Savvy Tokyo

This Week(End): Tokyo Area Events For August 11-15

Festivals, Exhibitions, And Fun In The City Over The Obon Break

By The Savvy Team |
August 10, 2018 |
What's Happening

Much to do and see during this Obon break, so bring your game face out despite the heat (and typhoons) and get ready to explore and enjoy! Here are our top picks of events happening in and around Tokyo for the upcoming week(end).

Floating Wishes

Asakusa Paper Lantern Festival

One of the most beautiful and symbolic festivals in the capital, this event sees thousands of visitors writing their wishes on paper lanterns and releasing them in the Sumida River from the Sumida Park Shinsui Terrace near Azuma-bashi Bridge.

Date: Sat, Aug 11, 2018
Time: 6:30 P.M.-8 P.M. (Purchase of paper lanterns starts at 2 p.m.)
Location: SUMIDA PARK SHINSUI TERRACE, A 5-MIN WALK FROM ASAKUSA STATION
Fee: Free (PAPER LANTERNS COST ¥1,500)
Info: Recommended for: Families, Couples, Photographers

Your Wish In The Sky

Kumagaya Fireworks

Marriage proposals, birthday celebrations, vows for an endless friendship...whatever message you're hiding in your heart can light up the sky at this enormously popular summer event happening in central Saitama. Enjoy the lights and heartwarming messages as they make their way to the stars.

Date: Sat, Aug 11, 2018
Time: 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
Location: ALONG ARAKAWA RIVER, A 5-MIN WALK FROM KUMAGAYA STATION
Fee: Free!
Info: Recommended for: Couples, Friends, Families, People who don't mind the crowds

© Photo by mrhayata

Purifying Splashes

Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri

One of the three great Shinto festivals in Tokyo, along with the Kanda Matsuri and the Sanno Matsuri, the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival is held at the vintage Tomioka Hachiman Shinto shrine in Tokyo’s Koto district. Dated back to 1642, the festival sees the shrine’s 120 mikoshi being carried down the local streets while the onlookers splash purifying water at the mikoshi-bearers. You will get wet at this event, so go well prepared.

Date: Sat, Aug 11-Wed, Aug 15, 2018
Time: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (several events on all days, times vary)
Location: Tomioka Hachiman, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Fee: Free
Info: Recommended for: Matsuri fans, Families, Social Media Influencers

Build The Future

Bricklive in Japan 2018

The UK-born largest Lego event in the world is touring Japan once again inviting all Lego fans — young and not so much — to go and build as they want all day long! With a number of exciting attractions including a Bricklive Museum, workshops, race tracks and co-building a map with fellow Lego lovers, this event will keep you and the little ones busy for sure.

Date: Sat, Aug 11-Mon, Aug 13, 2018
Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Location: Bellesalle Akihabara, 3-12-8 Soto-kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Fee: ¥1,800 (Adults), ¥1,200 (Children)
Info: Recommended for: Kids, Families, Lego fans of all ages

© Photo by ジェターノ・フェーレイス撮影／PPS通信社

In Retrospect

Tokyo 150 Years: Exhibition

An exhibition tracing the history of the city many of us call or second home. Witness how Tokyo has transformed in the past 150 years since it became Japan's capital through various photographs, videos, maps and other unique artifacts. A must-see part of the exhibition are the several urban planning proposals that were submitted back in the day but never fully implemented — try to imagine how the city would have looked like if those were ever completed!

Date: Tue, Aug 7-Mon, Oct. 8, 2018
Time: 9:30 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.
Location: Edo-Tokyo Museum 5F Feature Exhibition Room, 1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
Fee: ¥600 (Adults)
Info: Recommended for: Historians, Sociologists, Students

True Colors

The World Of Anna Sui: Exhibition

Step into the world of more than 20 years of colorful clothing and accessories by world-renowned designer Anna Sui. Organized into several themes, each displaying a pivotal time in Sui's career, this exhibit is a must-see for anyone into fashion and cosmetics. There will also be a pop-up store selling anniversary goodies and cosmetics you won't find elsewhere!

Date: Now through SUN, AUG 26, 2018
Time: 11 A.M.-8 P.M.
Location: TV ASAHI BLDG 1F KEYAKIZAKA SPACE, 6-9-1 ROPPONGI, MINATO-KU, TOKYO
Fee: FREE
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FASHION AND MAKEUP LOVERS, ANNA SUI FANS

© Photo by NTT InterCommunication Center

The Sound of Music

ICC Kids Program 2018: "Information + Touch = Wonder!!!"

Hear, feel, and touch sounds at this amazing summer kids program. A number of special events and programs, including a "Techtile for Kids” Workshop," a "Tactile Paper Wrestling," and an "Onomatopoeia Map" lesson, will show you that music and sounds can be sensed with one's whole body. A great chance for kids to enjoy interactive events and workshops that inspire creativity through sounds.

Date: Now through Aug 26, 2018 (Closed Mondays)
Time: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Location: Gallery A, Tokyo Opera City Tower 4F, 3-20-2 Nishishinjyuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Fee: Free
Info: Recommended for: Kids, Families

All-White Party

Grand Hyatt's Soiree Blanche

Put your best white outfit on and join the most popular soiree in the city. This year, the annual event will take on a new twist with décor focusing on the hotel’s 15th-anniversary theme of “Voyage.” There will be plenty of free-flowing champagne along with all-you-can-eat exquisite food and desserts, great upbeat music and quite a few photo ops! One of the best summer events in Tokyo, don't miss this soiree!

Date: Sat, Aug 11, 2018 (And every other Saturday in August)
Time: 7 P.M.-10 P.M.
Location: 2F GRAND HYATT TOKYO, 6-10-3 ROPPONGI, MINATO-KU, TOKYO
Fee: ¥12,000 (REGULAR PLAN), ¥7,000 (STANDING PLAN)
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FRIENDS, COUPLES, GIRLS NIGHT OUT

The Grand Show

Bolshoi Circus: Japan Tour

The world-famous Bolshoi Circus comes to Tokyo this month to entertain us with acrobatics, animal parades, risky tricks and much more. Consisting of 4,000 artists and staff and more than 6,000 animals, this is one of the largest and most famous circuses in the world, which has been holding shows in Japan since 1958. Buy tickets online at http://www.e-tix.jp/bolshoi2018/

Date: Thu, Aug 9-Mon, Aug 13, 2018
Time: Various (See website)
Location: Makuhari Messe, 2-1 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba, Chiba Pref.
Fee: ¥3,800-¥5,800
Info: Recommended for: Families, Kids, Friends, Couples, Circus Fans

Nocturnal Adventures

Night Zoo At Zoorasia

Let the kids stay up for a little longer and take them on a date to a night zoo where they can see the usually sleeping fauna in their usual habitats late in the evening. The zoo will also be illuminated for the event, turning it into a pretty cool date spot.

Date: Sat, Aug 11-Sun 12, 2018 (And all other weekends in August)
Time: 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Location: Zoorasia, 1175-1 Kamishiranecyou, Asahi-ku, Yokohama
Fee: ¥800 (Adults), Free for kids under 6.
Info: Recommended for: Families, Kids, Couples, Friends

Nostalgic Taste Of Happiness

'Japonism' Sweets Buffet

An irresistible feast for the eyes from Hilton Tokyo, this time we're invited to indulge in sweets inspired by retro Japan and other countries that had influence on Japan during the early 20th century Taisho Era. This dessert buffet offers fruits with a variety of pastries, macarons, crème brûlée, sable, and so much more. Too cute to eat, maybe, but give it a try anyway!

Date: NOW THROUGH SUN, SEPT 30, 2018
Time: 2:30 P.M.-5:30 P.M.
Location: HILTON TOKYO SHINJUKU, 6-6-2 NISHI-SHINJUKU, SHINJUKU-KU, TOKYO
Fee: WEEKDAYS: ¥3,900 (ADULTS), ¥2,500 (KIDS). WEEKENDS: ¥4,050 (ADULTS), ¥2,600 (KIDS)
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS, INSTAGRAMMERS

© Photo by Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita (1886-1968)

A Life In Color

Foujita: A Retrospective

Held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of renowned Japan-born, Paris-raised painter Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita (1886-1968), the exhibition takes fans back on an emotional journey into the artist's inspiring career and life. The exhibition will trace Foujita’s development through representative artworks from each stage of his life as an artist—“Landscape Paintings,” “Portraits,” “Nudes,” “Religious Paintings,” and more.

Date: Now through Mon, October 8, 2018
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: Art fans, Historians, Foujita fans, Couples, Friends

Summer Nights

Kanda Shrine Summer Festival

Stop by for a yet another summer festival in Kanda, where the famous shrine will be gathering locals and visitors for a round of bon-odori, summer street food, and an elevated matsuri spirit.

Date: Fri, Aug 10-Sun, Aug 12, 2018
Time: 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Location: Kanda Myojin Shrine, 2-16-2 Soto-kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Fee: Free!
Info: Recommended for: Families, Couples, Matsuri fans

525,600 Minutes Of Your Life

Broadway Musical "Rent" Japan Tour 2018

The award-winning creation of late Jonathan Larson, Rent follows the story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive and create a life in New York City amid poverty, homosexuality, drugs, struggles, love and loss. But above all, it is friendship that unites them and keeps them looking to the future. A musical that tells real-life stories and tells them so damn well. The famous theme song '525,600 minutes' will keep you thinking and rethinking when you find yourself once again: "How do you measure a year?"

Date: WED, AUG 1-SUN, AUG 12, 2018
Time: VARIOUS. SEE WEBSITE
Location: SHIBUYA HIKARIE 11F, 2-21-1 SHIBUYA, SHIBUYA-KU, TOKYO
Fee: ¥9,000-¥13,000
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: MUSICAL FANS, COUPLES, FRIENDS

A Date At The Shore

Ayu Sweetfish Festival

Experience Tokyo’s Wild Side at the annual Ayu Sweetfish Festival, an event that celebrates Tokyo’s often overlooked wildlife and unique ecosystem with a variety of family-focused aquatic activities along the Asakawa River in Tokyo’s Hino City. Activities scheduled for this year include demonstrations of traditional Japanese fishing techniques, a riverside rope swing, and a variety of beginner fishing lessons. Naturally, the event’s titular ayu sweetfish will also be available, with a total of 2,000 salt-grilled ayu being distributed to guests free of charge.

Date: Sun, August 12, 2018
Time: 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Location: Along the banks of the Asakawa River next to the Fureai Bridge and Asakawa Sports Park
Fee: Free!
Info: Recommended for: Families, Kids, Fish lovers

What are your plans for the weekend? If you’re organizing a fun or interesting event, or you know someone who is, contact us to get it listed!

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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