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's 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.
Our January highlights
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'...
Mummies of the World
Featuring an array of preserved human bodies from around the world including some from ancient Egypt and naturally mummifed corpses from Europe, this Ueno exhibition will explain how mummies came into being. It will also teach visitors about the cultural and scientific aspects of these fascinating, well-preserved, and, it must be said, slightly creepy artifacts...
The Habsburg Dynasty: 600 Years of Imperial Collections
Originating from the Upper rhine region, the House of Habsburg, founded in the 10th or 11th century, ruled not only Austria and a vast area of central Europe, but also Spain, parts of France and Italy, and the New World territories. At the height of its rule, the Habsburg dynasty...
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...
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...
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...
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
Winter festivals in Tokyo
Welcome the season at these quirky celebrations in and around Tokyo