November 2019 events in Tokyo

Yosakoi Odori may not have the most alluring origin story– it was first devised in the 1950s as an effort to revive the post-war economy – yet festivals celebrating the dance demonstrate its extraordinary popularity in Japan. Expect around 100 teams of performers to combine traditional Japanese movements...

With its location right next to Tokyo Bay, the stately Chiba Port Tower is not just a landmark of Chiba, the prefecture adjacent to Tokyo. It also has a 113m-high observation deck that affords a sweeping view of the Greater Tokyo area...

We strongly recommend attending the 11th edition of this renowned noodlefest with an empty stomach, since the slurp specialists behind this ramen extravaganza are bringing the greatest noodle soup makers from all over Japan to Komazawa Olympic Park. Some of the ramen masters will be offering regional specialities and new soups created specifically for the occasion...

Gyoza lovers rejoice! Autumn in Nakano sees a festival dedicated to the delectable dumplings. You can expect more styles of gyoza than you imagined possible, from deep-fried and pan-fried to boiled and steamed gyoza. There will be gyoza filled with prawn and garlic, Japanese black pork...

Spend a day at the Deutschland Fest where there will be plenty of German food and beer to feast on. This annual event held by the German Embassy transports Berlin to Aoyama Park for four days, filling the area with stalls of food, crafts, beer and entertainment...

Inviting you to experience quality design with all five senses, this multi-part event has been an annual occurrence at Midtown since 2007, and now returns with one of its most plentiful programmes yet. The spacious garden will be occupied by creative team Spread’s ‘landscape design’, covering the the area with a 1km long colorful mesh fabric...

Whether it’s visual art, fashion, handicrafts or avant-garde performance that gets your juices owing, you’ll nd it at this sprawling cultural jamboree, held at Tokyo Big Sight every spring and autumn. About 10,000 artists are expected to descend on the conference centre...

Tokyo’s premier comic book convention is back for its fourth year, and organisers are promising the best yet. Over three days, comic fans can geek out with creators and experts, and mingle with fellow cosplayers. Alongside the usual booths, stage events, prop exhibits and cosplay contests, there will be guest appearances by A-list movie stars...

One of the last few national festivals in Yoyogi Park this year, this colourful celebration features dozens of food and drink stalls dealing in Spanish delicacies from paella to churros and tapas. There will also be booths selling knickknacks, groceries, wine and the like from Spain. Flamenco performances plus a host of entertainment will take over the main stage at various times of the day...

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 with neuropsychologists and psychologists...

Humankind’s fascination with the mammoth is not a recent one. Our enthusiasm for the now-extinct woolly giants is on full display at the science and technology museum Miraikan in Odaiba. Along with some of the best preserved frozen specimens of the mammoth...

Get an up-close look at retro miniatures from the pre-war period. Roughly 1,500 miniature objects made by craftsmen from the Meiji era will be on show. The exhibition will be centered around the Minoru Nakata Collection, which consists of about 800 custom-made miniatures...

While most exhibitions are visual, this one invites you to use your nose. Everything from the sweetest scents to the most pungent odors will be featured in this unconventional showcase.  The exhibition has previously attracted close to 190,000 visitors with its lineup of items such as surströmming (fermented herring) and stinky tofu, which are considered among the world’s smelliest foods...

A light exhibition directed by Seiichi Saito of Rhizomatiks, an expert of media art and expression through technology. This sparkling display can be seen at Shinko Central Plaza, which is just beside the city’s iconic ferris wheel, Cosmo Clock 21...

Every year, hordes of Tokyoites make the exodus out of town to classic autumn leaf watching spots like Kamakura, Nikko and Hakone. However, for those with no time to travel, there are plenty of gardens, parks and museums right here in the city to get your koyo fill from mid-to-late November. Here are our top picks of nightly light-ups, historic retreats and lesser-known viewing locations, all in or close to Tokyo. And for particularly energetic foliage-watchers, we recommend these scenic bike routes and these highlight hikes.

Five rewarding cycling destinations for all fitness levels