February 2019 events in Tokyo
February in Tokyo is when the chilly grip of winter finally loosens and the first signs of spring – most notably, plum (ume) flowers bursting into bloom – can be seen all over the city. The month also features a number of big-time events, from Setsubun celebrations and the Tokyo Marathon to Lunar New Year festivities, not to mention Valentine's Day and all the chocolatey commotion surrounding it. Make the most of the month with our guide to the top events going on in Tokyo this February.
Our February highlights
Chinese Spring Festival (Lunar New Year)
While it's fun to visit whatever the season, Yokohama's Chinatown district is never livelier than during its New Year festival. The two weeks of festivities are stacked with events, including a countdown party on the night of February 4, traditional lion dance performances and music in Yamashitacho Park (February 9, 10, 11 & 17), a parade of traditional costumes on the afternoon of February 16, and a spectacular Lantern Festival on February 19 from 5.30pm (around Masobyo Temple)...
The Peninsula Tokyo Lunar New Year Celebration
The Peninsula Tokyo celebrates the year of the pig with special menus and a programme of traditional Chinese performances. Over the festive days in mid-February, Hei Fung Terrace, the hotel’s signature Cantonese restaurant, will offer a six-course lunch menu and eight-course dinner deal prepared by Executive Chinese Chef Ryu Osaki. Also taking place at Hei Fung Terrace – as well as at the hotel's lobby – will be Chinese lion dances...
Beton party feat. Maëlstrom
The new event series 'Beton' aims to bring together the most innovative techno artists on the scene today – both domestic and international. The event's organisers are promising sounds that are everything from 'hypnotic' to 'uncompromising' to 'calculating'. One thing that's certain is they've lined up some top-notch talent for the series debut, including an exciting newcomer on the French techno scene: Maëlstrom...
Techno Circus
The golden buzzer act from ‘America’s Got Talent’ season 10 is putting on a circus this winter – think Cirque du Soleil but with break-dancing and high-tech projection mapping. The energetic non-verbal performance blends mime, visual effects and a techno soundtrack for a bizarre but weirdly riveting experience...
Super Skytree Disco
For once a week until March 1, Tokyo Skytree is transforming into a disco when the sun goes down. That's right: every Friday night, the disco ball comes up at the 350m-high Tembo deck. This could just be the most scenic party in town as the venue looks out to a gorgeous view of Tokyo city...
Bunkyo Ume Matsuri
A popular place for plum blossom-watchers since the olden days, Yushima Tenmangu shrine still draws big crowds every year. The plum blossoms might get less hype than the cherry blossoms that follow, but they still make for some gorgeous late-winter scenery. The shrine’s Ume Matsuri complements the blossom-viewing with music performances and tea ceremonies.
RoLand
Host clubs, where female patrons pay for the attention and company of suave, stylishly dressed male hosts, are common in Tokyo. In Kabukicho, the famed entertainment district in Tokyo, blonde-haired Roland is the star host of the ‘hood, and he is putting on an exhibition about, well, himself...
Shibuya Station’s Footbath ‘Genki Hatsuratsu! no Yu’
Free foot bath in Shibuya Station? We're there – and we have to admit, this is one clever and unique marketing idea for Oranamin C, one of Japan's most popular vitamin drink. The next time you're travelling on the Yamanote line towards Ebisu Station (on weekends and holidays), don't forget to pop into the event space located right on the platform and relax your tired feet in the one of the two foot baths...
Egg & Spuma x Hello Kitty 45th Anniversary Café
Located in Shinjuku's Lumine Est on the eighth floor, omelette specialist Egg & Spuma teams up with Japan’s most famous girl-cat Hello Kitty, to celebrate the character's 45th birthday. On until the end of March, both young and old Hello Kitty fans can enjoy an adorably designed menu featuring fluffy soufflé pancakes...
A Thousand Wonders of Japanese Technology
Fans of history and technology can now dive deep into Japan's past at the National Museum of Nature and Science's new exhibition ‘A Thousand Wonders of Japanese Technology – A Brief 150-Year History of Japanese Modernization’...
Yokohama Dance Collection 2019
Yokohama’s annual celebration of the art of dance showcases an impressive lineup of choreographers and performers. The event is split into five sections over 15 days, two of which are competitions. The first competition will see performers integrating dance and film, while the second highlights promising artists aged 25 and under.
Chinese Lantern Festival
Chinese New Year kicks off this year on February 5, with the 15 days of celebration that follow referred to as the Spring Festival. Barring hopping on a plane to China, Yokohama’s Chinatown is easily the best place to celebrate. The Lantern Festival marks the final day of the Spring Festival, with strings of paper lanterns decking the streets, upon which messages of hopes and dreams for the new year are written.
Stella by Starlight
Yoyogi Village is well known as a cosy hangout spot but its recent makeover has further elevated its popularity. ‘Plant hunter’ Seijun Nishihata has turned this area into a sparkling ‘Tunnel of Lights’ featuring more than 120 different types of plants decorated with 10,000 LED lights, making it a romantic dinner location for your Valentine's date...
Jesús Rafael Soto: Pénétrable BBL Bleu
Head to Espace Louis Vuitton for their latest exhibition featuring work by the late Venezuelan artist Jesús Rafael Soto. This installation is quite unique as it encourages guests to interact with it by walking through the space and immersing themselves in both kinetic and optical ways.
Corona Winter Sauna
This winter, Shimokitazawa Cage is partnering with Corona to recreate a Finnish bathing experience right here in Tokyo's bohemian hub. To the uninitiated, Shimokitazawa Cage is an outdoor space under the train tracks, which hosts a rotating series of events including flea markets, music performances etc. However, this could just be the Cage’s most ambitious set-up yet. From January 19 to March 17, the space will host a Finnish sauna tent plus two cold baths; yes, you read that right – COLD baths in winter. As per Finnish bathing tradition...
Grand Hyatt Tokyo Masquerade Party
Get ready for an evening of mystery and intrigue at Grand Hyatt Tokyo’s first-ever masquerade party inspired by the annual Carnival which takes place in Venice, Italy every February. Hosted at The French Kitchen restaurant and bar, the event will have guests donning fancy masks throughout the night...
Trunk Kitchen × Minimal Bean to Bar Chocolate Valentine's Course
For the ultimate chocolate experience, head on over to Trunk Hotel as they team up with craft chocolate purveyors Minimal for a one-of-a-kind bean to bar chocolate dining affair. The hotel's restuarant, Trunk Kitchen is offering a special course meal just in time for Valentine's Day where each course features a touch of chocolate including the appetiser, dessert and even inside the main course...
Ichigo Love Strawberry Afternoon Tea
There's no escaping strawberries this season, including the very berry-inspired afternoon tea at The Peninsula Tokyo where their iconic afternoon tea at The Lobby features all things ichigo. Nibble on all sorts of sweets featuring premium strawberries sourced from Murata Farm in Ibaraki prefecture...
Sweet Joys of Amaou Strawberries
The New Otani is celebrating this strawberry season with pastries, desserts plus an afternoon tea set featuring this seasonal fruit. And we're not talking about just any ordinary strawberry, as The New Otani is focusing on the luscious Hakata Amaou variety which are famed for their fragrance and sweetness....
Strawberry Sensations: Season of Love
If you've ever wondered what all the hype was surrounding Japanese fruit, particularly strawberries, head over to the ANA InterContinental Tokyo for the sweetest season of all. Running for a few months and just in time for Valentine's Day, the hotel is offering three juicy strawberry-themed offerings at the hotel’s various bars and restaurants...
Best art exhibitions in Tokyo this winter
What to see from December until March: conceptual and surrealist art, mythical scroll paintings, Chinese calligraphy and much, much more
Best places to go ice-skating in Tokyo and Yokohama
Lace up your skates and glide around the capital's frosty selection of indoor and outdoor ice rinks
Tokyo illuminations 2018-19
Discover the beauty of the wintertime city – it's your guide to the top Tokyo light-ups
Free events in February
Tokyo Dome City Winter Illuminations
One of the top illumination events in Tokyo in terms of scale, and boasting hundreds of thousands of LEDs strung all around the complex, Tokyo Dome City’s light-up has an ‘Edo Elegance Japanese Beauty’ theme this winter inspired by traditional Japanese crafts. You can also look forward to Edo Kiriko transformed into a kaleidoscope, glowing origami cranes and other quirky contraptions, while the restaurants and cafés around the facility offer special candy-themed menus.
Marunouchi Illumination
Marunouchi Naka-dori, always one of the most popular Tokyo illumination spots, will be lit up with countless champagne-coloured, extra-low energy LED bulbs this year too, making for a display that's as environmentally friendly as it is stylish. Just strolling down the glittering street, which is lined with fancy boutiques and cafés, makes for a nice post-dinner date option.
Chinese Spring Festival (Lunar New Year)
While it's fun to visit whatever the season, Yokohama's Chinatown district is never livelier than during its New Year festival. The two weeks of festivities are stacked with events, including a countdown party on the night of February 4, traditional lion dance and music performances at Yamashitacho Park (February 9, 10, 11 & 17), a parade of traditional costumes on the afternoon of February 16, and a spectacular Lantern Festival on February 19 from 5.30pm (around Masobyo Temple).
Shibuya Station’s Footbath ‘Genki Hatsuratsu! no Yu’
Free foot bath in Shibuya Station? We're there – and we have to admit, this is one clever and unique marketing idea for Oranamin C, one of Japan's most popular vitamin drink. The next time you're travelling on the Yamanote line towards Ebisu Station (on weekends and holidays), don't forget to pop into the event space located right on the platform and relax your tired feet in the one of the two foot baths, while sipping on a bottle of the said drink. There's a Oranamin C-themed photo wall, too, just in case you feel like sharing the deets on your Instagram.
Traditional Culture Experience Programs for Foreign Visitors: Japanese Dance Workshop
Want to dive deeper into Japanese culture? This dance workshop is the perfect place to start, where you'll be fitted in a yukata and taught how to dance Nihon buyo, a traditional kind of dance that has a history of nearly 400 years. The workshop is free and takes place at the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center every Sunday, excluding some specific dates during other holidays.
NAOJ Mitaka Stargazing
Believe it or not, you can actually get a pretty good view of the starry night sky from certain areas around Tokyo. When the sky is clear, head on out to Mitaka and join a Stargazing Party with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ). Learn more about the night sky at these 'parties' which happen on a regular schedule roughly every two weeks. To sign-up, visit their online calendar which shares information on what particular planet or star they will be focusing on (do note that registration for each session starts about a week and a half before the event date). The session usually starts off with an orientation followed by a look out of a 50cm teloscope where you can get a better look at the constellations and planets visible. Finally, you'll get to practice your stargazing with smaller telescopes provided at your own leisure.
Bunkyo Ume Matsuri
A popular place for plum blossom-watchers since the olden days, Yushima Tenmangu shrine still draws big crowds every year. The plum blossoms might get less hype than the cherry blossoms that follow, but they still make for some gorgeous late-winter scenery. The shrine’s Ume Matsuri complements the blossom-viewing with music performances and tea ceremonies.
Yebisu Garden Place Winter Illumination
An annual wintertime display at Yebisu Garden Place, this one incorporates a Baccarat chandelier that's 5m tall and 3m wide – making it one of the largest chandeliers in the world – and decorated with 250 lights, 230 of which symbolise the number of years from the company’s establishment to the construction of the chandelier in 1994. In total – including lesser displays in areas such as the Entrance Pavilion, Clock Plaza, Promenade, Center Plaza and Glass Square – the venue makes use of almost 100,000 lights. The festivities are kicked off with a lighting ceremony on November 3.