Things to do in Tokyo this week

Around 700 stalls line the street during the annual Setagaya Boroichi, a venerable flea market that's been going on for more than 430 years now. Held twice a year – on December 15-16 and again on January 15-16 – the event attracts tens of thousands of visitors, making it one of the highlights on Setagaya's yearly calendar.

The main area of the market is along Boroichi-dori, a street which centres around the Setagaya Daikan Yashiki, the old, thatched-roof local magistrate’s residence. We’d recommend hopping off the train at Setagaya Station on the Setagaya Line, walking along Boroichi-dori, and then leaving from Kamimachi Station. And if you don't mind the long lines, it's worth sampling one of the market's popular daikan mochi rice cakes – Boroichi's de facto official snack.

The Setagaya Line is a light railway, and tickets are available as you get on the train or at the platform. You’ll have a smoother trip if you have the fare ready beforehand (¥160 for adults, ¥80 for children). 

Art, crafts, fashion, accessories and much more – it’s all here at the annual Handmade in Japan Festival, a massive two-day celebration of artisanal crafts and creativity. The event attracts over 3,000 artists, designers and craftspeople in addition to thousands of amateur DIYers from all over Japan.

Shop for one-of-a-kind items at the market, including clothing, homeware, handicrafts and interior decorations. Or pick up a new skill at one of the many workshops – think lamp making, building a herbarium or crafting jewellery. You can also watch live painting performances, drop in on music shows and fill up at the food stalls. It’s a full-day affair.

One-day tickets go for ¥1,500 (advance purchase ¥1,300) while two-day tickets are ¥2,500 (¥2,000). You can buy tickets in advance from KKDay.

Once a regular on shows like Conan and John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show, giggling good-natured comedian Ron Funches is also known for his Gettin’ Better podcast and as an accomplished voice actor. The Los Angeles native brings joy, weirdness and undeniable charisma to Tokyo in mid-January, headlining an evening of storytelling that should leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside, no matter the weather.

Ginza Six has reinstalled its popular ice rink up at the shopping mall’s spacious rooftop garden. Visitors can glide on an artificial rink made from resin while admiring the minimalist Christmas tree installation by design studio YAR placed at its centre, slowly rotating to music by the late legendary lo-fi producer Nujabes. The rink is also lined by a number of Christmas trees, which add to the festive atmosphere.

Gloves are required when skating here – bring your own or purchase a pair at the venue for ¥400 (children ¥300). Note that children under 10 years old need to wear a helmet, which can be borrowed for free. A ticket is ¥2,000 per person (junior high school students and younger children ¥1,500) and includes skate rental.

The rink is open from 2pm to 8.30pm on weekdays, 11am to 8.30pm on weekends, holidays and between Dec 20 and Jan 4; 11am-6pm on Dec 31 and closed on Jan 1 & 2.

This large ice skating rink in Tokyo Midtown’s garden area is surrounded by greenery, but if you go skating in the evening, you'll also get the added scenery of pretty illuminations and a view of the lit-up Tokyo Tower. Wearing gloves is mandatory, so if you want to avoid paying extra for a pair (¥300) sold on site, make sure to bring your own.

The admission ticket includes helmet rental, but skate rentals are an additional ¥500. The ice rink will close if temperatures are too warm, so make sure to check the website before heading over.

The ice rink is open daily from 11am-9pm, and the last entry is 8pm (closed on Jan 1).

Located at the Red Brick Warehouse’s event plaza, this popular and spacious ice skating rink is back for its 21st edition this year. The theme this season is called ‘Left Turn’, with the area designed by illustrator Haruyo Higashi, who has created manga-like illustrations of everyday moments. Admire the continuous artwork as you circle the rink.

A ticket to the rink including skates is ¥2,000 (high school students and children aged 3 and older ¥1,200; Jan 5 onwards ¥1,700 for adults). Make sure to drop by the adjoining Christmas market for some mulled wine and typical German winter food.

Opening hours: November and December: 1pm to 9pm on weekdays; 11am to 9pm on weekends and 11am to 10pm between Dec 20-25; 11am-8pm between Dec 26-30; 11am-7pm on Dec 31.

January: 11am to 7pm on Jan 1-2

Rest of January and February: 1pm to 7pm on weekdays; 11am to 8pm on weekends and holidays.

The massive Unicorn Gundam statue in front of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba is getting lit up with special winter lights. Until March 6, you can see the robot illuminated in pale green, inspired by the upcoming Gundam Hathaway trilogy release 'Mobile Suit Gundam: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe', which is premiering on January 30. While you can see this exclusive light-up from 5pm to 11pm daily, we recommend visiting between 7pm and 9.30pm to also see a special nighttime show featuring a short screening of the animation, held every 30 minutes.

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.

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.

Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) stands tall as one of Japan’s most celebrated artists, renowned for his dazzling imagination, bold compositions and mastery of line. While his brush paintings reveal his singular vision, ukiyo-e prints – commercially produced, widely circulated images – were what cemented his global legacy. These prints, once everyday commodities, now serve as invaluable windows into the culture, lifestyles and visual sensibilities of the period.

The Sumida Hokusai Museum’s ‘Exploring with Hokusai! The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Ukiyo-e Prints’ delves deep into the medium that shaped Hokusai’s fame. Rather than simply showcasing masterpieces, the exhibition illuminates the evolution of ukiyo-e technology, from early monochromatic sumizuri-e to the vivid nishiki-e that revolutionised colour printing. You’ll get to discover the ingenuity of carvers, printers and publishers, whose finely tuned collaboration brought each work to life.

The exhibition also highlights ukiyo-e as Edo-period (1603–1868) media. Portraits of actors, travel images, fans and advertisements reveal a lively society recorded through prints that doubled as entertainment and information. Together, the works on display offer a richly layered portrait of Edo’s visual culture and the enduring appeal of ukiyo-e.

Nearly three decades after it first hatched in the palms of Japanese schoolgirls, Tamagotchi – Bandai’s iconic handheld digital pet – returns to the spotlight with a major anniversary exhibition at the Roppongi Museum. Released in 1996, the tiny egg-shaped device quickly became a global sensation, inspiring devoted caretakers, schoolyard debates and a cultural phenomenon that reached far beyond Japan.

With more than 100 million units shipped worldwide by 2025 and 38 evolving models, from early black-and-white screens to today’s wi-fi-enabled devices, the Tamagotchi remains an icon of playful companionship and digital nostalgia.

The Tamagotchi 30th Anniversary Exhibition invites you to step inside the world of these strange, charming creatures from the distant Tamagotchi Planet. Through immersive installations, historical displays and interactive environments, the show revisits three decades of innovation while exploring the irresistible appeal of a being that needs you to feed it, entertain it, clean up after it – and love it. Exclusive exhibition merch, including artist collabs and limited-edition items featuring the main visual, will of course also be available.

Celebrating the quirky digital lifeform that once demanded the attention of millions, the exhibition offers both a heartfelt tribute to, and a fresh encounter with, a beloved cultural icon. Following its Tokyo run, the exhibition will travel to Nagoya, Ibaraki, Osaka and additional cities to be announced.

Founded in Osaka in 1983, Capcom has shaped the landscape of global gaming with legendary franchises like Street Fighter, Resident Evil and Monster Hunter.

To celebrate over four decades of imagination, innovation and impact from one of Japan’s most iconic video game developers, Creative Museum Tokyo is hosting ‘Capcom Creation – Moving Hearts Across the Globe’ until February 22 2026. This immersive exhibition explores the evolution of video games as an art form, one that blends technology with human creativity to bring extraordinary digital worlds to life.

Spanning multiple ‘rounds’, the exhibition traces Capcom’s creative journey. Visitors enter through a vibrant 16-metre video tunnel featuring animated tributes to beloved characters, then dive into rare concept art, design documents, vintage box illustrations and behind-the-scenes materials. Interactive zones, including a pixel art lab, facial expression tracking and motion capture mirrors, invite guests to experience the technology behind game creation first hand.

Anime Tokyo Station in Ikebukuro celebrates the enduring legacy of two iconic anime series that are both marking 25 years since they were first broadcast on TV. The exhibition entices generations of Digimon Adventure 02 and Magical DoReMi # fans by showcasing the creativity, emotion and imagination that defined the turn-of-the-millennium era in anime.

Expect a rare behind-the-scenes look at the artistry of both series through an extensive collection of original production materials, including character design sheets, hand-drawn storyboards and vividly painted background art. That’s in addition to costume and prop reference materials that illuminate the meticulous world-building behind each show.

Interactive experiences abound. Visitors can step into the Digimon Adventure 02 universe at a dedicated photo spot featuring its key visual, or take commemorative pictures alongside beloved Magical DoReMi # characters such as Doremi, Hazuki, Aiko, Onpu and Hana. Complementing these displays are digital installations, a chronological showcase of the Digimon franchise, and insights into the latest series, Digimon Beatbreak.

This pop-up collab is the first of its kind and celebrates the upcoming February release of Walpurgisnacht Rising, the long-awaited sequel to the 2013 film Rebellion, which itself is a continuation of the popular animated series Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

The magic starts at Tembo Galleria (Floors 445 and 450), where the entire place has been decked out in décor featuring scenes from the series and films. On Floor 445, you can have a cute little photo op with one of nine Madoka characters. The photographer takes your photo, then edits in the character of your choosing for ¥1,700 per pic.

The Skytree gift shop on Floor 345 features exclusive items with original visuals ranging from acrylic stands and keychains to handbags and hologram badges. Spend over ¥5,000 to receive a special themed shopping bag.

The Skytree café on Floor 340 features a limited-time speciality menu with food and drink items inspired by the Madoka franchise. For a savoury option, try the Kyubey-themed rice gratin with white sauce, or if you’ve got a sweet tooth, go for the sinfully rich Walpurgisnacht-inspired chocolate parfait.

Beverages come in a variety of flavours, from Madoka’s pink strawberry-flavoured Calpis drink to the lemon tea with orange jelly, inspired by Mami Tomoe’s yellow garb. Each purchase of a Madoka-themed café item gets you one of seven free coasters.

On select evenings, the tower lights up in an array of coloured lights corresponding to each magical girl’s outfit, alternating every two and a half minutes throughout the night.

Tickets are ¥3,100 on weekdays (¥2,150 for children 12-17, ¥1,300 for children 6-11 and free for children under five) or ¥3,400 on weekends and holidays (¥2,350 for children 12-17, ¥1,400 for children 6-11 and free for children under five).

By the way, you can purchase a special ticket that includes a 2026 calendar, which you can print yourself at any local 7-Eleven. Special tickets are ¥3,500 on weekdays (¥2,350 for children 12-17, ¥1,450 for children 6-11) or ¥3,800 on weekends and holidays (¥2,550 for children 12-17, ¥1,550 for children 6-11). Special tickets must be purchased at least a day in advance (no same-day tickets available), so plan accordingly.

For info on tickets or photo op and tower light-up times, visit the official ‘Moonlit Waltz’ website.

The Yamatane Museum of Art’s heartwarming winter exhibition celebrates the many forms of love expressed in modern and contemporary Japanese painting. From romantic passion to familial tenderness, and from nostalgia for one’s hometown to affection for animals, ‘Love’ reveals how artists have captured its subject’s diverse and intimate dimensions.

Highlights include Kiyokata Kaburaki’s Light Snow (from the Fukutomi Taro collection), inspired by Chikamatsu Monzaemon’s tragic love story The Courier for Hell; Gyoshu Hayami’s Peach Blossoms, painted to commemorate his daughter’s first festival; and Togyu Okumura’s Rabbit, radiating the artist’s affection for living creatures. Works by Tsunetomi Kitano, Terukata Ikeda and Shoko Kawasaki further expand this exploration of emotion and beauty.

You’ll also encounter Kokei Kobayashi’s eight-panel Kiyohime series, a masterful retelling of a tragic love legend, and selections from the distinguished Fukutomi Taro Collection. Timed with the season of Christmas, New Year and Valentine’s Day, the exhibition invites audiences to rediscover love as a timeless muse for Japanese artists and their poetic visions of life.

All exhibited works are from the Yamatane Museum of Art collection unless specified otherwise.

Visionary Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) transformed the landscape of modern architecture through his organic forms, bold innovations and deep reverence for nature. His iconic works, including Park Güell, Casa Batlló, Casa Milà and, above all, the Sagrada Família, remain enduring testaments to his genius, blending mathematics and faith into living architecture. Today, seven of his masterpieces are recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s passing and the completion of the Sagrada Família’s main tower, ‘Naked meets Gaudí’ at Warehouse Terrada offers a groundbreaking fusion of art, technology and scholarship. In official collaboration with the Gaudí Foundation, the immersive exhibition unveils Gaudí’s personal notebooks, letters, architectural tools and original blueprints, many on display for the first time worldwide.

Through cutting-edge projection, participatory installations and interactive experiences, visitors are invited to step inside Gaudí’s creative universe; to touch, feel and co-create the harmony of nature and architecture that defined his vision. Bridging a century of imagination, the exhibition celebrates Gaudí as an architect of stone, but also as a designer of dreams, whose spirit continues to shape the future of art and design.

Johnny Depp may be best known for his eccentric on-screen roles, but long before fame, he was quietly building a collection of artworks. Now, more than 100 of his paintings and drawings – spanning from his early twenties to the present – are on view at ‘A Bunch of Stuff – Tokyo’, held at +Base 0 inside Newoman Takanawa South. 

The exhibition features five themed spaces, beginning with bold calligraphed quotes that hint at Depp’s mindset. Visitors are then led into a bohemian studio-style room filled with the actor’s personal objects and art supplies brought directly from his workspace. 

Other highlights from the exhibition include Depp’s signature ‘Death by Confetti’ series, where celebratory motifs meet skeletons to reflect the pressure of fame, as well as a video work making its Japan debut inside the immersive ‘Black Box’. Projected across a curved screen, Depp’s paintings come to life as he narrates his reflections on art, identity and the highs and lows of his long career.

Hokkaido-born Atsushi Suwa is one of Japan’s foremost contemporary realist painters. Noted for his extraordinary technical mastery, Suwa combines rigorous research with a penetrating gaze, producing works that explore physical likeness and themes such as memory, mythology and the traces of history. His portraits, still lifes and narrative paintings have earned him wide acclaim both in Japan and abroad.

From September 11 to March 1 2026, the What Museum on Tennozu Isle presents the artist’s first large-scale solo exhibition in three years. Encompassing around 80 works, the exhibition spans early creations, intimate family portraits and newly painted still lifes, with nearly 30 of the pieces shown publicly for the first time. At the heart of the display is At the Shore (2025), a monumental painting depicting a human-like figure assembled from objects in Suwa’s studio, reflecting the artist’s pandemic-era withdrawal from portraiture and his gradual reawakening to the human form.

Curated by Takenori Miyamoto, the exhibition unfolds across five themed rooms and is accompanied by a documentary film and a short story by Akutagawa Prize winner Kaori Fujino.

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.

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.