Free things to do in Tokyo this week

With the 2026 sakura season now here, this is the time to visit one of Tokyo’s many cherry blossom festivals. To get a feel of what hanami (the culture of cherry blossom viewing) was like back during the Edo period (1603-1867), you can visit the annual Oedo Fukagawa Sakura Festival that takes place along the banks of the Oyokogawa River near Monzen-nakacho Station.  The festival grounds are home to 270 somei-yoshino trees, which flank the river. For the best view of the flowers, we recommend hopping aboard an old school river boat to appreciate the gorgeous, low-hanging sakura branches. To replicate those Edo-era vibes, this special boat ride will be steered by a boatman with an oar. An accompanying boat will be trailing nearby (on March 22, 29 and April 4), carrying musicians playing the shamisen (traditional Japanese three-stringed instrument). If you prefer a more modern experience, larger engine-powered boats are also available.  For the traditional boat ride, you'll need to buy a ticket, which is distributed near Kurofune-bashi Bridge (near Monzen-nakacho Station) on the day from 9.30am (200 seats to be distributed per day, limited to 4 tickets per person), with queues starting 30 minutes prior. The 30-minute boat ride costs ¥1,000 per person and it's only available on weekends and holidays from March 20 to April 11, 10am to 3.30pm (more info here, in Japanese only). Along with the boat rides, the festival coincides with several spring events happening inside Tomioka...

Celebrate spring's arrival at Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi, where the annual highlight is the illumination of the 200m avenue lined with cherry blossoms in the Garden Area. This spot is especially scenic between 5pm and 11pm during the spring festival when all of the trees are lit up. Before the cherry blossoms bloom, they're bathed in bright pink light. Once in full bloom, the lights shine a bright white, letting you admire the blossoms in all their splendour. For an extra leisurely experience, grab a seat at the Roku Midtown Blossom Lounge (12pm-8pm) in Midtown Garden, where you’ll find exclusive spring-inspired cocktails and dishes prepared by chefs from the nearby Ritz-Carlton hotel. Check the lounge menu here. 

Taking place every other weekend at the renovated Shibuya Municipal Kitaya Park, this outdoor vintage market is the place to pick up everything from American Levi's and handmade knit sweaters to candles and unique artisanal accessories. Boasting approximately 20-30 booths, the market offers a curated selection of shops selling on-trend vintage outfits and trinkets from local artists, making it an exciting day out for fashion fiends. Dates are subject to change. Check the event Instagram for more details.

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.

Step into a world of vibrant chrysanthemums this spring at this free collaborative exhibition between teamLab and Galaxy. Now in its fifth year, the interactive, immersive space at Galaxy Harajuku uses cutting-edge projection mapping to depict flowers caught in an endless cycle of birth and death. Reach out to touch them and they’ll wither; stand still beside them and they’ll bloom more quickly. Look down and you’ll see flowing currents of gold beneath your feet – traces shaped by your very presence. The movements of others create their own currents, which intertwine and form swirling vortices. The result is a constantly shifting environment where no two moments are ever the same. The Galaxy store also invites visitors to capture these fleeting scenes using the foldable smartphones available at the venue.

See Tokyo Midtown Hibiya transformed into a floral paradise this spring at the annual Hibiya Blossom celebration, which is getting a Wicked makeover again, like last year. The Hibiya Step Square will feature a stunningly colourful flower dome crafted from over 15,000 artificial flowers. This year’s installation is refreshed in vibrant spring hues and connects to a whimsical yellow brick road inspired by the path to Oz, lined with colourful florals including wisteria, roses and rapeseed blossoms. The floral theme does not end there, as the staircase next to the dome will be completely covered in white, pink and yellow tulips, while Hibiya Nakadori street will feature several photogenic floral art sculptures. Be sure to stick around until sundown, as the floral dome will be lit up in brilliant shades of pink and blue, further accentuating the colourful blossoms. Additionally, a mesmerising light show set to the movie’s official soundtrack will take place every 10 minutes between 4pm and 11pm. For more information, check Hibiya Blossom's website.

Taking place around Yokohama Port, Yokohama Night Flowers (formerly Yokohama Sparkling Twilight) lights up not only the city but also the sky above it. It's a stunning sight as the fireworks are set off above the illuminated boats crisscrossing the sea in front of Yamashita Park.  This time around, there are 12 five-minute fireworks displays scheduled from April to September. Depending on the date, the fireworks are launched from either Osanbashi Pier and/or Shinko Pier. This makes the seaside Yamashita Park and Yokohama's Red Brick Warehouse an ideal vantage point to catch all the explosive action. Along with the fireworks, Yokohama is also hosting several nighttime events nearby, including the Yokohama Frühlingsfest (until May 10), the Greenroom Festival (May 23-24) and more. See the event website for updates. Fireworks displays are held on April 4, 5, 11, 27, May 16 and 30, June 13, July 4 and 18, August 9, September 5 and 20 (2026).

Yamepi's illustrations are basically a portrait of Tokyo youth that trend reports keep trying and failing to write: decked-out headgear, tracksuits, cigarettes and nail polish; all of it sitting inside a Tekkonkinkreet-adjacent energy where rebellion is the move. Sora Aota, on the other hand, has got the star-signed approval: a graphic artist who went viral as a teenager off a Travis Scott fan art post on X, who then ended up on Young Thug's album cover and even landed on Forbes Japan's 30 Under 30, and has been working across a number of huge names and brand collabs ever since. The two of them are showing together at The Plug in Jingumae from April 15 to 19 in the perfect intersection of what the Tokyo youths art scene has to offer.