March 2026 events in Tokyo

A popular place for plum blossom fans since olden times, Yushima Tenmangu shrine still draws 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.

This year marks the 69th run of the Yushima Tenjin Ume Matsuri. The annual festival is one of Tokyo's most popular late-winter events, and it takes place for a month from February 8 until March 8. The shinto shrine is home to about 300 plum trees, and most of them are around 80 years old. Approximately 80 percent of them produce white plum blossoms. 

On weekends and holidays – February 8, 11, 14-15, 21-23, 28, March 1, 7 – you can look forward to events such as live Kagura (ceremonial silent theatre),  Nihon-buyo (traditional Japanese dance) and taiko drumming as well as flamenco and belly dancing performances.

You’ll also find several stalls selling souvenirs from Bunkyo ward as well as local products from Ibaraki (February 8), Ishikawa (February 8, 14), Aomori (Feb 14-15), Kumamoto (February 21-23), Hyogo/Shimane (February 28-March 1) and Fukushima (March 7-8).

The Japanese daruma doll is said to bring spiritual awakening, and Jindaiji Temple in Chofu is known as one of the country’s top three spots to get your hands on a daruma, with its annual Daruma Market boasting over 300 stalls.

When you buy a daruma at the festival, know that the eyes of this round, hollow-headed talisman are left blank when you first buy it. Usually, you paint in one of the pupils after making a wish, and the other if your wish comes true. But for this special occasion, a monk will be stationed at the temple's Ganzandaishi Hall to paint the left eye of your daruma with an ancient Sanskrit character when you make your wish.

The daruma market is open for just two days on March 3 and 4. Both days feature the oneri gyoretsu (from 1.45pm), a procession of portable shrines carried by the temple monks, who are outfitted in elegant ceremonial robes.

Jindaiji, by the way, is the second-oldest temple in Tokyo. The temple and its surrounding area are famed for soba noodles, a national treasure-designated Buddha statue and, of course, this annual market for lucky dolls, which has been going on since Edo times.

Pizza Slice is teaming up with Adicurry for a two-day ‘Curry Pizza’ pop-up at Pizza Slice Cat Street on March 7 and 8. Following a sold-out run in Seoul, the cult collaboration lands in Japan for the first time, serving up bold Nepalese spices alongside New York-style slices, plus a limited-edition T-shirt drop. A reception party with live DJ spins will be held on Friday March 6 from 6pm to 10.30pm.

Get bready for a carb-loaded weekend at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, where bakeries from all around the country are gathering for one of Japan’s biggest bread festivals. This year's event marks its 10th anniversary, boasting a larger-than-ever line-up of over 80 pop-up shops, serving everything from buttery canelés and custard buns to curry-filled doughnuts and katsu sandwiches.

Many of the highlighted shops are newcomers that haven’t been featured at previous Pan no Fests, so those who were at last year's event will have an even bigger menu to look forward to this round. The general festival area is free to enter, but some sections will require an admission charge (prices announced for 2026) if you arrive during the first admission phase between 11am and 1.30pm. There's no admission fee for the second half of the event from 2pm to 5pm, but bear in mind some of the more popular stalls may be sold out of items by the late afternoon.

In theory, there's a limit to how many pretzels and bagels you can eat in one sitting, but the great thing about baked goodies is that you can easily snag some to go and munch on them later in the week, whether it's for breakfast, lunch or just a mid-day snack.

Here’s your chance to welcome the sakura season before the blossoms even come out this spring – at one of Tokyo’s tallest observatories to boot. Tokyo Skytree’s lower observation decks (at 340 and 350 metres above ground level) are getting a full cherry blossom makeover from February 26 to April 14, with plenty of photo spots and opportunities to take in the city’s breathtaking views framed by sakura.

As dusk falls, the flower decorations on floor 350 are accompanied by a majestic projection-mapping show using the observatory windows as a canvas. Each screening lasts three minutes and takes place at 7pm, 7.45pm and 8.30pm (7.10pm, 7.50pm and 8.35pm Mar 1-8; 7pm, 7.15pm, 7.50pm and 8.35pm Mar 9-31; and 7.30pm, 7.45pm, 8.20pm and 9pm from Apr 1 onwards).

If you’re looking for something to satiate your appetite, make a beeline to Skytree Cafe for their exclusive sweets and drinks menu. Along with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks that are appropriately pink and sakura-flavoured, the café is offering plant-based vegan and gluten-free doughnuts. The matcha-coloured Sakura Mochi doughnut and sky-blue Sakura Sky Vanilla doughnut make a perfect pairing with the cherry-themed drinks. 

After your visit, don’t miss the special cherry blossom light-up which lights up the tower in vibrant pink and blue almost daily from February 26 to April 14.

Tickets can be purchased through the official website.

Celebrating two decades at the forefront of Japan’s art market, Art Fair Tokyo will take place from March 13 to 15 at the Tokyo International Forum. Founded in 2005 and rooted in the legacy of Asia’s first contemporary art fair, the former NICAF, Art Fair Tokyo has grown into the largest art fair in Japan and the oldest in Asia, offering an unparalleled panorama of art from antiquity to the cutting edge.

This landmark 20th edition brings together 141 participating galleries from Japan and abroad, including 10 new exhibitors. The line-up spans contemporary, modern, antiques and crafts galleries, alongside international participants and institutions that defy conventional categories. Leading Japanese galleries such as Tomio Koyama Gallery, ShugoArts, Kaikai Kiki and Taro Nasu will be there as usual, while the fair’s main visual features Tatsuo Miyajima’s Counter Skin in Hiroshima-3 gold.

Structured around five core sections (Galleries, Crossing, Projects, Encounters and Films) the fair emphasises dialogue across eras, media and disciplines. Notably, the Films section returns with an expanded focus on moving-image works, encouraging new modes of collecting in Japan. Balancing market vitality with curatorial ambition, Art Fair Tokyo remains a great place to discover new and emerging artists.

Tokyo Tower is collaborating with digital art collective Naked Inc for a stunning projection mapping display this spring. This event takes place on the main deck's second floor and features projections of animals like deers, rabbits and giraffes walking among a forest covered in spring wildflowers and cherry blossom trees in vibrant pink. You can also see a Sakura Candle Monument produced by Japanese artist Candle June, which will be lit up in front of the main deck windows.

It starts at 6pm from February 28 to March 22, 6.30pm from March 23 to April 26 and 6.45pm from April 27 to May 6. Tickets cost ¥1,500 (¥1,200 for high school students, ¥900 for children, ¥600 for younger children) and can be purchased online or at the venue.

This two-day anime extravaganza returns for the 13th time to Tokyo Big Sight, having attracted over 150,000 fans last year with over 100 booths and plentiful entertainment such as talks and cosplay parades.

Dozens of events will take place across four stages: red, green, blue and white. Whether it's classics like Magic Knight Rayearth, modern hits like Mushoku Tensei or upcoming projects like Steel Ball Run, each event allows you the chance to view trailers, check out show footage or sit in on panel discussions with cast members (in Japanese, natch).

If you want to get into the live stage events, you’ll need to purchase an entry ticket that's bundled with a stage lottery ticket. Advance tickets with stage lottery passes are available via the official website at ¥2,500 per person, plus other ticket types. It will be ¥2,800 at the door.

Now into its 31st year, Asia's largest St. Patrick's Day parade is always good for a highly festive atmosphere. The main strip of Omotesando is closed to traffic during Sunday afternoon (March 15), when a parade of costumed revellers, marching bands and cheerleaders wends its way up the hill and back again – then off to the nearest pub for a few rounds of Guinness. While you're there, make sure to also check out the Green Ireland Festival, which takes over Yoyogi Park Events Square for the weekend with stalls hawking Irish grub, music and dance performances, playful rugby scrums and more.

The 20th St Patrick’s Day Parade in Yokohama takes place again along the 600m-long Motomachi shopping street. Dress up in green and celebrate Ireland's national holiday with visitors from all around the world. The spectacle kicks off around 12.30pm with Irish music and dance, followed by the parade from 2pm and finishing with an open-air Ceili dance performance from 3.30pm. Afterwards you could head over to one of the little bars in the vicinity to end the day with a cool Guinness, or two.

First held in 2015, this multinational celebration returns this March to welcome the arrival of spring at Yoyogi Park Events Square and Keyaki Namiki road, where you can enjoy food, drinks, music and entertainment, plus all the salsa dancing you can possibly take over a single weekend.

Grab a spicy taco and wash it down with beer, caipirinha or a tropical cocktail before moving on to the vast selection of rum and tequila. In between meals and dancing, go check out the stalls selling handicrafts and other fun accessories.

Taking place around Yokohama Port, Yokohama Night Flowers (formerly Yokohama Sparkling Twilight) lights up not only the city but also the sky above it. It's a stunning sight as the fireworks are set off above the illuminated boats crisscrossing the sea in front of Yamashita Park. 

This time around, there are 9 five-minute fireworks displays scheduled from December to March. Depending on the date, the fireworks are launched from either Osanbashi Pier and/or Shinko Pier. This makes the seaside Yamashita Park and Yokohama's Red Brick Warehouse an ideal vantage point to catch all the explosive action.

Along with the fireworks, Yokohama is also hosting several nighttime events nearby, including the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Christmas Market (until Dec 25), Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Art Rink (until Feb 15), Yokohama Bread Festival (March 6-8) and more. See the event website for updates.

Fireworks displays are held on December 24 and 31, January 24 and 31, February 7, 14, 21 and 28, March 21. (2026)

Shinjuku's Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo is bringing back its annual month-long Hinamatsuri (girl’s doll festival) event for February. By displaying beautifully dressed ceramic dolls resembling members of the ancient imperial court, families wish for their daughters’ health and happiness. The tradition of displaying these dolls at home, believed to date back to the Edo period (1603-1868), is on full display at the exhibit, which is set up along a stunning curtain wall of approximately 5,000 hand-sewn ornaments made from vintage kimono silk.

After marvelling at the graceful handmade dolls and silk ornaments, be sure to visit the folding screen (byobu) exhibition in the main lobby and 7th-floor restaurant corridor. Folding screens, which usually occupy the background in displays of Hina dolls, take centre stage here, featuring works by Kataoka Byobu, Tokyo’s only folding screen speciality store, as well as pieces by a selection of contemporary independent artists.

The month-long exhibition is accompanied by live koto performances (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11am and 3pm in the main lobby), a market selling custom-made handpainted tabletop byobu (February 3, 19, March 3, 17 and 31 at the main lobby; prices start from ¥10,000) a live byobu painting performance (March 10 at 3pm, South Wing 2nd-floor space), and a karakuri trick-art craft workshop (February 12 and March 12 at 2pm and 4pm, with an additional 11am session on March 12; ¥4,400 per participant, first come, first served; main lobby).

This spring, Kiba Park in Koto is taking part in the Flower and Light Movement, which sees city-run parks transformed with brand-new flowerbeds and limited-run, floral-inspired illuminations. During the festival, you can see fresh spring blooms planted in a sakura-shaped flowerbed, a 3.5-metre-tall light sculpture inspired by old lighthouses that symbolise the area’s historic waterways, and more.

The blooms will light up from 5.30pm to 8pm (8.30pm on weekends) daily. Make the most of your visit by stopping by the adjacent Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo as well.

Sagamiko Resort Mori Mori has gone all out for its winter illuminations, featuring over six million dazzling LEDs. This year, there's an entire area dedicated to Tamagotchi – Japan's beloved digital pets from outer space. Expect to see Mametchi, along with his sidekick Kuchipatchi and other pocketable pets such as Memechi.

You can hop on the park’s Mametchi and Kuchipatchi themed Rainbow Chairlift and sail over colourful stripes before reaching the top of a hill, where you'll find a series of illumination art walls showcasing the whole Tamagotchi family. Keep wandering and you might stumble upon a mysterious UFO beaming with colour – maybe a hint at where these pocketable pets really came from. To wrap up the night, take in the dazzling lights and sweeping mountaintop views from the Ferris wheel or hop on the Tamagotchi Starry Sky Pedal for stunning panoramas and a light leg workout.

While you’re there, indulge in Tamagotchi-themed meals and snacks. Enjoy a hearty Tamagotchi Poka Poka Star Ramen or the voluminous Mametchi's Omurice Curry Doria Plate. Prefer something sweet? Then check out Furawatchi's flower crepe or the Memechi mango sundae.

Celebrating three decades of Ghost in the Shell, one of Japan’s most influential sci-fi franchises, this large-scale exhibition takes over Tokyo Node at Toranomon Hills from January 30 to April 5. The ambitious showcase traces the evolution of the series from Masamune Shirow’s ground-breaking 1989 manga to its acclaimed anime adaptations and, with a new 2026 series from Science Saru on the horizon, into the future.

Organised with the full cooperation of Production IG, the studio behind the franchise’s animation, the exhibition brings together works by directors Mamoru Oshii, Kenji Kamiyama, Kazuya Kise and Shinji Aramaki, offering visitors an unprecedented deep dive into the cyberpunk universe that redefined anime.

Over 600 production materials are on display, including original drawings, storyboards and concept art. You can also look forward to immersive installations and interactive exhibits that explore key philosophical themes from the series such as identity, consciousness and the boundaries between human and machine.

Further highlights include new contributions by international artists, exclusive interview footage, and the ‘DIG-ru’ installation, which invites visitors to ‘digitally excavate’ the world of Ghost in the Shell. And of course, you get to shop for plenty of only-here merchandise at the gift shop.

Visionary Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) transformed the landscape of modern architecture through his organic forms, bold innovations and deep reverence for nature. His iconic works, including Park Güell, Casa Batlló, Casa Milà and, above all, the Sagrada Família, remain enduring testaments to his genius, blending mathematics and faith into living architecture. Today, seven of his masterpieces are recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s passing and the completion of the Sagrada Família’s main tower, ‘Naked meets Gaudí’ at Warehouse Terrada offers a groundbreaking fusion of art, technology and scholarship. In official collaboration with the Gaudí Foundation, the immersive exhibition unveils Gaudí’s personal notebooks, letters, architectural tools and original blueprints, many on display for the first time worldwide.

Through cutting-edge projection, participatory installations and interactive experiences, visitors are invited to step inside Gaudí’s creative universe; to touch, feel and co-create the harmony of nature and architecture that defined his vision. Bridging a century of imagination, the exhibition celebrates Gaudí as an architect of stone, but also as a designer of dreams, whose spirit continues to shape the future of art and design.

Johnny Depp may be best known for his eccentric on-screen roles, but long before fame, he was quietly building a collection of artworks. Now, more than 100 of his paintings and drawings – spanning from his early twenties to the present – are on view at ‘A Bunch of Stuff – Tokyo’, held at +Base 0 inside Newoman Takanawa South. 

The exhibition features five themed spaces, beginning with bold calligraphed quotes that hint at Depp’s mindset. Visitors are then led into a bohemian studio-style room filled with the actor’s personal objects and art supplies brought directly from his workspace. 

Other highlights from the exhibition include Depp’s signature ‘Death by Confetti’ series, where celebratory motifs meet skeletons to reflect the pressure of fame, as well as a video work making its Japan debut inside the immersive ‘Black Box’. Projected across a curved screen, Depp’s paintings come to life as he narrates his reflections on art, identity and the highs and lows of his long career.

Shigeru Onishi (1928–1994) occupies a singular position in postwar Japanese art. Born in Okayama prefecture and trained as a mathematician, he pursued advanced research in topology at Hokkaido University while developing an intensely personal artistic practice. Moving freely between mathematics, photography and painting, Onishi sought visual forms capable of expressing abstract concepts such as ‘superinfinity’. Largely indifferent to fame or artistic movements, he devoted his life to what he described as ‘seeking the way’, producing a body of work that would only be fully recognised decades later.

The Tokyo Station Gallery’s ‘Onishi Shigeru: Photography and Painting’ is the first major retrospective of the artist ever held in Japan. Bringing together carefully selected works from the more than 1,000 photographs and paintings Onishi produced, the exhibition reveals the full scope of a practice that defies categorisation.

Onishi’s experimental photographs, created through multiple exposures, solarisation and chemically altered development, stood apart from the realist and journalistic norms of their time, aligning instead with the rise of subjectivist photography in Europe and Japan.

Equally striking are his ink paintings from the 1950s, whose turbulent, wave-like lines embody the spirit of Art Informel while asserting a powerful individuality. Supplemented by manuscripts and materials from his mathematical research, the exhibition offers a remarkable portrait of an artist who fused rigorous intellect with overwhelming visual force.

Feeling a bit out of luck recently? Good fortune is on its way – in the form of this pop-up museum, happening for two days on March 20 and 21. Taking place at Orinami Asakusa, Japan’s first workshop for hand-weaving omamori charms, the museum brings together an impressive variety of lucky talismans from various countries and cultures, in addition to spotlighting customs thought to bring great fortune. The eclectic selection includes rolling pineapples, toilet deities and Draco Malfoy – an unlikely mascot of good fortune in China to kickstart the year of the Fire Horse. Make your own luck by learning more about lucky charms and customs from different countries and cultures this spring.

The event is free to enter, but donations are welcome.