Free things to do in Tokyo this week

Fireworks may be a summer tradition in Japan, but you can still find them occasionally towards the end of the year, such as this special event in Odaiba that promises a series of mini fireworks throughout December. The five-minute pyrotechnic display can be viewed from anywhere in the Marine Park area, as the fireworks will be launched off the coast of the Statue of Liberty, between Odaiba and the Rainbow Bridge. The fireworks take place every Saturday in December at 7pm (December 6, 13, 20 and 27). This year, a special show will also be held on Christmas Eve (Wednesday, December 24) for a total of five shows.

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 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. 

Now in its 19th year, Roppongi Hills’s popular German-style Christmas market is modelled after the market in the German city of Stuttgart. At O-yane Plaza, you’ll find handmade ornaments and nutcracker decorations from Käthe Wohlfahrt, plus classic carols and plenty of festive décor. When you get hungry and thirsty, there are Christmas market staples such as sausages and beer to enjoy. Don’t miss the nearby illuminations at Roppongi’s Keyakizaka Street, which add to the festive atmosphere.

Yokohama’s holiday season nighttime light-up spectacular returns for the sixth time this December, bringing rainbow-coloured sparkle to the entire waterfront. Highlights this year include a five-minute lights-and-sound extravaganza titled ‘Highlight of Yokohama’, featuring over 45 Yokohama landmarks, as well as a massive whale-themed projection-mapping display on the rooftop of the Osanbashi cruise terminal. Named one of Japan’s three most spectacular night views last year, Yokohama’s skyline is best enjoyed from the Osanbashi cruise terminal or Yamashita Park. The park will also host an interactive digital art installation featuring 19 illuminated trees arranged around a single glowing ‘star flower’. The five-minute 'Highlight of Yokohama' show takes place every 30 minutes between 5pm and 9.05pm.

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.

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...

German-inspired Christmas markets are taking Tokyo by storm, and this one is no exception. Tokyo Solamachi Christmas Market offers all the usual attractions like wooden stalls with various holiday accessories, beer, warm glühwein, hot chocolate and traditional confectionery such as stollen cake and waffles. The lighting in the market area combines nicely with the golden winter illuminations at Tokyo Skytree and the four-metre-tall Christmas tree, creating a homely atmosphere at Solamachi’s Sky Arena. The Christmas market is open daily until 10pm.

Taking over from the farmers market that happens year-round at Ebisu Garden Place's Clock Plaza, this European-style Christmas market at Chateau Square and Clock Plaza offers all the usual knick-knacks and goodies, from ornaments to mulled wine and continental grub, in addition to French specialities such as galettes and handmade wreaths. An impressive tree is set up right next to the stalls, while the shopping complex below is decorated with a massive Baccarat chandelier and thousands of shining LEDs. Note: The Christmas market at Chateau Square begins on November 28.

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.