Things to do in Tokyo this week

One of Tokyo's biggest and best traditional festivals is back this year for three consecutive days. First held back in 1312, the event celebrates the three men who founded Asakusa's Sensoji Temple, and it often draws close to two million visitors. 

The highlight of the festival comes on Sunday May 18, when three enormous mikoshi (portable shrines) are shuttled through the streets of Asakusa. Local residents usually take turns – and often fight each other for the chance – to carry them. Be sure to check the real-time route map to secure a good vantage point to see the mikoshi parade, which kicks off at 8am and continues on throughout the day. 

Saturday May 17 will feature the Chonai Mikoshi Rengo Togyo, where 100 or so mikoshi from 44 districts in the area are brought together to be purified at Asakusa Shrine, followed by a procession of priests, musicians and more. The gathering will take place behind Sensoji Temple's main hall from noon. 

While Saturday’s and Sunday's events bring the most visitors, the main procession on Friday May 16 at 1pm may offer a better opportunity to photograph the mikoshi passing through the famous Kaminarimon gate, as there will most likely be smaller crowds.

Do note that a slice of Japan that usually isn't that visible to visitors is in full view here. The festival is partially known (abroad) for the number of yakuza who attend and participate. If you notice a group of very heavily tattooed, often shirtless Japanese men and women, try to not stare or offend them. Be sure to ask politely if you want to take photos. Generally speaking though, they're there to show off their strength – plus their tattoos – and thus seem to like the attention they get.

One of Tokyo's three greatest traditional festivals returns in May. The Kanda Matsuri is customarily held on odd-numbered years and consists of a week-long succession of ceremonial rituals and parades, centred around Kanda Shrine.

The highlights are on May 10, with Shinkosai, a colourful procession of ceremonial shrines; and May 11 (from 9am) for the Mikoshi-Miyairi, when more than 200 mikoshi (portable shrines) are paraded through the nearby neighbourhoods. The Shinkosai procession begins near the B1 exit of Higashi-Nihonbashi Station, and the Mikoshi-Miyari begins at Kanda Shrine. You can see a map of the routes on the festival website.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available. Check back for the latest updates.

Kagoshima’s biggest festival, named after a famous folk song from the seaside city in Kyushu, takes over Shibuya with parades, songs and dance performances on May 17 and 18. The main procession takes place between 12noon and 5pm on Sunday May 18, moving along Dogenzaka-dori and Bunkamura-dori streets. Expect to see dancers in colourful yukata and happi (festival jackets) accompanied by traditional drummers.

During the festival, you can sample a selection of Kyushu delicacies at the Uniqlo Dogenzaka store. If the festivities inspire you to take a trip to Kagoshima, make sure to visit the city’s tourist information booth right there and then.

This year, the parade is complemented by a separate Kagoshima Shochu & Music Fest, held concurrently on both days (12noon to 8pm) at the fifth-floor Glade Park event space above the Dogenzaka Uniqlo. Here you can enjoy shochu from 24 distilleries based in Kagoshima, which is widely regarded as Japan’s premier producer of the stuff. Prices are set at ¥300 a cup and with 48 brands of shochu on offer, you’re pretty sure to find some that’s to your liking. 

The usually laid-back and refined streets of Kagurazaka are coming alive with music and revelry during this two-day celebration of Japanese traditional arts. The event revolves around the stages at Zenkokuji Temple and Akagi Shrine, but you’ll find entertainment spread out all over the area. You’ll see performances like rakugo, kodan and biwa storytelling, cross-genre collaborations between traditional Japanese and Western musical instruments, Noh theatre performances, and more.

Expect to see shinnai nagashi performers (usually comprise two singers and a shamisen player; Saturday 4.30pm and 7pm, Sunday 1pm and 3pm) strolling the neighbourhood as well as artists performing traditional Japanese storytelling at the Storytellers' theatre featuring ballads known as Gidayu-bushi, Rokuyoku storytelling and storytelling using the biwa lute. (Saturday 1.30pm and 3.30pm, Sunday 12noon and 3pm).

There will also be an area dedicated to family-friendly activities and entertainment like traditional Japanese spinning tops and kendama experiences for kids. If you understand Japanese, you can learn more about Kagurazaka's history by participating in the stamp rally walking guide on Sunday.

Check the event website for the full schedule.

This festival in Yoyogi Park is bringing a taste of Japan’s southernmost prefecture of Okinawa to Tokyo on May 17 and 18. Okinawan food is a major part of the event and you can feast on the likes of soki soba, taco rice, spam onigiri and Blue Seal ice cream. You'll also be able to sip on Okinawa's Orion beer. 

Take a break from the food to browse plenty of stalls where you can shop for colourful local goods from Okinawa, and get a good feel of Okinawa's unique culture and charm.

There will also be fun activities like photo booths and a kids’ play area with inflatable bouncy houses. You can also catch live music from Okinawan performers including J-pop band Mongol800, singer-songwriter Shen from Def Tech, Okinawan rapper Ritto and more. You can see the full list of artists and the schedule on the website.

Learn about and celebrate all things Polish at this one-day event at the Roppongi Hills Arena event space. There’ll be Polish music, dance, talks and cultural exhibitions, plus plenty of goods to try out including Polish cuisine and goods. Keep an eye on the official website of the Polish Institute in Tokyo for more details. 

It’s getting warmer, which means outdoor music festival season is in full swing. Ebisu’s Yebisu Garden Place is hosting its second annual outdoor jazz festival for three consecutive days this May, featuring a host of live performances by renowned artists from Japan and abroad.  

While many of the scheduled performances are paid, expect to see free shows by domestic artists such as Bossa Nova specialist Lisa Ono and jazz pianist Tadataka Unno, bassist and singer Tendre, as well as the Grace Aimi, Yancy & Zack Auslander trio. Highlights from the list of paid performances include R&B artists Kona Rose with David Bryant, alternative rock band Luby Spark, and experimental soul band Wonk at the Blue Note Place, managed by legendary jazz club Blue Note.

Coinciding with the 130th anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations between Japan and Brazil, the event will also feature a traditional pagode samba party hosted by celebrated former soccer player Ruy Ramos and his daughter Fabiana. The father-daughter duo will be performing on stage as a percussionist and singer, respectively. Standing tickets (¥3,900) are now available to purchase online via Eplus.

Check the event timetable for more details.

If you’re craving some Taiwanese food this spring, then drop by Tokyo Skytree Town for its Taiwan Festival. Head over to the fourth floor of Sky Arena until June 1 to feast on Taiwanese food throughout the day. Several stalls are offering popular Taiwanese festival cuisine such as lu rou fan (braised pork over rice), cong you bing (scallion pancake) and da ji pai fried chicken.

You can also shop for Taiwanese goods and even enjoy massages and fortune telling. The dining area is decorated with red lanterns to give it a Taiwanese night market feel.

Kyu Furukawa Gardens in Tokyo’s Kita Ward is known for its colourful roses that start to bloom in May, and this festival is your best chance to enjoy them all. The Western-style garden on the upper grounds is adorned with 200 roses of 100 different varieties. In addition to your vivid red and pink blossoms, you’ll get to see pastel-coloured ones including Kinda Blue, Cinderella, Manyo and New Dawn roses, too.

There will also be musical performances held on the lawn on May 25 from 12noon and at 3pm.  There will also be stalls in the garden selling goods with rose motifs from 10am to 4pm.

Check the garden's Twitter account for the most up-to-date flowering status.

Head up to Ibaraki's Hitachi Seaside Park from mid-April to early May and see a whopping 5.3 million 'baby blue eyes' – also known as nemophila – flowers in full bloom. The hilly grounds span 3.5 hectares and are almost completely covered with the little blue blossoms, making for a pretty spectacular sight.

The blooms are usually at their best from mid- to late April, but they are still a magnificent sight if you catch them a bit earlier or even right after peak bloom. According to this year's forecast, the flowers will be in their full glory between April 20 to 27.

Along with the flowers, the park has gone all-out with blue food and drink for you to enjoy during your visit. Sample blue ramune-soda-flavoured soft cream served with nemophila-shaped cookies, pretty blue lemonade, lattes and even a blue-tinged curry ramen. While you're at it, pick up a few souvenirs to take home with you including nemophila macarons, cookies and jewellery featuring the flower of the season. 

The park is home to various other spring flowers, too, including daffodils and tulips, which also bloom between April and May.

The annual Fuji Shibazakura Festival is returning this spring with a staggering 500,000 pink, purple and white blooms from April 12 to May 25. With its seemingly endless fields of shibazakura (pink moss) and view of majestic Mt Fuji on the horizon, it's no wonder that this annual spring festival out at Lake Motosu in Yamanashi typically attracts hordes of Tokyoites over Golden Week. 

In addition to the eight kinds of shibazakura, you’ll get to see other colourful blooms like cherry blossoms, grape hyacinth, poppy anemone and forsythia. While you’re here, it’s also worth checking out the adjacent Peter Rabbit-themed English Garden, decorated with around 300 kinds of plants as well as figurines of the characters from the storybook. 

One of the best ways to get here is by highway bus. A round-trip ticket including festival entry fee starts from ¥8,800, with the bus departing from Ueno Station Park Exit, in front of Tokyu Plaza Ginza and in front of Kogakuin University near Shinjuku Station West exit. It takes you directly to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival in around two and a half hours. We recommend making reservations in advance because seats can fill up quickly during spring.

Otherwise, you can opt for the two-hour-long Limited Express Fuji Excursion train from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko Station, and hop on the Fuji Shibazakura liner shuttle bus for another 50 minutes to get to the venue.

Tachikawa's Showa Kinen Park isn't content with merely hyping sakura: its Flower Festival takes place over three months and celebrates the blooms of winter rapeseeds (in March), tulips (April), nemophilia (April-May), poppies and German chamomile (May), of course in addition to the cherry blossoms in March and April.

Along with flower-viewing, the park will be hosting a number of floral-themed events, and dedicated photo spots will be set up on the premises. Don't miss the chance to see a beautiful field of nemophila flowers in late April, which turn into a gorgeous sea of blue once 2 million nemophilia plants bloom at once.

This spring and summer, Japan’s ancient aesthetic heritage meets the cutting edge of animation. On at the Tokyo National Museum from March 25 to August 3, ‘Immersive Theater on Neo-Japonism: From Ancient Art to Anime’ is an ambitious 24-minute visual experience that journeys through 10,000 years of Japanese creativity.

Projected across four massive walls fitted with towering 7-metre screens, the ultra-HD installation explores the evolution of Japanese artistic expression from the clay figures of the prehistoric Jomon period to the ink paintings of the Edo period (1603–1867), culminating in the vibrant dynamism of contemporary anime. Brought to life by the innovative minds at digital art outfits Panoramatiks and Cekai, the experience highlights how Japan’s animist worldview and refined sense of space continue to influence global pop culture.

The exhibition draws poignant connections between ancient scrolls, classical motifs, and works by anime legends like Osamu Tezuka, Isao Takahata and Mamoru Hosoda, serving up a distinctive blend of history, art and imagination.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government No. 1 Building in Shinjuku serves as the backdrop for a jaw-dropping and record-breaking projection mapping show. Covering an area of a whopping 13,905sqm, the after-dark spectacle has been certified by Guinness World Records as the largest permanent display of its kind in the world.

The nightly showcase features a range of visual wonders created by a mix of local and international artists. Some shows are inspired by Tokyo’s rich history, while others draw on themes like the lunar cycle. 

From April 26, ‘Tokyo Gundam in the Future’, a brand new projection mapping show featuring a Gundam with a newly reimagined Mobile Suit colour scheme, will begin on weekends and holidays every hour from 7pm (7.30pm from May 10). Be sure to check the event website for more details.

Welcome the arrival of the warmer months with spring flowers and a gorgeous panoramic view of Tokyo this spring at Shibuya Sky’s Flower View. The popular observatory is bringing back its botanical garden-themed decorations at the 46th-floor indoor Sky Gallery for a special, limited-time flowerful makeover from April 8 to May 30. 

Expect to see giant art installations inspired by spring flowers such as cherry blossoms, tulips, lilies, dandelions and roses – making for an amazing photo-op with the city skyline as the background. While you’re there, make sure to drop by the Paradise Lounge on the same floor for their special spring-inspired drink menu. There’s a sweet and aromatic lychee and grapefruit China Blue cocktail (¥1,000) and a refreshing non-alcoholic orange squash soda infused with blood orange (¥850). 

If you’re planning to visit in May, don’t miss the chance to see the free rooftop live dance and music performance on May 4 from 4pm. (Admission ticket required)

Visit the Shibuya Sky website for more information on the Flower View event.

Yebisu Brewery Tokyo is holding a collaborative art exhibit between Yebisu Beer and manga artist Hirohiko Araki, creator of the bestselling series Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. Widely known for his unique artistic style and poses, Araki was invited to collaborate with Yebisu Beer to draw bijin-ga portraits inspired by advertisements produced by the brewery in the early 1900s. Bijin-ga is a term used for portraits of beautiful women in Japanese art, and the style was often applied to beer advertisements back in the day. 

The exhibit will display Araki’s two three-metre tall modern interpretations of bijin-ga, drawn in his signature vivid style: ‘Western’ and ‘Peach Patrol.’ Don’t forget to get the limited-edition Araki-designed Ebisu Beer cans and merch on your way out, as they’re being released in limited quantities.

Step into the masterful world of Japan’s most celebrated woodblock print artist this spring at ‘Hokusai: Another Story’, held at Shibuya’s Tokyu Plaza. Utilising the latest in high-definition imaging, spatial audio and Sony’s state-of-the-art sensory technology, the exhibition promises to bring Hokusai’s iconic works to life.

The main highlight of the exhibition is the vivid scenery of Hokusai's ‘Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji’, with ultra-high-definition visuals and Sony's Crystal LED displays recreating the intricate details of the work. Visualise, hear and feel the sensation of jumping on puddles or walking on dry sand, thanks in part to haptic floor technology developed by Sony PCL. Then, follow a path illuminated by bamboo lights to reach a room where you can browse master replicas of iconic ukiyo-e prints. Each replica is crafted using DTIP (3D Texture Image Processing) technology that scans every fibre of the traditional washi-paper originals to preserve the works digitally. This multisensory experience allows visitors to not only see, but truly feel, the world Hokusai depicted.

Tickets must be purchased in advance through the event website.

As his nickname ‘God of Manga’ suggests, the Osaka-born Osamu Tezuka (1928–1989) revolutionised Japanese manga and animation, shaping the industry into what it is today. His immense creativity and pioneering storytelling introduced the world to classics such as Astro Boy, Black Jack and Kimba the White Lion. The artist himself, however, considered Phoenix (Hinotori) his magnum opus. A profound and ambitious saga exploring the nature of life, death and reincarnation, the Phoenix narrative follows humanity’s relentless pursuit of immortality through the mythical bird whose blood grants eternal life, alternating between the distant past and far future. 

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of this landmark work, the first large-scale Phoenix exhibition will take place from March 7 to May 25 at Tokyo City View in Roppongi Hills. Featuring over 800 pieces spanning the manga’s twelve main arcs, the exhibition will not only showcase original artworks and manuscripts; it’ll also invite visitors to explore Tezuka's conclusion, left unfinished following the artist’s untimely death in 1989.

By merging art, philosophy and science, ‘Osamu Tezuka’s Phoenix Exhibition’ offers a fresh perspective on one of manga’s greatest masterpieces, conveying Tezuka’s visionary legacy to new generations.

Pottery lovers, rejoice. 21_21 Design Sight is holding an exhibition of dozens of donburi (ramen bowls) from now until June 15. Most of them hail from the Tono region of Gifu prefecture, which accounts for a whopping 90% of Japan's ramen bowls.

The exhibition features the wares of ramen bowl collector Yasuyuki Kaga, as well as an 'Artist Ramen Bowls' exhibit: a colourful mix of 40 unique bowls designed by 40 different artists, designers, food experts and more. Each artist's bowl includes a bilingual synopsis from the creator themselves, detailling the thoughts and intentions behind their design.

Those interested in sustainability can learn more about the bowl-making process and efforts to recycle unwanted pottery into raw materials. If you're feeling artsy, hit up the 'Donburi Pride' workshop, where you can draw your own bowl design to take home or submit to the exhibition. Selected drawings will be temporarily displayed.

The exhibit is open every day except Tuesday, and runs from 10am to 7pm (entry until 6.30pm). Tickets are ¥1,600 for adults, ¥800 for university students and ¥500 for high school students. Junior high students and younger enter free of charge. You can purchase tickets here.

Spanish-born Joan Miró (1893-1983) has long been considered one of the most important artists of the twentieth century; revered for his poetic transformation of nature-derived shapes such as the moon and stars into abstract symbols. In this major retrospective, the various phases of Miró's career are presented together in Japan for the first time. Overseen by the Fundació Joan Miró, based in the artist's birthplace of Barcelona, this exhibition sees masterpieces held in collections across the world brought to Tokyo, to form a comprehensive overview of an artistic practice that encompassed painting, ceramics, sculpture and more.

Post-impressionistic early works, such as the 1919 self-portrait, give way to a resolutely surrealist approach as Miró becomes involved in the artistic current then sweeping Paris, where he spent much of the 1920s and '30s. The subsequent three decades then see the artist develop and hone the singular style with which he is most associated, exemplified here by exhibition highlight 'The Morning Star' (1940) and other selections from his 'Constellations' series. Finally, the show highlights how, even in his final years, Miró continued his lifelong search for new modes of expression.

The exhibition is closed on Mondays (except April 28, May 5) as well as May 7.

Swedish-born artist Hilma af Klint (1862-1944) was a pioneer of abstract painting, whose work prefigured that of such revered figures as Piet Mondrian and Wassily Kandinsky. Yet, for decades, her work was known only to a handful of people. The 21st century, however, has seen Klint receive some long overdue global recognition. A 2018 retrospective at New York's Guggenheim Museum attracted the largest visitor numbers in that venue's history, and now the prestigious National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo presents her first career overview to be held in Asia.

The exhibition centres upon selections from "The Paintings for the Temple", a series which Klint, who was involved in the then-booming spiritualist movement, produced between 1906 and 1915 after believing the project to have been 'commissioned' from another dimension during a seance. The artist perceived these works which combine abstract and figurative elements, and organic and geometric forms, to have been created 'through' her by some external spiritual force.

Advance tickets are sold until March 3. This exhibition is closed on Mondays (except March 31 and May 5) as well as May 7.

Soundwalk Collective, led by Stephan Crasneanscki and Simone Merli, is a Berlin-based sonic arts platform known for its experimental, interdisciplinary approach to sound. The group has collaborated with artists such as Jean-Luc Godard, Nan Goldin and Charlotte Gainsbourg, creating narratives that explore themes including time, memory and loss.

This spring, they’re bringing an auditory spectacle to the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo in the form of a collab with none other than Patti Smith. A musician, poet and visual artist, the inimitable Chicago native has shaped cultural history through her fusion of literature, music and activism, inspiring generations since her groundbreaking 1975 album Horses.

Fusing sound, poetry and film, ‘Correspondences’ takes over the MOT from April 26 to June 29. Through eight films, lightboxes, and sound installations, the exhibition explores themes such as environmental destruction and human resilience. Sonic memories collected from landscapes in Chernobyl and fire-ravaged forests are interwoven with Smith’s poetry and archival visuals, which feature cinema greats such as Pasolini and Godard. 

Presented for the first time in Japan, the exhibition marks the launch of MOT Plus, a platform for experimental art. A special artist talk with Smith and Crasneanscki will be held on April 26.