Marunouchi Street Park  Winter
画像提供:三菱地所株式会社 | 「Marunouchi Street Park Winter」
画像提供:三菱地所株式会社 | 「Marunouchi Street Park Winter」

The best things to do in Tokyo this weekend

Time Out Tokyo editors pick the best events, exhibitions and festivals in the city this weekend

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Want to make your weekend an exciting one? We've rounded up the best events, festivals, parties, art exhibitions and must-see spots in Tokyo for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Looking to get out of the city for a bit? Take a day trip to one of these nearby destinations, or head to an outlet mall just outside Tokyo for some great shopping deals. If that wasn't enough, you can also stop by one of Tokyo's regular markets, like the weekly UNU Farmer's Market near Shibuya. 

With the holidays in full swing, Tokyo and cities across Japan are glowing with illuminations – and you can still catch some beautiful autumn leaves, too.

Read on to find more great things to do in Tokyo this weekend.

Note: Do check the event and venue websites for the latest updates.

Our top picks this weekend

  • Things to do
  • Asakusa

Continuing Tokyo’s trend of dazzling nighttime projection mapping events, digital creative company Hitohata is bringing its Asakusa Culture & Lights show to Sensoji Temple for the very first time. This projection mapping showcase celebrates the history and culture of the iconic temple in the heart of Asakusa.

The nightly shows feature high-resolution digital animations created using cutting-edge technology and displayed at three locations within the temple grounds: the south side of Hozomon Gate facing Kaminarimon Gate, Sensoji’s signature five-storey pagoda, and the smaller Nitenmon Gate by the temple’s east entrance. These light-ups are free to view, happening daily from December 3 to December 7 between 5.30pm and 9.30pm. 

Alongside the brilliant light-ups, the temple is also offering paid daytime and nighttime viewings of the Denboin Garden; the daytime session includes exclusive access to the Ema Hall, home to Edo-era votive plaques. Be sure to book tickets in advance to attend these viewings.

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Makuhari

Get your wigs and catsuits ready! Tokyo Comic Con is returning to Tokyo for three days from December 5 to 7 this winter. While the full schedule for celebrity autographs and photo sessions remains under wraps, the event organisers have already unveiled some of the illustrious names set to grace the occasion. The roster has fans buzzing, boasting appearances from cinematic icons like Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci from 'Wednesday', Christopher Lloyd of 'Back to the Future', Elijah Wood from the 'Lord of the Rings' franchise, and Sebastian Stan from Marvel hit 'Thunderbolts'.

Adding to the excitement is actor Koji Yamamoto, who stars in Netflix's 2019 drama series 'What Did You Eat Yesterday?', and is one of the ambassadors for this year's Comic Con. 2016 worldwide sensation Pikotaro and DJ Hello Kitty will also be making a guest appearance to perform on stage on December 6 at 1.50pm.

General admission is ¥5,500 per day for adults (¥1,000 for high school students, ¥500 for middle school students). Three-day passes are also available at ¥9,900 and are limited, so it’s best to get them in advance. (Update: Sold out) Note that celebrity meet-and-greets will require a separate ticket.

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  • Things to do
  • pop-ups
  • Roppongi

The fried chicken franchise that sparked the venerated Japanese tradition of eating fried chicken for Christmas is opening a limited-time Christmas-themed restaurant in Roppongi this December. You heard that right: KFC is launching a pop-up ‘restaurant’ for the first time, featuring a mouth-watering arrangement of ‘classic Christmas staples’ such as truffle sauce fries and vanilla ice biscuit sandwiches (yum).

The pop-up will also serve hearty restaurant dishes such as five herb roast chicken and mashed potatoes (¥1,900), barbecue chicken with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables (¥1,900) and various chicken pasta dishes. You can pair your meal with sides such as smoked salmon coleslaw salad (¥500) and chicken tenders (¥1,500).

What truly sets this pop-up apart as KFC’s first ‘full-fledged restaurant’, as they claim, is its extensive wine selection curated by distributor Enoteca. The menu even highlights recommended pairings for each dish, with glasses starting from ¥1,000.

Since reservations aren’t accepted, arrive early or be prepared to queue.

  • Things to do
  • Komagome

Rikugien is one of the best gardens in Tokyo to immerse yourself in beautiful Japanese landscapes. There’s no bad time to see the garden, but we do admit it’s especially picturesque in autumn, when the leaves take on vibrant shades of red and yellow.

From November 28 to December 9, Rikugien stays open until 8.30pm for its annual light-up. The trees in the garden are bathed in golden lights so that the brilliant colours of the changing leaves stand out even more, providing stunning views.

Aside from admiring the autumn foliage, don’t forget to drop by the garden’s dozo (storehouse). Its earthen walls serve as the canvas for a beautiful daily projection show between 6pm and 8.30pm. 

We recommend purchasing illumination tickets online in advance, as they’re limited and available at a discounted price of ¥1,000. The online ticket portal will open in late October. Otherwise, tickets can be purchased at the door for ¥1,200.

The park will close temporarily at 5pm, and reopen at 6pm for the night opening.

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  • Things to do
  • Late openings
  • Ogikubo
  • Recommended

Otaguro Park in Suginami's residential district of Minami-Ogikubo is a popular spot for admiring colourful autumn leaves, especially after sunset. At night, the main path leading to the Japanese garden – lined with century-old ginkgo trees – glows in vibrant yellow, while the garden’s fiery red maples are illuminated and mirrored on the still pond, creating picture-perfect photo ops.

  • Things to do
  • Takaosan

Mt Takao is one of the most picturesque destinations in Tokyo to see autumn leaves. And one of the best ways to do that is by taking the scenic cable car ride, which brings you closer to the mountain’s Yakuoin temple. Here you can sample shojin ryori, a traditional Japanese Buddhist vegetarian meal. To secure a lunchtime seat, be sure to book a reservation for two or more people at least two days in advance via phone.

The best time to see the autumn leaves for 2025 is mid to late November, when the foliage around the cable car tracks turns deep orange and red.

Throughout the duration of the festival, you can also look forward to a host of free events at Kiyotaki Station, the cable car stop at the base of Mt Takao, including musical and dance performances by local university students. While details are yet to be announced for 2025, check the event's English website for the latest updates.

As is the case every year, the base of Mt Takao will be crowded in autumn, so it’s best to arrive via public transport.

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  • Things to do
  • Harajuku

Dubbed Ao no Dokutsu, meaning blue cavern, this breathtaking illumination was a huge hit when it made its debut along the Meguro River back in 2014. The now annual event made a comeback in Shibuya in 2016, where it will again bathe the tree-lined walkway leading to Yoyogi Park in a fantastical blue glow this holiday season until Christmas Day.

Stretched out for 900 metres along Koen-dori and Yoyogi Park Events Square, the fantastical display is made up of around 500,000 blue LEDs. The lights are also reflected off the ground to create an immersive experience. At the end of the tunnel, you’ll find a gigantic inflatable snowman illuminated with festive projection mapping this year, inspired by ‘Christmas and Shibuya’.

The illuminations take place daily between 5pm and 10pm.

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  • Things to do
  • Marunouchi

Marunouchi Street Park, which comprises the areas along Marunouchi Naka-dori and Gyoko-dori streets, is illuminated with festive lights in the evening. Coinciding with the illuminations, there will be a Christmas market serving baked goods and hot beverages on both streets until December 25, as well as stalls offering Western antiques. In front of the Marunouchi Nichome Building, you’ll find plenty of benches to rest on while enjoying live music (times are yet to be announced).

Also, don’t miss the brilliantly lit Christmas trees along Gyoko-dori – making their debut in 2025. This picturesque street offers a stunning view of the iconic Tokyo Station building, plus ten festive food stalls dishing out hearty winter favourites like homemade pizza, hot dogs and stew.

The illuminations take place daily from 11am to 10pm. Gyoko-dori markets begin on November 28.

  • Shopping
  • Roppongi

One of Tokyo’s newest Christmas markets, located in the Azabudai Hills complex, is returning this holiday season with more than 15 stalls set up in the Central Green. This event's centrepiece is a giant Christmas fir tree decorated with five different types of lights that gently illuminate the market in champagne gold. Treats include everything from sausages and vegetables topped with melted raclette cheese and hot chocolate served by Hills House Dining 33, to mulled wine, goulash, pretzels and bratwursts from German Christmas Stand. Even vegans, who are often overlooked at these annual food markets, have something to keep their spirits high, with plant-based foods like gluten-free stollen from Eightablish.

Knick-knacks on offer include Christmas ornaments, elaborate Christmas cards and festive mugs, but we’ve got our eyes on Balcony by 6th’s popular Basque cheesecakes and juicy fried chicken — a true Japanese Christmas staple.

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  • Things to do
  • Shinanomachi

In Germany and many other parts of Europe, Christmas markets transform central city squares into charming, romantic destinations with decorations, festive lights, hot spiced wine, sweets and stalls selling local crafts.

The Tokyo Christmas Market brings this same spirit to Japan, with a festive selection of food, drinks and European-style ornaments. There’s even a 14-metre-high Christmas pyramid installation brought over from a German village (the Christmas pyramid may be unfamiliar, but it actually has a history as old as the Christmas tree). Returning for the 10th time this holiday season, the Tokyo Christmas Market has become a familiar highlight of the city’s festive season calendar.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online, which comes with a free mug. (Adult tickets only)

  • Things to do
  • Roppongi

Now in its 19th year, Roppongi Hills’s popular German-style Christmas market is modelled after the market in the German city of Stuttgart. At O-yane Plaza, you’ll find handmade ornaments and nutcracker decorations from Käthe Wohlfahrt, plus classic carols and plenty of festive décor. When you get hungry and thirsty, there are Christmas market staples such as sausages and beer to enjoy. Don’t miss the nearby illuminations at Roppongi’s Keyakizaka Street, which add to the festive atmosphere.

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  • Things to do
  • Oshiage

German-inspired Christmas markets are taking Tokyo by storm, and this one is no exception. Tokyo Solamachi Christmas Market offers all the usual attractions like wooden stalls with various holiday accessories, beer, warm glühwein, hot chocolate and traditional confectionery such as stollen cake and waffles. The lighting in the market area combines nicely with the golden winter illuminations at Tokyo Skytree and the four-metre-tall Christmas tree, creating a homely atmosphere at Solamachi’s Sky Arena.

The Christmas market is open daily until 10pm.

  • Things to do
  • Nerima

If you're visiting the Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter this holiday season, you’re in for a treat. Tokyo’s hottest Harry Potter attraction has gone all out for its third Christmas celebration with a stunning six-metre-tall Christmas tree, a 1:24 scaled reproduction of Hogwarts Castle covered in snow, plenty of sparkling illuminations and a special food menu, all inspired by the first Christmas scene from ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. 

Themed 'Hogwarts in the Snow', the Warner Bros. Studio Tour's holiday extravaganza has painstakingly recreated the Hogwarts Christmas scene from the first film with a breathtaking festive makeover of its Great Hall. New for 2025, the studio’s Christmas tree–decked Great Hall will feature a dazzling display of 400 floating candles – just like in the film – casting a warm, magical glow. You'll also find a stunning Christmas tree in the lobby while illuminations are spread out across the premises including around the entrance lobby. The light-ups come on in the evening until 30 minutes after closing time.

As for the holiday menu, each of the Studio Tour's three food outlets is serving Christmas specials. For instance, you'll find a Christmas afternoon tea set and a buche de Noël Christmas cake at Backlot Cafe, a s'more dessert pizza at the Food Hall, and Christmas tree ice cream cones at the Frog Cafe.

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  • Things to do
  • Tama area

If you’re looking for the most OTT illumination in Tokyo, this is it. Yomiuri Land's annual winter light show will bedazzle even the most jaded illumination-fiend. As the name suggests, jewels are the focus here: literally millions of colourful LEDs are set up throughout the vast theme park evoking sparkling gems. The park is split into ten areas where you will be treated to beautifully lit attractions. 

In addition to the 180-metre rainbow-lit Jewellery Promenade and the 140-metre Crystal Passage illumination tunnel, you can also admire the newly built 'Sky-Go-Land' Ferris wheel, which features a special two-sided light display — a dazzling diamond pattern on the east side and elegant gold on the west. The highlight, however, is the fountain show, with water illuminated in different colours and sprayed into the air to create stunning shapes. There are three kinds of show happening every 15 minutes from 5pm daily. Also look out for the fountain’s flames and lasers, which are synchronised to music.

 There will be no illuminations from March 2 to March 13, 2026.

  • Things to do
  • Sagamiko

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.

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  • Things to do
  • Oimachi

The annual illuminations at Oi Racecourse (also known as Tokyo City Keiba) are returning for their seventh run, with the sprawling venue bathed in colourful lights every evening. You can enjoy elaborate light-up and projection mapping displays across two areas.

Upon entering the venue, you’ll find yourself in the Twinkle area, where you’ll walk through a long corridor lit up with twinkling blue lights leading you to the main attractions. Aside from the vivid light projections on the ground and a rainbow-coloured Christmas tree, you’ll also come across the Aurora Forest with glowing trees and laser-lit mists. This particular attraction puts on regular five-minute light shows synchronised to music. 

The Wa no Kirameki area, on the other hand, occupies the centre of the racecourse. Here, a colourful water fountain becomes the centre of an aurora light display synchronised to music. There's also an illuminated cherry blossom tunnel, a large trellis of artificial wisteria all decked out with pink and purple lights, plus an illumination recreating a typical Japanese rural landscape complete with paddy fields and a stream.

What's more, with this event taking place at a racecourse, you can even pet and take photos with real horses.

Note: The illuminations are closed on November 10-14, December 24-31 & January 1 2026.

  • Things to do
  • Roppongi

Tokyo Midtown is looking very festive for Christmas this year, with 240,000 bubble lights lined up along the 80m-long walkway in front of 21_21 Design Sight. Depicting a Christmas townscape enveloped in gold, the lights gradually shift to an icy blue hue to evoke a beautiful snowscape as it begins to snow. The trees flanking the street at Midtown Garden Plaza are also decked out in 340 thousand champagne gold lights. 

While you're there, don't miss the return of the beloved fir Christmas tree at the Midtown Garden, beautifully decorated with mirrored ornaments and elegant gold and blue lights.

There are more festive decorations in Tokyo Midtown, including a four-metre-tall indoor Santa Tree made up of hundreds of tiny Santas. For those looking to get active, the shopping centre has set up an ice skating rink until February 24.

The lights at Tokyo Midtown come on daily from 5pm to 11pm.

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  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Enoshima

Enoshima’s annual illumination is widely touted as one of the three biggest and most impressive light-up events in Greater Tokyo, alongside the ones at Ashikaga Flower Park and Sagamiko. There are about 10 illumination spots scattered across the hilly island – including the Enoshima Shrine, Ryuren Bell of Love on Lover's Hill and Nakatsumiya Square – so put on some comfortable shoes as you’ll be trekking a lot.

Don’t miss the main attraction located at the island’s iconic Enoshima Sea Candle lighthouse, which is decked out in 70m-long strings of lights stretching from the tip of the tower to the ground, creating a formation similar to the silhouette of Mt Fuji.

The Samuel Cocking Garden, where the Sea Candle is located, is transformed into the dreamy Hoseki (bejewelled) Forest, where everything from the ground and the grass to the trees are covered in purple lights. Keep an eye out for the Shonan Chandelier tunnel, all decked out with luxurious crystal beads and LED lights. New for 2025, the Samuel Cocking Garden will also feature a dazzling sea urchin-inspired installation created by MirrorBowler.

Most attractions are open from 5pm to 8pm (until 9pm on weekends and holidays). You can see some of the light-ups on Enoshima for free, but you will need a ticket (¥500, children ¥250) to enter the Samuel Cocking Garden, which hosts the largest illuminations.

If you're on the island early during daylight hours, head over to Enoshima Iwaya (¥500, children ¥200), as the island's famous cave, created by decades of wave erosion, is bedecked with sparkling lights from 9am to 5pm.

Package tickets, including entrance to Enoshima Sea Candle, Samuel Cocking Garden, and Esca escalators, can be purchased for ¥1,550 (¥750) via Emot.

  • Art
  • Uguisudani

The Tokyo Biennale returns with an invitation to explore the city through the theme ‘Wander for Wonder’. From October 17 to December 14, the international art festival transforms the capital into a living gallery, bringing together 38 artist groups from seven countries in a city-wide celebration of walking, discovery and creativity.

Taking place across two main venues – Ueno’s 400-year-old Kan’eiji Temple and the Etoile Kaito Living Building – alongside six exhibition areas including Ueno, Kanda, Nihonbashi and Marunouchi, the Biennale blends contemporary art with Tokyo’s deep cultural layers. Installations emerge at temples, across public spaces, in shops and vacant properties, creating a unique urban tapestry of expression and memory.

Curated to be a ‘social dive’, the Biennale encourages visitors to encounter art through movement, echoing the artistic legacies of walking-based practices by figures such as Yoko Ono and Gabriel Orozco. As people stroll through neighbourhoods and engage with their surroundings, each step becomes part of a creative process.

Tokyo Biennale 2025 looks set to be a journey of serendipitous encounters, offering a fresh lens on the city’s untold stories and its vibrant potential for connection through art.

Many of the exhibitions and events at the Tokyo Biennale are free. However, select exhibitions charge entrance fees. For those seeking a comprehensive experience, all-access passes are available for ¥3,000 per adult (or ¥2,500 if purchased in advance) and ¥1,800 for students (advance passes ¥1,500). These passes grant unlimited access to all venues during the festival period.

For a detailed program and more information, visit the Tokyo Biennale’s website.

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  • Things to do
  • Kanagawa

This winter, the Sagamihara City Museum invites visitors on an interstellar adventure where science meets imagination, plus more cuddly Pokémon than you can shake a stick at. ‘Pokémon Observatory’ is organised in collaboration with the Pokémon Company, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and JAXA, transforming the mysteries of the universe into a playful, educational journey guided by the beloved creatures of the Pokémon world.

From the familiar glow of the Moon and Sun to distant galaxies, the exhibition employs the world of Pokémon to explain celestial phenomena in engaging, accessible ways. Visitors of all ages will get to explore how the fantastical ecologies of Pokémon mirror the diversity and wonder of the cosmos. And yes, of course – there’ll be limited-edition merch available. Among the highlights is the debut of Starry Sky Pikachu, a plush mascot sold exclusively at the venue.

With interactive displays and imaginative storytelling, ‘Pokémon Observatory’ captures the spirit of discovery, and invites young and old to gaze upward and ask new questions about the universe.

  • Art
  • Roppongi

From November 14 to January 12, Tokyo City View hosts 'All of Evangelion', an art exhibition to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the beloved Evangelion franchise. 

As its name suggests, the exhibition spans the entirety of Evangelion's decades-long history, featuring everything from original cels and drawings from the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series to never-before-seen digital materials from the Rebuild of Evangelion films.

Take a closer look at the exhibition here.

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  • Art
  • Omotesando

Pop art impresario Andy Warhol (1928–1987) blurred the boundaries between high culture and mass consumption, transforming everyday objects and the faces of celebrities into icons of contemporary art. His fascination with fame, beauty and repetition made him both a mirror of his age and a relentless critic of it, leaving behind a body of work that continues to resonate in today’s image-saturated culture.

Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo’s ‘Serial Portraits’ showcase is part of the Fondation Louis Vuitton’s Hors-les-murs program, which brings highlights from its Paris collection to audiences worldwide. This free exhibition focuses on Warhol’s radical reinvention of portraiture, from his playful photo booth experiments in the early 1960s to the spectral self-portraits he made shortly before his death.

Highlights like the Self-Portraits series (1977–1986) are displayed alongside both celebrated and lesser-known works to offer insight into Warhol’s evolving exploration of identity, celebrity and the endless possibilities of repetition. By juxtaposing iconic images with hidden gems, the exhibition reveals how Warhol turned portraiture into a stage for both personal reflection and cultural critique.

  • Art
  • Harajuku

The Watari-um’s ‘One More’ brings together two global icons of contemporary urban art: Brazilian twins Osgemeos and American artist Barry McGee. Emerging from graffiti and street culture, both artists have redefined the boundaries between public art and the museum space, infusing walls, cities and galleries around the world with vivid colour, rhythm and humanity.

Known for their dreamlike murals and whimsical characters, Osgemeos have exhibited from the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington to Milan’s Pirelli HangarBicocca. McGee, celebrated for his bold, socially engaged work under the tag ‘Twist’, has been a central figure in the American street art scene, showing monumental installations at SFMOMA and the Venice Biennale.

With ‘One More’, the duo transforms the Watari-um into a dynamic playground of imagination. Conceived as a spontaneous dialogue between long-time friends and collaborators, the exhibition blurs the lines between painting, sculpture, animation and installation. Expect a universe where urban energy meets poetic introspection – a celebration of creativity, community, and the enduring spirit of the streets that inspires the artists.

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  • Art
  • Ueno

Tsukasa Hojo’s popular manga City Hunter debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1985, and the action comedy series has since become firmly established in the Japanese comics canon. The story follows the charismatic but easily distracted private investigator Ryo Saeba, an inveterate womaniser, as he takes on high-stakes missions in Tokyo, helping those in need while navigating an ever-expanding cast of allies and adversaries. Known for its gripping blend of action, humour and heartfelt moments, City Hunter has inspired anime adaptations, films, and live-action interpretations around the world.

To commemorate the manga’s 40th anniversary, the Ueno Royal Museum will be hosting ‘Forever, City Hunter’ from November 22 to December 28 2025. The special showcase is set to feature a vast collection of original artwork, tracing the series’ evolution over four decades. Fans will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of City Hunter through rare illustrations, behind-the-scenes sketches, and iconic moments that have defined the series.

Sharing his thoughts on the milestone, Tsukasa Hojo humorously noted that while protagonist Ryo Saeba repeatedly proclaims himself ‘twenty years old’ (regardless of his real age), City Hunter is now celebrating its ‘second coming-of-age ceremony’. Here’s to hoping that Ryo’s adventures will continue to resonate with readers for decades to come.

  • Things to do
  • pop-ups
  • Shibuya

French graphic artist Jean Jullien, the mastermind behind the playful atrium installations at Ginza Six shopping centre in 2022, is returning to Tokyo. His cute collaboration pop-up with Doraemon is taking place this December at Shibuya Parco’s first-floor Dairokkan pop-up space.

Titled ‘Strange Inventions’, the exhibition highlights Jullien’s works that play on the themes of invention and imagination, inspired by the earless blue robotic cat Doraemon. Expect to see the pop-up lined with blueprint sketches and humorous drawings of various inventions. While you’re there, don’t miss the limited-run merch on sale – including hats, shirts and stationery featuring original drawings of Doraemon.

Jean Jullien himself will be at the venue on opening day (Dec 4 from 3pm) for a signing session.

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  • Art
  • Tachikawa

Noritake Suzuki is an acclaimed picture book author known for his wit, vibrant illustrations, and deep empathy for childhood wonder. Born in Hamamatsu in 1975, Suzuki got his big break with Ketchup Man in 2008 and has since captivated readers with hits like the Shigotoba, The Working Place of Japan Professionals series and the bestselling Big Pinch Picture Book, which earned him the top prize at the MOE Picture Book Awards in both 2022 and 2024.

From October 8 to December 7, the Play Museum in Tachikawa serves as host for the artist’s imaginative world by way of an exhibition based on Suzuki’s hit Big Pinch book series, which depicts the small yet dramatic ‘crises’ children face in everyday life. 

Labelled ‘pinch entertainment’, it’s an immersive experience where you get to step into, play with and even create your own cartoon disasters. From oversized spilt milk to interactive ‘pinch’ games, the exhibition transforms anxiety into laughter.

Exclusive to this Play Museum exhibition are original sketches, early illustrations and hands-on installations that visitors of all ages can enjoy. For fans of imaginative storytelling and joyful problem-solving, this is a must-visit celebration of life’s little mishaps.

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Shibuya

Shohei Ochiai paints like he’s trying to capture noise. His work pulls from the chaos of everyday Tokyo – billboards, backstreets, people passing too fast to register – and turns it into warped, colourful canvases that feel alive. He’s collaborated with Tamagotchi and even Pharrell’s Joopiter, but it’s his ability to make the ordinary feel electric that defines him.

For his new show ‘Aesthetic’ at Diesel Art Gallery, Ochiai takes on Shibuya itself, rebuilding the city through his own lens. The exhibition folds in sound, light, and fragments of the neighbourhood until the space feels more like a remix than a gallery. It’s Shibuya the way you feel it at 2am – loud, bright, and slightly unreal.


To mark the opening, Diesel is releasing a black and white hoodie collaboration with Ochiai, available from Diesel Shibuya and online later this month.

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  • Art
  • Painting
  • Ueno

Few artists have touched the soul of modern art as profoundly as Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890). In a mere decade, the Dutchman produced an astonishing body of work, including vivid landscapes, tormented portraits and expressive still lifes, that continues to resonate deeply with audiences worldwide.

Yet Van Gogh’s posthumous fame owes much to those closest to him: his brother Theo, Theo’s wife Johanna, and their son Vincent Willem. Together, they ensured that the painter’s vision and legacy would endure for generations.

The first exhibition in Japan to focus on the Van Gogh family and their collection, ‘Van Gogh’s Home’ at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum features over 30 of its protagonist’s works, from early drawings to late masterpieces, as well as four letters shown on these shores for the first time. The display traces the journey of the collection from the artist’s death to the present day, with highlights including immersive digital experiences and rarely seen works by Van Gogh’s contemporaries.

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