SUMMER TRADITIONS IN JAPAN: FESTIVALS, FIREWORKS AND FAMILY GATHERINGS
DISCOVER AND EXPERIENCE SUMMER LIKE A LOCAL!
BY SCRAP Global Team
In Japan, summer is a season filled with traditions that bring people together. From colorful festivals that take over entire neighborhoods, to the sparkling fireworks that light up the night sky, each experience is an invitation to savor the fleeting magic of summer. Even as August winds down, you’ll find plenty of ways to keep enjoying the season. Here’s how to embrace Japan’s unique summer before it slips away. Make sure to read until the end to see the perfect game to play during this time!
Festivals: The Heart of Summer
If there’s one image that captures the summer of Japan, it’s the festivals. Whether held at historic shrines, along bustling shopping streets, or even inside modern malls, summer festivals draw people in with their lively atmosphere. Families, couples, and groups of friends stroll between rows of stalls selling takoyaki, yakisoba, or brightly colored shaved ice to beat the heat. Children try their luck at games like goldfish scooping or shateki (toy shooting), while the sound of taiko drums and festival music fills the air. (And for those curious about how to get the most out of your first festival experience, be sure to check out our last blog post for some extra tips!)
Cooling Down with a Swim
When the temperatures start to feel unbearable, there’s nothing better than jumping into cool water. In Japan, one important date in summer is called 海開き (umibiraki), which means “opening of the sea.” It’s the official start of beach season, when coastal areas declare the waters open and safe for swimming.
Once the beaches are officially open, you can enjoy 海水浴 (kaisuiyoku), or sea bathing. Families and friends set up on the sand with umbrellas, enjoy picnics or fresh seafood sold nearby, and cool off in the waves. Unlike a quick swim, kaisuiyoku is the whole experience of spending the day by the ocean.
For those who want more variety, Japan also offers water parks with thrilling slides and rooftop pools in the middle of the city, where you can escape the heat while enjoying a skyline view.
Fireworks: Lighting Up the Night Sky
Of all the summer traditions in Japan, fireworks festivals might be the most breathtaking. Tokyo’s Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival is the most famous; the massive displays over the river are nothing short of spectacular, drawing tens of thousands of people every year. Streets overflow with visitors dressed in yukata, food stalls, and the excited buzz that builds as the first firework bursts in the sky.
But the joy of fireworks isn’t limited to Tokyo. Across Japan, towns and prefectures host their displays, each one offering a slightly different experience. Smaller festivals outside the city often give you more space to relax while still having spectacular fireworks displays. Whether you’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a crowd along the riverbanks of Tokyo or watching from a quieter lakeside in the countryside, the sense of wonder is always the same.
Obon: Remembering with Joy
Obon is one of the most important traditions of the summer, and while it centers on honoring the spirits of ancestors, the way it’s celebrated is anything but gloomy. Communities come alive with Bon-odori dances, where everyone joins in circles around a raised stage to dance together. Lanterns glow softly as the sun sets, guiding spirits home, and families gather to share meals and memories.
In Tokyo, Obon events often blend traditional customs with a modern twist. You might find yourself at a local temple’s lantern festival one night, and then at a lively Bon-odori dance in a shopping district the next. Laughter, music, and the rhythmic beat of taiko drums fill the air, reminding everyone that summer is not only about honoring the past but also about celebrating the present with the people around you.
Collaborating Without Words
Summers of Japan are often filled with lantern light, festival food, and laughter. Could you imagine a world without sound, without music, without even the ability to speak?
That’s exactly the world you step into in our game, Escape from a Silent World. In this unique escape game, you and your team must find a way to communicate and survive in a world where all sound has disappeared ー yes, your own voice as well!!.
And there’s a twist!
Escape from the Silent World is a CROSSING event, which means that you might be teamed up with Japanese locals or other international visitors, working side by side without needing to speak the same language. Since the game is designed to be non-verbal and language-independent, anyone can cooperate and work together to solve the challenge! You may be grouped with strangers, but that’s part of the fun. (If you prefer to play only with people you know, there is the Group Ticket option!)
Read our page below to learn more, and remember to have fun this summer!
Now available at 2 locations in Tokyo:
Escape from a Silent World (Asakusa Location)
Escape from a Silent World (Tokyo Mystery Circus Location)
Come visit us and see you at the next festival!
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