4 events to enjoy in the cool indoors this summer

Savour summer-exclusive cocktails at the 28th-floor lobby lounge of the Shangri-La Tokyo hotel, a stone’s throw away from Tokyo Station in the heart of the Yaesu business district.

The lavish lounge is offering two summer evening drinks to celebrate the season. The Crystal Passion Spritz, which harmonises the richness of tomato with the pleasant tartness of passion fruit, is given an edge with zesty pepper vodka and soda, while a finishing touch of dried tomato brings out the concoction’s rich flavour.

The Piña Royale, meanwhile, elevates the classic piña colada into a luxurious drink worthy of an evening treat. Its smooth, refreshing mouthfeel, created using a blend of two types of rum, is balanced by the crisp acidity of cashew fruit and the slight bitterness of Kahlúa coffee liqueur. The fragrant sweetness of the roasted pineapple placed on top as a finishing touch gently enhances the flavour.

Open daily from 5.30pm–11pm (last orders 10.30pm) ¥2,640 per glass (15% service charge applies separately) Book a table via the official website.

This summer, several of Tokyo’s most prestigious museums will be extending their opening hours on Friday. Dubbed Summer Night Museum 2026, the event sees six art and cultural institutions – Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo and Tokyo Shibuya Koen-dori Gallery – opening until 8pm or 9pm on Fridays from August 6 to August 28.

That’s not all. You can also expect reduced admission fees after 5pm (or free for students in certain cases), plus a host of evening programmes and activities to help you make the most of the long summer days. The museum shops and restaurants, likewise, will open late on those Fridays.

In a never-ending sea of immersive exhibitions popping up in Tokyo, this one at Azabudai Hills Gallery lets you do something you’d never get away with in real life: steal from a convenience store. As you walk into the fictitious konbini, you’ll find the entrance area filled with bizarre potato chip bag artworks, including ones by renowned Japanese illustrator Shohei Ochiai.

Walking through the giga-fied convenience store entrance leads to the exhibition’s main ‘Room Where You Can Steal’, where you can attempt to ‘steal’ anything on the racks, as long as you avoid being caught on surveillance cameras for 60 seconds. Expect anything from original T-shirts to snacks, energy drinks and used books.

By turning the familiar act of visiting a convenience store into an interactive game, Gigamart playfully explores consumerism, advertising and our relationship with everyday products. The brainchild of Pinpin Studio, led by rapper and creative director TaiTan, the immersive exhibit runs daily at Azabudai Hills Gallery until August 16 2026.

Although Italy is a remarkably diverse country in terms of cuisine, opportunities to sample its more distinctive regional specialities beyond the usual staples are relatively rare in Tokyo. That's where Le Pristine Tokyo comes in. Located on the first floor of Hotel Toranomon Hills, the esteemed restaurant is the Tokyo outpost of Le Pristine in Antwerp, helmed by acclaimed chef-restaurateur Sergio Herman.

From July through September, the restaurant will present a new summer menu as part of its ongoing Italian Region series, spotlighting the southern regions of Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily. Created by Chef Herman, the multicourse menu celebrates the vibrant flavours of southern Italy while drawing on the chef’s deep connection to the sea. Japanese seafood and seasonal produce are woven into classic regional recipes, resulting in dishes that evoke an Italian summer through a distinctively Japanese lens.

Expect ingredients sourced from across Japan – including Sanriku mussels, Tottori watermelon, Kochi tomatoes and Setouchi hairtail – paired with traditional southern Italian techniques and flavours. One standout is Sergio's Orecchiette, inspired by Puglia's iconic hand-shaped pasta, which combines the rich umami of shellfish with subtly sweet long-armed prawns.

The main course features domestically raised Akaushi beef, simply prepared to highlight its natural flavour, while dessert is a refreshing Peach Melba that pairs ripe peaches with raspberries and Madagascan vanilla. Each course can be accompanied by carefully selected wine pairings curated by the restaurant's award-winning sommelier Satoru Mori, creating a dining experience that feels like a journey through southern Italy.

Bookings can be made via Tablecheck.