December 2019 events in Tokyo
Plan your December in Tokyo with our events calendar of the best things to do, including illuminations, Christmas markets, concerts and art exhibits
December is when Tokyo turns all sparkly – thanks to the illumination shows, of course – while Christmas markets, ice skating rinks and other seasonal favourites also open up across the city. And the holiday cheer only gets louder as we get closer to New Year's, with a mouth-watering menu of parties, markets and other events taking place over those well-earned vacation days.
Our December highlights
Tokyo Resort German Christmas
For a giant Christmas tree decorated in 100 Steiff teddy bears and 5,000 lights, head over to Aquacity Odaiba and indulge in German Christmas celebrations. Until December 25, the mall's third floor features pop-up shops offering German brands like Dallmayr coffee, Fashy hot water bottles and adorable Maus character goods, plus a number of food trucks with festive treats like pretzels and sausages...
Wizarding World: Best Goods Collection at Tokyo Station
The next 'Fantastic Beasts' movie may not be out until 2021 but the hype still continues at this Wizarding World pop-up shop in Tokyo Station. It has a collection of the franchise’s best-selling items as well as a few rare collectibles you won’t find elsewhere. From plushies, stationery and wand replicas to costume robes and chocolate frogs, you’ll find just about everything a fan could hope for...
Open Space 2019
The Intercommunication Center has been hosting these annual, almost year-long media art exhibitions since 2006, and they are so on point that they sometimes end up eclipsing the cultural facility’s other concurrent exhibitions. The latest Open Space show, titled 'Alternative Views', takes a look at how our ideas and perceptions of the world are influenced by the alternative world views propagating through media and technology...
Rainbow Bridge Special Light-Up & Fireworks
Living up to its name, Tokyo's most recognisable bridge will once again be lit up in all the colours of the rainbow for the Christmas and New Year's season (Dec 7-Jan 5). Sure adds a nice touch to the bay view, no? Five-minute firework shows are scheduled for every Saturday between December 7 and 28 (from 7pm)...
Dylan Moran Tokyo Tour 2019
Irish comedian Dylan Moran, best known for his roles in 'Shaun of the Dead', 'Notting Hill' and his television show 'Black Books', is coming to Tokyo for the first time with his standup comedy tour 'Dr Cosmos'. Moran is popular in the United Kingdom but is also internationally well-known; he has brought his tours to North America, Australia and even as far as Kazakhstan...
Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition
After touring Canada, Europe, the UK and Australia and being viewed by over 2 million people, the X3 Productions and Lucasfilm collab exhibition is finally descending on Tokyo. This special 'Star Wars' exhibit will showcase 200 original props, costumes and artworks from the film franchise, plus tons of interactive pieces designed in consultation with neuropsychologists and psychologists...
Daikanyama Noel
All is bright in Daikanyama during the biggest candle event in Japan. It’s hard to think of a more appropriate way to spend the weekend before Christmas than strolling through this charming neighborhood illuminated with the warm flickering lights of 8,000 candles...
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
Be whisked away to a winter wonderland in this iconic Christmas ballet composed by Tchaikovsky. This highly acclaimed classic masterpiece was taken to new frontiers when the production was revamped in 2017. Wayne Eagling's fast paced choreography adds a sense of humour to the ballet, while a richly coloured set and costumes embellish the worlds of dream and reality...
Suntory Hall Christmas Concerts
This year’s annual Christmas concerts will be performed by Bach Collegium Japan. The ensemble, comprising a symphony orchestra and a chorus specialising in Baroque music, will be performing carols and an organ solo on December 22, and George Frideric Handel’s ‘Messiah’ (HWV 56) on December 23...
Tokyo Christmas Market
Among Tokyo’s German-style Christmas markets, this Shiba Park extravaganza is the most worthy of your festive free time: in addition to workshops and stalls hawking everything from handmade holiday decorations to hot chocolate, German beer and mulled wine, you can look forward to a 14m-tall ‘Christmas pyramid’ imported from Germany...
Christmas with Anpanman
Spend Christmas at the Yokohama Anpanman Children's Museum, where you can sing and dance to Christmas tunes along with Anpanman and his friends, and participate in an Anpanman paperdoll- or paperbag-making craft classes. Kids can come in Christmas costumes while roaming around the playground and take photos with a giant Anpanman doll in a santa outfit...
Night Sync Yokohama
A light exhibition directed by Seiichi Saito of Rhizomatiks, an expert of media art and expression through technology. This sparkling display can be seen at Shinko Central Plaza, which is just beside the city’s iconic ferris wheel, Cosmo Clock 21...
Tokyo Mega Illumination
The Oi Racecourse, aka the Tokyo City Keiba, will be lit up during the nighttime races with colourful illumination. What's more, there will be a 'time travel area' featuring designs and artworks from the Edo, Meiji, Taisho and Showa eras, as well as a 100 metre tunnel covered in lights, making it the biggest illumination in the Kanto area...
Shibuya Ao no Dokutsu
Dubbed Ao no Dokutsu ('Blue Cavern'), this illumination show was a huge hit when it first took place along the Meguro River back in 2014. Brought back to Shibuya a couple of years ago, it will again engulf the backstreets of Shibuya in a mysterious glow until New Year's Eve...
Life in Finland
This design-focused exhibition features about 50 works from Finland, including homeware and furniture, that represent each period after the country’s independence in 1917. Enjoy a range of creations ranging from those reflecting Finnish lifestyles to industrial designs and objects imbued with humour...