Fri, Oct 30 – Sun, Nov 1
Meidaisai 明大祭
Meiji University
Meidaisai is the big one on Tokyo's west side: three days, 200-plus student groups and a crowd that makes Meidaimae Station feel like a concert exit. Come for the stage line-up, then ride two stops to Shimokitazawa for vintage shops and curry.
- Dates
- Fri, Oct 30 – Sun, Nov 1
- Hours
- TBC
- Where
- Izumi Campus
Open in Google Maps ↗ - Nearest station
- Meidaimae Station (Keio & Keio Inokashira lines), about 5 min
- Entry
- Free
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Payment
- Bring cash: most stalls don't take cards
- English
- Mostly Japanese (Google Lens helps)
- Official site
- Visit official site ↗
Last updated: Sep 15, 2026
What it is
- Meiji University's main autumn festival, in its 142nd year.
- Held on the Izumi campus in western Tokyo, not the Liberty Tower campus in Ochanomizu.
- Past festivals have drawn around 43,000 visitors.
Highlights
- Over 200 student groups have taken part in past years.
- Meidaimae is two stops from Shimokitazawa on the Inokashira Line.
Best time to go
General tips that apply to most Tokyo university festivals.
- Right at opening, usually 10:00: stalls are ready and lines are short.
- On multi-day festivals, weekdays are the quietest days.
- Saturday early afternoon is the busiest time almost everywhere.
- Eat before 11:30 or after 13:30 to skip the lunch rush.
Suggested plan
- 10:00 Pick up a map at the gate. Do the popular indoor events (exhibitions, workshops, cafes) before the lines grow.
- 11:30 Lunch from the food stalls, ahead of the noon rush.
- 13:00 Watch bands, dance and theatre on the outdoor stages.
- 15:00 Walk the campus sights, then sort your trash at an eco-station on the way out.
Rules at the festival
- Ask before photographing students up close.
- No photos where signs say so.
- Sort trash at the eco-stations: burnable, plastic, cans, PET bottles.
- Don't bring your own alcohol. Many festivals ban it; where it is sold, buy only from the official stalls.
- No smoking and no drones on campus.
- Only enter rooms that are part of the festival.
Point-and-show phrases
No Japanese needed. Show this screen to a student at the stall.
| これください | This one, please Kore kudasai |
| いくらですか？ | How much is it? Ikura desu ka? |
| 写真を撮ってもいいですか？ | May I take a photo? Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka? |
| カードは使えますか？ | Can I pay by card? Kaado wa tsukaemasu ka? |
| ゴミ箱はどこですか？ | Where is the trash bin? Gomibako wa doko desu ka? |
| 入口はどこですか？ | Where is the entrance? Iriguchi wa doko desu ka? |
| トイレはどこですか？ | Where is the restroom? Toire wa doko desu ka? |
| おいしい！ | Delicious! Oishii! |
| ありがとうございます | Thank you Arigatou gozaimasu |
Cash & ATMs
Most 7-Eleven stores have ATMs that accept foreign cards, and many are open 24 hours.
The story of this campus
A 410,000-volume manga library and a free museum of Edo-period crime and punishment.
Stay & tours
Affiliate links. Booking through them supports this site at no extra cost to you.
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