Things to do in Tokyo today

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 6.30pm (Apr from 7pm, May-Aug from 7.30pm) to 9.45pm. For more details and to check the full programme of...

The annual Fuji Shibazakura Festival is returning this spring with a staggering 500,000 pink, purple and white blooms from April 12 to May 25. With its seemingly endless fields of shibazakura (pink moss) and view of majestic Mt Fuji on the horizon, it's no wonder that this annual spring festival out at Lake Motosu in Yamanashi typically attracts hordes of Tokyoites over Golden Week.  In addition to the eight kinds of shibazakura, you’ll get to see other colourful blooms like cherry blossoms, grape hyacinth, poppy anemone and forsythia. While you’re here, it’s also worth checking out the adjacent Peter Rabbit-themed English Garden, decorated with around 300 kinds of plants as well as figurines of the characters from the storybook.  One of the best ways to get here is by highway bus. A round-trip ticket including festival entry fee starts from ¥8,800, with the bus departing from Ueno Station Park Exit, in front of Tokyu Plaza Ginza and in front of Kogakuin University near Shinjuku Station West exit. It takes you directly to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival in around two and a half hours. We recommend making reservations in advance because seats can fill up quickly during spring. Otherwise, you can opt for the two-hour-long Limited Express Fuji Excursion train from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko Station, and hop on the Fuji Shibazakura liner shuttle bus for another 50 minutes to get to the venue.

The creator of seminal works of manga that have profoundly influenced cyberpunk aesthetics and futuristic storytelling, Masamune Shirow is best known for Ghost in the Shell, Appleseed and Dominion. As a pioneer in the study of the implications of artificial intelligence on society, the Kobe-born artist has been exploring the intersection of technology, humanity and consciousness since the 1980s, captivating audiences with his ability to foresee a digitalised future in ways that remain highly relevant today. From April 12 to August 17, the Setagaya Literary Museum is hosting ‘The World of Masamune Shirow: ‘The Ghost in the Shell’ and the Path of Creation’, an exhibition offering an unprecedented glimpse into the artist’s creative world. The show coincides with the 30th anniversary of Ghost in the Shell’s legendary 1995 anime adaptation, as well as the 30th anniversary of the museum. Visitors will have a rare opportunity to explore the mind of an artist who redefined the cyberpunk genre, gaining an in-depth look at Shirow’s groundbreaking storytelling and visual mastery.

Head over to Komazawa Olympic Park during Golden Week to spend an entire day sampling some of Japan’s best gyoza. There will be 17 stalls offering more than 30 different styles of this quintessential Japanese dumpling. Enjoy deep fried shoyu butter corn gyoza from Hokkaido, juicy seafood squid dumplings from Fukuoka, baked xiaolongbao-style gyoza from Osaka, Hakata-style hitokuchi (bite-size) gyoza, strawberry milk cheese dessert gyoza from Tokyo, and much more. There will also be other dishes like fried rice to go with the gyoza, as well as craft beers from Hokkaido Brewing, Fujizakura Heights Beer and Fuji Premium Brewing. There’s no entry fee, so you can just pay as you go. If you want to forgo the hassle of paying at each store, there is a package deal sold online for ¥4,000, which includes five meal tickets and a fast ticket to skip one queue.

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.

Taking over the expansive outdoor lawn within the children’s play area at Meiji Shrine’s Outer Gardens, the Forest Beer Garden distinguishes itself from other boozy events in town with its lush green surrounds and bubbling waterfall. The popular two-hour all-you-can-eat (¥6,000) option includes everything from barbecue beef, pork and lamb to veggies, yakisoba noodles, grilled onigiri and even ice pops. It includes an all-you-can-drink selection of seven kinds of beers including Kirin and Heineken, in addition to whisky, sours, wine and soft drinks. To mark its 40th anniversary, the beer garden is offering a special menu option (¥7,000) this year, with all-you-can-drink craft beer from Spring Valley Brewery and an all-you-can-eat seafood platter. Despite being one of the largest beer gardens in Tokyo with a capacity for around 1,000 people, the event can get extremely busy at weekends, so advance bookings are recommended via the website.

This Golden Week, an outdoor cinema festival is taking place at six different locations around Yokohama’s seaside neighbourhood of Minato-Mirai. You’ll be able to catch both Japanese and international movies at the various venues across the holidays from May 2 to May 6. While most films are dubbed in Japanese, there are four movies that will be screened in English with Japanese subtitles. All of the English-language movies are being screened at the Marine & Walk Yokohama. You can catch the Korean romantic drama 'Past Lives' featuring Greta Lee on May 3, French-Japanese comedy drama 'Super Happy Forever' on May 4, Spanish-French animated film 'Robot Dreams' on May 5 and the 2024 Japanese action comedy film 'Baby Assassins: Nice Days' on May 6. All three showings start at 6.40pm and no ticket is required – just show up and enjoy the film.  You can also catch movies at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, Pacifico Yokohama, Bay Quarter and World Porters. A live broadcast talk show will also be taking place at Yokohama Hammerhead. For more information about the screenings, check the website.

Niku Fes is back this Golden Week, bringing one of Tokyo's biggest meat festivals to Odaiba. The festival is being upgraded this year with more seats than ever before, plus plenty of live music as well as an extensive line-up of meat dishes. You can feast on meaty delights such as A5-ranked steak, wagyu sushi, slow-roasted beef, beefy cheeseburgers and kebabs from around two dozen restaurants across Japan. Make sure to also try dishes from one of the eleven restaurants participating in the Steak King Championship. These restaurants are serving up their own unique takes on the classic steak, and it’s up to you to crown the winner. As for the drinks, there will be craft beer from Abashiri Beer in Hokkaido and refreshing Mexican Cuervo lemon sours to accompany your meal. You can enjoy desserts, too, including churros, gelato and kakigori shaved ice.  While there are plenty of benches to sit on, including a family area which is available after buying 10 meal tickets, purchasing the VIP experience gets you a dining space for four people. This deal features table service in a comfortable, shaded seating area. You can reserve it in advance on the website for ¥9,800.  On April 28, 30, May 1 and 2, the entire facility will transform into a beer garden from 4pm to 9pm, when all beers will be ¥500. The first 500 people to enter from 4pm will receive free Niku Fes official goods.  Need a break from all the eating? Head over to the stage area for live music during the day. Headliners...

Yokohama's Minatomirai area will be transformed into a Star Wars galaxy over Golden Week to celebrate Star Wars Day on May 4. For fans of the iconic space saga, May 4 is known as Star Wars Day, as the iconic line ‘May the force be with you’ cheekily sounds a lot like ‘May the 4th be with you’.  Celebrations include a host of events and exhibitions that will take place across Minatomirai, at venues such as Landmark Plaza, Mark Is Minato Mirai, Yokohama City Hall, Grand Mall Park and around Sakuragicho Station. At Landmark Plaza, you’ll find an exhibition featuring images of famous scenes from the movies showcased along with music. The plaza will also host a Yoda statue on the third floor as well as posters for all the movies. There'll also be a Star Wars Pop-up Store where you can pick up merch like T-shirts, tote bags, figurines and smartphone accessories. A special screening of all nine Star Wars movies will be held at the new United Cinemas theatre in Mark Is Minato Mirai from April 25 to May 6. The movies will be in English with Japanese subtitles. Additionally, don't miss the 3D lifesize Lego models of spacecraft like the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon and the iconic speeder bike, shown at the Mark Is Minato Mirai Grand Galleria. At the adjacent Grand Mall Park, there will be a character meet and greet, where you can take memorable photos with costumed fans dressed as popular Star Wars characters, as well as live performances of Star Wars-themed songs from May 3 to...

The style of Japanese woodblock printing known as ukiyo-e (‘images of the floating world’) flourished during the Edo period (1603–1867). Artists captured the vibrant spirit of the ‘floating world’, a phrase that evoked both the pleasures of urban life and the fleeting nature of existence. Characterised by precise lines, luminous pigments, and depictions of kabuki actors, courtesans and landscapes, ukiyo-e became the defining art form of its time. Masters like Sharaku, Utamaro and Hokusai elevated the genre into a cultural touchstone whose influence endures worldwide. That lasting impact is on display at ‘Ukiyo-e In Play’, hosted by the Hyokeikan at the Tokyo National Museum until June 15. Organised by the Adachi Foundation for the Preservation of Woodcut Printing, the exhibition features works by 85 contemporary artists, designers and creators who reinterpret the ukiyo-e legacy through collaboration with artisans working with traditional carving and printing methods. A highlight of the show is the section called ‘Ukiyo-e Artists Today’, where new prints by the likes of renowned pop artist Keiichi Tanaami are presented. Visitors are invited to discover how ukiyo-e has remained a vibrant, playful and resolutely modern art form through the centuries.