Things to do in Tokyo this week
This week’s hottest events, gigs, films, festivals and more
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
Roppongi Art Night
The annual nocturnal celebration of all things art, Roppongi Art Night has returned to its original spring date, with the usual line-up of outdoor installations, art events, live performances, cultural exhibitions and more taking over Roppongi from dusk until way past dawn. It's Roppongi like you've never seen it before after dark...
One Love, Wine Love
The title of this twice-yearly wine festival plays on the lyrics of a classic Bob Marley tune and keeps to the same sentiment: ‘Let’s get together and feel alright.’ And with over 180 wines on offer from Japan and around the world – coupled with live music and outdoor food vendors at the UNU Farmers Market – it promises to deliver...
Detective Pikachu at Pokémon Cafe
If you're a Pikachu fan, you'll want to head on over to the Pokémon Cafe as they've released a menu based off the new Hollywood blockbuster, 'Detective Pikachu'. The items on the menu resemble the characters from the live-action film including a Detective Pikachu Macaroni and Cheese to a Pikachu and Psyduck combo served with waffle fries...
Hibiya Oktoberfest 2019
Fun fact: Oktoberfest in Tokyo isn’t really confined to the festival’s namesake month but rather, a common occurrence in summer. After Odaiba and Nakano, the third Bavarian beer fest of the year takes place in Hibiya Park and features the familiar sausages, oom-pah music and quality German beer served in hefty glass tankards...
Art Battle Tokyo
Originally started in New York, the Art Battle series has now spread to over 50 cities worldwide. The concept is pretty much as the name suggests: a group of artists take to the stage and battle it out on the canvas...
Laos Festival
The Laos Festival used to be one of the less popular of Yoyogi Park's many colourful celebrations taking place during spring and summer, but it's certainly grown in popularity in recent years. Still, the relative lack of crowds (especially compared to the Thai festival), the relaxed atmosphere and an attractive array of food stands and handicraft stalls make it one of the more pleasant ones...
Open Air Tokyo
Famed for having one of the best views of the Tokyo nightscape, SOHO in Odaiba has been the setting for films and TV shows looking to catch that perfect view. At the end of May, the rooftop bar will transform into a massive all-day open air party with Australian DJ TOURS spinning the decks...
Flower Aquarium directed by Naked – Brand New Sea
Aqua Park Shinagawa is hosting a brand-new event to prove that it is more than just an aquarium. With this collaboration, its daily performances will be enhanced with specal effects, music and art. Featuring brand-new fountains, digital projections and collaborations with J-pop group ‘Little Glee Monster’ and the multimedia creators at Naked Inc...
City Light Fantasia by Naked – New World
City Light Fantasia is a popular annual event at the top of Landmark Tower in Yokohama. Produced by the multimedia creators at Naked Inc, the event combines Yokohama nightscapes with digital projections to give those views a whole new perspective...
Manpaku
Held at Showa Kinen Park, this massive food festival really piles it on. There are 10 different areas, including a dedicated meat section to seafood ones, with anything from juicy steaks and fresh-out-of-the-water seafood donburi to healthy salads on offer. It's a gourmet's fantasy, and with last year's edition buzzing from morning to evening, we expect this year to be another belly-filling grand affair...
Pinot Palooza
There ain’t no party like a Pinot Palooza party, as anyone who’s been to the event in its home country of Australia, or its inaugural Tokyo offshoot last year, will know. This year, the rollicking celebration of all things pinot-grape is set to continue its festivities with bottomless wine tastings of around 100 selections, including red, rosé and sparkling...
Edge House feat. Piero Pirupa
On May 25, the Edge House series (happening every Saturdays at the Sound Museum Vision Shibuya) welcomes Italian techno artist Piero Pirupa for his much-anticipated performance in Japan. Pirupa, who started his career as a local DJ and promoter, had his first major international breakout hit in 2009 and has not looked back since...
The Guilty Parties Killer Tunes Broadcast presents ‘Sho and Leo Time’
The artists collective Wacko Maria regularly hosts the Guilty Party Killer Tunes Broadcast as a platform to showcase some of the most underrated musicians in Japan. On May 24, the event features an eclectic mix of genres and styles in an all-night party at the Studio Freedom in Shibuya...
Greenroom Festival
The concept behind the Greenroom Festival down at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse is 'Save the Beach, Save the Ocean'. The outdoor party celebrates beach and surf culture, but with an emphasis on protecting the ever-shrinking number of usable domestic beaches in Japan...
Osamu Watanabe Solo Show ‘Capitalism’
Japanese contemporary artist Osamu Watanabe has been gaining an international following with his unique work, in which he shapes resin into beautiful decorations for snacks. As the top artist for sweets decoration, Watanabe’s works have been exhibited across Asia, Europe, and America. He returns to Tokyo with a solo show of his latest creations at Hankyu department store...
Our Parks Toranomon Hills Yoga Spring
Starting yoga can be hard, especially for people with little background knowledge on this fitness philosophy. To get more people interested in the ancient art, yoga classes are organised at the grassy central plaza of Toranomon Hills every Monday and Sunday for anyone to attend...
Midtown Open the Park
A popular shopping mall in the city centre, Tokyo Midtown will be hosting a series of activities fit for the entire family. Everyone can enjoy activities such as outdoor yoga in the mall’s grassy central plaza, a tree and bird watching tour in its leafy vicinity, and paper craft workshops...
The Science Behind Pixar
With blockbuster hits like ‘Toy Story’ and ‘Monsters Inc.’, Pixar Studios has consistently created films and characters that have become household names. You can now learn about the animation in a behind-the-scenes tour of the technology that made Pixar so successful...
Fuji Shibazakura Festival
Great views of majestic Mount Fuji and seemingly endless fields of shibazakura ('pink moss') – it's no wonder that this annual spring festival out at Lake Motosu in Yamanashi attracts hordes of Tokyoites...
Fermentation Tourism Nippon
Fermentation is a process that is almost indispensable to Japanese food. Sake, miso, soy sauce and natto cannot exist without fermentation. But there are also many other fermentation techniques and practices from around the country that are little known outside their native regions...
Unko Museum
Looking for a wacky thing to do outside of our 88 things to do in Tokyo list? Then head over to this temporary museum in Yokohama dedicated to poop. Yes, really. The Unko ('poop' in Japanese) Museum is open until July 15, focusing exclusively on the cute emoji in all its pastel-coloured glory...
Exhibitionism – The Rolling Stones Exhibition
After mesmerising the world with their music for over 50 years, the Rolling Stones reflect their history with a global tour of the band’s signature, historical items. Some 500 pieces of artifacts, curated by the band members themselves, arrive in Tokyo after showings in New York, Chicago and Sydney...
Life of Japanese Women in Ukiyo-e
Public life in Edo-era Japan was dominated by men, but that does not mean women did not have their vibrant lives recorded. One such mediums used to record female lives was the woodblock art of ukiyo-e. The Shoto Museum of Art in Shibuya is bringing together some of the best works from Edo’s ukiyo-e masters to showcase the lives of women back in the day...
Free things to do this week
Osamu Watanabe Solo Show ‘Capitalism’
Japanese contemporary artist Osamu Watanabe has been gaining an international following with his unique work, in which he shapes resin into beautiful decorations for snacks. As the top artist for sweets decoration, Watanabe’s works have been exhibited across Asia, Europe, and America. He returns to Tokyo with a solo show of his latest creations at Hankyu department store. Taking a swipe at the excessive consumption characterising our capitalist society, he shows off 30 works that demonstrate just how excessiveness, even with something as beautiful as resin decoration on sweets, can leave an uncomfortable ‘after taste’.
Midtown Open the Park
A popular shopping mall in the city centre, Tokyo Midtown will be hosting a series of activities fit for the entire family. Everyone can enjoy activities such as outdoor yoga in the mall’s grassy central plaza, a tree and bird watching tour in its leafy vicinity, and paper craft workshops. More than 50 designers and 100 artists are also bringing their best works for various exhibitions. For instance, kids can walk through a colourful 25-meter-long tunnel; this will surely be an unforgettable experience for the little ones.
Laos Festival
The Laos Festival used to be one of the less popular of Yoyogi Park's many colourful celebrations taking place during spring and summer, but it's certainly grown in popularity in recent years. Still, the relative lack of crowds (especially compared to the Thai festival), the relaxed atmosphere and an attractive array of food stands and handicraft stalls make it one of the more pleasant ones. Visitors can also expect a variety of stage appearances by both Laotian and Japanese performers – from traditional dancers to rock stars.
Fermentation Tourism Nippon
Fermentation is a process that is almost indispensable to Japanese food. Sake, miso, soy sauce and natto cannot exist without fermentation. But there are also many other fermentation techniques and practices from around the country that are little known outside their native regions. This exhibition at the d47 Museum attempts to features the various local fermented specialties in a group show. Curated by fermentation experts, the local food found at the exhibition are also available for sale. The adjacent restaurant, on the other hand, will also serve fermented food and sake.