Event Info

The 13th Ginza Willow Festival

The Ginza Willow Festival has been held on May 5th (Children’s Day) every year since 2006 to commemorate the planting of an orderly display of willow trees on Nishi Ginza-dori when it was designated as a symbolic road of Tokyo.

We are holding the 13th Ginza Willow Festival this year as well, thanks to the outstanding support and cooperation of the Tsukiji Police Station, Chuo City, Tokyo and other government ministries and agencies, Tokyo Band Association, Ginza Association, Ginmikai (Ginza Merchant’s Association), Nishiginza-dori Association, all the performers, and other individuals who are involved in running the festival.

This year’s Ginza Willow Festival is being held at the dawn of a new era as the new Emperor ascends to the imperial throne. With this in mind, this year’s theme is “flight”, as this change gives us an opportunity to soar into a brand-new future, and we would like visitors to experience this feeling through the festival’s parade and events.
We sincerely hope that many visitors will attend and enjoy this year’s Ginza Willow Festival.

Furthermore, as the day of the festival is a day when many people visiting Ginza can feel its unique hospitality and communication, we will make every effort to ensure that visitors can happily enjoy the festival in a safe, secure, and accident-free manner, and thus we kindly appreciate guidance, support, and cooperation from everyone involved in the festivities.

Tokuni Yanagisawa, Chairman, 13th Ginza Willow Festival Planning Committee

Event information

The 13th Ginza Willow Festival
Time & Date: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, May 5, 2019 (holiday) Note: Some events will be cancelled in the event of rain
Location: Nishi-ginza-dori, Sukiyabashi Park (2 locations), various buildings around Nishi-ginza-dori St.
Organizers: Ginza Association, Nishi Ginza-dori Association, 13th Ginza Willow Festival Planning Committee
Partners: Ginza Street Association, Tokyo Band Association Click here for a list of sponsors
Auspices: Chuo City

Traffic regulations during the 13th Ginza Willow Festival
Traffic Regulation Map for the event　　Traffic Regulation Map for the parade

For members of the press
Information about press coverage on the day of the event

Event details

Traffic Safety Ginza Golden Parade

Time: 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Location: 1- to 8-chome vehicle-free promenade

Grand parade by the Metropolitan Police Department and Tokyo Band Association.
Enjoy powerful performances by marching bands and baton twirling clubs with the themes of traffic safety and “flight”.
Beloved characters Hello Kitty and Peko-chan are also scheduled to appear on rickshaws. Members of the Japanese National Rugby Team who will represent the country in the Rugby World Cup this September, will also join the parade.
This magnificent parade gives visitors an opportunity to discover, enjoy, and be inspired by the spirit of Ginza.

Scheduled participating organizations
Joint Adachi City Junior High School Brass Band, Joint Nerima City Junior/Senior High School Brass Band, Chuo City Municipal Nihonbashi Junior High School Brass Band, Hachiojigakuen Hachioji High School Wind Band (performing at Concert Forest), Nihon University Tsurugaoka Senior High School Brass Band, Shinagawa Joshi Gakuin Brass Band & Baton Twirling Club, Nihon University Buzan Senior High School Brass Band, Musashino Junior High School & Senior High School Marching Band, Nihon University Sakuragaoka High School Brass Band & Baton Twirling Club, Komazawa University High School Brass Band, Aoyama Gakuin University Student Union Wind Orchestra & Baton Twirling Club, Kokugakuin University Wind Orchestra, Kokushikan University Brass Band, Senshu University Wind Orchestra, Rissho University Wind Orchestra (performing at Concert Forest), Tokai University Philharmonic Wind Orchestra (performing at Concert Forest), Nihon University Symphonic Band (performing at Concert Forest), Senshu Brass Band, Katsushika Symphonic Wind Orchestra & Marching Band, Aesthetic Romany, Soka Shining Spirits, Soka Renaissance Vanguard Junior, Ohnishi Gakuen Junior High School & High School Brass Band
(arbitrary order)

Parade Schedule

Concert Forest

Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Chuo City Municipal Sukiyabashi Park (on the 5-chome side)

Performances by about 15 top bands selected from the Tokyo Band Association at Sukiyabashi 5-chome Park. Enjoy powerful performances up close.

Scheduled participating organizations
Joint Tokyo Elementary Schools Band, Itabashi City Municipal Akatsuka Dai-san Junior High School Brass Band, Adachi City Municipal Dai-ju-yon Junior High School Brass Band, Itabashi City Shimura Dai-yon Junior High School Brass Band, Hamura City Municipal Hamura Dai-ichi Junior High School Brass Band, Juntoku Girls’ High School Brass Band, Hachiojigakuen Hachioji High School Wind Band, Shutoku Senior High School Brass Band, Teikyo University Student Association Cultural Bureau Brass Band, Tokai University Philharmonic Wind Orchestra, Nihon University Symphonic Band, Rissho University Wind Orchestra, Joint Tokyo Workplace Band Association Band, Kassui Junior Band

Concert Schedule

Traditional Play Space

Time: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Chuo City Municipal Sukiyabashi Park (on the 4-chome side)

A space for the whole family from kids to adults to enjoy together.
There will be traditional toys like spinning tops and “kendama” ball and cups and an open air Go class offering experiences that are rare for modern children.
There will be appearances by Hello Kitty and Peko-chan who are loved by all.

Hello Kitty appearance: (1) 2:30 p.m. (2) 4:00 p.m.
Peko-chan appearance: (1) 3:00 p.m. (2) 4:30 p.m.

Ginza Honeybee Festival

Time: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: 4-chome Nishi-ginza Event Space

Participants in the Ginza Honey Bee Project to raise honeybees on the rooftops of buildings in Ginza will promote their “Ginza Honey.” Honey collected by Ginza honeybees has been praised for its unique flavor.

Note: May finish earlier than 4:00 p.m.

Hometown Tourism PR Campaign Traditional Dance Space

Time: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: 2-chome vehicle-free promenade

Powerful performance of traditional local dance.
The Yosakoi performance that is a special feature every year is a major highlight.

Scheduled participating organizations
Marugoto Kochi Official Team, Yosakoi Kashiwa Kurenai Juku, Shurai Buyodan, Team Riezo, Hosei University Yosakoi Soran Circle Hoyoren, Dream Yosakoi Official Team

Performance schedule and performance team introductions

Hometown Tourism PR Campaign Hands-on Workshop Space

Time: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: 3-chome vehicle-free promenade

Space for experiencing activities with all five senses. Encounter culture and local specialties from Tokyo’s Hachijo-jima Islands while still within Ginza, surrounding yourself with an atmosphere that is different from Ginza in regular times.

Hometown Tourism PR Campaign Tourism Quiz Space

Time: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: 5-chome vehicle-free promenade

Visitors who answer quiz questions about each prefecture can win wonderful prizes. Enjoy informative tourism PR displays for places all over Japan along Nishi Ginza-dori. We can also expect for yuru-chara mascot characters to appear at the PR booths.

Scheduled participating organizations
Iwate Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture, Mito City in Ibaraki Prefecture,
Itako City in Ibaraki Prefecture

Note: Photos are of last year’s events.

Yokoso Ginza

Time: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: 3-chome vehicle-free promenade

Be welcomed to Ginza with a lively performance by Edo Ginza Kappore’s traditional Kappore dancing and the classic song “Ginza Ondo”.

cs_2019yanagi_03.jpg” alt=”Traditional Play Space”>

Japan Smart Driver PR Campaign

Time: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: 3-chome vehicle-free promenade

Under the slogan of “Increase Compassion, Reduce Accidents”, this event supports drivers’ efforts to reduce the number of traffic accidents. Residents who took part in the parade will also participate in a Smart Driver event in order to raise traffic safety awareness.

2019 Safe Driving Tokyo Campaign & Traffic Safety Campaign

Time: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: 4-chome vehicle-free promenade

Visitors can receive tips on vehicle safety checks and the proper way to ride.
The Traffic Safety Campaign will raise awareness about traffic safety by acting out an actual accident in an intense performance.

From 2:00 p.m.: Scared Straight (re-enactment of a traffic accident by a stuntman)
From 3:00 p.m.: Traffic Safety Class

Shimbashi Geisha Azuma Odori

Time: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: 6-chome vehicle-free promenade

Shimbashi geisha culture performance in Ginza. Experience the Edo way of life and beauty of Japan in a dance by a geisha group that cannot usually be seen.

Performance schedule (dance and publicity) 20 minutes each
From 2:15 p.m.
From 2:45 p.m.
From 3:15 p.m.

Note: Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Rickshaw rides

Time: 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Location: 6- to 8-chome vehicle-free promenade

Take a round trip ride between 6- and 8-chome on Nishi Ginza-dori in rickshaws
that were a lively part of the parade.
Enjoy the scenery from and comfort of a rickshaw.

Japanese National Rugby Team Support Booth

Time: 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Location: 6-chome vehicle-free promenade

Leading up to the Rugby World Cup hosted by Japan, this is a special booth at the Ginza Willow Festival that you could normally only find at Japanese National Rugby Team matches.
Please come by and enjoy this chance to meet members of the Japanese National Rugby Team face-to-face.

Note: Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Heaven Artists in Ginza

Time: 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Location: 6- to 8-chome vehicle-free promenade (fixed point, walking act)

Tokyo’s Heaven Artists are back again this year.
Tokyo’s official performers liven up spectators on the street.
This is one of the most popular events every year.

Scheduled participating artists
Ayanoten / Eccentric Yoshida / Odetto-hime / Ko-suke / Kotaro /
Yuji Kobayashi / JimexLatino / Shiromitokimi / Chinese Acrobatic Arts Troupe /
DON ALMAS / Hard Puncher Shinnosuke / Hanger Man /
Healthy Matsuda / Mawarimichi / Tomohiro Morita / U-stage / Yoru no Guitars
(Japanese syllabary order)

See the Heaven Artists’ websites for their programs for that day.

”Kodomo Airanda” Kids Road Art Project in Ginza

Time: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: 7-chome vehicle-free promenade

An annual favorite event in which children create innovative and powerful art using tape with the road as their canvas. Please visit and take in this striking art.

Presents of Ginza’s willow seedlings

Time: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: 8-chome vehicle-free promenade

Receive a gift of a seedling of Ginza’s iconic willow tree.
These are genuine Ginza willow seedlings directly trimmed from actual willow trees lining Nishi Ginza-dori and raised in a nursery.
There will also be a display panel showing how to raise willow trees and the history of willow trees in Ginza.

Event Map

Other events
Inquiries:
Ginza Willow Festival Office TEL: 03-3562-0838

Please note: In case of rain, some events will be canceled.
Street crossing by pedestrians will be restricted during the parade and some other events.
For details, please contact the Ginza Willow Festival Office.

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