Chidorigafuchi, the Imperial Palace moat best known as a cherry blossom spot, turns into a summer nightscape on July 22 (Wednesday) and 23 (Thursday), 2026, when Chiyoda City and the Chiyoda City Tourism Association hold "Imperial Palace Chidorigafuchi Lantern Floating." Over the two evenings, 2,000 lanterns drift across the water, each one carrying a message of gratitude or hope from the person who sent it — a solemn scene as beautiful as a moment from a story.
Event Overview
| Dates | July 22 (Wed) and July 23 (Thu), 2026 |
| Hours | 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (boarding begins around 6:00 PM) |
| Admission | Free to view |
| Venue | ① Chidorigafuchi Boat Dock (near Sanbancho 2) to Chidorigafuchi Ryokudo promenade / ② Kudanzaka Park (Kudanminami 2-2-18) / ③ Kitanomaru Park (Kitanomaru Koen 1-1) |
| Access | Kudanshita Station (Exit 2) or Hanzomon Station (Exit 5) — both about a 10-minute walk to venue ①; a 3-minute walk from Kudanshita or a 20-minute walk from Hanzomon to venue ② |
| Organized by | Chiyoda City / Chiyoda City Tourism Association |
| Official website | https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/floating.lantern/ |
The event is canceled in case of rain or stormy weather. Lanterns launched from boats are allocated by lottery, and that application period has already closed. Floating lanterns require advance purchase, with quantities limited and sales ending once they sell out — there is no same-day, on-site sale.
Students Help Welcome Visitors From Overseas
Around 30 student volunteers from nearby schools staff the venue each day, offering multilingual announcements, directions for visitors from abroad, and explanations of how the lantern floating works. Students from Kanda Institute of Foreign Languages, Kyoritsu Women's University, and Nishogakusha University take part, making the evening easier to enjoy for both international and domestic visitors.
Where to Eat and Drink Near Chidorigafuchi
Before or after watching the lanterns, a handful of neighborhood favorites make good stops for a bite or a drink.
i i jikan
A cafe and bar serving organic-vegetable appetizers, chicken curry, and loo rou fan alongside a lineup of Japanese craft beers and wines. It's an easy stop for a pre-event meal or a nightcap — save room for the signature classic pudding.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iijikan_nicetime/
Book Bar Lilliput
Tucked inside Book House Cafe, a picture-book specialty store in the book town of Jimbocho, this hideaway bar surrounds guests with roughly 10,000 picture books. Its name comes from the fictional country in "Gulliver's Travels." Order a cold drink and spend a summer evening rediscovering a favorite childhood story.
Official site: https://bookhousecafe.jp/barmenu
Handmade Soba Zen
A hand-made soba restaurant good for lunch or a post-drink bite. Its summer specialty, sudachi hamo tempura soba, pairs slices of sudachi citrus with conger eel tempura for a refreshing dish with plenty of substance — a good way to cool down after the lantern floating.
URL: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130906/13194898/
Business hours vary, so check each shop's website or social media before visiting.
Cool, Quiet Spots to Visit Before the Lanterns
Kitanomaru Park's greenery and cultural facilities — the Science Museum, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, and the National Archives of Japan — offer a shaded, air-conditioned way to spend the hours before the lanterns begin.
Science Museum
A hands-on museum where visitors can see, touch, and experience science firsthand — a good way to satisfy some curiosity before heading to the lantern floating.
Address: 2-1 Kitanomaru Koen, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
URL: https://www.jsf.or.jp/
Closed on July 22 (Wed).
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Japan's first national art museum, tracing the flow of Japanese art from the late 19th century to the present. Before heading to the lanterns, visitors can browse the galleries or relax in "The Room with a View," a lounge overlooking the Imperial Palace grounds.
Address: 3-1 Kitanomaru Koen, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
URL: https://www.momat.go.jp/
Currently on view: the "MOMAT Collection" highlights exhibition (May 26 – September 13, 2026) and a large-scale solo exhibition of photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto, "Extinct Photography" (June 16 – September 13, 2026), featuring around 60 gelatin silver prints spanning his career.
National Archives of Japan
This facility preserves and exhibits historically significant public records, including the Constitution of Japan, along with old books and documents inherited from the Edo shogunate.
Address: 3-2 Kitanomaru Koen, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
URL: https://www.archives.go.jp/index.html
A special exhibition, "Travelers Head East: The Alluring Eastern Japan Depicted in Classical Literature," runs July 17 through September 23, 2026, from 9:15 AM to 5:00 PM. Hours extend to 8:00 PM on Fridays during the run, as well as on the lantern floating dates, July 22 and 23.
Sake Tasting at Tokyo's Oldest Sake Shop, Then Straight to the Lanterns
"Historic Kanda Sake Tasting at Tokyo's Oldest Shop," a sake-tasting experience for visitors from abroad organized by JLB Tours, adds a special connection on July 22 and 23: participants who finish tasting sake at Toshimaya, a long-established sake shop in Kanda, are guided directly from the shop to the lantern floating venue — a single evening that combines Japanese sake culture with a classic summer scene.
Booking: https://gyg.me/k51NjinL
After Dark in Marunouchi
"TOKYO After Dark in Marunouchi" showcases the district's nighttime side, from terraces and photo spots overlooking the sunset and night skyline to dinner options, night walking tours, and bar-hopping tickets — a good way to extend the evening after the lanterns. The campaign runs July 1 through August 14, 2026.
URL: https://www.marunouchi.com/lp/tokyo-afterdark/
Nearby Spots at a Glance
All of the spots above sit within easy reach of the lantern floating venue, making them convenient stops before or after the event.
