This upcoming week is all about celebrating new beginnings. Be it plum blossom festivals, setting new goals with a daruma doll or seeing one-of-a-kind artworks there's always a reason to celebrate a fresh start.
Welcome Spring!
Matsuda Cherry Blossom Festival
Enjoy a grand panorama of Mt. Fuji and cherry blossoms this weekend in Kanagawa. Mt. Matsuda’s Nishihirabatake Park has blossoms of about 360 kawazu cherry trees, as well as rapeseed flowers. The Fujisan 5 Limited Express towards Gotemba from Shinjuku Station will get you to Matsuda in 70 minutes.
Date: SAT, FEB. 11 - SUN, MARCH 12, 2023
Time: 9 A.M.- 4 P.M.
Location: MATSUDAYAMA HERB GARDEN, NISHIHIRABATAKE PARK, 2951 MATSUDASORYO, MATSUDA, ASHIGARAKAMI, KANAGAWA - Map
Fee: ¥300
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, COUPLES, FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHERS, SOLO DATES
Make a Wish
Daruma Doll Fair
Jindaiji Temple in Chofu will be hosting one of the biggest daruma doll markets in Japan with over 300 stalls selling the iconic red and round traditional good luck figures. The unique scenery featuring dolls scattered across the temple's grounds and in front of its gates is a must-see event for visitors and residents alike. Experience this traditional Japanese festival that dates back to the Edo period.
Date: FRI, MAR. 3-SAT, MAR. 4, 2023
Time: 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M.
Location: JINDAIJI TEMPLE, 5-15-1 JINDAIJI MOTOMACHI, CHOFU-SHI, TOKYO - Map
Fee: FREE
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, COUPLES, FANS OF JAPANESE CULTURE
Red, White and Pink Blossoms
Kyodo-no-Mori Plum Festival 2023
Enjoy seeing approximately 1,300 plum trees of 120 varieties. Celebrate the arrival of spring with a day trip to this garden outside central Tokyo. There'll be workshops where you can make decorations related to plums and a night light up event that'll be held for the first time this year.
Date: SAT, FEB. 4 - SUN, MARCH 12, 2023
Time: 9 A.M.- 5 P.M.
Location: 6-32 Minamichi, Fuchu City, Tokyo - Map
Fee: ¥300
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, COUPLES, FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHERS, SOLO DATES
Snow Fever
Sagamiko Resort's Snow Park
We haven’t been able to see much snow in Tokyo yet this year. Sagamiko Resort in Kanagawa, however, has got us covered — its Snow Park is a vast area (6,000 sq. meters) covered in snow where kids can play all day long, ride they sleds (or tubes!), build snowmen and enjoy the winter weather to the fullest. Best thing? It's so close to Tokyo that you can easily make it a day trip! Plus there are heaps of other attractions around the resort you can enjoy as well.
Date: NOW THROUGH EARLY MARCH 2023
Time: 10 A.M.-4 P.M.
Location: SAKAMIKO RESORT, 1634 WAKAYANAGI, MIDORI-KU, SAGAMIHARA-SHI, KANAGAWA - Map
Fee: ¥1,800 (ADULTS), ¥1,200 (KIDS) TO ENTER THE RESORT, PLUS ¥800 FOR SNOW PARK ENTRY
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, CHILDREN
A Group Exhibit Presented By Hermes
Interference
Running till early June, this group exhibit presented by Hermes features works by Shingo Francis, Susanna Fritscher, Bruno Botella and Aiko Miyanaga. Together the artists showcase their perceptions of sensations through light, vibration and waves.
Date: Thu, February 23 - Sun, June 4, 2023
Time: 11 A.M.-7P.M.
Location: 8F, 5-4-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo - Map
Fee: FREE
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FRIENDS, ART LOVERS AND COUPLES
Resonance of Gold and Birthstone
Yomiuriland Jewellumination
Yomiuriland turns into a “jewellery fantasy” bringing together light, color and “brilliant” music. If originality isn’t enough to get you through the ticket gate, then a sunset or after dark gondola ride from Keio Yomiuriland Station to the theme park’s entrance should be. This is a really beautiful way to view this particular illumination, without the crowds and in some relative peace and quiet, before you get in amongst it. And the view from above is just breathtaking, especially watching the rides in operation under the twinkling night sky.
Date: NOW THROUGH SUN, APR. 9, 2023
Time: 10 A.M.-8:30 P.M.
Location: YOMIYURILAND, 4015-1 YANOKUCHI, INAGI, TOKYO - Map
Fee: NIGHT PASS: ¥1,800 (ADULTS) ¥500-800 (CHILD)
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES WITH KIDS, COUPLES, FRIENDS
From Yamato To Taisho
Tokyo Art Scene: Japanese Art Through The Centuries
This week we introduce three exhibitions that show works of Japanese art from as early as the Yamato period of the seventh century to the Taisho period in the early 1900s.
Date: VARIOUS
Time: VARIOUS
Location: VARIOUS
Fee: VARIOUS
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS, ART LOVERS AND COUPLES
Share Your Voice
Contribute to Savvy Tokyo!
Do you have something to share with Savvy Tokyo‘s readers? We’re always looking to expand our featured topics and to find fresh, new voices.Whether you’re a fashion, food, parenting or relationship expert, a Japanese culture pro — or you just have an interesting story about your life in Japan, we’d love to hear from you. To apply, please get in touch via our contact page with a short description of why you’d like to write for us, some clips or writing samples and examples of what angles of Tokyo life you’d like to cover for our readers. We look forward to hearing from you!
Date: ALL DAY
Time: ANYTIME
Location: ANYWHERE
Fee: FREE
Info: RECOMMENED FOR: Experienced freelance writers
What are your plans for the weekend? If you’re organizing a fun or interesting online event, or you know someone who is,contact usto get it listed!
Attending any of these events? Send us photos throughFacebookorInstagramfor a chance to be published on the site. #SavvyTokyo
