Free things to do in Tokyo this weekend

Dougu Matsuri is an annual festival held in October in Kappabashi, the wholesale district between Ueno and Asakusa that specialises in tools and kitchen supplies for the restaurant industry. Known affectionately as Tokyo's Kitchen Town, many shops here also welcome home cooks and the general public as you can also purchase items individually. Over 100 stores will be participating in the event, where you’ll find great deals on cooking utensils, tableware, food samples and more. While the festival officially runs for a week, most of the festivities will be held on October 12. Highlights include a local elementary school marching band parade (11am), wadaiko drumming performances by local junior and senior high school students (1pm and 3.30pm), kung-fu and taiko stage shows (10.30am in front of Taito Ward Life-long Learning Center and 2.30pm in front of Keisei Coop Apartments), cheerleading performances (2pm) and food trucks serving regional dishes from across Japan (Oct 11 & 12).Check the event website and performance schedule for more details.

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,...

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.

The second instalment of the two-part Fukuro Matsuri will see over 100 teams of yosakoi dancers from across Japan parading through the streets of Ikebukuro. Taking over the neighbourhood on October 10 and 11, the performers will show off their well-choreographed dances in modern neon reinterpretations of happi coats and yukata for an elaborate show. The yosakoi dance itself originated in Kochi prefecture in 1954, where it was invented to help revitalise the struggling post-war economy. This massive event will take place across six venues on the west side of Ikebukuro Station, including the main stage in front of the Tobu Department Store, the rooftop of the department store and the Global Ring Theatre (Ikebukuro West Gate Park). If you only have time for a quick look, head to Azalea Street, the main boulevard leading in the direction of the station. There you’ll be able to see non-stop performances with few obstructions to ruin your view. Check the event website for event schedules and more.

The charming neighbourhoods of Nezu and Sendagi flaunt their shitamachi (downtown) roots at this autumn festival, which marks its 28th edition this year. The action centres around Nezu Shrine, which is hosting concerts and performances throughout the weekend, accompanied by a flea market and stalls selling traditional goods. The rest of the neighbourhood follows suit, with attractions including performances of traditional Japanese music and various dances at the Fureai-kan community centre on Shinobazu-dori. You can also take part in a stamp rally: pick up a stamp sheet and map at Nezu Shrine, tour the eight designated spots to fill up your sheet, and return it to the starting point for the chance to win prizes which include a round-trip ticket to Hagi-Iwami Airport in Shimane prefecture, pair vouchers for Spa Laqua, Tokyo Dome City amusement ride tickets, and more.

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.

Hakkeijima Island near Yokohama is bringing back its music-synced pyrotechnic shows this summer, with approximately 2,500 fireworks being launched during a span of 10 minutes. Happening on select weekends and holidays from May 30 to November 22, the fireworks are viewable from the island’s free-to-enter boardwalk area or the paid Hakkeijima Sea Paradise amusement park grounds. Utilising state-of-the-art digital controls, the fireworks are timed to blast with musical beats to the nearest tenth of a second, illuminating the night sky as if the sparks danced to the music. Shows start from 8.30pm (8pm from October onwards) on May 30, Jun 27, Jul 18-19 & 25, Aug 1, 8, 15 & 29, Sep 19-22, Oct 10-11, Nov 21-22 and Mar 20-21, 2027. Check the event website for the latest details.

The Kyushu Fair is returning to Yoyogi Park during the three-day weekend of October 9 to 12, featuring over 60 stalls with delicacies from Kyushu prefecture. Try Miyazaki-style Chicken Nanban karaage fried chicken, pork rib skewers from Kagoshima, tuna bowls topped with freshly cut tuna from Nagasaki's Goto Islands, mentaiko (pollock roe) grilled scallops from Fukuoka or a classic American burger from the legendary Sasebo Burger joint. While craft beer pairs beautifully with the menu, sake and shochu lovers should explore the drinks available from the on-site distilleries. Kyushu is a renowned hub for sake and shochu brewing, and these local specialities are well worth trying. The stage will feature musical and dance performances throughout the day, including various idols, boy bands and singers. The food stall area is free to enter, but you must purchase a ticket (from ¥3,300) to watch the performances.