Free things to do in Tokyo this week

Enjoy the cooler autumn weather at the Tokyo Night Market near Shibuya Crossing. Here you can expect a variety of street food alongside live performances and art exhibitions, with DJs on deck to set the mood all day till 10pm. Held at Yoyogi Park’s Keyaki events square for five consecutive nights from October 22 to October 26, the fifth iteration of this event is expected to be bigger than before. As for music, you can look forward to an impressive lineup of artists, including the dynamic sister singer and accordionist duo Chan-Po-Rantan, punk rock group Tokyo Psychopaths, lo-fi idol group 963 and many more. Keep tabs on the event's Instagram for the latest updates. Tokyo Night Market runs from 4pm to 10pm on Wednesday through Friday, and from 2pm to 10pm over the weekend.

Mt Takao is one of the most picturesque destinations in Tokyo to see autumn leaves. And one of the best ways to do that is by taking the scenic cable car ride, which brings you closer to the mountain’s Yakuoin temple. Here you can sample shojin ryori, a traditional Japanese Buddhist vegetarian meal. To secure a lunchtime seat, be sure to book a reservation for two or more people at least two days in advance via phone. The best time to see the autumn leaves for 2025 is mid to late November, when the foliage around the cable car tracks turns deep orange and red. Throughout the duration of the festival, you can also look forward to a host of free events at Kiyotaki Station, the cable car stop at the base of Mt Takao, including musical and dance performances by local university students. While details are yet to be announced for 2025, check the event's English website for the latest updates. As is the case every year, the base of Mt Takao will be crowded in autumn, so it’s best to arrive via public transport.

Explore how post-war black markets shaped the evolution of Tokyo’s urban fabric at this intriguing exhibition, held at Takashimaya Archives Tokyo on the fourth floor of the Nihombashi Takashimaya department store. On show until February 23 2026, the display marks 80 years since the end of World War II and focuses on the makeshift marketplaces that emerged amid the ruins of Tokyo. During the war, large-scale demolitions, intended to prevent the spread of fires caused by air raids, created vacant lots across the city. In the chaotic years that followed, these empty spaces, together with bombsites and even roadside corners, were transformed into black markets. Known as yami-ichi, they supplied goods and sustenance in a time of scarcity while seeding new social and commercial hubs. Particular attention is given to Shinjuku, where some of the black markets grew into vibrant entertainment districts that remain central to Tokyo’s identity today. And while most of the markets eventually vanished, their traces endure in the city’s streetscapes and neighbourhoods. Curated by Tokukazu Ishigure of Kwansei Gakuin University, the exhibition reframes black markets as more than unlawful encroachments, highlighting their role as catalysts of urban renewal – spaces where disorder gave rise to energy, resilience and reinvention.

One of Japan’s largest urban photography festivals has returned to Tokyo. Now in its seventh year, it runs until October 27 across multiple venues in Yaesu, Nihonbashi, Kyobashi and Ginza. This year’s edition features prints by photographic legend Stephen Shore at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, as well as photographs by internationally acclaimed contemporary photographers Melissa Schriek and Stephen Gill as public artworks. On weekdays, be sure to visit “Visions of Japanese Women Photographers Seen in Photobooks” from I’m So Happy You Are Here (2024), a retrospective on the history of Japanese women photographers through photo books that include works by Mayumi Suzuki, among many others. Be sure to download the official festival map before heading out. Some exhibits are closed on weekends. More information can be found on the official website.

The UNU farmers’ market is one of Tokyo’s longest running and best-attended markets. Taking place every weekend in front of the university’s Aoyama headquarters, this one always attracts a knowledgeable crowd. Organic and local fare is readily available every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, with the farmers themselves happy to provide details about their wares. Plus, there's always a few food trucks on hand if you wish to enjoy a quick meal.

Partake in a new style of Bon Odori at Sumida Park’s Soyokaze Square, where the Sumi-Yume Bon Dance Festival takes place on October 25 from 2pm to 8pm. Inspired by local artisan Hokusai’s ukiyo-e prints evoking playful dances from the Edo period (1603–1868), this ultra-casual festival is open for anyone to join, regardless of age, dance skill or whether you come alone or not. If you can’t make it on Saturday, head there on Friday evening for a free concert featuring a diverse group of musicians, including Ryuichi Sakamoto’s daughter and accomplished vocalist Miu Sakamoto, producer and singer Keiichi Sokabe and many more. Marking 80 years since the end of World War II, the concert is titled ‘Sumida Peace Concert’ and will be held to offer a prayer for future peace.

The Kanda Furuhon (Used Book) Festival in Tokyo's booktown Jimbocho has been held annually since 1960, traditionally timing it to coincide with the Culture Day national holiday on November 3. In addition to offering a vast array of used books, the festival also encompasses a number of other book-related offers and events, including an outdoor book market, the sale of a number of specially selected rare books, and a charity used-book auction. Though the majority of the tomes on display are in Japanese, it's still easy to lose a few hours in idle browsing.

Pull on your costume, bring the kids and stroll around Yokohama's Western historic quarter this October as seven of the dozen or so Western mansions in Yokohama's Yamate district are decorated in elaborate Halloween decorations.  If you're feeling active, pick up a stamp card at any of the designated spots to participate in a stamp rally adventure on October 26 – the first 2,000 people collecting six stamps or more will receive a prize at the end. The six must-visit venues to claim your prize are America Yama Park, the Osaragi Jiro Memorial Museum, Kanagawa Museum of Modern Literature, Yamate Archives Museum, the Yokohama Doll Museum and the Yokohama Yamate Museum of Tennis (YITC). You can also fill up on festival food and take pictures at designated photo spots. Present your stamp rally card at the Home of a Diplomat or the British House to claim your prize. Check the official pamphlet for a detailed map and full event information.

Futako Tamagawa shopping centre Rise is celebrating Halloween over the October 25-26 weekend with a host of family-friendly activities. While there's no parade, you’ll find a disco dance floor for children to dance in spooky costumes, photobooths, workshops and plenty of stalls offering spooky treats. Kids will surely love riding the double decker trolley bus, which will be going around the shopping centre's central plaza. There will even be a Halloween-themed bouncy castle. 

Already a fixture on the autumn festival schedule, Earth Garden gives a chance for the city's earth-conscious community to stage a takeover of Yoyogi Park. It also happens to be Earth Garden's 30th anniversary in 2025, so expect to see an amplified stage lineup ranging from Awa-Odori dancing to folk music. The environmentally-minded fest sees market vendors selling a range of eco goods and handicrafts—think trinkets from South America, candles and vintage clothing—along with stalls serving up organic (though not necessarily vegetarian) food. There's also the Gear Loop Market, where outdoor enthusiasts can purchase pre-loved outdoor gear like bags and jackets. The musical lineup tends to maintain a relatively high level as well. If you're going in the late afternoon, make sure to check out the Tokyo Night Market happening right next door.