Free things to do in Tokyo this week

The 400m-long Keyakizaka Street next to the Roppongi Hills shopping centre is lighting up with 930,000 sparkling white and blue LEDs until Christmas Day. From the pedestrian bridge near the Roppongi Hills Arena, you'll get a stunning view of the trees covered in shimmering lights, with Tokyo Tower in the background, from 5pm to 11pm daily. 

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government No 1 Building in Shinjuku serves as the backdrop for a jaw-dropping and record-breaking projection mapping show. Covering an area of a whopping 13,905sqm, the after-dark spectacle has been certified by Guinness World Records as the largest permanent display of its kind in the world. The nightly showcase features a range of visual wonders created by a mix of local and international artists. Some shows are inspired by Tokyo’s rich history, while others draw on themes like the lunar cycle.  Currently, on weeknights, you can catch striking visuals synchronised to ‘800’ and 'Zankyosanka' by hit Japanese pop singer and lyricist Aimer as well as ‘Pac-Man eats Tokyo’, ‘Lunar Cycle’, ‘Synergy’, ‘Tokyo Resonance’ and ‘Evolution’. On weekends, you can look forward to the aforementioned ‘Zankyosanka (Aimer)’, as well as ‘Godzilla: Attack on Tokyo’ and ‘TYO337’, a display featuring motifs of traditional Japanese performing arts such as Kabuki paired with electronic beats.  From March 20, Pokémon Trading Card Game ‘Tokyo Luminous Night’, a brand-new projection-mapping show featuring Pokémon cards on a massive scale, has been running on weekends and holidays from 6.30pm, 7.30pm and 9pm. Be sure to check the event website for more details. Shows take place every night at fifteen-minute intervals from 6pm (Mar from 6.30pm, 7pm from Apr, 7.30pm from May to Aug) to 9.45pm. For more details and to check the full programme of daily projection mapping shows,...

This autumn, 13 artists are coming together at Tennozu’s What Cafe to showcase and sell works that reinterpret Japanese traditional culture, techniques and materials through contemporary artistic perspectives. The centrepiece of the exhibition is Ontakkyu, a collaborative installation created by guest artists in partnership with Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten. Offering a playful new interpretation of traditional Japanese matsuri festivals, the work reimagines table tennis, traditionally enjoyed as a sport, as a fictional Shinto ritual. Tables, rackets and balls are transformed from sporting equipment into ceremonial objects, with the installation also featuring a space designed for this imaginary festival. Founded in 1861, Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten has spent more than 160 years manufacturing and selling traditional festival equipment, including portable mikoshi shrines, taiko drums, massive dashi floats and lion dance costumes. For this exhibition, the company joins forces with the participating artists to explore Japanese traditions, craftsmanship and materials through fresh interpretations. Once you’ve had your fill of art, settle in with a coffee or lunch, as What Cafe offers a selection of caffeinated drinks and meals in a relaxed, artful atmosphere. It’s a great spot to discover Tokyo’s grassroots art scene while taking a break – or even buying a piece for yourself.

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.

Fine autumn weather deserves a toast, and the American Craft Beer Experience at the bayside Kiba Park is the perfect place to do this. Expect the latest releases from the American craft beer scene, accompanied by plenty of crowd-pleasing American pub grub and live music. The festival will feature 30 breweries including Wormtown Brewery from Massachusetts, Wren House Brewing Company from Arizona, Reuben’s Brews from Washington, and Level Beer from Oregon. Admission to the event is free, but make sure to bring enough cash in your Paypay balance or use a credit card to enjoy the exclusive craft beers you won’t find in your local bottle shops.

The 1.2-kilometre-long Marunouchi Naka-dori street, always one of the most popular Tokyo illumination spots, will have around 250 trees lit up with about 775,000 low-energy, champagne-coloured LEDs this year, making for an environmentally friendly and stylish display. If you’d rather stay cosy while admiring the lights, visit the renovated Marunouchi House, where the seventh-floor terrace will feature festive illuminations for a limited time. The terrace has plenty of seats surrounded by outdoor heaters. Closer to Christmas, Gyoko-dori between the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station will have more illuminations between November 27 and December 25, bringing the total to around 810,000 LEDs.

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 2026 is mid-November to early December, 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 2026, 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.

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 annual Shinjuku Minamillumi light-up is back this winter, taking place from November 11 to February 14. Six venues in the area will be participating in this illumination special, namely the JR Minami Shinjuku Building, JR Shinjuku Miraina Tower, Suica Penguin Plaza, Takashimaya Times Square, Shinjuku Maynds Tower, and Shinjuku Southern Terrace. Suica Penguin Plaza, located in front of Shinjuku Station’s New South exit between the promenade and Takashimaya Times Square, is bathed in gold lights. The plaza features a pink illuminated ‘flower gate’ made to celebrate the penguin's graduation, complete with two adorable penguin statues. Trees along the 46-metre-long promenade at Southern Terrace are also decorated with golden lights that pulsate in a 'relay of light'. Venture further and you’ll come across a glistening Christmas tree adorned with warm golden lanterns (until December 25) set up on the second floor of Takashimaya Times Square, plus even more lights that illuminate the entire terrace. The illuminations take place daily from 5pm to 12midnight until the end of November, and from 4.30pm between December and February.

The kiku (chrysanthemum) is not only the ‘royal flower’ of Japan, symbolising the imperial family, but it’s also one of the symbolic flowers of autumn. Among other kiku matsuri going on at the moment is this one at Yushima Shrine, where hundreds of chrysanthemum plants of various types are on display in grand configurations. The unique draw here is the kiku-ningyo display mannequins representing historical figures that are dressed in garments made from chrysanthemums. Unfortunately, there is no evening display available, so be sure to get there before the ever-earlier sunset to enjoy the flowers.