Ginza Summer Festival 2026: Aug 1 Schedule & Bon Odori
Tokyo Mate
The Ginza summer festival Yukata de Ginbura 2026 takes place on Saturday, August 1. On Ginza Chuo-dori 1-chome, the uchimizu water sprinkling event returns for the first time in two years. It is a one-day event with bon odori, food stalls from famous Ginza restaurants, and ice pillar displays. I have put together the times and locations for each program, plus the food stall details, based on the official announcements.
Ginza Summer Festival 2026 Basics
On Ginza Chuo-dori, cars are blocked from the road on weekend and public holiday afternoons and it becomes a pedestrian-only street known as the hokosha tengoku.
Yukata de Ginbura started in 2007 to mark that, and it is Ginza's main summer festival. 2026 is the 20th edition.
| Event name | Yukata de Ginbura 2026 (ゆかたで銀ぶら 2026) |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, August 1, 2026 |
| Hours | 14:00-20:00 ※ varies by program |
| Admission | Free |
| Location | Ginza Chuo-dori, 1-chome to 8-chome 📍 View on Google Maps |
| SNS |
✅ Main Programs by Block
| 1-chome | Uchimizu water sprinkling, ice pillars |
|---|---|
| 2-chome | Food stalls from famous Ginza restaurants |
| 3-chome | Ginza bon odori, ice pillars, Matsuya Ginza summer festival |
| 4-chome | Traditional performances in front of Ginza Mitsukoshi, Seiko House photo session (advance lottery) |
| 5-chome | Children's police car and police motorcycle riding experience |
| 6-chome | Food stalls from famous Ginza restaurants, GINZA SIX summer festival |
| 7-chome | Children's fire engine, fire extinguisher experience, ladder truck ride (lottery) |
| 8-chome | Children's activity space, ice pillars |
⚠️ The uchimizu, bon odori, food stalls and ice pillar displays on Chuo-dori mostly start at 16:00.
Events tied to commercial facilities such as Matsuya Ginza and GINZA SIX start at different times, so check the schedule for each program.
Ginza Uchimizu Times and Location
In 2026 the Ginza uchimizu event is being held again for the first time in two years.
Uchimizu (打ち水) is a Japanese custom of sprinkling water on the street in summer to cool things down. At the event, everyone sprinkles water onto Ginza Chuo-dori together in time with a drumbeat.
| Event name | Ginza Uchimizu Event (銀座涼風計画 打ち水大作戦) |
|---|---|
| Times | Round 1: 16:00 Round 2: 16:30 Round 3: 17:00 |
| Location | Ginza Chuo-dori 1-chome 📍 View on Google Maps |
Ginza Bon Odori and the GINZA SIX Bon Odori
There are two places in Ginza where you can watch bon odori.
One is at the Ginza Chuo-dori 3-chome intersection and the other is on the GINZA SIX rooftop garden, and they start at different times.
If you want to see both, the efficient order is to look around the GINZA SIX bon odori that starts at 15:30 first, then move to Chuo-dori 3-chome.
| Ginza Chuo-dori bon odori | GINZA SIX bon odori | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 16:00-20:00 | 15:30-20:00 |
| Place | Chuo-dori 3-chome intersection 📍 View on Google Maps | GINZA SIX rooftop garden 📍 View on Google Maps |
| Admission | Free | Free |
Ginza Restaurant Food Stall Times
The stalls selling food from famous Ginza restaurants and regional specialties are set up at Chuo-dori 2-chome and 6-chome, and on the GINZA SIX rooftop garden.
Payment methods differ from stall to stall, including credit cards and transit cards. Some stalls take cash only, so make sure to bring cash.
| Ginza 2-chome stalls | Ginza 6-chome stalls | GINZA SIX rooftop |
|---|---|---|
| 16:00-20:00 Last order 19:30 | 16:00-20:00 Last order 19:30 | 14:30-20:30 Last order 20:00 |
| Chuo-dori 2-chome intersection 📍 View on Google Maps | Chuo-dori 6-chome intersection 📍 View on Google Maps | GINZA SIX rooftop garden 📍 View on Google Maps |
| Wolfgang's Steakhouse Fukui Shoku no Kuni 291 Ginza Hageten Kabukiza Service Ginza Restaurant Association Bakushuya Rupurin THE NIIGATA Oishii Yamagata Plaza Matsuya Ginza Frozen Gourmet Ginza Swiss MUJI Ginza | Ginza Kumamoto-kan IBARAKI sense Marugoto Kochi antenna shop Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo Hiroshima Brand Shop TAU Ginza Bairin TORAYA Tsubame Grill Ginza Torishige ST LOUIS BAR by KEI Shiseido Parlour Ginza Aster | Ginza Ten-ichi Hong Kong 1997 Ginza Swiss Ginza Sembikiya |
Road Closures and What to Check Before You Go
On the day of the event, Ginza Chuo-dori and designated surrounding roads are closed to cars from 12:00 to 21:00. Some roads stay closed until 23:00. Between 08:00 and 12:00 while the event is being set up, some surrounding roads may narrow as well, so the subway is easier than driving or taking a taxi.
You can walk to the venue from Ginza Station, Ginza-itchome Station, Higashi-ginza Station and Shimbashi Station.
Some buses take a detour after 19:00. They do not stop at the Ginza 4-chome and Ginza 6-chome stops, so use the Tsukiji or Shimbashi stops or the subway.
If it rains, only some of the programs go ahead. You can check whether each program is running in the notices section of the official website on the day.
➡️ Ginza Summer Festival official website
Ginza Summer Festival FAQ
Q. Can I take part without wearing a yukata?
Yes. There is no restriction on visiting the venue, joining the bon odori or using the stalls without a yukata. If you wear a yukata or other traditional Japanese clothing and visit a participating store, you can get benefits such as discounts or free gifts.
Q. What is the Ginza hokosha tengoku?
The Ginza hokosha tengoku is a system where cars are blocked from Ginza Chuo-dori between 1-chome and 8-chome on weekends and public holidays and the street is opened to pedestrians. It started on August 2, 1970 in Ginza, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Asakusa. Yukata de Ginbura is held every summer to mark the Ginza hokosha tengoku.
Q. What hours does the Ginza hokosha tengoku normally run?
The Ginza hokosha tengoku runs on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The hours can change or be cancelled depending on bad weather or traffic conditions.
- April to September: 12:00-18:00
- October to March: 12:00-17:00
In the daytime you walk a Ginza street glinting with sunlight, and once the sun drops the bon odori starts up with the drums.
With the uchimizu back after two years, the stalls along the Ginza street and people in yukata, Ginza in August has a look all its own. On Saturday, August 1, 2026, try fitting one scene of a Ginza summer into your Tokyo trip.
🧡 Tokyo Mate Summer Festival Guides
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