La Folle Journée au Japon 2013

Populist in the best sense of the word, the La Folle Journée festival in Nantes, France has been bringing concise, cheap classical music to the masses since 1995. The format – in which affordably priced concerts, many of them just 45 minutes long, are held simultaneously at multiple venues throughout the day – was good enough to spawn a sister festival in Tokyo in 2005. La Folle Journée au Japon is now an essential stop on any Golden Week itinerary, featuring a slew of free and paid concerts that take place at Tokyo International Forum and other locations in the Marunouchi area. This year's has a strong Parisian flavour, with French composers including Bizet, Debussy, Ravel, Satie and Boulez featuring heavily in the lineup; check the English-language website for a complete program. Paid concerts cost as little as ¥1,500, and there's also a ¥7,500 pass available that covers entry to five concerts – perfect if you're looking for a whole day's worth of entertainment.