Shitamachi Tanabata Matsuri

Asakusa's Kappabashi – the famed mecca for Tokyo chefs and home-cooks looking to kit out their kitchens – is festooned with vibrant streamers and decorations during this annual summer festival. Though it runs from July 6 to 10, the best time to visit the Shitamachi Tanabata Matsuri is over the July 8-9 weekend, when local businesses put out stalls and hold parades and street performances.