Shinjuku in May 2025: Highlights, Events & Festivals
Since moving to a neighborhood adjacent to Shinjuku in 2024, I've been visiting Shinjuku almost daily to explore its appeal and discover spots I can recommend to tourists. I updated this article in January 2025 to incorporate my findings from this research, along with the latest information for 2025.
Another reason for updating the article is the growing interest in tours that allow visitors to safely and deeply experience Shinjuku's nightlife. As these tours gain popularity, Magical Trip's tour, which ranked #1 among all tours on Tripadvisor, has been receiving numerous applications.
If you want to enjoy Shinjuku's nightlife, I recommend the "Tokyo Bar Hopping Night Tour in Shinjuku," which ranked #1 on Tripadvisor. Our guides who know Shinjuku inside and out will take you bar hopping while avoiding dangerous areas, allowing you to fully enjoy Shinjuku at night.
I also recommend the "Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku," where you can enjoy premium wagyu beef barbecue and exceptional sushi. You'll learn from food-savvy tour guides about the best ways to grill your meat and proper sushi etiquette while enjoying exquisite Japanese cuisine.
I hope you can safely and thoroughly enjoy Shinjuku's nightlife with Magical Trip's tours!
Introduction
Tokyo in May is adorned with fresh greenery, making it a perfect season for tourism with its pleasant climate. The average temperature ranges from 21-23°C, though some days can feel hot with strong sunlight. Since early mornings and nights can be chilly, it's recommended to wear adjustable clothing like short sleeves with light outerwear.
Shinjuku, one of Tokyo's central districts, is particularly pleasant for walking around in May 2025. While Shinjuku is famous for having Japan's largest entertainment district, including Kabukicho, and its business district, it also features many historical shrines and nature-rich spots.
May offers traditional festivals and gourmet events, which are highly recommended for visitors to participate in.
In this article, we've compiled recommended events happening around Shinjuku in May. We'll introduce basic information and highlights.
2025 Year-round Event Schedule in Shinjuku↓
・Shinjuku: List of Events & Festivals for 2025
Traditional Shinjuku Events in May 2025
Hanazono Shrine Grand Festival
Source:Shinjuku Keizai Shimbun
Hanazono Shrine, known for its blessings in warding off misfortune and matchmaking, is a shrine that protects the entire Shinjuku area. The Grand Festival held in late May is known as Shinjuku's largest-scale festival.
The highlight is a parade featuring two portable shrines (mikoshi) that start from the shrine and proceed along Yasukuni Street, Shinjuku Street, and Meiji Street. The floats carrying lion-head sculptures and the approximately 3-meter-tall mikoshi are impressive, allowing visitors to experience the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese festival.
Over 100 food stalls and vendors selling traditional toys and festival treats line the shrine grounds.
Beyond the festival, it's also recommended to take time exploring the shrine grounds, which house valuable cultural properties. If you want to experience a festival where locals and tourists come together to celebrate, don't miss this event!
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Dates: May 30-31/June 1, 2025
Access: Direct access from Exit E2 of Shinjuku-sanchome Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Fukutoshin Line, Toei Shinjuku Line)
Admission: Free
Website: http://hanazono-jinja.or.jp/about/
Nishimuki Tenjin Shrine Annual Festival
Source:tomihisa-kita.sakura.ne.jp
Nishimuki Tenjin Shrine is known as a famous spot for sunset viewing. "Nishimuki" means "facing west," and true to its name, the shrine's main hall is built facing westward. This orientation provides excellent views of the setting sun in the western sky.
The Annual Festival, scheduled for May 2025, is a significant event where the portable shrine (mikoshi) procession occurs only once every four years (next scheduled for 2027).
During the festival, numerous food stalls set up in the nearby park, drawing local residents to create a lively atmosphere. At the shrine's festival, you can witness traditional performances such as "TOKYO SHISHI-ODORI," where performers dressed as deer dance while carrying drums.
The shrine grounds feature chinquapin trees and guardian lion-dogs (komainu), adding to its traditional charm. While it's not a flashy festival, it's highly recommended for tourists wanting to experience an authentic local Japanese celebration in Shinjuku.
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Date: May 25, 2025
Access: 6-minute walk from Exit E2 of Higashi-Shinjuku Station on Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line
Admission: Free
Shinjuku Gourmet Events - May 2025
Arakicho Curry Festival
Arakicho, located near Shinjuku, is a down-to-earth neighborhood featuring over 300 small eateries, including izakayas, sushi restaurants, yakitori shops, and bars. The "Arakicho Curry Festival," held in mid-May 2025, is a unique event where visitors can sample curry dishes from various local establishments.
Start your curry adventure at the park where you'll receive rice, a wristband, and a map of participating restaurants. Visit the shops that interest you and have them serve their curry over your rice. Special drinks paired with curry and additional rice servings are available (extra charge).
If you find a favorite spot, we encourage tourists to revisit after the event! Don't miss this rare opportunity to enjoy curry rice, Japan's beloved national dish, in the heart of Shinjuku.
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Date: Mid-May 2025
Access: 5-minute walk from Yotsuya-Sanchome Station on Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line (Arakicho Shopping District)
Ticket: ¥2,000
Website: https://www.kanko-shinjuku.jp/event/history/article_3962.html
Limited Events in Shinjuku This May! 3 Recommended Events Around Shinjuku Event May 2025
Here we've picked up events taking place in Shinjuku during June and July. There are traditional ceremonies and powerful events that energize all of Shinjuku. If you haven't decided your travel schedule yet, please use this as a reference.
Nagoshi no Oharae (June)
"Nagoshi no Oharae" is a ritual to cleanse oneself of impurities and sins accumulated during the first half of the year. It also carries the meaning of "overcoming the hot summer energetically and spending the remaining half of the year in good health." In Shinjuku, it's held at Akagi Shrine, Suwa Jinja, and Shinjuku Juniso Kumano-jinja Shrine.
The highlight of this ceremony is the "Chinowa-kuguri," where people pass through the center of a large ring made of kaya (miscanthus reed), a type of grass plant, to purify their entire body.
You can also dedicate your sins to paper cutouts called "Hitogata" (human shapes) and submit them to the shrine. Purification is achieved by floating these paper figures in a river or burning them.
If you'd like to experience a traditional Japanese purification ritual, please participate!
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Date: June 30, 2025
Access:
Admission: Free
Website: http://hanazono-jinja.or.jp/about/
Yotsuya Suga Shrine Annual Festival (June)
Source:Official website
Suga Shrine is known for various blessings, including matchmaking and business prosperity. It's also famous as a setting in the internationally popular anime film "Your Name."
The annual festival held every June is one of the five great festivals of Edo. Including the eve of the festival, it's a four-day celebration that becomes the largest festival in the area.
The highlight of the festival is the 1.2-ton portable shrine (mikoshi) carried by about 100 people. The sight of it being paraded through the streets of Yotsuya with energetic chants is truly spectacular.
The Japanese taiko drum performances showcased during the festival are one of Japan's proud traditional arts. You'll surely be captivated by the powerful drum echoes and the impressive performance.
Come and experience these exciting four days when Yotsuya heats up!
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Date: June 6-9, 2025
Access: 10-minute walk from JR Yotsuya Station
Admission: Free
Website: https://sugajinjya.or.jp/
Shinjuku Eisa Festival (July)
Source:Official website
The "Shinjuku Eisa Festival" is an event where you can enjoy "Eisa," a traditional performing art from Okinawa. Eisa involves dancing to the accompaniment of sanshin (three-stringed instrument) and drums, with each region having its own unique choreography.
At the Shinjuku Eisa Festival in May 2025, each team will showcase their distinctive performances highlighting their unique dance moves, expressions, costumes, and music. The charm of Eisa lies in its ability to entertain audiences of all ages and genders.
While it's enjoyable just watching the energetic rhythmic Eisa dances, joining in allows you to feel a deeper connection with the festival. During the event period, shops around Shinjuku will also host fairs featuring Okinawan cuisine and traditional crafts.
Don't miss this opportunity to experience the magic of Okinawa right here in Tokyo!
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Date: July 26, 2025
Access: Around JR Shinjuku Station East and West Exits
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.shinjuku-eisa.com/
May in Tokyo - The Peak Season for Festivals!
May in Tokyo is known as the festival season, featuring some of the year's largest traditional events. These festivals attract both local residents and tourists, creating a vibrant atmosphere throughout the city.
If you're visiting Tokyo in May 2025, we recommend staying in Shinjuku, which offers easy access to various festival locations.
Here, we'll introduce you to Tokyo's major festivals and uniquely Japanese sporting events. Don't miss these special seasonal experiences!
Kanda Matsuri
Source:PR TIMES
The "Kanda Matsuri" is one of Tokyo's three great Edo festivals, centered around the Kanda Shrine area.
The main highlight is the "Shinko-sai," where participants dressed in elaborate Heian-period costumes parade along a 30km route. Simultaneously, the "Tsuke Matsuri" features decorated floats with unique ornaments and dolls. When these two parades converge, the festival reaches its peak excitement.
Another highlight is the "Miyairi," where portable shrines (mikoshi) from 108 town associations in Kanda, Nihonbashi, Akihabara, and Marunouchi visit Kanda Shrine. Throughout the day, approximately 200 mikoshi of various sizes take turns visiting, showcasing the distinctive grandeur of the Kanda Matsuri.
Experience the culture of Edo through the beautiful costumes and decorations of the Kanda Matsuri.
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Date: May 8-15, 2025
Access: 5-minute walk from JR Ochanomizu Station / 7-minute walk from Akihabara Station
Admission: Free
Website: https://kandamatsuri.com/
Sanja Matsuri
Source:Official website
The Sanja Matsuri, held in mid-May, is a grand festival of Asakusa Shrine with over 700 years of history. It's considered the most exciting three days in Asakusa throughout the year and has become a symbol of early summer in Tokyo. Visitors can conveniently access this festival via Shinjuku Station, making it an ideal addition to their May 2025 Tokyo itinerary.
The highlight of Sanja Matsuri is undoubtedly the portable shrine (mikoshi) performance. About 100 community mikoshi gather at the shrine, and after receiving purification one by one, they return to their respective neighborhoods. The moment when the mikoshi pass through Nakamise Street and go through the Kaminari Mon (Thunder Gate) is truly a symbolic scene of the Sanja Matsuri.
On the first day of the festival, a dance called "Binzasara Mai," which is an intangible cultural property of Tokyo, is performed at the shrine. It's a traditional performing art characterized by choreography based on rice-planting movements and unique rhythms.
Enjoy this vibrant and traditional festival in the popular tourist spot of Asakusa, just a short trip from the bustling Shinjuku area.
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Date: Mid-May 2025
Access: 7-minute walk from Asakusa Station on Tokyo Metro Ginza Line or Toei Subway Asakusa Line
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.asakusajinja.jp/english/
Meiji Shrine Spring Grand Festival
Source:Official website
The "Meiji Shrine Spring Grand Festival" is held in early May to celebrate the arrival of spring. While May 2nd and 3rd are the main festival days, various celebratory events take place from a week before. This spectacular event adds to the exciting lineup of May 2025 festivities near Shinjuku.
The highlight of this event is the dedication ceremony of traditional Japanese performing arts. Particularly popular is the "Urayasu no Mai" dance, based on Emperor Showa's poem about world peace, where dancers perform gracefully dressed in beautiful celestial robes.
Additionally, you can enjoy various traditional performing arts from across Japan that are rarely seen even by Japanese people, such as Noh, Kyogen, and traditional instrument performances.
We also recommend strolling through the shrine grounds to enjoy the colorful flowers and fresh greenery. Why not immerse yourself in Japanese spring by participating in this spectacular spring festival?
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Date: May 2-3, 2025
Access: 1-minute walk from Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line) or Meiji-jingumae Station (Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin and Chiyoda Lines)
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/
Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament - May Basho
Why not experience Japan's national sport, sumo wrestling, while you're in Japan? Just a short distance from the bustling Shinjuku Event May 2025 festivities, this is a must-see cultural experience.
The "Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament in May," also known as the "Summer Tournament," is an official competition crucial for wrestlers' rankings and overall records.
The main highlight is witnessing the powerful wrestlers clash in person. The sumo matches, steeped in etiquette and Japanese tradition, become even more engaging when you pay attention to the unique ceremonial movements.
At Ryogoku Kokugikan, you can savor these popular delicacies:
- Kokugikan Chanko (Japanese hot pot for Sumo wrestlers)
- Kokugikan's famous yakitori
- Sushi bento boxes
- Limited-quantity special Anpan (Red bean bun)
- Special Anmitsu (Japanese cold dessert)
Bento boxes featuring wrestlers' favorite foods and specialties from their hometowns are also popular. Come experience Japanese culture at its finest at the Grand Sumo Tournament!
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Dates: May 11-25, 2025
Access: 2-minute walk from JR Sobu Line "Ryogoku Station" West Exit / 5-minute walk from Toei Subway Oedo Line "Toei Ryogoku Station" Exit A3
Admission: Check official website
Website: https://www.sumo.or.jp//Admission/isolate/629/
Odaiba Oktoberfest 2025 ~SPRING~
Source:FASHION PRESS
The German beer festival "Oktoberfest" has gained immense popularity in Japan. Recently, it's often held in the warmer months of May and June.
The "Odaiba Oktoberfest SPRING" offers the unique pleasure of enjoying beer in an open-air setting while feeling the refreshing May sea breeze, making it a perfect complement to the ongoing events in Shinjuku this May 2025.
The flavorful draft beers shipped directly from Germany pair excellently with appetizers made from Japanese ingredients. Traditional German dishes that go perfectly with beer are also available, including grilled lamb steaks, German ham platters, and steamed lobster.
Let's toast together while enjoying live performances by bands playing cheerful music! Experience a German festival with a Tokyo twist.
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Dates: Early May 2025
Access: 5-minute walk from Yurikamome "Daiba Station" or "Tokyo International Cruise Terminal Station" / Rinkai Line "Tokyo Teleport Station"
Admission: Check official website
Website: https://www.oktober-fest.jp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oktoberfest1810/
X: https://x.com/oktoberfest1810