This Week(End): Tokyo Area Events For Dec 22-24
Lights, Markets, And Winter Magic In The City
While you'll most probably find yourself doing some last-minute Christmas shopping this weekend, here are some events you should check out if you still want to escape the department store crowds or you've done all your shopping long time ago! Here are our top picks for the last weekend before Christmas! Happy holidays!
The Best Of The Festive Season
World Christmas Festival
If you’re a bit of a Christmas addict and can’t get enough of the festive season, then Tokyo has the event for you. The World Christmas Festival runs the last weekend before Christmas and it’s fun for the entire family. Featuring culturally diverse food, music and events in Yoyogi Park, it’s a celebration of Christmas in its many wonderfully unique shapes and styles.
- Date
- Sat, Dec 22-Sun, Dec 23, 2018
- Time
- 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Location
- Yoyogi Park, 2-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Fee
- Free!
- Info
- Recommended for: Families, Couples, Friends
Handmade From The Heart
Bunkamura Winter Craft Collection 2018
Over 100 craft makers from across Japan are gathering for the largest annual event at the Bunkamura Gallery to exhibit their one-of-a-kind works of art. You'll find everything from leather items to pottery to handmade jewelry, clothes, artworks and so much more. If you appreciate handmade goods or are looking for unique Christmas gifts, stop by!
- Date
- Now through Wed, Dec 26, 2018
- Time
- 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- Location
- Bunkamura Gallery, 2-24 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Fee
- Free entrance
- Info
- Recommended for: Solo dates, Friends, Craft lovers and collectors
© Photo by Mika NinagawaChasing Light
Special Exhibition: Mika Ninagawa @ teamLab Borderless
Creative masterminds teamLab partners with renowned Japanese photographer Mika Ninagawa to launch a special collaborative exhibition of capturing human beauty amid digital and natural lights. Held to commemorate one million visitors to Borderless, teamLab's digital museum in Odaiba, this exclusive exhibition is beyond stunningly beautiful!
- Date
- Tue, Dec 18-Sat, Dec 22, 2018
- Time
- 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
- Location
- Laforet Museum Harajuku, 1-11-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Fee
- Free
- Info
- Recommended for: Couples, Friends, Tourists, Social Media Influencers, Photographers
Special Exhibition
Munch: A Retrospective
This long-anticipated exhibition focuses on Edvard Munch, the great modern painter, most famous for The Scream, and will feature around 100 works primarily from the Munch Museum in Oslo, the artist’s hometown. Included will be some 60 oil paintings along with prints and other works.
- Date
- NOW THROUGH SUN, JAN. 20, 2019
- Time
- 9:30 A.M. – 5:30 P.M.
- Location
- TOKYO METROPOLITAN ART MUSEUM, 8-36 UENO-PARK, TAITO-KU, TOKYO
- Fee
- ¥1,600 (GENERAL)
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FRIENDS, COUPLES, Art Lovers
Last Minute Christmas Shopping
Fantastic Carnival Magic Box
Bright illuminations in Saitama will add some extra holiday spirit to your Christmas gift shopping. What makes this market unique — other than the high-quality European-style goods and food — is the candle making experience and teddy bear museum.
- Date
- NOW THROUGH THU, FEB. 14 2019
- Time
- 5 P.M. TO 12 P.M. (ILLUMINATION LIGHT UP)
- Location
- KEYAKI SQUARE 2F, SAITAMA SUPER ARENA, 10 SHINTOSHIN, CHUO, SAITAMA
- Fee
- FREE
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND COUPLES
Holiday Market
Tokyo Christmas Market 2018
This large-scale Europe-inspired market allows visitors to enjoy live music, have a fun time with friends over hot wine (apple cider for the kids), marvel at illumination lights, and find the best Christmas presents in town. Don't miss the chance to meet the famous singing Santa AnTon for good laughs.
- Date
- FRI, DEC. 14-TUE, DEC. 25, 2018
- Time
- 11 A.M. TO 10 P.M.
- Location
- HIBIYA PARK (WATER FOUNTAIN AREA), 1-6 HIBIYA PARK, CHIYODA, TOKYO
- Fee
- FREE
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND COUPLES
Winter Lights
Festival of Lights 2018
Beautiful winter lights are essential to spice up the festive season, and this event organizers certainly know how to impress. This year, eight giant Christmas trees and 220,000 LED champaign gold lights will illuminate the zelkova streets around Takenotsuka station in Adachi ward forming a spectacular light festival at the background of soft, romantic holiday tunes. Walk along the lights with your date for a romantic time.
- Date
- NOW THROUGH TUE, DEC. 25, 2018
- Time
- 5 P.M. TO 9 P.M.
- Location
- TAKENOTSUKA STATION (SEIBU SKYTREE LINE) TO MOTOFUCHIE PARK, 2-17-1 HOKIMA, ADACHI-ku, TOKYO
- Fee
- FREE
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND COUPLES
Hidden Goodies
Mottainai Flea Market
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. This massive market will be held indoors perfect for keeping you away from the freezing winter weather. The event is popular among young people who buy and sell cool vintage wear. In addition, the event will simultaneously be hosting a kids flea market.
- Date
- SUN, DEC. 23, 2018
- Time
- 10 A.M. – 4 P.M.
- Location
- SUNSHINE CITY, 3-1-1 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO TOSHIMA-KU, TOKYO
- Fee
- FREE
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS, Solo Shopping
Charity Quiz
Amnesty International’s Pub Quiz
The Amnesty International Tokyo English Network (AITEN) invites you to their December Pub Quiz in Shibuya, which you can join with up to five members to make your team or solo. A great opportunity to meet and have fun with a multicultural crowd of like-minded people — and win some amazing prizes along the way!
- Date
- WED, DEC. 19, 2018
- Time
- 7:30 P.M. – 1 A.M.
- Location
- HOBGOBLIN BRITISH PUB, 1-3-11 DOGENZAKA 3F, SHIBUYA-KU, TOKYO
- Fee
- ¥1,000
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FRIENDS
End Of Year
Osame No Daishi Festival
The Osame No Daishi is a popular end-of-year festival at Nishiarai Temple in Adachi Ward. The festival will be lined with food and lucky goods to buy and enjoy, celebrating the closing of the year. A popular item to buy is a kumade lucky rake. Used as a new year decoration, the kumade rakes are known to "rake in" luck and fortune. The rakes have many designs with various symbols of good luck.
- Date
- FRI, DEC. 21, 2018
- Time
- 9 A.M. – 9 P.M.
- Location
- NISHIARAI DAISHI SOJI TEMPLE, 1-15-１ NISHIARAI, ADACHI-KU, TOKYO
- Fee
- FREE
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND COUPLES
Attending any of these events? Send us photos through Facebook or Instagram for a chance to be published on the site. #SavvyTokyo
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