November 2018 events in Tokyo
November is the time to embrace all things autumnal in Tokyo – in addition to the seasonal foliage, you can look forward to Tori no Ichi markets, quirky food celebrations, plentiful sports events and early illumination shows.
Our November highlights
Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival 2018
This festival begins as autumn turns the surrounding icho (ginkgo) leaves yellow. Adding to the event’s popularity are temporary stalls selling noted products from different regions of Japan – the food and drink stalls will be set up around the Jingu Gaien softball stadium and training grounds.
Munch Exhibition
This retrospective exhibition celebrates the work of iconic Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, most famous for his masterpiece ‘The Scream’. Munch's work was heavily influenced by Impressionists the likes of Claude Monet and Edouard Manet, and he became a part of the Post-Impressionist movement, which was led by Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Cezanne. Munch did not receive much appreciation for his art in his time, but he was eventually hailed as a pioneer of Expressionism in the world of fine arts. Nearly 100 pieces of his work will be exhibited, including oil paintings and master prints courtesy of the Munch Museum in Oslo. While there are multiple versions of ‘The Scream’, this is the first time the version created with oil paint and tempera is being shown in Japan. Explore 60-plus years’ worth of paintings depicting deep human emotions such as anxiety and loneliness, as well as stunning natural landscapes of Norway, and works from his final years which feature vibrant, pigmented colours.
Smart Illumination Yokohama 2018
Held every autumn since 2011, Yokohama's Smart Illumination show makes use of the latest in energy-efficient lighting technology to turn the city's waterfront areas into a sea of colour. Workshops and interactive installations complete the lineup, so make sure to head south to Yokohama in late autumn and see this spectacle light up the evening. Note that although the main festival takes place from October 31 to November 4, the illuminations will remain in place until December 31.
Hanazono Shrine Tori no Ichi
The famed triple Tori no Ichi markets at Hanazono Shrine get underway with a warm-up festival on the first night of each set of days, while the main event is the following day. There'll be 60-odd stalls selling decorative kumade rakes, said to bring good fortune for business, plus 200 other vendors hawking food and other festival knickknacks. The second festival, known as Ni no Tori, is on November 13, while the last celebration takes place on November 25. Don't miss this annual favourite, the roots of which reach back deep into the Edo era.
Kanda Curry Grand Prix 2018
There are over 400 curry shops in Kanda, and this event brings together 20 of them to do battle for the Grand Prix title. Sample the spicy delicacies and vote for your favourite – the winners will be announced on stage at the end of the event. Also, if a visit to the fest itself doesn't satisfy your curry cravings, make sure to take part in the 'Kanda Curry Stamp Rally'. This campaign runs until November 30 – eating at any of the participating restaurants amounts to one stamp, and juicy rewards are presented to those who collect enough of these marks.
Festival de Frue 2018
The willfully, brilliantly uncommercial Frue parties only seem to roll around every six months or less, presumably to give the promoters time to recoup some of the money they lost on the last one. Yet their festival, held for the first time last year in the Shizuoka countryside, turned out to be such a crowd-pleaser that it's back. Assembling at the Tsumagoi ski resort in Kakegawa will be genre-bending favourites Bruno Pernadas, Japanese DJ Powder, Brazil's Yamandu Costa, and Theo Parrish, while German dance innovator Acid Pauli is returning for a second round. The twin stages – one out in the open, the other indoors – will be rocking through the night on both Friday and Saturday, while the festival market will offer an eclectic selection of food, drink and crafts.
Cigarettes After Sex
Brooklyn-based dreamy pop band Cigarettes After Sex is making its way to Japan. They've bucked every traditional music promotion trend in the business, with a monochrome album cover and no music video, but their single 'Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby' has still managed over 40 million plays. Sit back, relax and let yourself be transported by Greg Gonzalez & co.
Aoyama Sake Flea
Attention, sake lovers: Aoyama Sake Flea is back for their biannual nihonshu bonanza. Started four years ago, this tasting event that takes place as part of the UNU Farmer's Market has proven very popular with a wide range of imbibers, and keeps on growing each edition. Over 30 breweries from across the country will be hawking their wares this time; if you ask nicely, they'll be able to tell you loads about the brewing process too. Grab a 'starter set' (sake cup and tasting tickets) at the entrance and sip away, or book tickets online if you're absolutely sure you want to get sloshed – you're allowed to take last event's cup with you too instead of buying a new one. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for the latest updates; previous events have included anything from a 'sake-hopping' tour to a crash course in nihonshu knowledge by four of Tokyo's most legendary sake bartenders.
Rikugien Autumn Leaves Light-up
Rikugien's annual light-up returns again for when the park's trees turn red and golden in the autumn night. The view reflects beautifully off the water, creating a magical and unforgettable atmosphere. The park stays open until 9pm for the duration of the event, the cosy teahouses are open throughout, and you can catch guided tours of the park at 11am and 2pm daily.
Free events in November
Hanazono Shrine Tori no Ichi
The famed triple Tori no Ichi markets at Hanazono Shrine get underway with a warm-up festival on the first night of each set of days, while the main event is the following day. There'll be 60-odd stalls selling decorative kumade rakes, said to bring good fortune for business, plus 200 other vendors hawking food and other festival knickknacks. The second festival, known as Ni no Tori, is on November 13, while the last celebration takes place on November 25. Don't miss this annual favourite, the roots of which reach back deep into the Edo era.
Hachioji Ginkgo Festival
It's one of the most popular spots in the whole of Tokyo for autumn leaves: the 4km stretch of road leading from Hachioji's Oiwakecho to the foot of Mt Takao is lined with over 700 ginkgo trees (known as icho in Japanese), and they look rather splendid at this time of year. The autumnal colours provide an excuse for all kinds of activities at the annual Hachioji Ginkgo Festival, which is returning for its 39th edition this year, ranging from a classic car parade to music and yosakoi dance performances. The wealth of kid-friendly attractions make it a good option if you're looking for something to do with the family, and naturally there'll be plenty of food stalls to keep everybody well sated.
Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival 2018
This festival begins as autumn turns the surrounding icho (ginkgo) leaves yellow. Adding to the event’s popularity are temporary stalls selling noted products from different regions of Japan – the food and drink stalls will be set up around the Jingu Gaien softball stadium and training grounds.
hitch solo exhibition ‘.ORG’
Artist hitch from the collective WHOLE 9 is holding his first solo exhibition in Tokyo. As hitch’s style is to incorporate his love of hip hop into his work, his team of painters often collaborate with music artists such as PUNPEE and SIRUP. WHOLE 9, on the other hand, has also done work overseas as well as for international brands such as adidas. This exhibition is yet another nod to hip hop culture – so anyone with an appreciation for vibrant murals and street art should drop in at this exhibition.
SHIMURAbros Seeing Is Believing
The sister-and-brother duo SHIMURAbros, known for creating art based on all things film, have brought their exhibition to Tokyo after a brief tour overseas. The duo use a combination of still images, sculptures and videos to connect the history of filmmaking with modern motion picture technology – this is evident in their works such as ‘X-RAY TRAIN’, which was inspired by the 50-second silent film ‘Train Pulling into a Station’ by the Lumière brothers. For this exhibition, the element of reflective light is used in a majority of the installations to create a mesmerising display that would make the observer question their perception and contemplate what it means to look at something versus seeing it.
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.
Mt Takao Maple Festival
Various happenings will be taking place around Mount Takao in November, including kokeshi doll demonstrations and sales of masuzake, the curious boxed beverage (on weekends and holidays). The main attraction is of course the autumn foliage, with the maple trees around the area turning fiery red and yellow. Primary event locations include the Takao Forest Center at the foot of the mountain, Kiyotaki Station and the Ju-Itchome tea house on the hillside. Check out the official website for further details, and consider heading over by train – finding parking here can be a nightmare.
Atlas of Time
Herbie Yamaguchi is a photographer known for capturing moments of bliss. This exhibition will showcase a collection of his photographs taken all over the world from the last 40 years. After one particular photo he shot in Japan, Yamaguchi went on traveling and continue to take photos with the theme ‘joy of living’ in effort to demonstrate how shared happy moments can transcend borders and time. From delightful pictures of parents and children in Japan to shots of laughing families in faraway places, this collection is a warm reminder of the happy feelings we share with one another.
Smart Illumination Yokohama 2018
Held every autumn since 2011, Yokohama's Smart Illumination show makes use of the latest in energy-efficient lighting technology to turn the city's waterfront areas into a sea of colour. Workshops and interactive installations complete the lineup, so make sure to head south to Yokohama in late autumn and see this spectacle light up the evening. Note that although the main festival takes place from October 31 to November 4, the illuminations will remain in place until December 31.
Tsuyoshi Tane | Archaeology of the Future
This solo exhibition follows Tsuyoshi Tane, an architect who works in Paris at DGT, a firm which he co-founded with Dan Dorell and Lina Ghotmeh. He rose to fame when DGT won the international competition to design the new Estonian National Museum which opened in 2016. Tane is also known for his collaborations with those outside of the architecture world, including conductor Seiji Ozawa. This time, his works will be displayed in two different exhibitions. Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery will play host to ‘Digging & Building’, a set of large-scale installations, while at the architecture-focused TOTOGallery Ma, visitors can follow Tane’s ‘archaeological research’ methodology.
More November events
Mutek.JP 2018
Digital art meets electronic music festival Mutek.JP is back for another edition this year. Originally started in Montreal, Canada, the event made its way to Japan in 2016 to critical acclaim. This year's events will be held across the city at the Miraikan, WWW, WWWX and Unit, spread out over four days. During the day, you'll be able to catch digital art installations, a conference on digital creativity, a symposium on gender equality, and more, with many of the events free of charge. At night, there'll be live performanes by the likes of Ben Frost and MFO, audiovisual performance 'phaenomena' by Rhizomatiks Research, which debuted at this year's Sónar Istanbul, amongst other electronic music-centric events.
Hanazono Shrine Tori no Ichi
The famed triple Tori no Ichi markets at Hanazono Shrine get underway with a warm-up festival on the first night of each set of days, while the main event is the following day. There'll be 60-odd stalls selling decorative kumade rakes, said to bring good fortune for business, plus 200 other vendors hawking food and other festival knickknacks. The second festival, known as Ni no Tori, is on November 13, while the last celebration takes place on November 25. Don't miss this annual favourite, the roots of which reach back deep into the Edo era.
Hachioji Ginkgo Festival
It's one of the most popular spots in the whole of Tokyo for autumn leaves: the 4km stretch of road leading from Hachioji's Oiwakecho to the foot of Mt Takao is lined with over 700 ginkgo trees (known as icho in Japanese), and they look rather splendid at this time of year. The autumnal colours provide an excuse for all kinds of activities at the annual Hachioji Ginkgo Festival, which is returning for its 39th edition this year, ranging from a classic car parade to music and yosakoi dance performances. The wealth of kid-friendly attractions make it a good option if you're looking for something to do with the family, and naturally there'll be plenty of food stalls to keep everybody well sated.
Tokyo Ramen Show 2018
The greatest ramen makers from all over Japan gather in Komazawa Olympic Park again for every noodle-lover's dream event. Slurp up regional specialities, try new soups and combinations created specifically for this occasion, and elbow your way around the area with thousands of other ramen maniacs. Check the official website for details on the participants, choose your favourites, and get ready to rush – the most popular stalls tend to get very crowded. This year is their 10th anniversary, so expect even more ramen bonanza.
Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival 2018
This festival begins as autumn turns the surrounding icho (ginkgo) leaves yellow. Adding to the event’s popularity are temporary stalls selling noted products from different regions of Japan – the food and drink stalls will be set up around the Jingu Gaien softball stadium and training grounds.
hitch solo exhibition ‘.ORG’
Artist hitch from the collective WHOLE 9 is holding his first solo exhibition in Tokyo. As hitch’s style is to incorporate his love of hip hop into his work, his team of painters often collaborate with music artists such as PUNPEE and SIRUP. WHOLE 9, on the other hand, has also done work overseas as well as for international brands such as adidas. This exhibition is yet another nod to hip hop culture – so anyone with an appreciation for vibrant murals and street art should drop in at this exhibition.
SHIMURAbros Seeing Is Believing
The sister-and-brother duo SHIMURAbros, known for creating art based on all things film, have brought their exhibition to Tokyo after a brief tour overseas. The duo use a combination of still images, sculptures and videos to connect the history of filmmaking with modern motion picture technology – this is evident in their works such as ‘X-RAY TRAIN’, which was inspired by the 50-second silent film ‘Train Pulling into a Station’ by the Lumière brothers. For this exhibition, the element of reflective light is used in a majority of the installations to create a mesmerising display that would make the observer question their perception and contemplate what it means to look at something versus seeing it.
Design Festa vol. 48
In association with Design Festa Office Held three times every year – in May, August and November – at Tokyo Big Sight, this mammoth art jamboree offers a 'place for free expression' for everyone, both amateurs and professionals. Creatives come together from all across Japan to show off their stuff, and with up to 4,500 booths set up in the vast halls every day, you'll most likely be able to find something to your tastes. There's no advance screening for original works, making for a wonderful diversity of genres, styles and cultures. Meeting the artists is part of the fun, while you'll also find an endless array of artworks, accessories and various random knickknacks on sale. Performances from dancing to sword fighting take place on the show stage, and there's an excellent selection of international eats to choose from when you start feeling peckish.
Rikugien Autumn Leaves Light-up
Rikugien's annual light-up returns again for when the park's trees turn red and golden in the autumn night. The view reflects beautifully off the water, creating a magical and unforgettable atmosphere. The park stays open until 9pm for the duration of the event, the cosy teahouses are open throughout, and you can catch guided tours of the park at 11am and 2pm daily.
Festival de Frue 2018
The willfully, brilliantly uncommercial Frue parties only seem to roll around every six months or less, presumably to give the promoters time to recoup some of the money they lost on the last one. Yet their festival, held for the first time last year in the Shizuoka countryside, turned out to be such a crowd-pleaser that it's back. Assembling at the Tsumagoi ski resort in Kakegawa will be genre-bending favourites Bruno Pernadas, Japanese DJ Powder, Brazil's Yamandu Costa, and Theo Parrish, while German dance innovator Acid Pauli is returning for a second round. The twin stages – one out in the open, the other indoors – will be rocking through the night on both Friday and Saturday, while the festival market will offer an eclectic selection of food, drink and crafts.