Enjoy the Night of "Imperial Palace Chidorigafuchi Lantern Floating" with 2,000 Lights on July 22 (Wed) & 23 (Thu)

The Chiyoda City Tourism Association (Location: 1-6-17 Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Chairperson: Ryuta Fujii) and Chiyoda City (Location: 1-2-1 Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Mayor: Takaaki Higuchi) will hold the summer event "Imperial Palace Chidorigafuchi Lantern Floating" on the nights of July 22 (Wed) and 23 (Thu), 2026. Visitors can enjoy a magical summer scene of 2,000 lanterns flickering on the night water surface at Chidorigafuchi, known as a famous cherry blossom spot in the city center. Each lantern carries a message of gratitude, hope, or other personal sentiments, creating a solemn and beautiful scene that resembles a moment from a story.

"Imperial Palace Chidorigafuchi Lantern Floating" Official Website: https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/floating.lantern/

* Lanterns on boats are by lottery, and lanterns require advance purchase. No sales on the day of the event.

Event Overview

【Date and Time】

July 22 (Wed) & 23 (Thu), 2026, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Boarding begins around 6:00 PM)

* Canceled in case of rain or strong winds.

【Admission Fee】

Free to observe

【Location】

1 Chidorigafuchi Boat Race Course (3-bancho 2) - Chidorigafuchi Green Way

2 Kudanzaka Park (2-2-18 Kudanminami)

3 Kitanomaru Park (1-1 Kitanomaru Park)

【Access】

Subway "Kudanshita Station" Exit 2 / Subway "Hanzomon Station" Exit 5

1 10 min walk / 10 min walk

2 3 min walk / 20 min walk

【Organizers】

Chiyoda City / Chiyoda City Tourism Association

【Official Website】

https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/floating.lantern/

・Lanterns on boats: Applications closed

・Lanterns: Advance purchase available *Limited quantity (will end as soon as sold out)

<Local students support inbound response>

Students from nearby universities and vocational schools will participate as volunteer staff for this event. Approximately 30 students per day will be stationed at the venue to provide multilingual announcements, guide foreign tourists, and explain how to enjoy the lantern floating, ensuring a comfortable experience for visitors from Japan and abroad. By involving the local youth in tourism promotion, it contributes to the preservation of local culture and the promotion of international exchange.

Participating Schools: Kanda University of International Studies, Kyoritsu Women's University, Nihon University College of Pharmacy

How to Fully Enjoy the Summer Tradition "Imperial Palace Chidorigafuchi Lantern Floating"

~ Enjoy moments that color the summer night with evening cooling spots, cafes & bars, soba restaurants, and hidden bars ~

Before or after the lantern floating, you can savor summer flavors at local favorite establishments, including cafes & bars where you can enjoy craft beer and wine, adult-only hidden bars surrounded by picture books, and soba restaurants offering popular cold soba dishes. These are perfect for a pre-event meal or for savoring the afterglow while gazing at the magical scenery. The Kitanomaru Park area features lush green parks and cultural facilities such as the National Museum of Nature and Science, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, and The National Archives. You can spend a quiet and intellectual time in the cool interiors before the lantern floating. Here are some recommended spots to visit around Chidorigafuchi.

▼ Recommended Restaurants Around Chidorigafuchi

〇 "i i jikan" - Enjoy Meals, Drinks, and Sweets

This cafe & bar also offers appetizers made with organic vegetables, chicken curry, and braised pork rice bowls. They also stock carefully selected Japanese craft beers and wines, making it perfect for a pre-lantern floating meal or for enjoying the afterglow of the evening. For dessert, relax with their signature classic pudding. Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iijikan_nicetime/

〇 "Book Bar Lilliput" - A Hidden Bar Surrounded by 10,000 Picture Books

A hidden bar for adults located within "Book House Cafe," a picture book specialty store in the book town of Jimbocho. In a space surrounded by children's books, an encounter with a book that takes you back to your childhood awaits while you enjoy a drink. The bar's name is derived from the country name in "Gulliver's Travels." How about ending a cool summer night surrounded by books with a chilled drink?

Official Website URL: https://bookhousecafe.jp/barmenu

〇 "Teuchi Soba Zen"

A restaurant where you can enjoy delicious handmade soba noodles, perfect for lunch or as a late-night meal. Their popular "Sudachi Hamo Ten Soba" for summer is served with plenty of sliced sudachi, offering a refreshing taste with the hamo tempura providing a satisfying bite. After the lantern floating, why not refresh yourself with the aroma of sudachi and the smooth, cold soba noodles to cool down your body?

URL: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130906/13194898/

* Please check each store's website or social media for their business hours.

▼ "Evening Cooling Spots" Around Chidorigafuchi

〇 National Museum of Nature and Science

A facility where you can learn about the wonders of science through observation, touch, and experience. How about satisfying your intellectual curiosity at the National Museum of Nature and Science before heading to the lantern floating? The experience of leisurely exploring the exhibits in a calm atmosphere is exceptional.

Address: 2-1 Kitanomaru Park, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

URL: https://www.jsf.or.jp/

* Closed on July 22 (Wed).

〇 The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

Known as Japan's first national museum, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo allows you to enjoy the flow of Japanese art from the late 19th century to the present day. Before the lantern floating, it is also recommended to enjoy art appreciation or relax in the "Room with a View" lounge overlooking the Imperial Palace.

Address: 3-1 Kitanomaru Park, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

URL: https://www.momat.go.jp/

<Exhibition Information>

・Collection Exhibition "MOMAT Collection"

May 26, 2026 (Tue) - September 13, 2026 (Sun)

The Highlight Room on the 4th floor showcases representative works of modern and contemporary art, offering a concentrated look at the charm of the museum's collection.

・Special Exhibition "Hiroshi Sugimoto: Portraits of Extinction" June 16, 2026 (Tue) - September 13, 2026 (Sun)

A large-scale solo exhibition featuring approximately 60 silver gelatin prints by contemporary artist Hiroshi Sugimoto, from his early works to the present.

Hiroshi Sugimoto "Sagami Bay, Enoshima" 2025 © Hiroshi Sugimoto / Courtesy of Gallery Koyanagi

〇 The National Archives

This facility preserves public documents such as the Constitution of Japan, as well as old books and documents inherited from the Edo Shogunate, with the aim of making them widely available to the public. The facility also holds permanent exhibitions and special exhibitions on various themes.

Address: 3-2 Kitanomaru Park, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

URL: https://www.archives.go.jp/index.html

<Special Exhibition Information>

"Travelers Head East - Fascinating Eastern Japan Depicted in Classical Literature -"

July 17, 2026 (Fri) - September 23, 2026 (Wed, Holiday) 9:15 AM - 5:00 PM

* Open until 8:00 PM on Fridays during the period, and on July 22 (Wed) and 23 (Thu), the days of the lantern floating.

This special exhibition traces the footsteps of travelers to Eastern Japan, introducing waka poetry, Chinese poems, tales, and travelogues left by travelers, including "The Tales of Ise."

Sake Tasting at Kanda Toshimaya, Tokyo's Oldest Sake Shop, in Collaboration with Inbound Tours

The sake tasting experience "Historic Kanda Sake Tasting at Tokyo's Oldest Shop" (operated by JLB TOURS), held for inbound tourists, will be coordinated with tours on July 22 (Wed) and 23 (Thu), the dates of the lantern floating. Participants who finish their sake tasting at the long-established sake shop "Toshimaya" in Kanda will be guided directly to the lantern floating venue. This offers a special day to fully enjoy both Japanese sake culture and Japan's summer tradition.

Application Site: https://gyg.me/k51NjinL

"TOKYO After Dark in Marunouchi" - Instantly See Information on Marunouchi's Night Spots!

Introduces sophisticated ways to spend your night and the charms of the Marunouchi area at night. In addition to terraces and photo spots with views of the sunset and nightscape, and dinner, various events such as night walking tours and bar hopping tickets are also offered. You can enjoy these even after the lantern floating.

Event Period: July 1, 2026 (Wed) - August 14, 2026 (Fri)

URL: https://www.marunouchi.com/lp/tokyo-afterdark/

Map of Recommended Spots to Visit

All the spots introduced are close to the venue and are recommended for visits before or after the lantern floating.

Chiyoda City Tourism Association

The Chiyoda City Tourism Association utilizes the natural scenery, landscapes, culture, history, industry, and technology of Chiyoda City and its surrounding areas to promote tourism. Its activities aim to enhance the appeal of Chiyoda City, promote exchange with people from Japan and abroad, and contribute to the maintenance and development of local culture and the revitalization of the local economy. Location: 1-6-17 Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0074 / TEL: 03-3556-0391

Related URLs

Chiyoda City Tourism Association Official Website https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/

Chiyoda City Tourism Association Official Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ChiyodaCityPR/

Chiyoda City Tourism Association Official X (formerly Twitter) https://x.com/ChiyodaCityPR

Chiyoda City Tourism Association Official Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chiyoda_city_pr/

Chiyoda City Tourism Association Official YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@visitchiyoda-experiencethe3724

Chiyoda City Tourism Association Official TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@chiyoda_city_pr

"Imperial Palace Chidorigafuchi Lantern Floating" Official Website https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/floating.lantern/