ARK Hills in Akasaka, Minato Ward, will hold the ARK Hills Autumn Festival 2026 over three days from Friday, September 11 to Sunday, September 13, 2026, co-organized by Mori Building Co., Ltd. and the ARK Hills Neighborhood Association.
ARK Hills marks its 40th anniversary this year. Over these four decades, ARK Hills has worked together with local residents, nurturing community ties through the autumn festival. Deeply rooted in the neighborhood, the ARK Hills Autumn Festival has become an autumn tradition where traditional culture meets the charm of a modern city. This year's festival centers on a yagura (festival tower) rising in ARK Karajan Square, with bon odori dancing set to a wide-ranging song selection, a mikoshi (portable shrine) procession, music and performance programs, and food stalls that bring the feeling of early autumn. The mikoshi, which has been part of ARK Hills for all 40 years, will be carried through ARK Hills and the surrounding streets by around 200 bearers, while a children's mikoshi also joins in, lifting the festival spirit across the whole neighborhood.
Food stalls from 15 popular ARK Hills restaurants will also appear, serving multinational festival menus, while a wide range of content — from traditional performing arts such as taiko drumming and dai-kagura to comedy shows and elegant jazz — rounds out the ARK Hills Autumn Festival.
ARK Hills Autumn Festival 2026 Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Friday, September 11 & Saturday, September 12, 2026: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Sunday, September 13: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Venue | ARK Hills, ARK Karajan Square |
| Organizers | ARK Hills Neighborhood Association, Mori Building Co., Ltd. |
| URL | https://www.arkhills.com/events/2026/09/0221.html |
Main Programs Bringing the ARK Hills Autumn Festival 2026 to Life
Grown together with local residents over 40 years of history, the ARK Hills Autumn Festival centers on annual favorites such as the mikoshi procession and bon odori dancing. From a spectacular bon odori around the yagura towering over ARK Karajan Square to a children's mikoshi procession with a portable shrine and float circling the perimeter of ARK Hills, the whole neighborhood takes on a festival atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy a traditional Japanese festival right in the heart of the city.
Mikoshi Procession
The mikoshi procession is the highlight of the main festival, the Akasaka Hikawa Shrine annual festival. The mikoshi departs from ARK Karajan Square and is carried through ARK Hills and the surrounding streets. The mikoshi will also be on display in the 1F office entrance lobby of ARK Mori Building from Sunday, August 2 to Tuesday, September 8.
Date and time: Sunday, September 13, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM (departs ARK Hills around 12:00 PM, arrives around 2:30 PM)
Children's Mikoshi and Float
A children's mikoshi and float make a roughly one-hour circuit around the perimeter of ARK Hills. The sight of the children's mikoshi and float parading along with the kids' energetic chants has become one of the seasonal traditions announcing the arrival of autumn at ARK Hills. A limited number of happi coats are available to borrow for children who wish to take part.
Date and time: Saturday, September 12, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM (registration opens at 10:00 AM)
Bon Odori
A giant yagura tower rises at the center of ARK Karajan Square for a bon odori that everyone can enjoy, with a wide-ranging song selection from classics like Tokyo Ondo and Roppongi Ondo to recent hit songs. From children to adults, visitors can experience the culture and charm of a genuine Japanese festival while feeling the sound of taiko drums echo through ARK Hills, the music-filled neighborhood.
Date and time: Saturday, September 12, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Carnival Game Stalls
Carnival game stalls offering nostalgic games and festival atmosphere — such as shooting galleries, yo-yo scooping, and cotton candy stands — will also appear. It's a spot where children and adults alike can enjoy a taste of childhood.
Date and time: Saturday, September 12, 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Sunday, September 13, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Food Stalls Featuring Special Menus From ARK Hills Chefs
Food stalls from 15 popular restaurants across ARK Mori Building, South Tower, and Sengokuyama Mori Tower set up in ARK Karajan Square. The lineup includes ARK Hills-style multinational festival menus such as pad thai and lamb skewers (plain/spicy), plus easy-to-eat, one-handed options perfect for enjoying while strolling. Each restaurant is offering a menu created specially for the festival.
Date and time: Friday, September 11 & Saturday, September 12, 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Sunday, September 13, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Hearty Meat Dishes to Satisfy Your Autumn Appetite
Restaurant LOB (レストラン ローブ)
- Rich Domestic Beef Curry: ¥1,500
Bubby's New York ARK Hills
- Hamburger: ¥1,000
Wolfgang Puck Pizza Bar
- Philly Cheesesteak: ¥1,200 alone / ¥1,500 with a french fry set
ARK Hills-Style Multinational Festival Menus, Full of Spice
Thai Restaurant Chan Loi kaaw (チャンロイkaaw)
- Pad Thai: ¥1,000
華都飯店
- Soup-Free Tantanmen: ¥1,000
ROPPONGI STEAK HOUSE MEATON
- Lamb Skewer (plain/spicy): ¥500 per skewer
Tacoricco (タコリッコ)
- Grilled Chicken Tacos: ¥400 each / 3 for ¥1,000
Authentic Western and Healthy Fare Showcasing Chefs' Skill
TRATTORIA LA TERRAZZA
- Bolognese Cream Penne: ¥1,000
PASCUCCI
- Italian Risotto: ¥800
LA TAVERNA Hasegawa
- Seafood Fideuà (short-pasta paella): ¥1,500
ANA InterContinental Tokyo
- Nourish Bowl: ¥1,000
Festival Favorites: Classic Japanese and One-Handed Bites
Wataru Toda's Okonomiyaki Sante Kan (戸田亘のお好み焼 さんて寛)
- Half-Size Pork Okonomiyaki: ¥600
ARK Hills Cafe
- Takoyaki: ¥600
Unaju
- Walk-and-Eat Cup Unadon (eel rice bowl): ¥700
ABURI Hyakkan (ABURI百貫)
- Fried Horse Mackerel: ¥500
Music and Performances That Bring the Festival to Life
Home to Suntory Hall, ARK Hills's identity as a music-filled neighborhood also comes through in its music and performance lineup. From Edo Dai-kagura, a traditional Tokyo performing art designated as a Tokyo Metropolitan Intangible Folk Cultural Property, to a striking taiko drum performance by Gagoh Daiko (雅轟太鼓), a taiko group based in Katsushika Ward, sounds and cheers fill the streets and heighten the festival mood.
Gagoh Daiko (雅轟太鼓)
A taiko drum group based in Katsushika Ward that performs at festivals and events. Their powerful drumming and dynamic performance are not to be missed.
Date and time: Saturday, September 12, 12:30 PM and 4:30 PM
Edo Dai-kagura
A traditional Tokyo performing art designated as a Tokyo Metropolitan Intangible Folk Cultural Property. Performers showcase a range of stylish, skillful acts set to the sound of flutes and drums, including familiar umbrella, water, and bachi (drumstick) acts, as well as otedama (Japanese beanbag juggling) and shishimai lion dance.
Date and time: Saturday, September 12, 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM
idio2 (Stylish Comedy)
Hi2 and Kosuke (こ～すけ), who usually perform solo, team up for a cool, fast-paced new style of comedy. Cool yet funny, stylish yet somehow hilarious — enjoy this quality entertainment.
Date and time: Sunday, September 13, 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM
Yusuke Shima & Naoki Honma (Guitar): "Meikyoku wo Fuku" Duo
Trumpeter Yusuke Shima has recorded music for commercials and famous artists, and his music is streamed worldwide, surpassing 10 million total plays on Spotify. Enjoy a guitar duo performance spanning familiar songs from movies and commercials to jazz standards, drawn from Shima's four-part "Meikyoku wo Fuku" (Playing Famous Songs) album series.
Date and time: Sunday, September 13, 6:00 PM
