tourists enjoying the last of the good weather before the rainy season begins in June.

In the north, Hokkaido finally moves into spring and cherry blossoms reach full bloom. As you move further south towards Tokyo, temperatures drop slightly to around 74F during the day and 59F at night. Even further south, towards Hiroshima, the daytime temperatures are still warm enough to enjoy but the evenings become slightly colder.

On average, May is an ideal time to travel in terms of weather and temperature, just be sure to avoid traveling during Golden Week at the end of April and the beginning of May!

Japan in May – 17 Things to See and Do in 2024!

1. Cherry Blossom Viewing in Hokkaido

While the most popular period for seeing cherry blossoms in Japan is generally between late March and early April, even as late in the season as May you can still view cherry blossoms in Japan, but you’ll have to head north to see them. There are several well-known viewing spots for cherry blossoms in various stages of bloom on Japan’s second-largest island.

• Maruyama Park in Sapporo draws some of the largest cherry blossom viewing crowds in the city. The main path through the park that leads to Hokkaido shrine is lined with cherry blossom trees and around mid-May becomes an extremely popular hanami spot.

• Moerenuma Park is a large park on the edge of Sapporo that was designed by Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi. Near the center of the park, you will find the Forest of Cherry Trees, a dense woodland of more than 3,000 cherry trees that changes color around mid-May.
• Nakajima Park, also located in Sapporo, and considered one of the most beautiful parks in Hokkaido, contains Hokkaido’s largest concert hall, an observatory, tennis courts, cafes, museums, and a boating pond. In May visitors can enjoy the vivid pink colors of the many Sargent cherry blossom trees throughout the park.

2. Fuji Shibazakura Festival

One of the most spectacular flower festivals in Japan set against the backdrop of Mount Fuji, the Shibazakura Festival sees an enormous blanket of pink moss consisting of more than 800,000 plants cover the ground area of the Fuji Motosuko Resort. On a clear day, you can enjoy views of the beautiful pink flowers against the backdrop of Japan’s most famous mountain.

Once you tire of the view, explore the tea-picking area, or grab something to eat at one of the nearby restaurants or food trucks. Afterward, relax at the footbaths until it’s time to go home. An extremely popular day trip from Tokyo that attracts thousands of visitors each year, the festival can become quite popular and extremely crowded during weekends and national holidays so it is best to avoid these busy periods if you can.

• WHERE & WHEN: Fuji Motosuko Resort, mid-April to late May

• MORE INFORMATION: Fujimotosuko-resort.jp

3. Grand Sumo Tournament – Tokyo

Sumo comes to town again at the beginning of May when another round of matches is held in Tokyo. Head over to the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena between May 12 & 26 to catch the third Grand Sumo Tournament of the year. The 15-day tournament features the top sumo wrestlers in the country facing off against each other, with the top-ranking wrestlers performing towards the end of each day.

If you’re lucky, you might even spot some wrestlers wandering the streets, or at nearby restaurants or bathhouses outside of the competition. Be sure to book your tickets online in advance to avoid disappointment on the day.

• WHERE & WHEN: Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena, Tokyo, May 12 to May 26

• MORE INFORMATION: Sumo.or.jp

4. Hibiya Oktoberfest – Tokyo

While the real Oktoberfest takes place in Munich every year between September and October, Hibiya Park, one of the most cosmopolitan areas of Tokyo, offers its own authentic German beer event in late May to celebrate the start of the beer-brewing season.

This 10-day event features more than 40 different kinds of authentic German draft beer, live music, sausages, and other German uniquely dishes as visitors freely wander between the stands to explore what’s on offer. On its first day, the event opens at 4:00 PM, however, all other days of the event run from 11:00 AM until 10:00 PM, and admission is 500 yen for adults.

• WHERE & WHEN: Hibiya Park Fountain Square, Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Mid-late May 2024

• MORE INFORMATION: Oktober-fest.jp

5. Sanja Matsuri – Tokyo

Held over three days during mid-May each year, the Sanja Matsuri is one of Tokyo’s most famous festivals and takes place on the grounds of the Asakusa shrine and the popular, thousand-year-old Sensoji temple. It is held in honor of the three founders of Tokyo’s famous Sensoji temple. 

This festival features the large Daigyōretsu parade of participants dressed as priests, geisha, and other Japanese period clothing, a Shinto purification ceremony, and on the final day is the festival’s main event, a procession of the three mikoshi, portable and beautifully decorated mini-shrines are carried through the streets while being bounced up and down. It is said that this action bestows good luck on the locals by awakening the power of the kami inside.

 Sanja Matsuri is also known for being one of the rare chances to see the yakuza (Japanese gangsters) proudly displaying their tattoos as they also take part in the festival.

• WHERE & WHEN: Asakusa Shrine, Taito City, Tokyo, May 17 to May 19

• MORE INFORMATION: Asakusajinja.jp/en

6. Aoi Matsuri – Kyoto

One of Kyoto’s big three festivals, the Aoi Matsuri is an annual procession starting from the Imperial Palace and heading to the Kamo Shrines, two of the oldest Shinto shrines in Kyoto which are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites, where an offering is made.

The event begins at 10:30 am at the Imperial Palace and features two processions, one of men representing Imperial guards and nobles, the other of noble women, priestesses, and the Imperial Princess. The procession includes more than 500 people in total, dressed as aristocrats from Japan’s Heian Period. At around the midway point, the procession stops at the Shimogamo Shrine where a two-hour ceremony is usually held before the procession departs for the Kamo shrines. 

You can pay for seating at either the Imperial Palace side or the Kamo Shrine side, however, the event gets quite busy so it is recommended to book this in advance. You can also watch the procession from the street, it should take about an hour to see it pass.

• WHERE & WHEN: Kamigamo Shrine, Kita Ward, Kyoto, May 15

• MORE INFORMATION: Discoverkyoto.com

7. Kobe Matsuri – Kobe

A short train ride from Osaka, in Kobe you’ll find this city-wide festival taking place at the beginning of May which sees a giant street party and parade that makes the city come alive. 

One of the most popular festivals in Kobe, this international celebration is best known for its brightly colored parade floats, energetic street performers, live music performances, and market stalls. Although the festival is celebrated city-wide, with various districts offering their own traditions and celebrations throughout the festival, several major events take place along the Flower Road, including the opening dance performance which can be seen around midday, a variety of live music performances, and the festival market stalls selling food, drink, and other festival-related items. On the final day, the celebrations come to a close with an incredible fireworks display over Kobe Harbor.

• WHERE & WHEN: Kobe Sannomiya Flower Road, Chuo Ward, Hyoyo. 2024 dates to be confirmed.

• MORE INFORMATION: Today.city.kobe.jp

8. Port Festival – Yokohama

Just a short train ride from Tokyo, the city celebrates the opening of Yokohama’s International Port in 1859 with a festival that includes live concerts, laser light shows, and fireworks. 

The two-day event, which takes place at Rinko Park right at the mouth of the harbor, opens with live performances from local musicians and dancers. Over the next two days, visitors can enjoy many different activities including dance performances and competitions, additional live music performances from local artists, international food and drink stalls, and boat rides in the bay. The festival ends with an 800-person live choir performance, followed by an impressive laser and fireworks display.

First held in 1981, the port festival event has now been running for more than forty years and draws an average of 750,000 visitors every year. The event is usually held at the end of May and is a good chance to catch one of the earliest fireworks displays of the year.

• WHERE & WHEN: Rinko Park, Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama. The last weekend in May.

• MORE INFORMATION: Yokohamajapan.com

9. Uchiwa Maki – Nara

This fan-throwing festival takes place at the Toshoudaiji temple in mid-May in the city of Nara, Japan’s ancient capital, to honor the revered Buddhist priest Kakujo on the anniversary of his death. 

During the event, several thousand hand-decorated heart-shaped fans are consecrated at Toshodaiji temple. A memorial service is then held to honor Kakujo, who made significant contributions to the temple throughout his life, which includes live music and traditional Bugaku dance performances. 

Following the service, 500 of the paper fans are thrown from the temple’s Koro drum turret over the visitors and worshippers below. Thousands of fans are designed and delivered from across Japan for the famous event, and it is believed that picking one up after it is thrown from the drum will offer blessings and protection from evil spirits. This is a great opportunity to see a truly unique piece of Japanese culture. Entry to the event costs 1,000 yen and the fan-throwing ceremony takes place at 3:00 PM.

• WHERE & WHEN: Toshodaiji Temple, Gojocho, Nara. May 19.

• MORE INFORMATION: Visitnara.jp

10. Hakata Dontaku Festival – Fukuoka

This traditional annual festival is one of the three main festivals of Fukuoka and one of the busiest of the year. The two-day event, which takes place on the first week of May during Golden Week, draws several million international and domestic travelers to the city each year.

The festival is separated into two parts, a giant parade and performances staged throughout the city. The parade, which dates back more than 800 years, sees processions of colorful flower buses and thousands of people of all ages take to the streets in traditional festival wear and a variety of different creative costumes, waving decorated fans and performing live music. Performances are held at different staged locations throughout the city and often include dancers, live music, and comedy, as well as food and drink stalls. The event closes with a large gathering and performance of the traditional Dontaku dance at Fureai Plaza.

• WHERE & WHEN: The festival’s main stage is located at Fureai Plaza in front of Fukuoka City Hall, 1-8-1 Tenjin, Chuo -ku. May 3 & 4, 2024.

• MORE INFORMATION: Dontaku.fukunet.or.jp

11. The Great Wisteria Festival – Ashikaga Flower Park

As cherry blossom season has already ended, May is a good time to enjoy another seasonal flower in bloom. Located in the small city of Ashikaga in Tochigi prefecture, the illuminated gardens of Ashikaga Flower Park are a popular draw for tourists from all over Japan. It is best known for its picturesque wisteria displays, multicolored flower tunnels, and a giant 160-year-old wisteria tree as its centerpiece.

From early April to mid-May, the park hosts The Great Wisteria Festival, an incredible display of more than 350 different types of wisteria and 5000 types of colorful azalea in several decorative displays throughout the park. A great place to snap some amazing photos, the park remains open in the evening where the dazzling displays are lit up at night.

• WHERE & WHEN: Mid-April to Mid-May, see the website below for entry dates and times.

• MORE INFORMATION: Ashigaka.co.jp

12. Rooftop Beer Gardens

Many cities in Japan, especially Tokyo and Osaka, feature rooftop beer gardens during the warmer months. These offer a great opportunity to enjoy a cold beer and delicious food with a view of the city skyline. 

They frequently offer all-you-can-eat-and-drink packages within certain hours, and will usually put out some kind of buffet or BBQ for the guests. The bars can get very busy on Friday evenings and weekends as the temperatures rise, but the friendly atmosphere and beautiful views usually make it worth braving the crowds. Many department stores and open-top skyscrapers in the larger cities usually open similar rooftop gardens between May and September, weather permitting.

WHERE & WHEN: TOKYO

• Wild Beach Shinjuku Tokyo Sky Resort on the rooftop of the Lumine Est building in Shinjuku is open until 10 PM every day from the end of March.
• The Korean BBQ Beer Garden on the roof of Ikebukuro Parco in Toshima City, Tokyo opens until 10:30 PM every day between mid-April and October.

WHERE & WHEN: OSAKA

• The Suntory Beer Garden on the rooftop of the Suntory building in Kita Ward, Osaka, is open from the end of April to the end of September.
• The Umeda Hankyu Beer Garden located on the rooftop of the Hankyu Umeda department store is open from the end of May until the first week in October.

13. Kakeuma Shinji – Kyoto

This lively and technically impressive traditional Japanese trick-riding event is a sight to behold. Every year, horseback riders from all over Japan visit the shrine to display their skills in front of large crowds and to impress the gods enshrined nearby. Horses run at incredible speeds along the track as riders perform daring feats such as hanging from the sides or reaching precariously placed flags.

Towards the end of the event, there is a procession of mikoshi, followed by priests and riders dressed as warriors towards the shrine where an offering is made to the gods.

The event’s origins come from the importance horseriding once had throughout feudal Japan, as samurai would train themselves to be skilled warriors on horseback. While there may no longer be a need for warriors to hone their skills, the shrine still displays this impressive style of riding each year at the festival.

• WHERE & WHEN: Fujinomori Shrine, Fukakusa Toriizakicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, May 1 to May 5, between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM.

• MORE INFORMATION: Discoverkyoto.com

14. Nikko Toshogu Shrine Spring Festival – Tochigi

Nikko Toshogu shrine’s largest annual event, which is held on May 17 & 18, features Yabusame (traditional Japanese horse archery), live performances of traditional music from the Edo period known as Gagaku, and a grand procession of a thousand samurai warriors carrying Tokugawa Ieyasu to his final resting place at the shrine in Nikko. 

The entire event is a sober and thoughtful recreation of the shogun’s funeral as his body was transferred from Mount Kunousan to the prefecture, and although the Yabusame demonstrations outside the shrine are very entertaining, it is not as lively as most Japanese festivals due to it mainly being a religious reenactment of a historically significant event.

• WHERE & WHEN: Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Nikko, Tochigi. May 17 & 18.

• MORE INFORMATION: Visitnikko.jp/en

15. Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden – Fukuoka

Kawachi Fujien Garden is a large private garden known for its photogenic displays of colorful wisteria trees and beautifully presented walking paths. Located just outside of Kitakyushu city, close to the scenic Kawachi reservoir in the northern part of Kyushu, Japan’s third-largest island, some of the garden’s highlights include its two 100-meter-long wisteria tunnels and the large wisteria domes, where visitors can walk beneath and admire the hundreds of pink, purple and white wisteria vines.

The park is open to the public during the spring and autumn seasons. The spring opening dates generally fall between the end of April and early May, but it is best to check the website ahead of time. Due to the large number of visitors during the spring season and Golden Week holiday, booking in advance is required.

• WHERE & WHEN: 2 Chome-2-48 Kawachi, Yahatahigashi Ward, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture.

• MORE INFORMATION: Kawachi-fujien.com

16. Mikuni Festival – Fukui

Every year in the coastal town of Mikuni, unique giant floats of different Japanese legends that are made by the local neighborhoods, are displayed and paraded through the streets to the sound of the traditional Japanese instruments. Some of the floats are more than 6 meters tall and can be seen from neighboring towns as they slowly roll through the narrow neighborhood streets.

Other festival highlights include a variety of Japanese street foods and lively performances of traditional Japanese instruments such as the shamisen, flute, and drums. As the event comes to a close on the third day, the giant warrior floats are separated and individually paraded through the streets before they return to their respective neighborhood districts. The festival is a wonderful example of Japanese local pride.

• WHERE & WHEN: Mikuni Shrine, Mikunicho Sanno, Sakai, Fukui. May 19-21. The parade begins at 1:00 PM on May 20.

• MORE INFORMATION: Enjoymikuni.jp

17. Pontocho Kamogawa Odori

The Kamogawa Odori is a geisha dance performance that is held in May every year at the Pontocho theater, a purpose-build theater for the annual event. The performances by the geiko (geisha), and maiko (apprentice geisha) of the Pontocho theater take place in two parts; the first is a lighthearted dance drama, followed by the second which is a more traditional geiko dance known as ‘odori emaki’.

The event first took place in 1872 as part of the Kyoto World Fair as a way to entertain foreigners visiting the city, however due to its popularity the event has returned almost every year, and continues to draw in visitors more than 150 years later. On the 4th floor of the theater there is also a tea room where visitors can enjoy the geisha performing the cea ceremony ahead of the performance.

• WHERE & WHEN: Pontocho theater, 130 Hashishitacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto. May 1-24. Performances take place at 12:30 PM, 2:20 PM, & 4:10 PM.

• MORE INFORMATION: Kamogawa-odori.com

Dates to Avoid: Public Holidays

Golden Week

Whatever you do, try to avoid going to Japan during Golden Week, which is Monday, April 29 to Monday, May 5. 

The Golden Week holiday is a series of back-to-back national holidays in Japan in late April and the first week of May, which includes Shōwa Day on April 29, to honor the birthday of Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) and reflect on his reign, Constitution Memorial Day on May 3, to celebrate the birth of Japan’s constitution, Greenery Day on May 4, a day to be thankful for nature’s blessings, and Children’s Day on May 5, a day to wish for the happiness of children. 

Golden Week is one of the busiest and most expensive times of the year and peak season for travel as domestic travel routes can become extremely crowded. Events and accommodations also get booked up fast, so if possible, avoid these dates for travel. If you are planning on traveling during this period then it would be a good idea to plan as far in advance as possible.