Things to do in Tokyo this week
When you're spending time in a city as big as Tokyo, it's never too early to start planning for the week ahead. You can pack a lot of living into seven days, whether you're someone who likes to spend an afternoon at the museum or prefers to stay out late clubbing. We've sifted through hundreds of listings to weed out a handful of the week's best events, gigs, festivals and things to do.
Looking for more? Check out our list of the best things to do in Tokyo.
Best things to do this week
Flowers by Naked
Longing for spring after Tokyo's frigid, intermittently snowy winter? You're in luck: sakura is coming early, sort of, at this interactive digital art exhibition created by tech-artists Naked. Each area in the exhibit has its story where you can not only see the art, but smell, feel, listen, and even play with it...
Beton party feat. Maëlstrom
The new event series 'Beton' aims to bring together the most innovative techno artists on the scene today – both domestic and international. The event's organisers are promising sounds that are everything from 'hypnotic' to 'uncompromising' to 'calculating'. One thing that's certain is they've lined up some top-notch talent for the series debut, including an exciting newcomer on the French techno scene: Maëlstrom...
Winnie the Pooh Exhibition
After a successful run in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum in December 2017, the Winnie the Pooh Exhibition is happening in Shibuya from now until April 14 before travelling to Osaka (Apr 27 to Jun 30). The exhibition traces the history of the famous bear from its initial publication as a children’s book in 1926, through a display of over 200 items ranging from pencil sketches and production materials...
RoLand
Host clubs, where female patrons pay for the attention and company of suave, stylishly dressed male hosts, are common in Tokyo. In Kabukicho, the famed entertainment district in Tokyo, blonde-haired Roland is the star host of the ‘hood, and he is putting on an exhibition about, well, himself...
Bunkyo Ume Matsuri
A popular place for plum blossom-watchers since the olden days, Yushima Tenmangu shrine still draws big crowds every year. The plum blossoms might get less hype than the cherry blossoms that follow, but they still make for some gorgeous late-winter scenery...
Techno Circus
The golden buzzer act from ‘America’s Got Talent’ season 10 is putting on a circus this winter – think Cirque du Soleil but with break-dancing and high-tech projection mapping. The energetic non-verbal performance blends mime, visual effects and a techno soundtrack for a bizarre but weirdly riveting experience...
Super Skytree Disco
For once a week until March 1, Tokyo Skytree is transforming into a disco when the sun goes down. That's right: every Friday night, the disco ball comes up at the 350m-high Tembo deck. This could just be the most scenic party in town as the venue looks out to a gorgeous view of Tokyo city...
Grand Hyatt Tokyo Masquerade Party
Get ready for an evening of mystery and intrigue at Grand Hyatt Tokyo’s first-ever masquerade party inspired by the annual Carnival which takes place in Venice, Italy every February. Hosted at The French Kitchen restaurant and bar, the event will have guests donning fancy masks throughout the night while enjoying a seasonal dinner buffet, free-flow champagne, and music provided by a live DJ...
Miyabi Afternoon Tea
Transport yourself to Kyoto from the comfort of Shangri-La Tokyo's Lobby Lounge with the indulgent Miyabi Afternoon Tea. Inspired by Kyoto's elegance and charm, this classy tea set features premium ingredients sourced from the ancient city itself, which are transformed into an assortment of desserts and savory treats by executive pastry chef Naoya Okamura...
A Thousand Wonders of Japanese Technology
Examine over 600 different items developed between the beginning of the Meiji period up until now, which range from the first fridge and rice cooker developed in Japan to aircraft engines and supercomputers...
Corona Winter Sauna
This winter, Shimokitazawa Cage is partnering with Corona to recreate a Finnish bathing experience right here in Tokyo's bohemian hub. To the uninitiated, Shimokitazawa Cage is an outdoor space under the train tracks, which hosts a rotating series of events including flea markets, music performances etc. However, this could just be the Cage’s most ambitious set-up yet...
Stella by Starlight
‘Plant hunter’ Seijun Nishihata has turned this area into a sparkling ‘Tunnel of Lights’ featuring more than 120 different types of plants decorated with 10,000 LED lights, making it a romantic dinner location for your Valentine's date...
Shibuya Station’s Footbath ‘Genki Hatsuratsu! no Yu’
Free foot bath in Shibuya Station? We're there – and we have to admit, this is one clever and unique marketing idea for Oranamin C, one of Japan's most popular vitamin drink. The next time you're travelling on the Yamanote line towards Ebisu Station (on weekends and holidays), don't forget to pop into the event space located right on the platform and relax your tired feet in the one of the two foot baths, while sipping on a bottle of the said drink...
Jesús Rafael Soto: Pénétrable BBL Bleu
Head to Espace Louis Vuitton for their latest exhibition featuring work by the late Venezuelan artist Jesús Rafael Soto. This installation is quite unique as it encourages guests to interact with it by walking through the space and immersing themselves in both kinetic and optical ways...
Egg & Spuma x Hello Kitty 45th Anniversary Café
Located in Shinjuku's Lumine Est on the eighth floor, omelette specialist Egg & Spuma teams up with Japan’s most famous girl-cat Hello Kitty, to celebrate the character's 45th birthday. On until the end of March, both young and old Hello Kitty fans can enjoy an adorably designed menu featuring fluffy soufflé pancakes...
United Nations University Farmers' Market
The UNU farmers’ market is one of Tokyo’s longest running and best-attended markets. Taking place every weekend in front of the university’s Aoyama headquarters, this one always attracts a knowledgeable crowd. Organic and local fare is readily available every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, with the farmers themselves happy to provide details about their wares.
Tokyo illuminations 2018-19
Discover the beauty of the wintertime city – it's your guide to the top Tokyo light-ups
Best places to go ice-skating in Tokyo and Yokohama
Lace up your skates and glide around the capital's frosty selection of indoor and outdoor ice rinks
Best art exhibitions in Tokyo this winter
What to see now until March: conceptual and surrealist art, mythical scroll paintings, Chinese calligraphy and much, much more
Mori Building Digital Art Museum Epson teamLab Borderless
Tokyo's hottest art opening of 2018, self-styled 'ultra-technologists' teamLab have now got their very own museum on Odaiba. The 10,000sqm is space inside the huge Odaiba Palette Town development, courtesy of the Mori Building group and Epson. A good 50 artworks are on display, which all interact with visitors and can even move between rooms – it's truly 'borderless' art...
Traditional Culture Experience Programs for Foreign Visitors: Japanese Dance Workshop
Want to dive deeper into Japanese culture? This dance workshop is the perfect place to start, where you'll be fitted in a yukata and taught how to dance Nihon buyo, a traditional kind of dance that has a history of nearly 400 years. The workshop is free and takes place at the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center every Sunday, excluding some specific dates during other holidays.
Free things to do this week
Yebisu Garden Place Winter Illumination
An annual wintertime display at Yebisu Garden Place, this one incorporates a Baccarat chandelier that's 5m tall and 3m wide – making it one of the largest chandeliers in the world – and decorated with 250 lights, 230 of which symbolise the number of years from the company’s establishment to the construction of the chandelier in 1994. In total – including lesser displays in areas such as the Entrance Pavilion, Clock Plaza, Promenade, Center Plaza and Glass Square – the venue makes use of almost 100,000 lights. The festivities are kicked off with a lighting ceremony on November 3.
Traditional Culture Experience Programs for Foreign Visitors: Japanese Dance Workshop
Want to dive deeper into Japanese culture? This dance workshop is the perfect place to start, where you'll be fitted in a yukata and taught how to dance Nihon buyo, a traditional kind of dance that has a history of nearly 400 years. The workshop is free and takes place at the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center every Sunday, excluding some specific dates during other holidays.
NAOJ Mitaka Stargazing
Believe it or not, you can actually get a pretty good view of the starry night sky from certain areas around Tokyo. When the sky is clear, head on out to Mitaka and join a Stargazing Party with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ). Learn more about the night sky at these 'parties' which happen on a regular schedule roughly every two weeks. To sign-up, visit their online calendar which shares information on what particular planet or star they will be focusing on (do note that registration for each session starts about a week and a half before the event date). The session usually starts off with an orientation followed by a look out of a 50cm teloscope where you can get a better look at the constellations and planets visible. Finally, you'll get to practice your stargazing with smaller telescopes provided at your own leisure.
Shibuya Station’s Footbath ‘Genki Hatsuratsu! no Yu’
Free foot bath in Shibuya Station? We're there – and we have to admit, this is one clever and unique marketing idea for Oranamin C, one of Japan's most popular vitamin drink. The next time you're travelling on the Yamanote line towards Ebisu Station (on weekends and holidays), don't forget to pop into the event space located right on the platform and relax your tired feet in the one of the two foot baths, while sipping on a bottle of the said drink. There's a Oranamin C-themed photo wall, too, just in case you feel like sharing the deets on your Instagram.
Bunkyo Ume Matsuri
A popular place for plum blossom-watchers since the olden days, Yushima Tenmangu shrine still draws big crowds every year. The plum blossoms might get less hype than the cherry blossoms that follow, but they still make for some gorgeous late-winter scenery. The shrine’s Ume Matsuri complements the blossom-viewing with music performances and tea ceremonies.
Jesús Rafael Soto: Pénétrable BBL Bleu
Head to Espace Louis Vuitton for their latest exhibition featuring work by the late Venezuelan artist Jesús Rafael Soto. Best known for his kinetic sculptures and large-scale installations, Tokyo will see one of his impressive installations set up at the Louis Vuitton gallery space over the next few months. This installation is quite unique as it encourages guests to interact with it by walking through the space and immersing themselves in both kinetic and optical ways.
World Book Design 2017-18
The Printing Museum's P&P Gallery showcases 180 particularly well-designed books from Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Canada and China at this exhibit. The tomes, which stand above the rest based on layout, binding, editing or all of the above, can all be picked up and touched, and include the winners from the prestigious Best Book Design contest at this year's Leipzig Book Fair (held in Germany) plus 50 outstanding entries from past Japan Book Design meets.