Things to do in Tokyo this week

The 7,800sqm azalea garden at Jindai Botanical Garden has around 12,000 flowers that reach peak bloom from mid-April through to the beginning of May. You can see around 270 kinds of azalea that cover the entire field in shades of pink, red and white. There’s also a viewing platform from where you can get a 360-degree view of the azalea garden.

For much of the year, Shiofune Kannonji is a quiet temple on the foothills of Ome, off the beaten path. However, once a year, crowds flock to see the temple grounds come to life in a vibrant array of colours during the annual azalea festival.

The main attraction of this festival is the scenery: a spectacular display of 20,000 azaleas of 20 varieties that blanket a valley with a patchwork of pink, white, purple and green colours. The best time to see them is around Golden Week. 

Coinciding with the bloom, the Shiofune Kannonji Azalea Festival is also hosting a fire-walking event on May 3 to pray for the blessings of the deity Fudo. The public is welcome to take on the challenge of walking over red-hot charcoal in exchange for a charm that is said to help ward off evil. Expect to also see live performances, such as a magic show, (April 18 from 11am and 1pm), a Koto performance (April 19 from 10am, 11am, 1pm & 2pm), traditional Japanese Nihon buyo dance performances (April 25 from 11am & 1.30pm) and a taiko drumming performance (April 29 from 11am & 1pm).

There's a ¥300 entry fee (primary school children and younger ¥100) during the azalea season. Check the temple's Facebook page for the latest blooming updates. 

If you’re craving some Taiwanese food this spring, then drop by Tokyo Skytree Town for its Taiwan Festival. Head over to the fourth floor of Sky Arena until May 31 to feast on Taiwanese food throughout the day. Several stalls are offering popular Taiwanese festival cuisine such as lu rou fan (braised pork over rice), sheng jian bao (pan-fried soup dumplings) and da ji pai fried chicken.

You can also shop for Taiwanese goods and even enjoy massages and fortune telling. The dining area is decorated with red and Tainan-style vibrant lanterns to give it a Taiwanese night market feel.

One of Tokyo’s largest koinobori festivals takes place at the foot of Tokyo Skytree, with 1,000 carp streamers fluttering in the air. The traditional koinobori carp streamers are put up to celebrate Children’s Day, which happens every May 5 during Golden Week. 

If you visit the fifth-floor Block 12 event space near Space 634, children can participate in a fun workshop to colour their own koinobori with guidance from carp streamer artisans for ¥500 (April 11-12). Additionally, other activities will also be taking place at venues around Tokyo Skytree Town, including a Taiwanese food festival, a workshop to make full-length embroidered carp streamers at Kyototo, and a carp streamer candy sculpting workshop at the Asakusa Amezaiku Ameshin store.

A former writer for and occasional performer on The Late Late Show with James Corden, the multi-talented Dylan Adler toured Europe last year opening for Atsuko Okatsuka and will now be making his Tokyo debut over three nights in Shibuya. The self-described ‘Jewpanese’ comedian is known for turning personal drama into hilarious bits that often incorporate musical elements, so expect a show that’s equal parts touching, irreverent and groovy.

Some parties are made for people who want to feel like they accidentally stepped into a cooler internet and Rêves events really fall into this category. The French party entity returns to Tokyo on April 24, taking over Circus as part of its 2026 tour with a line-up that already looks dangerously good: TDJ, Lorenzi, pinponpanpon, Wagahai is Neko, Yume and a full spread of other names built for the kinds of people who treat the club like both a runway and a minor emotional crisis. Doors open at 10pm, advance tickets are ¥3,000 and the price on the door is ¥3,500.

Your regular language-exchange meet up couldn’t compete with such an atmosphere. The night will be like a cross-border moodboard with better taste than most people you know. With TDJ’s glossy emotional overload, Lorenzi in the mix, and pinponpanpon bringing that cool-girl cute-meets-chaos energy, this has all the makings of a night that feels a little too pretty to be trusted.

Held all across Germany to celebrate the coming of spring, Frühlingsfest is also a familiar feature on Yokohama's Golden Week calendar. This year's edition features taps serving many types of German beer that you can't find anywhere else in Japan, such as Hofbräu's Maibock lager and Krombacher & Plank's pale lager.

Pair your brews with an extensive selection of food, including sausages, schnitzel, roast beef and diced steak with frites. New this year, the festival will also feature an outdoor barbecue area by the seafront, sponsored by outdoor gear brand Coleman. Enjoy a variety of skewered meats, locally sourced seafood and vegetables in an authentic camp-style setting, complete with a campervan, plus a dedicated grill and table for each slot. Reservations and details regarding the menu will be announced on April 10 at 10am on the official website.

There’s plenty to keep kids entertained, with this year’s edition featuring a bungee trampoline, craft workshops, a petting zoo and a laser tag booth. Meanwhile, adults can look forward to live oom-pah music.

Entry to the event is free and you just pay for food and drink as you go.

This cherry blossom festival, one of Tokyo's most popular, takes place along the 700m-long Chidorigafuchi Ryokudo promenade near the Imperial Palace, around which there are some 230 sakura trees. During the day, you can take a stroll along the Chidorigafuchi moat or even rent a rowboat to see the cherry blossoms from the water. By night, you can enjoy the pink flowers lit up with LEDs from March 26.

If you’re interested in viewing the cherry blossoms from the water, boat rentals (3 seats maximum) are available but require payment. A pre-reservation system is available to minimise wait times.

Advance online reservations cost ¥12,000 per boat and allow you to select your preferred date and time. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Chiyoda Ward Sakura Fund for the conservation of the Chidorigafuchi landscape. (change of date and time can be made until 8pm of the day before the desired date, availability permitting)

Same-day tickets purchased onsite at the Chidorigafuchi boat pier cost ¥3,000 per boat for one hour of use, which is inarguably the more affordable option. Be sure to get in line fast though, as tickets will be distributed from 9am daily and are sure to run out quickly. 

For those who can’t get a hold of tickets during the peak period between March 15 and March 31, shorter 30-minute rides are available for ¥1,000 from April 1.

For the sakura illuminations that start at sunset, expect lights out at 9pm. The boats, on the other hand, will be available from 9am to 7.30pm. 

The cherry blossoms are illuminated daily from March 26 to April 6, 2026.

The Takanawa Cherry Blossom Festival takes place in an expansive Japanese garden with around 210 cherry trees across 17 varieties. Starting with the early-blooming kawazu sakura in February, the garden offers a succession of blossoms to enjoy for nearly three months.

The cherry blossoms here are illuminated nightly from 4.30pm to midnight until April 19. During the festival, the garden paths are also lined with more than 400 ornate bamboo lanterns inspired by Takanawa Nijurokuya, an Edo-period moon-waiting ritual (1603–1868). It’s an especially scenic spot for capturing memorable sakura photos. Kimono rentals are also available.

While you're there, don't miss the exciting workshops at the Japanese garden, such as the cherry blossom bonsai crafting experience, Kyoto-style sweets-making class, outdoor morning yoga, and more. Special cherry blossom-viewing rooms and al-fresco breakfast sessions are also available for booking.

For more information on workshops and stay packages, check the event website.

Tokyo Tower is collaborating with digital art collective Naked Inc for a stunning projection mapping display this spring. This event takes place on the main deck's second floor and features projections of animals like deers, rabbits and giraffes walking among a forest covered in spring wildflowers and cherry blossom trees in vibrant pink. You can also see a Sakura Candle Monument produced by Japanese artist Candle June, which will be lit up in front of the main deck windows.

It starts at 6pm from February 28 to March 22, 6.30pm from March 23 to April 26 and 6.45pm from April 27 to May 6. Tickets cost ¥1,500 (¥1,200 for high school students, ¥900 for children, ¥600 for younger children) and can be purchased online or at the venue.

Catch the sight of cherry blossoms before anywhere else at the 60th floor observatory of Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City this spring. From February 26 to May 10, the relaxing indoor park with artificial turf will be decorated with colourful cherry blossom decorations, including branches from real Somei Yoshino cherry trees nearby. These will be set up mainly around the Tembo no Oka (‘observatory hill’) area.

Since the observatory’s whole hanami experience can be enjoyed indoors, there’s no need to worry about the weather or any irritating pollen flying around. During the event period, the Tembo Park Cafe will be offering a special hanami menu featuring treats such as the Sakura Peach Soda Float and the Haruno-otozure (coming of spring) parfait. You can borrow a picnic blanket at the venue and sit down on the turf with your refreshments. 

If you’re visiting after nightfall, don’t miss the chance to try the glowing Yozakura Soda, which is inspired by illuminated cherry blossoms in the night sky. It’s the perfect complement to the beautifully lit cherry blossom ornaments and eye-catching views of Tokyo. Handheld lanterns are also available to borrow after dusk, further enhancing the atmosphere.

Tokyo’s cherry blossoms may be gone for another year, but you can still enjoy this sakura-themed event at the Andaz Tokyo’s Rooftop Bar until the end of April. Take in a stunning view of Tokyo from 250m above ground at the Rooftop Bar, which looks out over the iconic Tokyo Tower, while enjoying seasonal food and free-flowing drinks. 

The Yozakura Premium View Plan includes a selection of canapés, with a lot of cherry blossom inspiration. Expect sakura shrimp quiche, beef sliders, sakura-marinated olives, beetroot salad with tofu dip, egg sandwiches, smoked Fuji salmon tartare, fried chicken and cheesy gougère puffs.

Plans start from ¥9,350 per person with a glass of Saint Marguerite Fantastique Rose plus unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks, in addition to the canapés. Champagne sets go for ¥11,000 (one welcome glass) and ¥15,950 (free-flowing champagne). The Yozakura Premium View Plan is available daily until April 26 and you can make reservations here.

You can’t go wrong with the cherry blossom afternoon tea at The Peninsula Tokyo. Served in the hotel’s elegant lobby alongside the striking Sakura Kamon washi-paper installation and to the tunes of live music, it’s a refined way to celebrate the season. Presented on the signature birdcage stand, the set features six sweets and seven savoury bites crafted from the season’s best ingredients. 

Highlights include a shio-koji marinated chicken panini with chirimen sansho mayonnaise and pressed sakura sea bream sushi, alongside sweets like hojicha layered cake and matcha strawberry treats. Freshly baked plain and sakura scones with clotted cream and preserves complete the spring experience.

Savour sakura season alongside one of spring’s standout citrus fruits – the dekopon orange – with this elegant afternoon tea at the café inside Le Pristine Tokyo at Hotel Toranomon Hills. Curated by Michelin-starred chef Sergio Herman, the menu features a mix of seasonal sweet and savoury bites that capture the flavours of spring. 

Highlights include two seasonal crostata: one inspired by cherry blossoms with sakura mousse, strawberry confit and pistachio, and another combining fresh dekopon with grapefruit and mascarpone. There are also sakura and matcha macarons, plus a dekopon Swiss roll with yuzu diplomat cream. On the savoury side, expect pizzette with Zuwai crab, oeuf mayonnaise, and mini brioche filled with mortadella and pistachio.

For something extra special, you can also opt for the seasonal ‘Sakurapolitan’ cocktail – a twist on the classic Cosmopolitan, blending cherry liqueur with huacatay-infused vodka for a subtle floral aroma and deep fruitiness.

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 ‘800’ and 'Zankyosanka' by hit Japanese pop singer and lyricist Aimer as well as ‘Pac-Man eats Tokyo’, ‘Lunar Cycle’, ‘Synergy’, ‘Tokyo Resonance’ and ‘Evolution’. On weekends, you can look forward to the aforementioned ‘Zankyosanka (Aimer)’, as well as ‘Godzilla: Attack on Tokyo’ and ‘TYO337’, a display featuring motifs of traditional Japanese performing arts such as Kabuki paired with electronic beats. 

From March 20, Pokémon Trading Card Game ‘Tokyo Luminous Night’, a brand-new projection-mapping show featuring Pokémon cards on a massive scale, has been running on weekends and holidays from 6.30pm, 7.30pm and 9pm. Be sure to check the event website for more details.

Shows take place every night at fifteen-minute intervals from 6pm (Mar from 6.30pm, 7pm from Apr, 7.30pm from May to Aug) to 9.45pm. For more details and to check the full programme of daily projection mapping shows, visit here.

This expansive exhibition is the largest in the Doraemon franchise’s 56-year history, bringing together manga panels, animation, sculptures, limited-edition merch and a themed food menu all starring the world’s favourite blue robot cat and his friends. It launched in Hong Kong in July 2024, attracting over five million visitors during its month-long run. Since then, it has continued to captivate fans across Asia, making its way through several cities including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Bangkok, and Kaohsiung in Taiwan.

The exhibition space contains over 100 distinct Doraemon figures, each with its own expression and costume. In addition to showcasing the content from the previous cities, the Tokyo exhibition also features Japan-exclusive works. Here you can see Doraemon transformed into a shiba inu, a sumo wrestler and a few other forms inspired by Japanese culture, as well as view two original animations not seen elsewhere.

‘100% Doraemon & Friends’ runs until September 30 and is open from 10am to 6pm daily (last entry 5.30pm). Tickets start from ¥2,400 for adults, ¥1,800 for primary and secondary school students and ¥1,600 for children four years old and below – purchase yours here. As an added bonus, upon arrival exhibition visitors receive one of nine Doraemon-themed acrylic pins and one of four promotional cards (both chosen at random).

Step into a world of vibrant chrysanthemums this spring at this free collaborative exhibition between teamLab and Galaxy. Now in its fifth year, the interactive, immersive space at Galaxy Harajuku uses cutting-edge projection mapping to depict flowers caught in an endless cycle of birth and death. Reach out to touch them and they’ll wither; stand still beside them and they’ll bloom more quickly.

Look down and you’ll see flowing currents of gold beneath your feet – traces shaped by your very presence. The movements of others create their own currents, which intertwine and form swirling vortices. The result is a constantly shifting environment where no two moments are ever the same. The Galaxy store also invites visitors to capture these fleeting scenes using the foldable smartphones available at the venue.

Martin Margiela is one of the most influential and enigmatic figures in contemporary creative culture. The Belgian rose to prominence with the founding of Maison Martin Margiela in 1988, redefining fashion through deconstruction, anonymity and radical reinterpretation of form. Having left the fashion industry in 2008, Margiela turned fully toward visual art, where he continues to explore themes of the human body, absence, time, transformation, and the poetry of the overlooked

Showing from April 11 to April 29, ‘Martin Margiela at Kudan House’ marks the artist’s first large-scale solo exhibition in Japan. Set within a registered cultural property completed in 1927, the exhibition unfolds as a series of ephemeral installations staged throughout the historic residence. Margiela was drawn to the charged contrast between contemporary artworks and the intimate atmosphere of a lived-in architectural space.

Collage, painting, drawing, sculpture, assemblage and video coexist across the mansion’s rooms, inviting visitors into a close and contemplative encounter with the works. Reuse, fragmentation and metamorphosis remain central concerns, as everyday materials are subtly transformed into poetic propositions. Conceived and curated entirely by the artist, the exhibition reflects Margiela’s enduring desire not to provide answers, but to pose questions, with disarming intimacy.

Internationally recognised photographer and film director Mika Ninagawa is hosting a solo exhibition at the homey and intimate DDDArt art gallery in Shimokitazawa this spring. Much smaller in scale than the likes of her recent projects in Kyoto, at Expo 2025 and Tokyo Node, the exhibition takes a step back to revisit Ninagawa’s body of work, from her early career to her latest creations.

Coinciding with the launch of her latest photo book with the same name, the exhibition brings the artist’s worldview to life in a physical space. As if the vibrant pages of the book were superimposed onto reality, the tatami-floored kominka folk house is reborn with shimmering crystal strands, red and pink paint splatters and super-saturated photo prints.

Running until May 31, the exhibit is only a short stroll away from Shimokitazawa, where Ninagawa herself spent over a decade in her formative years. Why not take a detour towards Sangenjaya for a creative journey on your next visit to the area?

Having spent over four decades redefining the relationship between art, technology and desire, Hajime Sorayama is one of Japan’s most celebrated contemporary artists. Noted for his iconic Sexy Robot series and his pioneering fusion of human sensuality and mechanical precision, Sorayama’s work has influenced generations of creators across art, design and popular culture – from RoboCop to Dior. His visionary approach, uniting the sensual with the synthetic, has earned him international acclaim and a lasting place in the subcultural art canon.

Opening this spring at the Creative Museum Tokyo, ‘Sorayama: Light, Reflection, Transparency -Tokyo-’ marks the artist’s largest retrospective in Japan to date, following its acclaimed debut in Shanghai. The exhibition traces Sorayama’s artistic evolution from his first robot painting in 1978 to his latest digital and sculptural works. Visitors will encounter highlights such as the original Aibo robot design for Sony, the artwork for Aerosmith’s Just Push Play album, and an immersive installation that embodies Sorayama’s lifelong pursuit of capturing light, air and reflections.

By blending futuristic imagination with classical mastery, Sorayama invites viewers to contemplate a world where human emotion and machine form merge in radiant harmony.

Brace yourselves – things are about to get intensely kawaii. From April 9 to June 21, the Mori Arts Center Gallery in Roppongi hosts the final and most expansive edition of a pink-hued exhibition that has toured Japan since 2021. Marking more than 60 years since the founding of cute character empire Sanrio, the show returns to Tokyo in an enriched version that looks back not only at the company’s history, but also at the birth and global rise of kawaii as a cultural language.

Before Hello Kitty’s debut in 1974 (!), Sanrio was already exploring new forms of visual softness, warmth and emotional connection. The exhibition traces this formative period, revealing how kawaii emerged as a distinct value through early designs, products and ideas. Subsequent sections delve into the creation of the company’s multifarious characters, the enduring appeal of Kitty-chan and Sanrio’s unique philosophy of growing characters together with their fans. Central to this story is Ichigo Shinbun, the fan mag that fostered a participatory culture long before the age of social media.

The exhibition culminates in a spectacular gathering of characters: over 200 appear on display, the largest number in Sanrio exhibition history, alongside a vast array of nostalgic merchandise. More than a celebration of cuteness, ‘The Beginning of Kawaii’ offers a thoughtful portrait of how Sanrio shaped, and continues to shape, a global cultural phenomenon.

When at the exhibition, be sure to also check out the collab café right next to the museum.

Ueno’s University Art Museum plays host to this landmark celebration of one of Japan’s most enduring art-focused TV programmes. Since its debut in 1976, NHK Sunday Museum (Nichiyo Bijutsukan) has aired more than 2,500 episodes, introducing audiences to masterpieces from across eras and cultures while elevating the voices of cast members, thinkers and performers who reflect on the meaning of beauty. The exhibition, on view from March 28 to June 21, revisits this half-century history through roughly 120 works presented across five thematic chapters.

Visitors will encounter iconic pieces that shaped the programme’s narrative, from prehistoric Jomon pottery and Edo-period (1603–1868) screens to Paul Cézanne’s Bathers, Alberto Giacometti’s Yanaihara I, Taro Okamoto’s Encounter and the haunting visions of Tetsuya Ishida. Archival footage and carefully selected quotes from past broadcasts, including reflections by literary giants, dancers and contemporary creators, illuminate how the show has continued to discover beauty across generations. High-definition projections, including a life-size rendering of Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, further expand the experience.

Touching on themes such as rediscovered Japanese aesthetics, the evolution of craft, the relationship between art and disaster and the intimate space of the artist’s studio, the exhibition offers a sweeping meditation on creativity. This anniversary celebration stands as a vivid tribute to a programme that has long served as a bridge between the public and beauty.

This winter, the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo presents a landmark exhibition tracing the evolution of Japan’s landscape printmaking from the twilight of the Edo period (mid-1800s) to the dawn of modernity.

At the heart of the survey stands Kiyochika Kobayashi (1847–1915), often called ‘the last ukiyo-e artist’. Published from 1876, his Tokyo Famous Places series transformed the traditional woodblock print aesthetic by infusing it with Western notions of light and shadow. Through his ‘light ray paintings’, Kiyochika, as he was known, captured the melancholic beauty of a city in transition, the lingering spirit of Edo illuminated by the glow of modernisation.

His vision, steeped in nostalgia yet alive with innovation, profoundly influenced the shin-hanga (‘new prints’) movement that emerged in the early 20th century under artists such as Hiroshi Yoshida and Hasui Kawase. These successors revived ukiyo-e craftsmanship while reimagining Japan’s landscapes for a new era.

Drawn from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, ‘From Kiyochika to Hasui’ reunites these masterpieces with their homeland, illuminating how light, both literal and emotional, guided Japan’s printmaking into the modern age.

Prepare your ponchos and panniers, as Harajuku J-fashion icon Sebastian Masuda has opened his first large-scale solo exhibition in years in Hyper Museum Hanno. The exhibition, running from March 14 to August 30, is packed with psychedelic candy-coloured installation rooms, art pieces and sculptures by Masuda himself, created over the years and brought to Japan for the event.

The exhibition unfolds across six themed spaces presented in a loose chronology, tracing Masuda’s formative experiences and how he arrived at his own understanding of kawaii after navigating personal conflicts.

While it’s taking place a bit outside central Tokyo, the exhibition offers an approachable but deep dive into Harajuku kawaii while prompting a look at where the culture is headed next. Be sure to visit the museum pop-up shop, which stocks exclusive T-shirts, stickers, omamori amulets and more.

Tickets are now on sale via Asoview, Artsticker, Lawson Ticket and Seven Ticket.