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 7, 14, 21 and 28). This year, a special show will also be held on Christmas Eve (Tuesday, December 24).

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 a couple of years ago, 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's Keyaki event space, this fantastical illumination is made up of around 600,000 blue LEDs. The lights are also reflected off the ground to create an immersive experience.

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 800,000 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. 

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.

Looking to get into the holiday spirit? Head on over to Trunk Hotel Cat Street where the hotel will be hosting its annual Winter Market featuring workshops, a pop-up vintage store, tasty bites and original cocktails created by Trunk Lounge's bartenders. 

Workshops include a DIY candle ornament (¥1,000 per person) where you can craft a pretty decoration out of soy wax. Alternatively, there's also a cyanotype workshop (¥1,000 per person) where you can use sunlight to print motifs onto fabric.

Got the nibbles? Trunk Hotel has you covered with a food selection including white miso clam chowder, chicken legs and mont blanc pastries. As for drinks, expect a range of unique concoctions including hot wine, a crème brûlée latte or a chai-infused cocktail.

The Azabudai Hills complex will host its second Christmas Market this year with the freshly opened shops in Minato’s newest hotspot. This event's centrepiece is a giant Christmas tree with roughly 20,000 LED lights. Treats include everything from mulled wine and fresh beignets served by doughnut shop Hocus Pocus, to pretzels and bratwursts from German Christmas Stand. Even vegans, who are often overlooked at these annual food markets, have something to keep their spirits high, with plant-based foods like gluten-free stollen from Eightablish.

Knick-knacks on offer include Christmas ornaments, elaborate German Christmas cards and festive mugs, but we’ve got our eyes on Fiasconaro's limited edition Panettone cakes and nougats, which come with elegant tin casings designed by Dolce & Gabbana. 

Marunouchi Street Park, which comprises the areas along Marunouchi Naka-dori and Gyoko-dori streets, is illuminated with festive lights in the evening. Until December 25, the area in front of the Marunouchi Building will have glass huts serving meals, baked goods and hot beverages, as well as stalls offering Western antiques. In front of the Marunouchi Nichome Building, you’ll find plenty of benches to rest on while enjoying live music in the evening of December 9, 10, 16 and 23.

You’ll also want to check out the ice skating rink at Gyoko-dori. It has a stunning view of the beautiful Tokyo Station building. The rink is open from 11am to 10pm daily (last entry 9.30pm) until Christmas.

The illuminations take place daily from 11am to 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 knickknacks and goodies, from snow globes to mulled wine and continental grub, in addition to French specialities such as galettes and handmade candles. 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 29.

The walkways connecting the Sky Arena at the Skytree's Solamachi mall with Tokyo Skytree Station and Oshiage Station are decorated with hundreds of thousands of golden LEDs 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 an eight-metre-tall Christmas tree that’s beautifully lit with sparkling lights. New for 2024, the nearby Sorami-zaka and Hanami-zaka staircases will be lit up for a festive projection mapping show, which features the Tokyo Skytree's regular lighting hues, as well as special Christmas colours.

Look forward to special light-ups of the 634m Tokyo Skytree itself, which will be glowing green and champagne gold to resemble a Christmas tree, as well as white and red to look like a lit candle. Visitors can enjoy the illuminations while sipping on some German beer or mulled wine from the on-site Tokyo Solamachi Christmas Market (from November 7).

Venture a bit further and you'll come across blue and white illuminations along Kitajukken river, which connects Asakusa with Tokyo Skytree Town. Make sure to drop by Ushijima Shrine and the adjacent Sumida Park as well, which feature beautiful bamboo lights until January 31). 

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.

This large ice skating rink in Tokyo Midtown’s garden area is surrounded by greenery, but if you go skating in the evening, you'll also get the added scenery of pretty illuminations and a view of the lit-up Tokyo Tower. Wearing gloves is mandatory, so if you want to avoid paying extra for a pair (¥300) sold on site, make sure to bring your own.

The admission ticket includes skate rental, plus a free helmet rental this year. The ice rink will close if temperatures are too warm, so make sure to check the website before heading over.

The ice rink is open daily from 11am-9pm, and the last entry is 8pm (closed on Jan 1).

Business district Marunouchi has a beautiful ice skating rink made from resin for its annual illumination event this year. It's set up at Gyoko-dori street, offering perfect views of the iconic Tokyo Station building.

Admission on weekdays is ¥1,800 (students ¥1,500, children aged 4 to elementary school ¥1,000) and includes skate rental. Weekends cost ¥2,300 per person (¥1,700, ¥1,200). You’ll need to wear gloves in order to skate here, but you can purchase a pair at the venue for ¥330. Note that payments can only be made via credit cards or prepaid IC cards, such as Suica and Pasmo. The rink is open daily until Christmas Day from 11am to 10pm with tickets available to purchase on-site.

Head over to Minami-Machida for this adorable Snoopy-themed ice skating rink at outlet mall Grandberry Park. The rink is part of the shopping centre’s Christmas event and can be found at the Oasis Plaza. There are plenty of illustrations depicting Snoopy and his friends, while the rink is also illuminated in seven different colours in the evening.

Gloves are mandatory when skating here and can be purchased at the venue for ¥300. Beginners can either join a ten-minute ice skating lesson daily for ¥1,000, or a 60-minute lesson from 9.30am on December 22, 27, 29, 31 and January 3, 5, 11, 13, 19 and 26. It’s ¥3,500 per person (skate rental included) and reservations have to be made in advance online (form opens December 7) or by phone.

Skate rental is included in the admission fee of ¥2,000 (high school, junior high and primary school students ¥1,700, preschoolers ¥1,200). Visitors who drop by from 6pm will get a discount and pay only ¥1,500 (high school, junior high and primary school students ¥1,200, preschoolers ¥700).

The rink is open from 1pm to 8pm on weekdays and from 11am to 8pm on weekends and holidays; until 6pm on Dec 31. Note that the rink is closed on Jan 1 and Feb 18.

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.

If you're visiting the Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter this holiday season, you’re in for a treat. Tokyo’s hottest Harry Potter attraction has gone all out for its second Christmas celebration with a stunning six-metre-tall Christmas tree, a 1:24 scaled reproduction of Hogwarts Castle covered in snow, plenty of sparkling illuminations and a special food menu, all inspired by the first Christmas scene from ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. 

Themed 'Hogwarts in the Snow', the Warner Bros. Studio Tour's 2024 holiday extravaganza has painstakingly recreated the Hogwarts Christmas scene from the first film with a breathtaking festive makeover of its Great Hall. You'll find a stunning Christmas tree in the lobby while illuminations are spread out across the premises including around the entrance lobby. The light-ups come on in the evening until 30 minutes after closing time.

As for the holiday menu, each of the Studio Tour's three food outlets are serving Christmas specials. For instance, you'll find a Christmas afternoon tea set and a buche de Noël Christmas cake at Backlot Cafe, a s'more dessert pizza at the Food Hall, and Christmas tree ice cream cones at the Frog Cafe.

Sagamiko Resort Mori Mori has gone all out for its winter illuminations, featuring over six million dazzling LEDs. This year, there's an entire area dedicated to Japan's beloved laid-back bear, Rilakkuma, along with his sidekick Korilakkuma and other San-X friends like Sumikkogurashi.

You can hop on the park’s Rainbow Chairlift and sail over colourful stripes before reaching the top of a hill, where you'll find a series of illumination art walls showcasing Rilakkuma and his friends. Walk further in to discover a massive Tarepanda inflatable and a bear-shaped igloo with Sumikkogurashi characters glowing in colourful lights.

Be sure to catch the spectacular illumination show at the San-X character stage, where Korilakkuma, Afro-dog and Ebifurai No Shippo perform live with synchronised laser lights for four minutes each. Nearby, a massive Rilakkuma is perched a set of swings, providing the perfect setup for a special photo.

While you’re there, indulge in Rilakkuma and Sumikkogurashi-themed meals and snacks. Enjoy a hearty Sumikkogurashi Bon Pasta or the Meat Doria Plate with San-X characters. Prefer something sweet? Then check out the colorful popcorn sundae or the Rilakkuma pudding in a cup.

If you’re looking for the most OTT illumination in Tokyo, this is it. Yomiuri Land's annual winter light show will bedazzle even the most jaded illumination-fiend. As the name suggests, jewels are the focus here: literally millions of colourful LEDs are set up throughout the vast theme park evoking sparkling gems. The park is split into ten areas where you will be treated to beautifully lit attractions. 

In addition to the rainbow-lit, 180-metre-long Celebration Promenade and Crystal Passage, you’ll spot two gigantic sparkly Ferris wheels to mark the amusement park's 60th anniversary. The highlight, however, is the fountain show, with water illuminated in different colours and sprayed into the air to create stunning shapes. There are three kinds of show happening every 15 minutes from 5pm daily. Also look out for the fountain’s flames and lasers, which are synchronised to music.

Immersive theatre group Dazzle Dance Company is set to deliver its inaugural performance of ‘Anemoia Tokyo’ on October 11. The semi-permanent production will be bigger than the production house’s previous works, and it’s an international collaboration with nine visionary artists from Japan and abroad.

This non-verbal theatre experience, set in a mysterious train platform hidden near Tokyo Station, takes audiences on an ethereal train ride to a different world. Anemoia Tokyo will be unlike any traditional theatre where the audience is separated from the actors. Here, the production promises to offer an immersive experience where the audience is integrated into the narrative and transported into the story.

Tickets are currently on sale online, with prices starting from ¥15,000. The location of the venue will be disclosed only to ticket holders.

Shows on weekdays and Saturdays start at 4pm, 6.30pm and 9pm. Sunday and holiday shows start at 1.30pm, 4pm and 6.30pm.

In teamLab's new pop-up exhibition in collaboration with the Galaxy store in Harajuku, the digital art collective's enchanted forest has been transformed into an underwater fantasy. This latest installation is also an interactive one, where visitors can use smartphones to catch, study and release the colourful sea creatures they encounter in the space. There's a great variety of marine animals to see, including fish like tuna as well as aquatic creatures that are endangered or extinct. 

To catch a creature to study it, you can use the designated app on a Galaxy smartphone to scan fish swimming in the space, or throw out a 'Study Net' towards the floor if you see something interesting darting around your feet. 

Each session is an hour-long, with daily exhibitions open from 11am until 7pm. 

Note: an end date for this exhibition has yet to be announced.

French-born artist Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010) has long loomed large over Roppongi Hills: her outdoor sculpture of a gigantic spider, named ‘Maman’, is a local landmark. The sprawling development’s Mori Art Museum, then, is a fitting venue for this major retrospective of one of the most important artists of the past century. As explored by Bourgeois’ first large-scale Japanese solo exhibition in over 25 years, fear was an ongoing motivation over her seven-decade career.

This fear, however, was not the arachnophobia that one might suppose, given the formidable ‘Maman’. Rather, Bourgeois’ work was driven in part by fear of abandonment; something rooted in her complex and sometimes traumatic childhood. Through her famed oversized sculptures, installations, drawings, paintings and other mediums, she confronted painful personal memories while simultaneously channelling them into work that expresses universal emotions and psychological states.

Across three exhibition ‘chapters’ that each explore a different aspect of family relationships, highlights include the ‘Femme Maison’ series of paintings from the 1940s. These works, which decades later were championed by the feminist movement, each depict a female figure whose top half is obscured by a house which protects yet imprisons her.

Bourgeois’ extensive use of the spider motif, meanwhile, is examined in depth. As hinted at by the landmark ‘Maman’ (the French equivalent of ‘mummy’), for Bourgeois the spider was symbolic of the mother figure who heals wounds just as a spider repairs the threads of its web. The artist's use of this powerful symbol is traced from a small 1947 drawing through to the giant Roppongi arachnid and its 'sister' sculptures located in several cities worldwide.

The exhibition is open until 11pm on September 27 and 28, until 5pm on October 23, and until 10pm on December 24 and 31.

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.

Get ready to have your senses awakened at What Museum’s latest exhibit, Synesthesia. This captivating showcase explores the work of an artist who uses air, water, and light to craft mesmerizing sculptures that blur the lines between perception and reality. 

Exhibiting artist Akihito Okunaka, with a background in sociology and art education, was influenced by the late philosopher Bruno Latour to explore the connections between nature and society through our five senses. This exhibition invites visitors to touch, enter and lie down in a balloon-like installation piece, and truly feel a connection with our surroundings through a multi-sensory journey.

The centrepiece of the show is sure to be the 12-meter diameter balloon sculpture. Weighed down by a water pillow and bathed in different light frequencies, this mesmerizing creation promises a visual and tactile experience that blurs the lines between sight and touch. Imagine light refracting through multiple layers of translucent plastic film, creating a kaleidoscope of colours that dance across the surface, all while the gentle sway of the balloon invites exploration.

This exhibition is closed on Mondays (except October 14, November 4, January 13, February 3 and 24) and New Year’s holidays