Experience a Community Matsuri
One of the best ways to spend a hot summer day in Japan is through a natsu matsuri, or summer festival. In conjunction with the summer festival at the neighboring Nishikubo Hachiman Shrine, Azabudai Hills will also host a seasonal festival with activity booths and food stalls around Sakurama Street and the central plaza area.
Popular restaurants and cafes from Azabudai Hills will set up gourmet food stalls, offering refreshing seasonal menus to enjoy while walking around the festival. Items include classic matsuri foods like yakisoba noodles and kakigori shaved ice.
The festival will also feature a variety of activities and games for families and friends alike to enjoy. Kids can enjoy and keep cool with the “water scooping” games, where they try to fish out rubber ducks, bouncy balls or flowers from the pool. There will also be a water gun shooting game and ring toss.
The Azabudai Hills Central Plaza lawn area will welcome students from the international British School in Tokyo, who will perform a lively taiko drum show on August 9.
After exploring Azabudai Hills, visitors can head down to the adjacent Nishikubo Hachiman Shrine for its annual community summer festival. The shrine will have a Bon Odori dance and various food stalls from August 9 to August 11, open from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A children’s mikoshi (portable shrine) procession will also run on August 11, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
