Things to do in Tokyo today

Studio Ghibli’s immersive sculpture exhibition is returning to Tokyo to captivate a new generation of fans. Featuring 3D recreations of iconic scenes from hit animated films such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle and Porco Rosso, the show is a new and improved version of Studio Ghibli’s first ever art exhibition, held in Tokyo back in 2003.  Running from May 27 to September 23 at Warehouse Terrada’s B&C and E halls in Tennozu, the exhibition will feature mock-ups of scenes such as Chihiro’s first crossing over the bridge into the bathhouse in Spirited Away, and the thrilling scene from Ponyo where the titular character rides the waves to catch up to Sosuke in the storm. The main highlight, however, is arguably the true-to-size mock up of Porco’s Savoia S-21 seaplane from Porco Rosso. When hunger strikes, head over to T-Lotus M, a waterfront event space adjacent to the exhibition venue, for some ham ramen inspired by a similar dish in Ponyo. Tickets can be purchased in combination with the Ghibli Museum or in conjunction with hotel accommodation plans. For more details and ticketing information, check the event website. (Japanese only)

Celebrate Tanabata (Star Festival) by launching sky lanterns at Todoroki Green Space Sports Ground on the Kawasaki side of the Tama River.  Tanabata is a traditional Japanese festival, where people write wishes on strips of paper and hang them on bamboo branches. This seven-day event, however, is doing things differently. Here, modern sky lanterns are lit with LEDs instead of candles, making them safer and super kid-friendly. At 8.30pm, the lanterns are released into the night sky, but unlike typical floating lanterns, these are flown like kites with strings attached, making them easy to control and retrieve afterwards. On the entertainment front, you can expect music performances each day by artists such as Chris Hart and Chay, as well as festival favourites such as shateki shooting games and food stalls serving traditional matsuri grub. While you’re there, don’t miss the chance to write and hang your wish on a tansaku paper slip.  Tickets are available for purchase on the official website.

For over a decade, My Hero Academia has captivated fans worldwide with its gripping narrative, compelling characters and high-octane battles. Created by Kohei Horikoshi, the manga debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2014 and quickly became a cornerstone of modern shonen storytelling. Its success spawned a multimedia empire, including an anime adaptation by Studio Bones, multiple animated films, spin-off manga and an upcoming live-action adaptation. With the anime’s grand finale set to air in late 2025, Kohei Horikoshi’s ‘My Hero Academia Original Art Exhibition’ serves as both a celebration of and farewell to a franchise that has left an indelible mark on the world of anime and manga. The expansive exhibition, set to run from June 21 to August 31 at Creative Museum Tokyo, promises an in-depth look at the creative process behind the beloved series. Visitors will have access to original manga pages, concept art and exclusive materials from Horikoshi himself.

Held every year for more than half a century along the Edogawa River, Katsushika's popular fireworks festival is known for the short distance between where the around 15,000 rockets are shot up and where onlookers are allowed to sit, allowing spectators to watch, listen and feel the fireworks up close. It also features the spectacular 'Niagara Falls' and 'Digital Star Mine' crackers, both supposedly representing the latest in firework technology. On your way to the river, walk along the picturesque street reaching from Shibamata's Taishakuten temple and you'll get a taste of what Edo must have been like in summer.

The whimsical world of Moomin returns to Tokyo this summer with ‘Tove Jansson and the Moomins’, opening at the Mori Arts Center Gallery from July 16 to September 17. Held in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the first Moomin novel, the exhibition offers an opportunity to explore the artistic universe of Tove Jansson, the Finnish creator behind one of the world’s most beloved literary families. Organised in cooperation with the Helsinki Art Museum, the exhibition brings together approximately 300 items that trace Jansson’s multifaceted career. From early, surrealist-inspired oil paintings and satirical cartoons from the pre- and post-war periods to original illustrations and sketches for the Moomin books and comics, the show reveals the depth and diversity of her creative legacy. Personal items and lesser-known works, many being shown in Japan for the first time, provide further insight into Jansson’s imaginative world. Visitors will also be treated to immersive installations that bring the Moomin Valley to life, inviting both long-time fans and new visitors to step into the poetic and philosophical realm of the Moomins – a world shaped by Tove Jansson’s personal values, humour and enduring artistry.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government No. 1 Building in Shinjuku serves as the backdrop for a jaw-dropping and record-breaking projection mapping show. Covering an area of a whopping 13,905sqm, the after-dark spectacle has been certified by Guinness World Records as the largest permanent display of its kind in the world. The nightly showcase features a range of visual wonders created by a mix of local and international artists. Some shows are inspired by Tokyo’s rich history, while others draw on themes like the lunar cycle.  Currently, on weeknights, you can catch striking visuals synchronised to ‘Idol’ and 'Butai ni tatte' by hit Japanese pop duo Yoasobi as well as ‘Pac-Man eats Tokyo’, ‘Lunar Cycle’, ‘Synergy’, ‘Poetic Structures’ and ‘Golden Fortune’. On weekends, you can look forward to a showcase featuring 'Godzilla: Attack on Tokyo!', the aforementioned ‘Butai ni tatte (Yoasobi)’ as well as ‘Tokyo Concerto’ and ‘TYO337’, a display featuring motifs of traditional Japanese performing arts such as Kabuki paired with electronic beats.  From April 26, ‘Tokyo Gundam in the Future’, a brand new projection mapping show featuring a Gundam with a newly reimagined Mobile Suit colour scheme, will begin on weekends and holidays every hour from 7pm (7.30pm from May 10). Be sure to check the event website for more details. Shows take place every night at half-hour intervals from 7.30pm (Sep from 7.30pm, Oct from 6pm, Nov & Dec from 5.30pm) to 9.45pm. For more details and to check the...

In the news for his role as the designer of the Expo 2025 site, Sou Fujimoto is an architect whose work explores the relationship between nature and architecture. Born in Hokkaido, he is inspired by the natural landscapes of his childhood and seeks to integrate organic forms into the built environment through an approach he calls ‘primitive future’. This philosophy translates into an exploration of the limits between indoors and outdoors and the natural and the artificial, creating spaces that invite a new experience of inhabiting it. Fujimoto’s residential projects in Japan, such as House N, House O and House T, as well as international projects such as the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London, illustrate this desire to blur spatial boundaries. His work is characterised by the use of simple materials, often only one per project, implemented in innovative ways to create complex and intriguing shapes. The balance between a defined program and the freedom of appropriation by the occupants is at the heart of his approach. Fujimoto’s first major Tokyo retrospective takes over the Mori Art Museum from July 2 to November 9. The exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of the architect’s journey over the past quarter century, showcasing his achievements. Models, plans and documentary photographs sit alongside life-size models and installations, providing an immersive visual and spatial experience of the essence of his work. The exhibition highlights projects such as the...

Step into the masterful world of Japan’s most celebrated woodblock print artist this spring at ‘Hokusai: Another Story’, held at Shibuya’s Tokyu Plaza. Utilising the latest in high-definition imaging, spatial audio and Sony’s state-of-the-art sensory technology, the exhibition promises to bring Hokusai’s iconic works to life. The main highlight of the exhibition is the vivid scenery of Hokusai's ‘Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji’, with ultra-high-definition visuals and Sony's Crystal LED displays recreating the intricate details of the work. Visualise, hear and feel the sensation of jumping on puddles or walking on dry sand, thanks in part to haptic floor technology developed by Sony PCL. Then, follow a path illuminated by bamboo lights to reach a room where you can browse master replicas of iconic ukiyo-e prints. Each replica is crafted using DTIP (3D Texture Image Processing) technology that scans every fibre of the traditional washi-paper originals to preserve the works digitally. This multisensory experience allows visitors to not only see, but truly feel, the world Hokusai depicted. Tickets must be purchased in advance through the event website.

The sleek designer toilets that took Tokyo by storm in 2018 – and later even inspired the film Perfect Days – will host a unique photography exhibit this summer, showcasing works by world-famous B&W photographer Daido Moriyama from July 19 to September 23. The main exhibition space, where Moriyama’s photographs of the designer toilets are displayed, will be the Hatagaya Public Toilet. Miles Pennington/UTokyo DLX Design Lab designed this toilet specifically with multifunctionality in mind. Envisioned to be used as an exhibition space or a pop-up kiosk – in addition to its primary function, of course – the toilet will now play the role of a photo gallery. Moreover, don’t miss this opportunity to check out the 10 other designer toilets in Shibuya ward, which for the duration of the event will all feature toilet paper adorned with imprints of Daido Moriyama’s photographs.

Feel the breeze of 1,500 windmills at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya’s annual outdoor summer fest. This picturesque event features a large dome adorned with over a thousand colourful windmills made from unused clear files from the shopping centre’s tenants. Come evening, the dome as well as the staircase at the plaza are lit up with blue and white lights, while cooling mist envelopes the area to create a mesmerising sight.  What’s more, the summer festival is hosting several family-friendly activities for everyone to enjoy on August 16 and 17, such as booths for traditional Japanese matsuri games such as rubber ball scooping, shateki shooting, ring toss and a workshop to paint your very own wind chime. The booths will be set up at the main atrium of Tokyo Midtown Hibiya. If you’re looking for a child-friendly event in the cool indoors, head to the underground plaza on August 9 and 10 for a workshop where participants can craft their very own pinwheels using unused clear files.