Free things to do in Tokyo this weekend

It's not quite a Japanese summer without fireflies. Come see them at Setagaya's very own Firefly Festival which attracts a respectable 25,000 visitors every year. At the heart of the festival is the spectacle of approximately 3,000 fireflies released in a dome tent at the Setagaya Daikanyashiki parking lot. As dusk falls, watch these curious bugs illuminate the evening with their gentle glow.

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.

Hatonomori Hachiman Shrine is celebrating a Bon Odori festival on the evening of July 18-19. You can expect food stalls set up by local businesses in the area, as well as games and activities for children. Plus, of course, the requisite communal dancing. Come at 4pm to learn the choreography, and you can join in one of the Bon Odori dances happening at 5.30pm, 7pm or 7.50pm (5.30pm, 6.45pm and 8pm on Saturday).

Listen to the soft, soothing sounds of wind chimes at Kawasaki Daishi Temple’s annual wind chime market, happening from July 17 to 21. The 30th-anniversary event this year will feature over 800 types of wind chimes collected from all over the country. The chimes, made of a variety of materials such as ceramics, glass or metal, each produce their own unique sound. While you’re there, don’t forget to purchase the temple’s very own version – the ‘Daruma wind chime for warding off evil’ – which promises to do just that.

Expect a colourful, caipirinha-fuelled, energy-packed couple of days as the Brazil Festival takes over Yoyogi Park's event square. There will be plenty of dancing and live music, featuring singer-songwriters such as folk singer Kazufumi Miyazawa, Brazilian instrumentalist Moises Zamora, Brazilian band Banda Dahu, samba dancers, as well as capoeira performers. The abundant food stalls will be serving plenty of grilled meat, churros and fruity beverages.