Things to do in Tokyo this week

Kaminarimon Gate at the entrance of Sensoji Temple in Asakusa is about to get livelier with a Bon Odori festival on Saturday, September 6. Expect to see crowds in yukata dancing around a yagura turret decked out with paper lanterns. The festivities will run from 5.30pm to 8pm along a closed-off section of Namiki Dori avenue leading to Kaminarimon Gate, so feel free to join in.

Bon odori dancing will be held in three thirty-minute sessions, from 5.30pm, 6.30pm and 7.30pm. Kaminarimon Ichinomiya Street will also be lined with colourful lanterns featuring paintings of ladies in kimono on Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 8pm.

The annual Kitazawa Hachiman Shrine Festival falls on the first weekend of September. This year, the festival returns with a parade of over 20 mikoshi (portable shrines).

While the festival is spread out over two days, the main event occurs on Sunday September 7, when two dozen or so mikoshi are carried through the Shimokitazawa neighbourhood. The first portable shrines, carried by children, will reach the shrine precinct at noon, followed by adult-carried floats at around 1pm. Once all floats have arrived, a ceremonial ritual will be held at 2.30pm.

On both days, there will also be matsuri food stalls serving festival grub, as well as an array of live performances, including Japanese taiko drumming performances and an ohayashi festival music performance.

For the event schedule, check the festival website.

The talented students at Tokyo University of the Arts are hosting one of the city's most awe-inspiring festivals this weekend, featuring classical concerts, monster floats, an art market and more. 

Highlights include a live show on the main stage by guest singer Natsuko Nisshoku from 4pm to 5.10pm on September 7, as well as back-to-back performances by student-led bands and guest artists across seven other venues throughout the university grounds.

As for visual art, don't miss the matsuri (festival) floats, which will be on display every day at the school compound. These floats are a regular fixture at this annual festival, where students are tasked with the creative challenge of adding some contemporary flair to the traditional vessels used in ceremonial Shinto parades.

The floats will first go on a procession near Takenodai Square in Ueno Park (date and time yet to be announced for 2025), and again at Ueno 6-chome Shopping District on September 7 from noon to 1pm. The latter will be accompanied by rousing samba music performed by the university's samba club.

If you're looking to do a bit of shopping while you're there, the festival’s art market (9am-5pm daily) will carry lots of artisanal and handcrafted pieces to decorate your home with.

Tokyo Midtown Yaesu is hosting a summer soirée at its first-floor outdoor plaza in front of Tokyo Station, featuring matsuri-themed festivities and free live performances from August 29 to September 7. This summer’s lineup features two to three acts per day, spanning a wide range of genres, including acts by Japanese hip-hop trio Dos Monos, Arisa Ushimaru from J-rock band yonige, DJ and singer Yonyon, chef DJ troupe Ginza Takeuchi, and many more. Expanded for 2025, the stage lineup also features daily weekday DJ sessions.

Head to Tokyo Midtown Yaesu’s lantern-lit first-floor Galleria Plaza for summer bites and drinks – think fresh fruit sours, spicy mackerel sandwiches and piping-hot Hokkaido fries.

On weekend evenings, the atrium next to the Galleria Plaza transforms into Yoimachi Shoten, a night market with Japanese crafts, from traditional fans and Arita pottery to tenugui hand towels, accessories, and other Japanese sundries.

You can also take part in the Yaesu Lantern Walk, where visitors can stroll around the Tokyo Station’s Yaesu Exit with lanterns in hand. Opening night kicks off with the Yaesu Lantern Procession as local children light up the streets in a glowing parade. Lanterns are available to borrow from special counters at both Tokyo Midtown Yaesu and Tokyo Station’s Granroof.

Check the event website for the most up-to-date performance line-up. Closed Sep 4.

Be sure to stay till sundown during your next beach trip to Kamakura, as you wouldn’t want to miss the fireworks happening by the coast this summer. Taking place around Katase Nishihama Beach, the Enoshima Miami Beach Show promises to light up the night sky and nearby Enoshima Island with free pyrotechnic shows.

Leading up to the 30-minute long Fujisawa Enoshima Fireworks festival in October, there will be five five-minute fireworks displays scheduled at 7.40pm to celebrate the official beach-opening season. For more details on beach events and rules, check the event website.

Fireworks are held on July 25 and 31, August 9 and 19, as well as September 6.

Taking place around Yokohama Port, Yokohama Night Flowers (formerly Yokohama Sparkling Twilight) lights up not only the city but also the sky above it. It's a stunning sight as the fireworks are set off above the illuminated boats crisscrossing the sea in front of Yamashita Park. 

This time around, there are 16 five-minute fireworks displays scheduled from February to September. Depending on the date, the fireworks are launched from either Osanbashi Pier and/or Shinko Pier. This makes the seaside Yamashita Park an ideal vantage point to catch all the explosive action.

Along with the fireworks, Yokohama is also hosting several food events nearby, including the Yokohama Strawberry Festival (February 6-March 2), Yokohama Bread Festival (March 7-9), Belgian Beer Weekend Yokohama and more. See the event website for updates.

Fireworks displays are held on February 1, 8 and 22, March 1 and 29, April 5, 6 and 19, May 17 and 24, June 21, July 5 and 12, August 10, and September 6 and 14. (2025)

Inage Seaside Park in Chiba is hosting weekly DJ parties on its picturesque 90-metre-long pier that stretches out into Tokyo Bay, until September 28. Taking place on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 3pm to 8pm, the parties showcase artists spinning tunes from a variety of genres, including Balearic house, afrobeats, tech house, South African amapiano and more.

A special highlight will be the Sunday August 31 appearance by Ibiza icon Jon Sa Trinxa, who is celebrated for his signature Balearic style and two decades of DJing on the Mediterranean party island. Local favourites including Ren Yokoi, Mike-Masa and Bull will also take to the decks, spinning everything from techno to R&B to keep the summer vibes alive.

Check the event website for the most up-to-date DJ line-up. Closed Sep 6-7.

Studio Ghibli’s immersive sculpture exhibition is returning to Tokyo to captivate a new generation of fans. Featuring 3D recreations of iconic scenes from hit animated films such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle and Porco Rosso, the show is a new and improved version of Studio Ghibli’s first ever art exhibition, held in Tokyo back in 2003. 

Running from May 27 to September 23 at Warehouse Terrada’s B&C and E halls in Tennozu, the exhibition will feature mock-ups of scenes such as Chihiro’s first crossing over the bridge into the bathhouse in Spirited Away, and the thrilling scene from Ponyo where the titular character rides the waves to catch up to Sosuke in the storm. The main highlight, however, is arguably the true-to-size mock up of Porco’s Savoia S-21 seaplane from Porco Rosso.

When hunger strikes, head over to T-Lotus M, a waterfront event space adjacent to the exhibition venue, for some ham ramen inspired by a similar dish in Ponyo. Tickets can be purchased in combination with the Ghibli Museum or in conjunction with hotel accommodation plans.

For more details and ticketing information, check the event website. (Japanese only)

Enjoy a late night stroll under an artificial Milky Way at Tokyo Tower’s main deck. As an alternative experience for astronomy enthusiasts, Tokyo Tower has recreated the Milky Way using 29,000 LED lights, so you can gaze up at the (artificial) stars in the middle of the city.

Every 15 minutes, the blue LED lights that represent the starry sky turn pink and gold, while the Milky Way changes from white to a rainbow of seven colours. This special effect makes the Tokyo skyline look even more mesmerising, as if our beloved city is under a magical starry night.

The event takes place from 9.00am until 11pm.

No trip to Tokyo or Japan is complete without a shopping spree at the iconic Don Quijote. But if browsing the aisles isn’t enough to satisfy your Donki cravings, you’ll want to book a table for this playful Don Quijote-themed afternoon tea at Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya.

Available at the hotel’s 11th-floor all-day dining restaurant, Gallery 11, this fun afternoon tea spread is inspired by Don Quijote’s beloved mascots, Donpen and Donko, with an array of colourful sweets and fun surprises. 

Desserts include unique creations like the passion fruit chocolate and pink pepper marshmallow, honeycomb red velvet cupcake and candy apple filled with a rich caramel – all served on a mini skateboard. You can also enjoy a tastebud-tingling cake made with popping candy featuring images of Donpen and Donko, alongside a savoury herb roast chicken served with lemon and caper sauce.

Time to don those wizardly robes. From April 18 to September 8, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo are bringing the set of 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' to life to celebrate the film's 20th anniversary. The tour will feature recreations of props, costumes and locations from the film, such as the Great Hall, the Prefects' Bathroom and the Goblet of Fire itself. Themed food and merch will be available for purchase.

Times and ticket prices vary, so be sure to check their website for availability, as tickets must be purchased in advance and currently are only available until June 30.

This autumn, the National Film Archive presents the first comprehensive retrospective dedicated to one of Japan’s most inventive and genre-defying filmmakers. Yoshimitsu Morita (1950–2011) began his career in 8mm films and made a lasting mark on Japanese cinema with works like The Family Game (1983) and The Black House (1999), embracing comedy, horror, courtroom dramas, period pieces and more.

The exhibition offers an opportunity to step right into Morita’s imaginative world. Visitors can explore recreations of the iconic dining room from The Family Game and of the director’s personal study, plus a gallery of his cherished vinyl records. Posters, props, annotated scripts and idea notebooks showcase the full range of the Shonan native’s creative process, while video installations trace Morita’s career from its indie roots to commercial success.

Running alongside the exhibition, a special programme (October 14–November 23) will screen key works from Morita’s filmography, including lesser-known titles and collaborations. Deaths in Tokimeki (1984), Keiho (1999) and Kiriko no Fukei (1998; written by Morita and directed by Tomoyuki Akaishi) will be screened with English subtitles. A series of talks featuring producer Kazuko Misawa and cultural commentator Utamaru will offer further insight into Morita’s legacy. 

Traditional Japanese erotic art – shunga – flourished during the Edo period (1603–1867), along with the rise of ukiyo-e woodblock printing. Some of the greatest artists of the time, including Kitagawa Utamaro and Katsushika Hokusai, employed ukiyo-e to depict Edo’s hedonistic ‘floating world’ of geisha, kabuki, sumo – and sex. Shunga was in great demand and widely available, despite an official ban, and developed into a highly sophisticated genre in which artists incorporated refrences to waka poetry and the Chinese classics while tiptoeing around taboos and government censorship.

But once Japan opened itself up to the Western world after centuries of isolation, Shunga was deemed ‘obscene’ and purged from the culture – for nearly 150 years, it turned out. Only after several critically acclaimed exhibitions had been held overseas did the first major display of Shunga open on these shores – at the Eisei Bunko Museum in 2013. That landmark show slowly cleared the way for similar exhibitions, and now Tokyo’s getting perhaps the most rousing (sorry) Shunga show to date.

From July 26 to September 30, visitors to the Shinjuku Kabukicho Noh Stage can rest their eyes on around 100 pieces by the likes of Hokusai, Utamaro and Hishikawa Moronobu. Curated from the collection of Mitsuru Uragami, one of Japan’s foremost Shunga connoisseurs, the exhibition extends throughout the distinctive venue – from the Noh stage itself to the auditorium and dressing rooms. Yasutaka Hayashi from artist collective Chim↑Pom from Smappa!Group will be serving as art director, bringing a hefty serving of Kabukicho flair to what’s already looking like a show perfect for Tokyo’s most stimulating entertainment district.

Early-bird tickets are available for ¥1,900 (vs ¥2,200 on the door) via ArtSticker until July 25.

Note that the exhibition is off limits to visitors under the age of 18.

Held in the Tokyo Node creative complex on the upper floors of the Toranomon Station Tower, the Design Ah! exhibition by national broadcaster NHK transforms its acclaimed educational TV programme (of the same name) into a vivid hands-on experience. Suitable for visitors of all ages, the exhibition reimagines everyday actions like walking or eating through a design lens, fostering curiosity, creative thinking, and a sharper awareness of the world around us. While you’re there, don’t miss the chance to try out the interactive gesture screen, where visitors are invited to use gestures to interact with subjects in a video in an immersive and responsive way.

With immersive 360-degree audiovisual installations, visual puzzles and interactive zones, the show offers a playful yet thought-provoking way to explore how design influences daily life.

Few would argue against the late Leiji Matsumoto as one of Japan’s most visionary manga artists. Born in 1938, Matsumoto grew up fascinated by the night sky, a passion that would later shape his iconic stories such as Galaxy Express 999 and Space Pirate Captain Harlock. His work blends space-faring adventure with profound philosophical themes, exploring concepts of life, mortality and human perseverance, and has inspired creatives worldwide, even shaping the dreams of future astronauts.

From June 20 to September 7, Tokyo City View at Roppongi Hills will host ‘Leiji Matsumoto: A Creative Journey’, the first major exhibition dedicated to the prolific career of an artist who left an indelible mark on the world of sci-fi with his rich storytelling and strikingly detailed art. Marking the beginning of a series of events celebrating the upcoming 50th anniversary of Galaxy Express 999, this exhibition will immerse visitors in Matsumoto’s imaginative universe. Featuring over 300 original drawings, including early works, rare materials and never-before-seen sketches, the display offers an opportunity to dig deep into the Fukuoka native’s creative process and experience the timeless magic of his work.

In the news for his role as the designer of the Expo 2025 site, Sou Fujimoto is an architect whose work explores the relationship between nature and architecture. Born in Hokkaido, he is inspired by the natural landscapes of his childhood and seeks to integrate organic forms into the built environment through an approach he calls ‘primitive future’.

This philosophy translates into an exploration of the limits between indoors and outdoors and the natural and the artificial, creating spaces that invite a new experience of inhabiting it. Fujimoto’s residential projects in Japan, such as House N, House O and House T, as well as international projects such as the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London, illustrate this desire to blur spatial boundaries. His work is characterised by the use of simple materials, often only one per project, implemented in innovative ways to create complex and intriguing shapes. The balance between a defined program and the freedom of appropriation by the occupants is at the heart of his approach.

Fujimoto’s first major Tokyo retrospective takes over the Mori Art Museum from July 2 to November 9. The exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of the architect’s journey over the past quarter century, showcasing his achievements. Models, plans and documentary photographs sit alongside life-size models and installations, providing an immersive visual and spatial experience of the essence of his work. The exhibition highlights projects such as the Musashino Art University Museum & Library, the Arbre Blanc in Montpellier, France, the House of Music in Budapest, and – yes – the Expo site on Osaka’s Yumeshima.

The sleek designer toilets that took Tokyo by storm in 2020 – and later even inspired the film Perfect Days – will host a unique photography exhibit this summer, showcasing works by world-famous B&W photographer Daido Moriyama from July 19 to September 23.

The main exhibition space, where Moriyama’s photographs of the designer toilets are displayed, will be the Hatagaya Public Toilet. Miles Pennington, a professor at the University of Tokyo’s DLX Design Lab, designed this toilet specifically with multifunctionality in mind. Envisioned to be used as an exhibition space or a pop-up kiosk – in addition to its primary function, of course – the toilet will now play the role of a photo gallery.

Moreover, don’t miss this opportunity to check out the 10 other designer toilets in Shibuya ward, which for the duration of the event will all feature toilet paper adorned with imprints of Daido Moriyama’s photographs.

Head to the Tokyo National Museum’s Heiseikan this summer for a sweeping exploration of the secretive inner chambers of the Tokugawa shogunate. On show from July 19 to September 21, ‘Ooku: Women of Power in Edo Castle’ takes viewers into the secluded quarters that housed the wives, concubines and ladies-in-waiting of the shoguns – women who navigated a world of rigid hierarchy, political intrigue and quiet resilience behind locked doors and copper-clad walls.

Though immortalised in popular culture through kabuki, television dramas and manga, the real ooku was far more nuanced than fiction suggests. The exhibition sheds new light on reality through approximately 180 rarely seen artefacts, including historical documents, architectural diagrams, exquisite kimonos, personal effects and intricate ceremonial textiles.

Highlights include 31 embroidered cloths (kakefukusa), which were placed upon important gifts exchanged in the palace, from the Genroku era (1688–1704); elegant garments worn by women from samurai families; and the complete Chiyoda no Ooku (1894–1896) series of ukiyo-e prints by Toyohara Chikanobu, which depict daily life in Edo Castle as imagined by the artist some 30 years after the fall of the shogunate. Visitors can also view kabuki costumes worn by women actors who performed within the Ooku itself.

Highlighting personal stories and treasured objects alike, the exhibition reveals the complexities of life within the shogun’s harem, where power, duty and emotion quietly shaped history. It’s a rare opportunity to step beyond the myth and into the true world of the Ooku.

Rising manga artist and illustrator Kouichi Matsuda descends on Wish Less Gallery in Tabata with a new series of paintings inspired by visceral, sometimes grotesque, recollections of summer. With evocative imagery drawn from childhood mishaps, faded vacations and suburban melancholy, ‘Summer Memories…’ captures the sharp sting of memory through a lens of absurdity.

Born in Morioka, Iwate in 1994, Matsuda studied under legendary avant-garde manga artist Takashi Nemoto after moving to Tokyo. He made his debut in the cult magazine AX and gained widespread attention with his 2024 manga collection Unmei (Fate), marking him as one of the most distinctive voices in a new generation of Japanese mangaka.

As is evident here, Matsuda’s work is characterised by absurdist narratives and chaotic visual worlds that blend nostalgia with dark humour. His surreal depictions of Japanese society, ranging from bubble-era salarymen to rebellious ’90s gyaru, evoke a dreamlike collision between the past and a disordered, amoral future.

Kanagawa-born, NYC-based Aki Sasamoto’s decompartmentalised artistic practice explores performance, sculpture, dance, and any other medium conducive to the expression of her ideas. At the intersection of visual and performing arts, her work involves collaborating with musicians, choreographers, scientists and academics, and she often takes on multiple roles: performer and sculptor, but also professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Sculpture at Yale University.

In her work, Sasamoto constantly reflects on the design and configuration of sculptures and devices that she uses as scores during improvised performances within immersive installations. As she describes it, her creative process is akin to fishing: she ‘casts a net and waits for a perfect alignment of events’, letting several elements float before grasping the connections by relating them to seemingly foreign references.

On from August 23 to November 24, ‘Aki Sasamoto’s Life Laboratory’ at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo explores the interplay between sculptural creation and performance that has characterised the artist’s work for two decades. From landmark early works to more recent creations that emphasise kinetic elements, the exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of Sasamoto’s journey and unique approach, where the boundaries between artistic disciplines blur in favour of captivating hybrid expression.

Rising manga artist and illustrator Kouichi Matsuda descends on Wish Less Gallery in Tabata with a new series of paintings inspired by visceral, sometimes grotesque, recollections of summer. With evocative imagery drawn from childhood mishaps, faded vacations and suburban melancholy, ‘Summer Memories…’ captures the sharp sting of memory through a lens of absurdity.

Born in Morioka, Iwate in 1994, Matsuda studied under legendary avant-garde manga artist Takashi Nemoto after moving to Tokyo. He made his debut in the cult magazine AX and gained widespread attention with his 2024 manga collection Unmei (Fate), marking him as one of the most distinctive voices in a new generation of Japanese mangaka.

As is evident here, Matsuda’s work is characterised by absurdist narratives and chaotic visual worlds that blend nostalgia with dark humour. His surreal depictions of Japanese society, ranging from bubble-era salarymen to rebellious ’90s gyaru, evoke a dreamlike collision between the past and a disordered, amoral future.

Anime fans are in for a thrilling mission this autumn as Spy x Family takes over Anime Tokyo Station until November 9. Celebrating the global phenomenon that has captivated audiences with its blend of action, comedy and heart, the exhibition offers an immersive journey into the lives of the Forgers (Loid, Yor and Anya) and their unforgettable escapades.

Visitors can relive iconic scenes from the hit series through scene panels and dynamic displays. Life-size character panels and themed photo spots invite guests to step directly into the world of Spy x Family, making the exhibition a must for fans eager to snap shots with their favourite characters.

A standout feature is the interactive AR experience, where you can uncover hidden character dialogues as you explore the exhibit space, adding a new layer of depth to the viewing experience.

Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer to the series, this exhibition should deliver an engaging and stylish encounter with the intersection of espionage, family ties and comedy that Spy x Family so uniquely offers.