December 2022 events in Tokyo

After ten years, Louis Vuitton has once again teamed up with world-renowned Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama for a second collaboration. To celebrate the new drop, Louis Vuitton and Yayoi Kusama have taken over Tokyo with a series of art installations as well as digital AR (augmented reality) experiences.

The artworks and interactive features are scattered across Tokyo at iconic landmarks including Tokyo Tower, Zojoji Temple, Shiba Park, Shibuya Scramble Crossing and Tokyo Station. You can find a map marking out all the installations in the city on the Louis Vuitton website. 

The 1.2-kilometre long Marunouchi Naka-dori street, always one of the most popular Tokyo illumination spots, will be lit up with about 1.2 million champagne-coloured, low-energy LED bulbs this year, making for an environmentally friendly and stylish display. Tokyo Torch Park will also be lit up, and you can marvel at the beautiful scenery from the benches on Tokyo Torch Terrace.

The lights will be on from 3pm to 11pm (until 12 midnight in December) every day, which means you’ll have plenty of time to stroll down the glittering streets that are lined with fancy boutiques and cafés. It’s sure to make for a nice pre- or post-dinner date option.

Chiba is celebrating the winter with plenty of activities from November 26 to March 12. The trees at Chiba Central Park, Central Park promenade and Torimachi Park will be lit up in iridescent lights during the evening (5pm to 10pm; Dec 31 until 3am). Chiba Central Park will also have Japan’s biggest artificial ice skating rink. With the ‘ice’ being made out of synthetic materials, you shouldn’t have to worry about bundling up in extra layers. It costs ¥1,500 per person (¥900 for junior high school students and under) to skate on the rink. 

Visit on November 26 at 5.30pm to see the opening ceremony featuring a performance from Japanese ice skating legend Miki Ando. There’s also an ice skating fashion show from professional ice skaters Maho Kimuro, Ririna Tomuro and Mika Kubota. Head over to the stage for live performances by Australian DJ Rhyme, a brass band from a local high school, taiko drummers Kogmix and live painting artist Kohei Kondo.  

If you’re in the neighbourhood a little earlier, you can catch the Yoru Machi Parade from 4pm to 5pm along Ginza dori and Sakaemachi dori streets. This parade will celebrate Chiba city’s 30th anniversary with marching bands and performances from high school organisations.

Learn about poisonous creatures at this new special exhibition at Ueno’s National Museum of Nature and Science. Nine researchers in the fields of zoology, botany and anthropology provide an insight on poisons that exist everywhere in our natural world. You’ll find 250 exhibits, including large 3D-printed models of a habu (a species of venomous pit viper found in Okinawa), an Asian giant hornet, a slug moth and common nettle. There’s also a corner on man-made ‘poisons’, such as microplastics and insecticides.

Note that exhibition tickets have to be purchased in advance.