Things to do in Tokyo this week

Put on your sneakers, head down to Yokohama, and enjoy a nice run along the waterfront area Minato Mirai – there's a free beer waiting for you at the finishing line. Launched in August 2018, the monthly event attracts runners and beer fans by rewarding them with a cold drink at the end of the 5km run. There's a huge selection of beers to choose from, including pilsner, pale ale and seasonal brews, all made locally in Yokohama. The first glass is free for all participants.  The run starts at Tinys from 10.30am and takes about an hour.

Come to Ikebukuro and see some traditional folk dances from around Asia. A total of 12 groups are participating, each showcasing a different genre of dance, including the indigenous Ainu dance from Hokkaido, Awa Odori from Tokushima, Eisa from Okinawa, and Pungmul from Korea. Feel free to bring your own food and drinks to enjoy while watching the performances, and dress comfortably as the audiences are encouraged to participate in some of the dances. 

Nezu Shrine is not only famous for its 3,000 blooming azalea in spring, the sacred grounds also host the annual Grand Festival, considered as one of Edo’s (as Tokyo used to be known) top celebrations. The festival, formerly named ‘Tenkasai’, started in 1714 under the sixth shogun Tokugawa Ienobu and saw large floats carried through the streets. Nowadays, you can enjoy Sanza-no-mai and Urayasu-no-mai dance performances – both intangible cultural assets of Bunkyo ward – plus a variety of street food stalls.

Ditch Chinatown and visit Yoyogi Park for the China Festival instead. You'll find numerous booths serving delicious Chinese delicacies, as well as activities like table tennis, and a section called the ‘Panda House’, where you can watch videos of Ueno Zoo’s Xiangxiang and learn all things panda. Stage performances will be filled with Chinese musicians like the famous erhu player WeiWei Wuu, and Chinese theater dances.

Marine & Walk is a relaxed open-air mall set against the panorama of Yokohama port, with a set of pedestrian-friendly streets winding through a waterfront warehouse district. This year, in collaboration with the Farmer’s Market @ UNU, it’s hosting a series of events on the third weekend of each month.  The fifth installment is Baked & Tea. There will be artisan bakers selling baked goods and accompaniments such as cheese and jams. Tea artisans will be present, too, to round off the event, making this a fitting combination for an autumn day out. The event runs until 6pm, but the corresponding night market is open until 8pm.

A glittery sword-like fish, Sanma (Pacific saury) is the poster child for autumn in Japan. Its arrival in stores and on menus from late August means a cool relief from summer’s oppressive heat is imminent. The fish can be enjoyed in a multitude of ways – salted and grilled whole, as a sushi topping, crumbed and fried, and in a burger. The Tokyo Tower Sanma Festival celebrates the most classic way of eating the fish: charcoal-grilled. At the festival, held on the Autumn Equinox public holiday, no less than 3,333 sanma will be charcoal-grilled and served for free. You can expect long queues, so get in early to get your coupon (handouts start from 7.30am). 

This massive event in Hibiya Park brings together a sampling of four of Tokyo most popular food festivals: Tokyo Wagyu Show, Oedo Beer Festival, Karaage Festival and Ramen Festival. Look forward to 50 food stalls serving up hearty wagyu dishes and ramen bowls, best paired with a refreshing ale (or two). The juicy karaage (fried chicken) snacks go well with the hoppy drinks as well.

Awa-Odori is a popular Japanese dance originating from Tokushima prefecture, and this festival celebrating the traditional dance form has been held in Shibuya every September since 1970. Hundreds of amateurs and professionals will be participating in the dance all decked out in custom-made costumes, but anyone is welcome to jump in as long as they know some of the basic moves. The parade will start just outside Hatsudai Station’s south exit, and continue 1km towards Yoyogi-hachiman area. The entire street will be decorated with lanterns and lined with street food stalls. 

Get ready for three days of extra-pastry fun at Yokohama's Red Brick Warehouse, where up to 90 bakeries from all over the country hawk their wares and show off new creations. Pan no Fes attracted a whopping 120,000 visitors when it was last held, with all the bread selling out in the end, so be prepared to queue. Keep your eyes on the official website for detailed announcements on participating bakeries and shops.