Things to Do in Tokyo in September
The rundown of the best events in Tokyo this September
Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO 2027 S/S
August 31 – September 5
Tokyo’s official fashion week wraps its final days into September, mixing industry-only runway shows with a handful of events open to the public. It’s the closest most people will get to front-row seats at a Tokyo collection launch.
When: August 31 – September 5
Where: Shibuya Hikarie (official venue), Shibuya-ku
Price: Industry shows are trade-only; public events vary, some free
Website: rakutenfashionweektokyo.com/en
Tokyo Festival 2026
September 1 – November 3
Tokyo’s citywide performing arts festival returns for another sprawling run, scattering theater, dance and music performances across venues throughout the capital. With two months of programming to work through, it’s less a single event than a season-long invitation to catch something new every week.
When: September 1 – November 3
Where: Venues across Tokyo
Price: Varies by program (many events free, ticketed productions priced individually)
Website: tokyofestival.jp/en
[Alexandros] Pop-Up Store in Harajuku
September 3 – 8
Fans of the rock band can stop by Universal Music Store Harajuku for a limited pop-up built around [Alexandros]’s current tour, stacked with merchandise and displays for the six-day run.
When: September 3 – 8, 11am – 8pm
Where: Universal Music Store Harajuku, Shibuya-ku
Price: Free admission
Website: universal-music.co.jp/alexandros
Tokyo University of the Arts Geisai 2026
September 4 – 6
Geidai’s Ueno campus turns into a three-day showcase of everything its students have been building all year, from gallery exhibitions and concerts to handmade mikoshi carried by the art and design departments. It’s one of the few chances to see student work at this scale before it ends up in a gallery with a much higher price tag.
When: September 4 – 6, 9am – 7pm
Where: Tokyo University of the Arts, Ueno Campus, Taito-ku
Price: Free admission
Website: geisai.geidai.ac.jp/2026
China Festival 2026
September 5 – 6
Yoyogi Park celebrates the first weekend of September with Chinese food, music and performance, with two full days of cultural exchange and free admission.
When: September 5 – 6, 10am – 8pm
Where: Yoyogi Park, Shibuya-ku
Price: Free admission
Website: yoyogikoen.info/china-festival-yoyogi-2026
Tokyo Handmade Marche 2026 Autumn
September 5 – 6
Around 700 independent creators set up at Tokyo Dome City for this seasonal marche, selling everything from ceramics and accessories to small-run fashion and original art. Bring cash and a tote bag.
When: September 5 – 6; 10am – 5pm
Where: Tokyo Dome City Prism Hall, Bunkyo-ku
Price: Advance ¥1,000; same-day ¥1,200 (free for elementary school age and under)
Website: tokyo.handmade-marche.jp
Masterpieces of the Renaissance From the Musée du Louvre
September 9 – December 13
More than 50 Renaissance works cross the world from Paris to the National Art Center for this exhibition, headlined by Leonardo da Vinci’s “La Belle Ferronnière,” making its first-ever appearance in Japan. It’s a rare chance to see Louvre-level work without the Louvre-level crowds.
When: September 9 – December 13 (closed Tuesdays, with exceptions), 10am – 6pm (*10am – 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays)
Where: The National Art Center, Tokyo, Minato-ku
Price: Advance ¥2,200; general ¥2,400 (adults; discounts for students, free for junior high school age and under)
Website: nact.jp/english/exhibition_special/2026/louvre2026
Oktoberfest in Shiba Park
September 12 – 23
Raise a stein and celebrate German-style at Oktoberfest Tokyo 2026! Just a one-minute walk from Onarimon Gate Station (Exit A6), this annual festival brings an impressively broad range—estimated between 50 to 100 varieties! Expect hearty favorites like sausages and pretzels, and plenty of lively entertainment, including traditional folk performances and music.
When: September 11 – 23, 4pm – 10pm
Where: Shiba Park No. 4 lot, Minato-ku
Price: ¥500 (junior high age and up; free for elementary age and under)
Website: oktober-fest.jp/shiba
Tokyo Gendai 2026
September 11 – 13
International galleries convene at Pacifico Yokohama for three days of contemporary art, spanning painting, photography and digital media. For collectors and the merely curious alike, it’s one of the region’s bigger art-fair dates on the calendar.
When:
Friday 11 September 2026, 12pm – 8pm
Saturday 12 September 2026, 11am – 6pm
Sunday 13 September 2026, 11am – 5pm
Where: Pacifico Yokohama, Yokohama
Price: ¥5,000 general admission
Website: tokyogendai.com
Kichioji Autumn Festival
September 14 – 15
Summer festivals have fizzled out, but the autumn matsuri season is ready to take center stage. The cool autumn weather makes it the perfect time to wear a yukata, absorb the festival atmosphere and watch the portable shrines in the parade. The event is held over two days, culminating in the coming together of all 11 shrines. The parade starts from Musashi Hachiman Shrine on Saturday at 11 am. Several shows and stalls with festival foods accompany the festivities.
When: September 12 – 13, 10am – 9pm
Where: Streets around Kichijoji Station, Musashino
Price: Free admission
Website: musashino-kanko.com/musashino-event/kichijoji-akimatsuri2026
Chofu Fireworks 2026
September 12
Held on the grassy banks of the Tamagawa River, approximately 9,000 fireworks light up the sky during a spectacular 70-minute show.
When: September 12, 6pm – 7:15pm
Where: Tama River, Chofu
Price: Free general viewing (paid premium seating available)
Website: hanabi.csa.gr.jp
Grand Sumo September Tournament
September 13 – 27
Professional sumo returns to Ryogoku Kokugikan for its 15-day September basho, the last major tournament before the sport heads out on its regional tour.
When: September 13 – 27
Where: Ryogoku Kokugikan, Sumida-ku
Price: From around ¥2,000 (same-day 2nd-floor seats) to ¥10,000+ for box seating
Website: sumo.or.jp/EnTicket/year_schedule
Check out our guide to September’s Sumo Tournament for more information on the wrestlers and rules. Tickets can sell out fast; sumo tournament tickets go on sale August 8—here’s how to get them.
The Creative Juices—Art and Music Event at Gamuso Asagaya
September 19 – November 7
Six visual artists and four music acts share a bill at Gamuso, the independent Asagaya venue known for pairing gallery shows with live sets rather than keeping the two apart.
When: September 19 – November 7, From 6pm
Where: Gamuso, Asagaya, Suginami-ku
Price: Free admission
Website: gamuso.co
Learn more about this art and music event at Gamuso Asagaya
ULTRA JAPAN 2026
September 19 – 20
The international electronic festival returns for two days of big-name DJs and large-scale outdoor stages, drawing the kind of crowd that treats a Tokyo weekend as a warm-up for the main event.
When: September 19 – 20, 11am – 9pm
Where: Tokyo Odaiba Ultra Park, Koto-ku
Price: 2-day passes from ¥15,000 (U-23) to ¥42,000 (Platinum GA)
Website: ultrajapan.com/ja/lineup
Fiesta Mexicana 2026 in Odaiba
September 20 – 22
Odaiba spends three days on Mexican music, dance, food and crafts, with lucha libre and family activities rounding out a lineup built for an afternoon out rather than a quick stop.
When: September 20 – 22, 11am – 7pm
Where: Odaiba Deck, West Promenade, Minato-ku
Price: Free admission
Website: fiestamexicana-tokyo.com
PEACE DAY 2026 at Yoyogi Park
September 21
This nonprofit-led festival marks the International Day of Peace with music, talks and NGO booths, closing out with a candle-light installation as the sun goes down.
When: September 21, 11am – 8pm
Where: Yoyogi Park, Shibuya-ku
Price: Free admission
Website: peaceday.jp/2026
Nezu Shrine Grand Festival
September 26 – 27
Nezu Shrine’s annual festival fills the grounds with traditional performances and stalls, and this year’s edition includes a major mikoshi procession worth planning around.
When: September 26 – 27, 11am – 8pm
Where: Nezu Shrine, Bunkyo-ku
Price: Free admission
Website: nedujinja.or.jp
Shinagawa Shukuba Matsuri
September 26 – 27
The old Tokaido road becomes a stage for this neighborhood festival, celebrating Shinagawa’s history as the first post town on the road out of Edo.
When: September 26 – 27, 10am – 8pm
Where: Streets around Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku
Price: Free admission
Website: shinagawa-shukuba-matsuri.tokyo
Namaste India 2026
September 26 – 27
One of Japan’s largest Indian cultural festivals returns to Yoyogi Park with two days of dance, music, food and craft stalls.
When: September 26 – 27, 10am – 8pm
Where: Yoyogi Park, Shibuya-ku
Price: Free admission
Website: indofestival.com
Tokyo River Clean Up
September 5, 12, 19 and 26
Credit: Tokyo River Clean Up
Protect the local environment while connecting with others by joining one of the regular volunteer river cleanups. Bring old clothes, a hat and enough water, then get stuck in. Events take place several times each month, with September events at the Arakawa, Edogawa and Tamagawa rivers. After the work is done, the group usually hosts a picnic or barbecue to chat and enjoy the sunset.
When: September 5, 12, 19 and 26
Where: Tamagawa, Edogawa and Arakawa rivers
Price: Free admission
Website: tokyoriverfriends.org/events/month/2026-09
