This Week: At Home And Around Tokyo For December 20-26
Merry Christmas In The City
It's finally Christmas week! Loads of festive events are on agenda this week as well, so if you're looking for a very last-minute holiday shop or some art-marveling fun, you've found the right place. Grab your coats and have fun. Happy festive season!
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. 27, 2021
- Time
- 11 A.M.-9 P.M.
- Location
- TOKYO MIDTOWN (GRASS SQUARE), 9-7-1 AKASAKA, MINATO, TOKYO - Map
- Fee
- WEEKDAY: ¥2,000 (ADULT), ¥1,500 (CHILD) WEEKEND: ¥2,500 (ADULT), ¥2,000 (CHILD) (PRICES INCLUDE SKATE RENTAL AND CAFE TICKET)
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES WITH KIDS, COUPLES, FRIENDS
Sky-high Xmas
Magical Christmas 2021
Spend a memorable night with your loved ones with a sky-high view of winter in Tokyo from Japan’s tallest tower. The tower’s magical digital windows will be screening a special Christmas-only program from the inside, while the Sky Tree from the outside will be lit up red and green for everyone in the city to see. If you visit during the day, you can catch some Santa cleaners wiping the huge windows down too.
- Date
- NOW THROUGH SAT, DEC. 25, 2021
- Time
- 9 A.M. - 9 P.M.
- Location
- Tokyo Sky Tree, 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida City, Tokyo - Map
- Fee
- Free to stroll around Tokyo Solamachi, ¥3,100 Tokyo Sky Tree general combo ticket.
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES WITH KIDS, COUPLES, FRIENDS
Dolphin Dance
Bright Christmas Party
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 four 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 Christmas music.
- Date
- NOW THROUGH SAT, DEC. 25, 2021
- Time
- 10 A.M.-6:30 P.M. (Weekends until 8p.m.)
- Location
- Maxell Aqua Park, 4−10−30 Takanawa, Minato City, Tokyo - Map
- Fee
- ¥2,300 (GENERAL), ¥500 (Dolphin Party)
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES WITH KIDS, COUPLES, FRIENDS
Crafty Tree
White Kitte Marunouchi
Head over to Kitte Marunouchi to see a Christmas tree that uses modern technology to cultivate the hearts and minds of all who see it. Using over a thousand Mizuhiki crafts, an ancient Japanese art form that uses stiff rice paper cord to create three-dimensional sculptures, the tree shines in various colors according to those who step near it. Grab a group of friends and meet under the tree to share the glowing experience and make the tree shine together as one.
- Date
- NOW THROUGH SAT, DEC. 25, 2021
- Time
- 7 A.M. - 11 P.M.
- Location
- Kitte Marunouchi 1F, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo - Map
- Fee
- FREE!
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES WITH KIDS, COUPLES, FRIENDS
21th Anniversary
Shining Flyaway The Blue Forrest
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. A fun day out for all the family.
- Date
- NOW THROUGH MON, FEB. 14, 2022
- Time
- 5 P.M. TO 12 P.M. (ILLUMINATION LIGHT UP)
- Location
- KEYAKI SQUARE 2F, SAITAMA SUPER ARENA, 10 SHINTOSHIN, CHUO, SAITAMA - Map
- Fee
- FREE!
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND COUPLES
Festive Concert
Ave Maria In Christmas
A special Christmas program led by concertmaster Ilya Ioff with renowned sopranos Marina Tregubovich and Vera Chekanova. No children under primary school age permitted. In addition to several Tokyo concerts, the orchestra will also be playing concerts in Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama. See the website below for further details.
- Date
- SAT, DEC. 4-SAT, DEC. 25, 2021
- Time
- VARIOUS
- Location
- VARIOUS
- Fee
- ¥4,800
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FRIENDS, COUPLES, OPERA FANS
Marché
Roppongi Hills Christmas 2021
Among the many Christmas markets that will soon light up every part of the city, the Roppongi Hills Christmas Market is the Japanese replication of Stuttgart’s famous (and one of the world’s largest) Christmas Marché. Rest assured that you'll find plenty of Christmas buys here as there will be over 2,000 goodies on sale—from authentic German delicacies to snow globes, ornaments, crafts, and other festive kitsch.
- Date
- NOW THROUGH SAT, DEC. 25, 2021
- Time
- 11 A.M.-9 P.M.
- Location
- ROPPONGI HILLS O-YANE PLAZA, 6-11-1 ROPPONGI, MINATO-KU, TOKYO - Map
- Fee
- FREE!
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS, EARLY CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS
Simple And Stylish
Bunkamura Happy Holidays
Bunkamura will help make the Christmas and New Year home time even more enjoyable, and will provide gifts for the loved ones you couldn't see this year. There will also be special restaurant menus and special events too.
- Date
- NOW THROUGH FRI, JAN. 14, 2022
- Time
- VARIOUS (SEE WEBSITE)
- Location
- BUNKAMURA THE MUSEUM, 2-24-1, DOGENZAKA, SHIBUYA-KU, TOKYO - Map
- Fee
- VARIOUS (SEE WEBSITE)
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: ARTISTS, THOSE IN NEED OF A THERAPEUTIC SESSION
Antique Shopping Spree
Ark Hills Christmas 2021
Looking for a sophisticated place to shop for your Christmas gifts? Let us suggest Ark Hills, where you can grab furniture, clothes, jewelry, and so much more. If you get too hungry from all the shopping, you can also stop by for a coffee and homemade cookie break at the numerous food trucks parked in the area.
- Date
- NOW THROUGH SAT, DEC. 25, 2021
- Time
- 8 A.M.-11:30 P.M.
- Location
- ARK HILLS, 1-12-32, AKASAKA, MINATO-KU, TOKYO - Map
- Fee
- FREE!
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS, PEOPLE WHO ENJOY FLEA MARKETS
'Tis The Season
Yokohama Akarenga Christmas Market
The Yokohama Akarenga Christmas Market is one of the biggest and most popular markets of its kind in Japan, drawing tens of thousands of visitors annually. It’s a great place to visit for shopping, eating, and sightseeing, as well as to experience a truly festive feeling under the (real) giant Christmas tree. There’ll be hot wine, seasonal ornaments, and beautiful light displays, as well as live Christmas song shows and more.
- Date
- FRI, NOV 26-SAT, DEC 25, 2021
- Time
- 11 A.M.-9 P.M.
- Location
- YOKOHAMA AKARENGA, 1-1, SHIN-MINATO, NAKA-KU, YOKOHAMA, KANAGAWA - Map
- Fee
- FREE!
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, EARLY CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS, COUPLES
Savvy's Guide To A City Of Light
Check Out Tokyo’s Best Winter Illuminations
It’s that time of the year again when the whole of Tokyo is covered by stunning illuminations in all shapes and forms. See our top picks for this year.
- Date
- VARIOUS
- Time
- VARIOUS
- Location
- VARIOUS
- Fee
- VARIED
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: COUPLES, FRIENDS, FRIENDS, PHOTOGRAPHERS
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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