3 Places to See the Colorful Koinobori in Tokyo

Koinobori are carp-shaped wind socks flown outside of homes to wish children’s healthy growth on Children’s Day(May 5) in Japan.

Many Children’s Day-related events are bing held throughout Japan around this time of the year. At those events, dozens of colorful koinobori are flown in the sky.

In Tokyo, Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Midtown, and Tokyo Sky Tree are the top 3 easily accessible tourist spots that are holding koinobori festival. Enjoy the photogenic sight where colorful carps flutter in the wind.

1. Tokyo Tower

The front gate of 333m-high Tokyo Tower is decorated with 333 koinobori.

Among them is one 6m Sanma Nobori (pacific saury). It is the koinobori for Ofunato city in Iwate Prefecture, the friendship city of Tokyo Tower, in the hope of their recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Period:

April 7 – May 6.
*Night light up from 5pm-11pm.

Official Website:

Tokyo Tower333 “Koinobori (carp banner)”)

Location:

Tokyo Tower 港区芝公園４丁目２−８
4-2-8, Shibakoen Minato-ku, Tokyo

2. Tokyo Midtown

Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi will decorate its Midtown Garden with 80 Art Koinobori designed by Japanese and foreign artists.

Another attraction of this event is “Koinobori Kuguri,” which is a koinobori-shaped tunnel people can walk through. It is a 25m-long, 2.5m-high, huge koinobori!

Period:

Art Koinobori: April 20 – May 6.
Koinobori Kuguri: May 3 – May 6, 11am-5pm.
*Cancelled in the event of stormy weather.

Official Website:

Tokyo Midtown Open The Park

Location:

Midtown Garden in Tokyo Midtown
9-7-1, Akasaka Minato-ku, Tokyo

3. Tokyo Sky Tree

Tokyo Sky Tree Town Koinobori Festival has been held at Tokyo Sky Tree. 1000 Koinobori will be hung aournd Tokyo Sky Tree Town!

Period:

April 13 – May 6.

Official Website:

Tokyo Sky Tree Solamachi

Location:

Tokyo Sky Tree Town in Tokyo Sky Tree
1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo