Free things to do in Tokyo this weekend

This September, step into the world of Monsoni!, a music-focused spin-off of the popular Monster Strike mobile video game. Running from September 18 to September 27, this Omotesando pop-up features a purple-coloured menu made with the recently trending ube, or purple yam. Expect ube drinks and ube madeleines, as well as a giant cat paw where you can sit and take photos. The pop-up is mainly themed around Infinity X, a cat DJ and leader of a music group in the game, hence the cat theme. For the unacquainted, ‘Mugen no Nikukyu’ is a popular shop in the Monsoni! universe. Expect a photo-friendly space decked out in Monsoni!-themed details, plus a selection of original T-shirts and manekineko beckoning cat lucky charms to take home. It’s a perfect photo spot worth stopping by on your Omotesando endeavours.

This September, Shimokitazawa welcomes the return of its annual lunar art festival that will coincide with the upcoming autumn moon. Back for its fifth edition, Moon Art Night Shimokita will span several venues in the neighbourhood, including the open plaza in front of the station, Shimokita Senrogai Open Space near Shimokitazawa police box, the rooftop of Higashi-Kitazawa Station, and the Bonus Track complex. Exhibits include an outdoor moon installation by UK artist Luke Jerram, whose giant floating model features striking details of the moon’s surface as captured by Nasa. This particular installation – titled ‘Museum of the Moon’ – is set to be on show every day at the vacant lot of the Shimokita Senrogai complex. Nearby at Shimokitazawa Station Square, you’ll find an installation of phosphorescent cubes that absorb sunlight during the day and release it as a soft glow by nightfall. Produced by Midori Kawano, the installation, titled 'Afterglow', draws on the idea that moonlight is a reflection of the moon as it was 1.3 seconds earlier, offering a literal glimpse into the past. The festival is also hosting Tokyo-based contemporary artist Shoei Matsuda, whose giant eight-metre-tall inflatable recreates the iconic 'tears of joy' emoji at the Bonus Track complex. Inspired by the evolution of emoji from a feature of Japanese mobile phone culture into a universal visual language, the interactive installation explores the relationship between the digital and physical...

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.  Currently, on weeknights, you can catch striking visuals synchronised to ‘800’ and 'Zankyosanka' by hit Japanese pop singer and lyricist Aimer as well as ‘Pac-Man eats Tokyo’, ‘Lunar Cycle’, ‘Synergy’, ‘Tokyo Resonance’ and ‘Evolution’. On weekends, you can look forward to the aforementioned ‘Zankyosanka (Aimer)’, as well as ‘Godzilla: Attack on Tokyo’ and ‘TYO337’, a display featuring motifs of traditional Japanese performing arts such as Kabuki paired with electronic beats.  From March 20, Pokémon Trading Card Game ‘Tokyo Luminous Night’, a brand-new projection-mapping show featuring Pokémon cards on a massive scale, has been running on weekends and holidays from 6.30pm, 7.30pm and 9pm. Be sure to check the event website for more details. Shows take place every night at fifteen-minute intervals from 6pm (Mar from 6.30pm, 7pm from Apr, 7.30pm from May to Aug) to 9.45pm. For more details and to check the full programme of daily projection mapping shows,...

Celebrated since 1968, this two-day festival takes place in Ikebukuro, with dozens of mikoshi (portable shrines) being paraded on the streets in front of Ikebukuro Station's west exit from 5.45pm to 7.30pm on September 27. Sunday's festivities also include a taiko drumming performance (4.20pm), lion dance and ohayashi festival music performance (5pm), plus a selection of dance performances from 11.30am to 3pm at the nearby open-air Global Ring Theatre. Expect to see a similarly packed itinerary on Saturday September 26, with performances such as a Soprano singer and choir performance (2.50pm), Hawaiian hula (4.10pm), Cheerleading demonstrations (4.45pm) and belly dance (6.10pm) kicking off the festivities at Ikebukuro's Global Ring Theatre.

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.

Step into a world of vibrant chrysanthemums this spring at this free collaborative exhibition between teamLab and Galaxy. Now in its fifth year, the interactive, immersive space at Galaxy Harajuku uses cutting-edge projection mapping to depict flowers caught in an endless cycle of birth and death. Reach out to touch them and they’ll wither; stand still beside them and they’ll bloom more quickly. Look down and you’ll see flowing currents of gold beneath your feet – traces shaped by your very presence. The movements of others create their own currents, which intertwine and form swirling vortices. The result is a constantly shifting environment where no two moments are ever the same. The Galaxy store also invites visitors to capture these fleeting scenes using the foldable smartphones available at the venue.

The nation’s biggest festival of Indian culture returns to Yoyogi Park this September with traditional music and dance performances. You can slip into a traditional sari for photos against a Taj Mahal backdrop, discover Indian crafts like Mithila and Warli painting, browse through and purchase Indian spices, handicrafts, clothing and yoga goods from India, and sample dishes from food stalls run by some of Tokyo’s top Indian restaurants. Namaste is always a fun way to spend a weekend afternoon.

Northern Tokyo’s hanabi kicks off the autumn season with around 10,000 fireworks on Saturday September 26. The 70-minute display takes place behind the old Iwabuchi Watergate, creating a striking backdrop as colourful explosions light up the sky above the dam’s vivid red structure. This year, KKday is offering English-friendly seat reservations for tourists (and foreign nationals living in Tokyo), which get you designated chair seats up close to the fireworks near Iwabuchi Bridge.  If these seats sell out, check the general ticketing page on Ticket Pia. Tickets for paid seats on both the Akabane and Kawaguchi sides of the river are still available from ¥8,800 per person. Free viewing areas are located farther away at a baseball field accessible from Kita-Akabane Station, but expect crowds. The fireworks festival may be cancelled due to inclement weather, though it will go ahead in light rain. Please check the festival’s official X account for the latest updates before you visit.