January 2020 events in Tokyo
Plan your January in Tokyo with our events calendar of the best things to do, including concerts, winter festivals and art exhibits
January in Tokyo can be cold and dreary, especially once the New Year holidays are over. However, while most of the city illuminations are still up, the first month of the year is also the time for classic winter festivals, tasty food shows and ice skating under the starry sky – not to mention the Coming of Age celebrations or those rare but hilarious snowy days when this oh-so-orderly city is thrown into disarray. So calm down, take a break from those New Year's resolutions and check out our picks of the best events Tokyo has to offer.
RECOMMENDED: Blown all your budget on New Year parties? Here's how to do Tokyo on the cheap.
Our January highlights
Live in the Dark – Classic
Konica Minolta Planetaria makes for a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, especially when you get to stare into space, or more specifically the ‘French night sky’, while listening to live classical music. The planetarium dome is equipped with the latest technology and a screen that stretches from floor to ceiling...
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'...
Ice Skating Park at Tokyo Skytree Town
Glide at the foot of Tokyo Skytree, where this rink opens up from January until early March. It’s particularly atmospheric after dark when the surrounding illuminations are switched on – and you don't have to be an experienced skater to take part as there are one-on-one lessons (¥500) available. There’s also a mini rink made with eco-friendly plastic for primary-school children and younger, plus a small snow area for the little ones...
Treasures from Budapest
The National Art Center, Tokyo will bring European and Hungarian masterpieces amassed by the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest and the Hungarian National Gallery to Tokyo. The exhibition is held to commemorate 150 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Hungary...
Taste of Reminiscence: Delicacies of Nature
Ayako Suwa is a renowned food artist who uses food and flavours as her signature medium of expression. In this solo – and interactive – exhibition, Suwa aims to explore our individual and collective memory through food. As such, you can expect to taste several ‘delicacies of reminiscence’ prepared by the artist, using specific utensils that also form part of the installations. You are encouraged to dig deep and reflect on the memories that the food has uncovered in you and share them with other visitors...
Future and the Arts
This major exhibition highlights past and present advances in science and technology through art. In today’s world, biotechnology is playing an increasingly big role in food, medicine and the environment...
Oedo Antique Market
The Oedo Antique Market, the largest and oldest outdoor market of its kind in Japan, is great for picking up some cool art, unique handicrafts or vintage decorative items. Keep an eye out for real Edo-era treasures hidden among the heaps of merchandise, which range from ceramics and clothing to ukiyo-e prints. You can visit the bazaar at two different locations throughout the month...
Where to get the best views of Mount Fuji
To see Mt Fuji in all its glory, take a day trip out of Tokyo to these scenic spots in Yamanashi and Kanagawa