This Week(End): Tokyo Area Events For August 17-18

Music, Art, Dance And More Summer Festivals

By The Savvy Team |
August 16, 2019 |
What's Happening

The Obon break is now officially over and most people are back to work—which, for many, may trigger the need for a fun night out and late-night drink. Worry not, we've got you covered! Here are our top picks of events to brighten up your weekend and remind you that summer isn't even close to being over yet.

Summer Beats

Minato Mirai Bon Odori

The largest summer festival in the Minato Mirai area, this bon odori stage attracts nearly 20,000 visitors every year. Feel the ocean breeze and have a glass of cold beer as you listen to the sound of taiko drums and bon dance tunes. A great way to end a pleasant date in Yokohama!

Date: FRI, AUG 16 - SAT, AUG 17, 2019
Time: 4:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
Location: RINKO PARK, 1-1-1 MINATOMIRAI, NISHI-KU, YOKOHAMA, KANAGAWA
Fee: FREE!
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, COUPLES, FRIENDS, DANCERS

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Jazzy Days

Sumida Street Jazz Festival

Aiming to promote Sumida as Tokyo's No. 1 music city, this annual festival gathers 400 bands performing jazz and other music genres at around 40 indoor and outdoor stages. The highlight is a special performance by veteran saxophonist Malta and Japanese Jazz legend Isao Suzuki. On the agenda are also dance performances, various events for the kids, and more.

Date: SAT, AUG 17 - SUN, AUG 18, 2019
Time: VARIOUS. SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS
Location: KIRA KIRA HALL, 3-52-8 KYOJIMA, SUMIDA CITY, TOKYO
Fee: FREE!
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: JAZZ FANS, MUSICIANS, COUPLES, FRIENDS, FAMILY

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For Sunny Days

Kiyose Sunflower Festival

Approximately 100,000 flowers will be in full bloom at the annual Sunflower Festival starting this Saturday. A perfect opportunity to look out at a spectacular sea of yellow waves. Sunflower products such as seeds and butter, as well as vegetables from local farms, will also be sold throughout the festival area.

Date: SAT, AUG. 17 - SAT, AUG, 24, 2019
Time: 9 A.M. - 4 P.M.
Location: 3-CHOME SHIMOKIYOTO FARMLAND, KIYOSE-SHI, TOKYO
Fee: FREE!
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, COUPLES, FRIENDS, PHOTOGRAPHERS

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Weekend In The Park

Shibuya Summer Festival

Join the city's hottest neighborhood for a fun weekend festival featuring everything from live music shows, performances, food, traditional snack stalls (expect lots of kakigori), kids playgrounds, and more!

Date: SUN, AUG 18, 2019
Time: 4:30 P.M. - 8 P.M.
Location: NHK ENTRANCE ROAD, KEYAKI NAMIKI, 1-5-11 JINNAN, SHIBUYA-KU, TOKYO
Fee: FREE!
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, KIDS, COUPLES, FRIENDS

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Art In Harajuku

Exhibition: We Cool?

Harajuku’s UltraSuperNew Gallery is hosting artists from around the world who have responded to the question proposed by Paul Wig, “We Cool?” This collaborative group show is the collective response in the form of mixed media. From oil paint to nail art and fine jewelry, the eclecticness of the art speaks to the diversity that can exist in the ecosystems of friendships.

Date: FRI, AUG 16 - SUN, AUG 21, 2019
Time: 10 A.M. - 7 P.M.
Location: ULTRASUPERNEW GALLERY, 1-1-3 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA-KU, TOKYO
Fee: FREE!
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR ARTISTS, FRIENDS, COUPLES

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Open-Air Summer Time Slip

Shimokitazawa Ichibangai Awa-Odori

The local Awa Odori festival is coming to life this weekend around the trendy streets of Shimokitazawa. Time for more singing, dancing, and chanting until late into the night.

Date: SAT, AUG. 17 - SUN, AUG, 18, 2019
Time: 6 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
Location: SHIMOKITAZAWA ICHIBANCHO, 2-37-18 KITAZAWA, SETAGAYA-KU, TOKYO
Fee: FREE!
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, COUPLES, FRIENDS

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Park Fiesta

Colombia Festival

Another summer fiesta from sunny Latin America to mark on your calendar! Feel the heat this summer at the Colombia festival with plenty of delicious South American food, hot Colombian music, and traditional folkloric dance performances.

Date: SAT, AUG. 17 - SUN, AUG, 18, 2019
Time: 10 A.M. - 4 P.M.
Location: YOYOGI PARK, KEYAKI NAMIKI, 1-5-11 JINNAN, SHIBUYA-KU, TOKYO
Fee: FREE!
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS, COUPLES

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Bust A Move

Break Park

The B Boys of the Harajuku Pedestrian Crossing in 1983 wrote the beginning of the hip-hop revolution in the history of the city. Since then, 20 years on B Boys and Girls celebrate break dance culture through Break Park, a summer break dance events and contests within the Shibuya area for dancers, young and old.

Date: FRI, AUG. 16 - SUN, AUG, 18, 2019
Time: 12 P.M. - 8 P.M.
Location: YOYOGI PARK, EVENTS SQUARE, 2-3 JINNAN, SHIBUYA-KU, TOKYO
Fee: FREE!
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS, DANCERS

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Neighborhood Adventures

Tama Center Summer Festival

Another local summer festival featuring four days of a great variety of fun events for the whole family. On the agenda are traditional Japanese performances and other shows, including taiko drums, dances, parades, a mini jazz festival, and more.

Date: WED, AUG 14 - SUN, AUG 18, 2019
Time: 11 A.M. - 6 P.M.
Location: AROUND TAMA CENTER STATION
Fee: FREE!
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, COUPLES

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Tokyo Broadway

Chicago The Musical

This weekend is the last chance to catch this show. Chicago tells the story of two rivals who have been locked up in Cook County Jail; Velma, a nightclub star, serving time for killing her husband and sister after discovering their affair, and Roxie, a driven chorus girl who killed the lover she’s been cheating on her husband with. Starring Japanese actress, Ryoko Yonekura as Roxie Hart, and South African stage actress, Amra-Faye Wright as Velma Kelly, alongside an American chorus, the show will be performed in English with Japanese subtitles.

Date: NOW THROUGH AUG 18, 2019
Time: 12:30 P.M., 1:30 P.M., 6:00 P.M., 7 P.M.
Location: THEATRE ORB, SHIBUYA HIKARIE 11F, 2-21-1 SHIBUYA, SHIBUYA-KU, TOKYO
Fee: ¥9,000-¥14,000
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: MUSICAL LOVERS, FRIENDS, COUPLES

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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