©Photo by Mika Ninagawa

This Week(End): Tokyo Area Events For Dec 22-24

Lights, Markets, And Winter Magic In The City

By The Savvy Team |
December 17, 2018 |
What's Happening

While you'll most probably find yourself doing some last-minute Christmas shopping this weekend, here are some events you should check out if you still want to escape the department store crowds or you've done all your shopping long time ago! Here are our top picks for the last weekend before Christmas! Happy holidays!

The Best Of The Festive Season

World Christmas Festival

If you’re a bit of a Christmas addict and can’t get enough of the festive season, then Tokyo has the event for you. The World Christmas Festival runs the last weekend before Christmas and it’s fun for the entire family. Featuring culturally diverse food, music and events in Yoyogi Park, it’s a celebration of Christmas in its many wonderfully unique shapes and styles.

Date: Sat, Dec 22-Sun, Dec 23, 2018
Time: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Location: Yoyogi Park, 2-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Fee: Free!
Info: Recommended for: Families, Couples, Friends

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Handmade From The Heart

Bunkamura Winter Craft Collection 2018

Over 100 craft makers from across Japan are gathering for the largest annual event at the Bunkamura Gallery to exhibit their one-of-a-kind works of art. You'll find everything from leather items to pottery to handmade jewelry, clothes, artworks and so much more. If you appreciate handmade goods or are looking for unique Christmas gifts, stop by!

Date: Now through Wed, Dec 26, 2018
Time: 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Bunkamura Gallery, 2-24 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Fee: Free entrance
Info: Recommended for: Solo dates, Friends, Craft lovers and collectors

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Chasing Light

Special Exhibition: Mika Ninagawa @ teamLab Borderless

Creative masterminds teamLab partners with renowned Japanese photographer Mika Ninagawa to launch a special collaborative exhibition of capturing human beauty amid digital and natural lights. Held to commemorate one million visitors to Borderless, teamLab's digital museum in Odaiba, this exclusive exhibition is beyond stunningly beautiful!

Date: Tue, Dec 18-Sat, Dec 22, 2018
Time: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Location: Laforet Museum Harajuku, 1-11-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Fee: Free
Info: Recommended for: Couples, Friends, Tourists, Social Media Influencers, Photographers

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Special Exhibition

Munch: A Retrospective

This long-anticipated exhibition focuses on Edvard Munch, the great modern painter, most famous for The Scream, and will feature around 100 works primarily from the Munch Museum in Oslo, the artist’s hometown. Included will be some 60 oil paintings along with prints and other works.

Date: NOW THROUGH SUN, JAN. 20, 2019
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: FRIENDS, COUPLES, Art Lovers

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Last Minute Christmas Shopping

Fantastic Carnival Magic Box

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.

Date: NOW THROUGH THU, FEB. 14 2019
Time: 5 P.M. TO 12 P.M. (ILLUMINATION LIGHT UP)
Location: KEYAKI SQUARE 2F, SAITAMA SUPER ARENA, 10 SHINTOSHIN, CHUO, SAITAMA
Fee: FREE
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND COUPLES

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Holiday Market

Tokyo Christmas Market 2018

This large-scale Europe-inspired market allows visitors to enjoy live music, have a fun time with friends over hot wine (apple cider for the kids), marvel at illumination lights, and find the best Christmas presents in town. Don't miss the chance to meet the famous singing Santa AnTon for good laughs.

Date: FRI, DEC. 14-TUE, DEC. 25, 2018
Time: 11 A.M. TO 10 P.M.
Location: HIBIYA PARK (WATER FOUNTAIN AREA), 1-6 HIBIYA PARK, CHIYODA, TOKYO
Fee: FREE
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND COUPLES

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Winter Lights

Festival of Lights 2018

Beautiful winter lights are essential to spice up the festive season, and this event organizers certainly know how to impress. This year, eight giant Christmas trees and 220,000 LED champaign gold lights will illuminate the zelkova streets around Takenotsuka station in Adachi ward forming a spectacular light festival at the background of soft, romantic holiday tunes. Walk along the lights with your date for a romantic time.

Date: NOW THROUGH TUE, DEC. 25, 2018
Time: 5 P.M. TO 9 P.M.
Location: TAKENOTSUKA STATION (SEIBU SKYTREE LINE) TO MOTOFUCHIE PARK, 2-17-1 HOKIMA, ADACHI-ku, TOKYO
Fee: FREE
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND COUPLES

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Hidden Goodies

Mottainai Flea Market

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. This massive market will be held indoors perfect for keeping you away from the freezing winter weather. The event is popular among young people who buy and sell cool vintage wear. In addition, the event will simultaneously be hosting a kids flea market.

Date: SUN, DEC. 23, 2018
Time: 10 A.M. – 4 P.M.
Location: SUNSHINE CITY, 3-1-1 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO TOSHIMA-KU, TOKYO
Fee: FREE
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS, Solo Shopping

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Charity Quiz

Amnesty International’s Pub Quiz

The Amnesty International Tokyo English Network (AITEN) invites you to their December Pub Quiz in Shibuya, which you can join with up to five members to make your team or solo. A great opportunity to meet and have fun with a multicultural crowd of like-minded people — and win some amazing prizes along the way!

Date: WED, DEC. 19, 2018
Time: 7:30 P.M. – 1 A.M.
Location: HOBGOBLIN BRITISH PUB, 1-3-11 DOGENZAKA 3F, SHIBUYA-KU, TOKYO
Fee: ¥1,000
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FRIENDS

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End Of Year

Osame No Daishi Festival

The Osame No Daishi is a popular end-of-year festival at Nishiarai Temple in Adachi Ward. The festival will be lined with food and lucky goods to buy and enjoy, celebrating the closing of the year. A popular item to buy is a kumade lucky rake. Used as a new year decoration, the kumade rakes are known to "rake in" luck and fortune. The rakes have many designs with various symbols of good luck.

Date: FRI, DEC. 21, 2018
Time: 9 A.M. – 9 P.M.
Location: NISHIARAI DAISHI SOJI TEMPLE, 1-15-１ NISHIARAI, ADACHI-KU, TOKYO
Fee: FREE
Info: RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND 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