This Week: At Home And Around Tokyo For February 1-7

Covid-19 continues to play a threat across Japan through 2021, especially in Tokyo. For the sake of yourself and others, we highly suggest that you take precautions when leaving your home. To keep entertained, check out our recommendations of things you can do at home during this global crisis, alongside a few events happening around the city.

Oni wa soto!

Throw Beans For Setsubun

Mark the beginning of spring by scaring away all evil around you — with beans. Unfortunately, most of the popular ceremonies in and around Tokyo have been called off due to coronavirus this year but the easiest way to celebrate the event is to throw some beans at family members wearing "oni" masks and eating a big delicious eho-maki sushi roll at home.

Date

TUE, FEB. 2, 2021

Time

ANY TIME

Location

HOME

Fee

FREE! (AS LONG AS YOU PREPARE THE BEANS AND EHOMAKI IN ADVANCE)

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES WITH KIDS, COUPLES, FRIENDS

More Info

Digital Team Up

Online Event: Tell Pub Quiz

Tell, Japan’s international community helping to address the country’s growing mental health care needs, is holding its monthly Pub Quiz online. Get your team and team name ready, and be prepared to chat with your team members via a messaging app like LINE, FB messenger, Whatsapp etc.! Donate to Tell for suicide prevention and mental health care in Japan while you're at it.

Date

WED, FEB. 3, 2021

Time

FROM 8 P.M.

Location

ONLINE (ZOOM)

Fee

FREE! (DONATIONS WELCOME)

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: GROUP OF FRIENDS, COUPLES, QUIZZERS

More Info

Sophisticated Pas De Deux

Online Event: Ballet

The National Ballet of Japan's beloved production, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, is available for streaming on Vimeo. The production by Wayne Eagling features splendid, fast-paced choreography with a sense of humour while the rich colours of the set and costumes describe the world of reality and a dream. The video will only be available 72 hours after purchasing it so make sure to get your viewing ticket when you’re ready to watch.

Date

NOW THROUGH SUN, FEB. 14, 2021

Time

ANY TIME

Location

ONLINE (SEE “MORE INFO” LINK) - Map

Fee

¥980

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: BALLET FANS, ARTISTS, THOSE IN NEED OF A THERAPEUTIC SESSION

More Info

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

More Info

No Gym, No Problem

Try Some Fun At-Home Workouts

Stay fit indoors and have fun while doing it! Working out at home doesn't have to be repetitive pushups and situps, try any (or all) of these creative at-home ways to stay active in style. See “more info” link.

Date

WHENEVER YOU WANT

Time

ANY TIME

Location

HOME

Fee

FREE!

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: EVERYONE, HEALTH JUNKIES

More Info

Learn Japanese Culture

Try An Online Workshop

Try out traditional Japanese art and cultural experiences run by field professionals, #StayAtHome style. Whether you want to take a tour of a sake brewery whilst sipping their sake, attempt some Japanese dancing, or join a Japanese cooking class, with these online classes you’ll conveniently be only a click away from learning something new.

Date

WHENEVER YOU WANT

Time

ANY TIME

Location

HOME

Fee

VARIED

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: THOSE INTERESTED IN JAPANESE CULTURE

More Info

For School, Emergencies And Around The Home

Study Some Useful Kanji

Moving to and setting up in a new country can be hard enough without having to figure out the everyday basics we’ve probably never thought twice about doing back home. Here are some basic kanji and kana to help demystify some of those tasks.

Date

WHENEVER YOU WANT

Time

ANY TIME

Location

HOME

Fee

FREE!

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: EVERYONE

More Info

Be The Chef

Attempt A Savvy Tokyo Recipe

Why not take this opportunity to work on your cooking skills? Cooking can be extremely therapeutic and a great form of self-care. Check out the long list of delicious recipes on our site. From traditional Japanese dishes to international treats with an oriental twist, there’s something for everyone! Find something you’d like to try and give it a go! See “more info” link.

Date

WHENEVER YOU WANT

Time

ANY TIME

Location

YOUR KITCHEN

Fee

INGREDIENTS

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: EVERYONE, HOME CHEFS, THOSE LOOKING TO TRY NEW THINGS

More Info

Experience Yomiuriland

Theme Park At Home

Enjoy videos of rides and popular attractions from the point of view of the rider. You can also see the cute animals, and expereince some of the games from the themepark at home too with DIY crafts to make it more fun! You can also make or purchase VR sets to make the experiences feel even more real. A super fun and great way to spend time with the family safe at home. See “more info” link.

Date

WHENEVER YOU WANT

Time

ANY TIME

Location

HOME

Fee

FREE!

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: EVERYONE, FAMILIES WITH KIDS

More Info

List Of Ten

More Things To Do When You’re Stuck At Home

Here you are, stuck at home to save lives. That's great but... What to do? Not everyone feels 100% comfortable when staying home 24/24, and even the most introverted person can feel like losing it in this situation. Want to rest all you can and unplug from everything? Go for it! Bored and in need of something to do? Follow our guide to make the most of this confinement.

Date

WHENEVER YOU WANT

Time

ANY TIME

Location

HOME

Fee

FREE!

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: EVERYONE

More Info

Attending any of these events? Send us photos through Facebook or Instagram for a chance to be published on the site. #SavvyTokyo