This Week(End): Tokyo Area Events For Dec 15-16
Winter Lights, Exhibitions, And Fun In The City
The Christmas season is all about giving back to the ones you love, respect and treasure in your life — and that often means, hmm, shopping, yes, but also spending quality time with them. Well, this weekend, there's plenty of opportunities to do both! Take your favorite people out to an exhibition, a local matsuri or a Christmas market — or go see a fun Christmas musical together. Enjoy!
Treasure Hunt
Setagaya Boroichi Flea Market
A "rag market" that traces its roots back to almost 440 years ago, the Boroichi flea market is a true treasure-hunting spot that offers bits of something for everyone. Held biannually in January and December near Setagaya station, the market offers an impressive lineup of over 700 stalls selling various keepsakes from kimono and clothing to pottery, handicrafts, souvenirs, toys and, of course, food.
- Date
- Sat, Dec 15-Sun, Dec 16, 2018
- Time
- 9 A.M.-8 P.M.
- Location
- BOROICHI-DORI STREET, SETAGAYA 1-CHOME, SETAGAYA-KU, TOKYO (FIVE-MINUTE WALK FROM SETAGAYA OR KAMIMACHI STATIONS ON THE SETAGAYA LINE)
- Fee
- Free!
- Info
- Recommended for: Families, Treasure hunters, Couples, Solo dates
Holiday Vibes
Tokyo Christmas Market
Tokyo Christmas Market turns Hibiya Park into an almost-real fairy tale. Expect to be impressed by the market’s great array of food and drink stalls, various international holiday crafts, and entertaining stage performances. There will also be handicraft workshops and daily live stages by German, Japanese and gospel groups.
- Date
- Fri, Dec. 14 – Tue, Dec. 25, 2018
- Time
- 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Location
- Hibiya Park, Hibiya Koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- Fee
- Free!
- Info
- Recommended for: Families, Couples, Friends
The Second Mastermind Behind Cup Ramen
Exhibition: The Life of Masako Ando, Wife of Cup Ramen Inventor Momofuku Ando
Behind every life-changing invention stands a wise woman. This exhibition looks into the 93 years of Masako Ando's life; the many times she hit rock bottom with her husband Momofuku Ando — the mastermind behind cup and instant noodles — and the many times she kept looking forward. Featuring rare photos and personal items, this is an exhibition dedicated to the other side of instant ramen — the, unfortunately, less glorified one.
- Date
- NOW THROUGH SUN, MARCH 31, 2019
- Time
- 10 A.M. – 6 P.M.
- Location
- CUP NOODLE MUSEUM YOKOHAMA, 2-3-4 SHINKO, NAKA-KU, YOKOHAMA, KANAGAWA
- Fee
- ¥500
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: COUPLES, FAMILIES, SOLO DATES
The Sound of Music
Broadway Christmas Wonderland 2018
Filled with everything festive about the Christmas holidays, this breathtaking production perfectly fit for the whole family lets you experience Christmas music performed by superb singers, accompanied by delightful dancing, magnificent scenery, exquisite costumes, figure skating, and a classic chorus line. If you haven't quite been feeling Christmas-y this season, this show will immediately take you to your fondest memories of the holiday season.
- Date
- Sat, Dec 15 - Tue, Dec 25, 2018
- Time
- Various (see website)
- Location
- TOKYU THEATER ORB, 1F SHIBUYA HIKARIE 2-21-1 SHIBUYA, SHIBUYA-KU, TOKYO
- Fee
- ¥5,800-¥9,800
- Info
- Recommended for: Families, Couples, Friends, Someone who needs a genki boost
Behind The Scenes of Oiran Fashion
Fashion in the Yoshiwara Pleasure Quarter
The Yoshiwara district (modern-day Nihonbashi and Asakusa) flourished as a prominent pleasure quarter in Edo Period Japan. The highest-ranking courtesans, called Oiran, were the top of the hierarchy of the Yoshiwara. This exhibition features Oiran’s fashion and their daily lives in the Yoshiwara while focusing primarily on ukiyo-e works.
- Date
- Now through Dec 20, 2018
- Time
- 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
- Location
- Ota Memorial Museum of Art, 1-10-10 Jingu-mae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Fee
- ¥700 (General)
- Info
- Recommended for: People interested in fashion and history
© Photo by YouTubeLocal Fests
Asakusa Dento Bunka Matsuri
This festival, which literally translates into "Asakusa Traditional Culture Festival" is a celebration of some of Japan's most valued cultural practices and experiences. Enjoy taiko drum performances, try a jinrikisha (human-powered rickshaw), watch the White Snake Princess (Hakuja-Hime) dance and experience a live rakugo (storytelling) performance among many other events running at the festival.
- Date
- Sun, Dec 16 - Tue, Dec 18, 2018
- Time
- 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Location
- ASAKUSA ICHIFUKU KOJI Shopping Street, Sensoji Temple, In front of Kaminari-mon and other areas in Asakusa
- Fee
- Free
- Info
- Recommended for: Fans of Japanese culture, Social media influencers, Families, Friends, Couples
Edo Elegance
Tokyo Dome City Winter Lights Garden
The Tokyo Dome Illuminations are spread throughout the entire dome area, including magnificent tunnels of lights, decorated Christmas trees and a mini-Tokyo Dome right in front of La Qua shopping center. This year’s theme is “Edo elegance ～Japanese beauty,” with one of the main must-see spots including the Edo Kiriko gate near the main entrance, which changes its display like a kaleidoscope depending on people’s movements.
- Date
- Now through Feb 17, 2019
- Time
- 4 p.m.-12 a.m.
- Location
- Tokyo Dome, 1-3-61 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
- Fee
- Free!
- Info
- Recommended for: Couples, Families, Social Media Influencers
Too Bad To Be Ignored
Museum Of Bad Art Exhibition
If you're stopping by to see the light displays at Tokyo Dome City this weekend, make sure you also stop by here, the place that celebrates really, really, really bad art. This unique and fun exhibition brings some 100 from a collection of 600 works from The Museum Of Bad Art (MOBA) in Boston to Tokyo for the very first time with the mission to show the world the worst of the worst that has ever been made in the field of art. Will yours be there? Go and see for yourself!
- Date
- NOW THROUGH MON, JAN 14, 2019
- Time
- 10 A.M. -6 P.M.
- Location
- GALLERY AAMO, 1-3-61, KORAKU, BUNKYO-KU, TOKYO
- Fee
- ¥1,300 (GENERAL)
- Info
- RECOMMENDED FOR: FRIENDS, PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE ART, SOLO DATES
Warm It Up!
Nabe Matsuri
It's getting colder and colder in Tokyo and there's no better way to beat the cold weather than a good old hot pot. Gather at Hikarigaoka Park this weekend and sample as many unique nabe pots as you can — from signature dishes to lobster nabe and more!
- Date
- Sat, Dec 15-Sun, Dec 16, 2018
- Time
- 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Location
- Hikarigaoka Park, 4-1-1 Hikarigaoka, Nerima-ku, Tokyo
- Fee
- Free entrance, most hot pots around ¥500
- Info
- Recommended for: Friends, Foodies
Attending any of these events? Send us photos through Facebook or Instagram for a chance to be published on the site. #SavvyTokyo
Related Articles You Might Like
Christmas In The City: 10 Of Tokyo’s Best Restaurants For Holiday Dining
Where to celebrate Christmas in Tokyo if you're not flying back home — or celebrating indoors — this season.
20 Photos That Will Make You Fall In Love With Tottori (Like I Did)
Capturing every memory to relive it ... until the next visit to the dunes.
5 Budget (But Super Fun) Date Courses In Tokyo
Want to impress your date but can’t really afford a fancy dinner out? Not a problem. A great date in Tokyo doesn’t have to break...
By Hilary Keyes
Say Hello To The World’s First Ruby Chocolate Afternoon Tea In Tokyo
Fall head over heels for a new twist on afternoon tea that features the recently discovered “fourth” chocolate.
By Rebecca Quin
Leave a Reply