Things to do in Tokyo today

Ryuichi Sakamoto, who passed away in 2023 aged 71, was one of Japan's most globally influential musicians and composers. He also had a talent for creating multimedia art and became a prominent social activist, concerned with pacifism and environmental issues. For much of the past two decades, Sakamoto focused upon three-dimensional sound installations, and these comprise the bulk of this show. A series of these immersive large-scale works unfolds around the MOT's vast exhibition spaces to mesmerising effect. The outdoor 'Sunken Terrace', for example, plays host to a literal 'fog sculpture' titled 'Life-Well Tokyo', produced in collaboration with artists Shiro Takatani, of Dumb Type and Fujiko Nakaya. Inside several works draw upon the music that Sakamoto created for his 2017 album 'async', a recording that pursued asynchronicity in a bid to create entirely 'untraditional' music. Indoor and out, together these pieces form a poignant tribute to a much-missed member of the creative community. 

Enoshima’s annual illumination is widely touted as one of the three biggest and most impressive light-up events in Japan, 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 rainbow-coloured lights. Keep an eye out for the Shonan Chandelier tunnel, all decked out with luxurious crystal beads and LED lights. Most attractions are open from 5pm to 8pm (until 9pm on weekends and holidays). You can see most of the light-ups on Enoshima for free, but you will need a ticket (¥500, children ¥250) to enter the Samuel Cocking Garden. If you're on the island early during daylight hours, head over to Enoshima Iwaya (¥500, children ¥250), as the island's famous cave, created by decades of wave erosion, is bedecked with sparkling lights from 9am to 5pm.

The work of Kei Imazu, a Japanese-born artist now based in Indonesia, explores how technological innovations have the power to influence human perception. Now, with Imazu increasingly gaining global attention, Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery presents her first major solo exhibition. Tactile, 'traditional' artistic tools and materials meet digital imaging tech in Imazu's experimental approaches. Images sourced from a diversity of media are digitally sampled and processed, before being combined on canvas with oil painting. Elements from history and mythology, including those of her adopted Indonesia, join present-day concerns such as environmental issues and ecofeminism to form large-scale, analogue-digital collages that are truly of their time. This exhibition is closed on Mondays (except January 13 and February 24) as well as January 14, February 9 and February 25.

The Ota Memorial Museum of Art offers a tasty dive into the past with an exhibition that explores the evolution of Japanese culinary culture during the Edo period (1603–1868), a pivotal time when many now-iconic dishes emerged and were democratised. ‘Edo Gourmet Dishes’ highlights the richness of the period’s gastronomy through 90 ukiyo-e prints signed by masters such as Hokusai, Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi. These artists, famous for their landscapes, caricatures and depictions of warriors, also immortalised the daily life of the people of Edo (now Tokyo) – including their eating habits. The exhibition focuses on familiar dishes such as sushi, soba and tempura, exploring their ingredients and the seasonings used at the time, including miso, vinegar and soy sauce, which became widely distributed during this period. Among the works on display are prints such as Women in Benkei Stripes: Matsuno-zushi by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, a playful depiction of sushi culture, and Hiroshige’s Famous Places in Edo: Amusements While Waiting for the Moon on the Twenty-sixth Night in Takanawa, which beautifully illustrates the role of dining in social gatherings. Works by Hokusai and Hiroshige depicting scenes of meals along the Tokaido route can be contemplated as well.

Immerse yourself in a captivating world of art at a soon-to-be-demolished apartment building. Yeah, you heard that right: over two weeks, a 10-storey condo complex slated to be torn down in February is being given a new life (albeit briefly) as an immersive art gallery. Taking over the building with 50 apartments, this unique exhibition showcases a diverse collection of works by emerging and established artists such as Emi Kusano, Alligator Jesus, Espo, Oto, Kenji Yanobe, the Mallary Archive and more. Moreover, the building’s hallways and common areas are given a makeover by Amanda Hagy, an award-winning Hollywood scenic artist who has produced background art for movies such as Joker, West Side Story and John Wick Chapter 3. Don’t forget to check out all of the floors, as each one is decorated with different themes, ranging from ‘Dekotora’ to Cyberpunk. Be sure to purchase a ticket in advance online, as they won’t be selling them on-site.

The massive Unicorn Gundam statue in front of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba is getting lit up with special winter lights. Until February 16, you can see the robot illuminated in blue, red and yellow to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Mobile Suit Gundam animated series, which first premiered in 1979. While you can see this exclusive light-up from 5pm to 11pm daily, we recommend visiting between 7pm and 9.30pm to also see a special show featuring a short screening of the animation, held every 30 minutes.

Among the illustrated characters that emerged in Japan across the second half of the 20th century, and continue to capture hearts both at home and across the globe, none represents the phenomenon better than Hello Kitty. With a half-century now having passed since the cartoon feline was introduced by the Sanrio company, this major exhibition looks at how Kitty-chan’s design has evolved over decades of cultural change: without ever losing that innate charm that has endeared her to generation after generation. The largest collection of Hello Kitty goods ever amassed in one place, as well as video content and other media, gradually reveals the secrets to this character’s appeal: how besides keeping pace with the times while simultaneously transcending them, Hello Kitty can mirror the day-to-day moods of each and every fan. Highlights include collaboration pieces created with well-known artists and designers, and a series of immersive photo spots featuring not only Kitty-chan but also other faces from the Sanrio stable, including My Melody and Cinnamoroll.

Glide around at the foot of Tokyo Skytree on this rink from January 4 until February 28. The view will make it a striking place at any time, but head here after dark, when the surrounding illuminations are switched on, for a particularly atmospheric skating experience. Skate rental is included in the admission fee (¥2,200, junior high school students and younger children ¥1,200) and if you forget your gloves, which are a necessity to use the rink, you can buy a pair on site for ¥300. Drop by from 11am on January 4 for the rink’s opening ceremony to catch a stunning performance by Japanese figure skater and three-time national champion Miki Ando. The rink is open from 11am-8pm between Mon-Thu, and until 9pm between Fri-Sun and holidays.

Master painter Claude Monet (1840-1926) is best known for Impressionist works that captured on canvas the ceaseless transitions of nature. As explored by this major exhibition, however, in the later years of his career, this French artist pursued a more abstract approach, with inspiration coming from both personal and wider realities such as bereavement, his own eye disease and the First World War. The natural world remained Monet’s ostensible subject matter, such as his signature water lily ponds and their surrounding trees and skies, but his depictions of such scenes were then additionally coloured by internal distress. For this show, around 50 pieces from Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris have been brought over to Japan, with many being shown in the country for the very first time. These are augmented by works held in collections across Japan, to form an expansive look at Monet’s later career. The highlight here is a large screen of water lilies, which stands over two metres tall and makes for a truly immersive experience. The exhibition is closed on Mondays (except November 4, January 13, February 10 and February 11) as well as November 5, December 28-January 1, and January 14.

Experience traditional Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints in motion at Warehouse Terrada this winter, as digital creative company Hitohata returns to Tokyo with a dazzling exhibition of works by many of Japan’s most prized artists, including Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige. The exhibition is set to open on December 21 and will go on until March 31. Expect to see vibrant artworks come to life with surging waves, falling sakura petals and moving flowers and trees. In addition to the digital exhibits, the museum will display a selection of famous ukiyo-e from the Edo period (1603–1867), making for a perfect chance to learn more about the art form’s history and culture. Tickets are currently on sale online, with early-bird ticket discounts available from kkday, eplus and Lawson Ticket until Dec 20.