Tokyo Hula Festival

It’s summertime and Ikebukuro is gripped by Hawaiian fever. The annual Hula Festival is hard to miss as the colors and sounds of the Pacific sweep the northwestern part of Tokyo. Up to 3,900 dancers show off their skills on stage, where the gentle sounds of Hawaiian music are playing to the elegant routines of the dancers. First held in 2002, the festival celebrates the friendship between Ikebukuro and Hawaii, where 13% of its residents are Japanese Americans. The festival is usually held on the 3rd weekend of July, so take your seats and be transported to the Pacific Islands.