We're a few weeks away from spring. This month it's all about celebrating Setsubun for luck, Valentines for love and plum blossoms for new beginnings. Here are our top event picks for this week(end). Enjoy!
City of Stars
Tokyo Tower City Lights Fantasia
Spend a romantic evening overlooking the city lights at Tokyo Tower. Running well through the holiday season up to a few days shy of Valentine's Day, have an unforgettable evening at this light up event.
Date: NOW THROUGH SUN, FEB. 12, 2023
Time: FROM 6 P.M.
Location: 4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato City, Tokyo - Map
Fee: FROM ¥1,200 (MAIN DECK)
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FRIENDS, FAMILIES, COUPLES
Welcome Good Luck
Setsubun Festival At Zojoji Temple
Join celebrities, politicians and sumo wrestlers at the annual bean-throwing “Setsubun” festival at Zojoji Temple, one of the largest such events in Tokyo. Setsubun, meaning the day before the first day of spring, is one of the most unique Japanese traditions and is celebrated across the country when people throw away beans toward demons to scare them away and bring good luck. Thousands of people join the Zozoji event and the battle for bean catch is fierce, so come well-armed.
Date: FRI, FEB. 3, 2023
Time: FROM 10:20 A.M. (BEAN THROWING FROM 12:20 P.M.)
Location: ZOJOJI TEMPLE, TOKYO, 4-7-35 SHIBAKOEN, MINATO, TOKYO - Map
Fee: FREE!
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS, SOLO OUTINGS, JAPANESE CULTURE FANS
Catch Your Good Luck
Naritasan Setsubun Festival
Another major Setsubun event, the bean-throwing day at Naritasan Temple attracts around 40 thousand visitors every year. Many celebrities and athletes participate in the ceremony, which sets fire to an intense competition over the bean packages. This year, sumo wrestlers including the new Yokozuna Kisenosato and actors from NHK's drama Segodon will be participating — don't miss it.
Date: FRI, FEB. 3, 2023
Time: 11 A.M. (FIRST BEAN-THROWING SESSION), 1:30 P.M. (SECOND SESSION), 4 P.M. (THIRD SESSION)
Location: NARITASAN SHINSHOJI TEMPLE, 1 NARITA, NARITA-shi, CHIBA - Map
Fee: FREE
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS, SOLO OUTINGS, JAPANESE CULTURE FANS
Taste Of Spring
Yokohama Strawberry Festival
Getting sick of the cold and can’t wait for spring to arrive? Then come on down to Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse to get a head start to spring at a major festival full of strawberry tasting opportunities. There will be around 20 booths, each offering their most Instagrammable and delicious treats. Enjoy the differences!
Date: FRI, FEB. 2-MON, FEB. 26, 2023
Time: 11 A.M.-6 P.M.
Location: YOKOHAMA RED BRICK WAREHOUSE, 1-1 SHINKO, NAKA-KU, YOKOHAMA, KANAGAWA - Map
Fee: ¥300
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS, SOLO OUTINGS, STRAWBERRY LOVERS
Dolphin Dance
Bright Crystal Night Performance
Spend a heartwarming time at Maxell Aqua Park’s night-only performance, where dolphins beautifully dance in a venue surrounded by stars and ornaments drawn up by projection mapping. There are five types of seasonal, limited menu items at the Coral Cafe Bar, where you can enjoy a drink while looking out at the aquarium. A starry night sky will color the exhibition area where illuminations and jellyfish unique to this season light up and dance along with the music.
Date: NOW THROUGH TUE, FEB. 28, 2023
Time: 5:30 P.M. and 7:00 P.M.
Location: Maxell Aqua Park, 4−10−30 Takanawa, Minato City, Tokyo - Map
Fee: ¥2,300 (GENERAL)
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES WITH KIDS, COUPLES, FRIENDS
Slide Your Way
Ice Skating at Tokyo Midtown
The outdoor ice skating rink at Tokyo Midtown is one of the largest in the city, with a capacity of 210 people. It’s perfect for beginners and advanced skaters alike, and children are welcome, making this a great family outing right in the center of the city. For a fun, romantic date option head to the rink after 5 p.m., when the lights on the surrounding trees are switched on.
Date: NOW THROUGH SUN, FEB 26, 2023
Time: 11 A.M.-9 P.M.
Location: TOKYO MIDTOWN (GRASS SQUARE), 9-7-1 AKASAKA, MINATO, TOKYO - Map
Fee: WEEKDAY: ¥2,100 (ADULT), ¥1,600 (CHILD) WEEKEND: ¥2,500 (ADULT), ¥2,000 (CHILD)
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES WITH KIDS, COUPLES, FRIENDS
Sell, Recycle or Donate
Organise Your Clothes And Closet
Until relatively recently, used clothes in Japan have had one fate: burnable garbage. If you’re from a country with a collection bin and a few secondhand shops in every neighborhood, this just feels wrong. Some people take suitcases full of cast-offs back home rather than throw them out. Happily, the Japanese concept of mottainai (avoiding wastefulness) is catching on and leading to more options.
Date: WHENEVER YOU WANT
Time: ANY TIME
Location: HOME
Fee: FREE!
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: PEOPLE WITH LOTS OF CLOTHES
Looking Into Modern And Contemporary Art
Tokyo Art Scene: Challenging The World Today
This week we introduce you to three on-going exhibitions featuring modern design and contemporary artists, each raising questions about the state of the world we live in.
Date: VARIOUS
Time: VARIOUS
Location: VARIOUS
Fee: VARIOUS
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS, ART LOVERS AND COUPLES
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!
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