Sumida River Toro Nagashi: Asakusa August Lantern Festival
Tokyo Mate
On a summer night in Asakusa, Tokyo, a special moment unfolds. The Sumida River Lantern Floating festival is one of Tokyo's signature summer festivals, where thousands of lanterns drift down the river to create a dreamlike spectacle of light.
Before or after the lantern festival, if you’re curious about Asakusa’s other restaurants and sights, check the Asakusa Things to Do guide.
👉 Tokyo Asakusa Complete Guide (Sensoji, Demon Slayer, Gyukatsu, Hotel Picks)
Event Info
- Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025
- Time (pre-ceremony and first lantern floating): 6:30 p.m.
- Lantern floating: 6:45 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
- Location: Sumida River Azumabashi Waterside Terrace
📍 View on Google Maps · Official info
Access
- 📍 Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Tobu Isesaki Line) | 3 min walk
- 📍 Asakusa Station (Toei Subway Asakusa Line) | 5 min walk
- 📍 Asakusa Station (Tsukuba Express) | 10 min walk
✔️ It gets very crowded on the day, so it’s best to arrive with time to spare.
How to Take Part
1. Buy a lantern
- Advance sale: 1,700 yen each
- Same-day on-site sale: 2,000 yen each
2. Write a wish
You can write your family’s names or a wish on the surface of the lantern.
3. Float it on the Sumida River
After the sun sets, float the lantern on the river and join the procession of light.
Viewing Tips
- ✔️ The Sumida River Walk is closed during the festival
- ✔️ If you choose the Azumabashi (吾妻橋) side, the lanterns flow the other way and are hard to see
- ✔️ The Azumabashi pier on the opposite bank is a good alternative
Asakusa Guides to Read Together
If you check the “Asakusa Complete Guide” post below, which brings together Asakusa’s other sights (Sensoji, Nakamise-dori) and restaurant info, you can plan your whole day’s route perfectly.
👉 Tokyo Asakusa Complete Guide (Sensoji, Demon Slayer, Gyukatsu, Hotel Picks)
💡 A hearty meal before the festival: Asakusa Imahan sukiyaki. With 120 years of tradition, Asakusa Imahan is a perfect place to go with your parents or to visit on a special day. I’ve put together how to succeed at the limited lunch sukiyaki rice bowl that only 20 people a day can try, so be sure to check it before you visit.
👉 Asakusa Imahan Main Branch: Waiting, Reservations & Limited Lunch
🥩 The king of waiting: how to eat gyukatsu without standing in line. If waiting more than an hour in the festival crowds sounds tough, check the info on branches you can reserve.
👉 Asakusa Gyukatsu Complete Guide
✨ A dreamlike festival with Tokyo Skytree in the background. Thousands of lanterns flowing down the Sumida River, with “Tokyo Skytree” shining beyond them, is a special sight you can only see in Asakusa in August. If you’re also planning to visit the “Skytree” observatory, be sure to check the guide below, which brings together discount-ticket tips and info on the restaurants inside.
👉 Tokyo Skytree Tembo Deck vs. Galleria (Restaurants, Night View, Shopping)