Free things to do in Tokyo this week

Enjoy the perfectly shaped, sunset-yellow ginkgo trees that form a 300m-long boulevard between Gaienmae and Aoyama-Itchome stations. This is Tokyo’s quintessential autumn scenery, which has graced countless Instagram accounts. The best time to visit is between November 22 and November 30, when the yellow leaves are lit up in the evening. The light up takes place daily between 4.30pm and 7.30pm.

The 400m-long Keyakizaka Street next to the Roppongi Hills shopping centre is lighting up with 930,000 sparkling white and blue LEDs until Christmas Day. From the pedestrian bridge near the Roppongi Hills Arena, you'll get a stunning view of the trees covered in shimmering lights, with Tokyo Tower in the background, from 5pm to 11pm daily. 

The 1.2-kilometre-long Marunouchi Naka-dori street, always one of the most popular Tokyo illumination spots, will have around 250 trees lit up with about 775,000 low-energy, champagne-coloured LEDs this year, making for an environmentally friendly and stylish display. If you’d rather stay cosy while admiring the lights, visit the renovated Marunouchi House, where the seventh-floor terrace will feature festive illuminations for a limited time. The terrace has plenty of seats surrounded by outdoor heaters. Closer to Christmas, Gyoko-dori between the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station will have more illuminations between November 28 and December 25, bringing the total to around 810,000 LEDs.

Mt Takao is one of the most picturesque destinations in Tokyo to see autumn leaves. And one of the best ways to do that is by taking the scenic cable car ride, which brings you closer to the mountain’s Yakuoin temple. Here you can sample shojin ryori, a traditional Japanese Buddhist vegetarian meal. To secure a lunchtime seat, be sure to book a reservation for two or more people at least two days in advance via phone. The best time to see the autumn leaves for 2025 is mid to late November, when the foliage around the cable car tracks turns deep orange and red. Throughout the duration of the festival, you can also look forward to a host of free events at Kiyotaki Station, the cable car stop at the base of Mt Takao, including musical and dance performances by local university students. While details are yet to be announced for 2025, check the event's English website for the latest updates. As is the case every year, the base of Mt Takao will be crowded in autumn, so it’s best to arrive via public transport.

Enoshima’s annual illumination is widely touted as one of the three biggest and most impressive light-up events in Greater Tokyo, alongside the ones at Ashikaga Flower Park and Sagamiko. There are about 10 illumination spots scattered across the hilly island – including the Enoshima Shrine, Ryuren Bell of Love on Lover's Hill and Nakatsumiya Square – so put on some comfortable shoes as you’ll be trekking a lot. Don’t miss the main attraction located at the island’s iconic Enoshima Sea Candle lighthouse, which is decked out in 70m-long strings of lights stretching from the tip of the tower to the ground, creating a formation similar to the silhouette of Mt Fuji. The Samuel Cocking Garden, where the Sea Candle is located, is transformed into the dreamy Hoseki (bejewelled) Forest, where everything from the ground and the grass to the trees are covered in purple lights. Keep an eye out for the Shonan Chandelier tunnel, all decked out with luxurious crystal beads and LED lights. New for 2025, the Samuel Cocking Garden will also feature a dazzling sea urchin-inspired installation created by MirrorBowler. Most attractions are open from 5pm to 8pm (until 9pm on weekends and holidays). You can see some of the light-ups on Enoshima for free, but you will need a ticket (¥500, children ¥250) to enter the Samuel Cocking Garden, which hosts the largest illuminations. If you're on the island early during daylight hours, head over to Enoshima Iwaya (¥500, children ¥200), as the island's...

Always one of Tokyo's most popular light-ups, the Omotesando Illumination is back this year with some 900,000 champagne-coloured LEDs illuminating the 1km-long street lined with zelkova trees between the Jingumae and Omotesando crossings. While you’re in the area, make sure to drop by Omotesando Hills for its stunning crystal Christmas tree (November 11 to December 25) made up of 1,000 shimmering prism elements.

This annual wintertime display at Yebisu Garden Place incorporates a Baccarat chandelier that's 5m tall and 3m wide, making it one of the largest in the world. Made of 250 light bulbs and 8,500 crystals, the chandelier emits a warm and elegant light. That’s not all, though. There are smaller illumination displays in the Entrance Pavilion, Clock Plaza, Promenade and Chateau Square. In total, the event uses roughly 100,000 champagne-coloured light bulbs.  While you're there, check out the European-inspired Christmas Marche at Chateau Square and Clock Plaza. Here you'll find holiday trinkets and hearty soups as well as mulled wine and hot chocolate to warm you up on a cold evening. The Christmas Marche is held daily from 5pm to 8pm (12noon-8pm on weekends and hols) until December 25. Christmas Marche at Chateau Square opens on November 28.

Dubbed Ao no Dokutsu, meaning blue cavern, this breathtaking illumination was a huge hit when it made its debut along the Meguro River back in 2014. The now annual event made a comeback in Shibuya in 2016, where it will again bathe the tree-lined walkway leading to Yoyogi Park in a fantastical blue glow this holiday season until Christmas Day. Stretched out for 900 metres along Koen-dori and Yoyogi Park Events Square, the fantastical display is made up of around 500,000 blue LEDs. The lights are also reflected off the ground to create an immersive experience. At the end of the tunnel, you’ll find a gigantic inflatable snowman illuminated with festive projection mapping this year, inspired by ‘Christmas and Shibuya’. The illuminations take place daily between 5pm and 10pm.

The forested footpaths surrounding Skytree's Solamachi mall and stairways connecting the mall's rooftop Sky Arena with Tokyo Skytree Station and Oshiage Station are getting a holiday makeover this winter with over 500 thousand lights. Expect to see trees decorated in champagne coloured LEDs near Oshiage Station, and Sorami-zaka and Hanami-zaka staircases illuminated with thousands of LEDs displaying Christmas-themed animations for this event, held as part of the complex's Christmas celebrations. The main spectacle, however, takes place at the Sky Arena, which is decorated with a four-metre-tall white Christmas tree that’s beautifully lit with sparkling lights. Also, be on the hunt for champagne-coloured light-up character figures of Sorakara-chan and friends, Tokyo Skytree mascots, which are also four metres tall. Look forward to special light-ups of the 634m Tokyo Skytree itself, which is getting a Christmas light-up revamp for the first time this year. The transmission tower will be glowing in three different designs, which change every minute from Christmas tree green with red ornaments and a shining star on top, champagne gold to resemble an elegant Christmas tree, as well as white and red to look like Santa Claus with a golden belt and a shining pom-pom hat. Visitors can enjoy the illuminations while sipping on some German beer or mulled wine from the on-site Tokyo Solamachi Christmas Market (from November 6). Venture a bit further and you'll come across blue and...

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. Plus, there's always a few food trucks on hand if you wish to enjoy a quick meal.