This Weekend: Tokyo Area Events for Feb. 27–28

This weekend is all about culture, with plenty of art exhibitions covering everything from Leonardo DaVinci and vintage tourism posters to fashion history and travel photography. Art not your cup of tea? There's also some modern dance performances and an open-air flea market in Yoyogi Park, perfect for enjoying this weekend's beautiful weather.

Visit Japan: Tourism Promotion in the 1920s and 1930s

This exhibition looks at how Japan was promoted as a tourism destination in the first half of the 20th century, when the development of international sea lanes and railway networks brought a boom to the travel industry. A variety of retro posters, magazine ads and travel brochures are on display.

When: Now through Feb. 28, 2016, Tue–Sun, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Where: The National Museum of Modern Art, 3-1 Kitanomaru-koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

How much: ¥430 for adults; ¥130 for university and college students

Leonardo Da Vinci: Beyond the Visible

New infrared scanning technology shows that underneath the Renaissance master’s “The Madonna of the Yarnwinder” lay rough sketches, including one of a baby being put in a walker. In addition to showing the work for the first time in Japan, this exhibition reconstructs Da Vinci’s methods and selection of imagery to depict in his masterpieces via a technological unearthing of hidden sketches as well as drawings and written documents. (If you’re cool with waiting a couple of weeks to go, you can enter to win tickets to this exhibit here.)

When: Now through Apr. 10, 2016, Tue–Sun, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (until 7:30 p.m. on Sat; last entry 30 minutes before closing time)

Where: Edo Tokyo Museum, 1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo

How much: ¥1,450 for adults; ¥1,160 for university and vocational school students; ¥730 for seniors and elementary, junior high and high school students

Genshoku Shodo: Dancers in the Paradise

Two of East Asia’s most celebrated contemporary dancers join forces in a new work. Japan’s Tsuyoshi Shirai emerged out of Tokyo’s post-butoh scene leaders Kim Itoh + Glorious Future. South Korea’s Kim Sung-Yong is the director and choreographer of company Moo E. They will dance against the background of projections of the photographs of legendary lensman Nobuyoshi Araki, whose images explore everything from the erotic to the grotesque, to the mundane to the sublime.

When: Fri, Feb. 26, 2016, 7:30 p.m. and Sat, Feb. 27, 2016, 3 p.m.

Where: Setagaya Public Theater, 4-1-1 Taishido, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

How much: ¥4,000 for adults; ¥3,000 for a pair of two tickets; ¥2,000 for those aged 24 and under; ¥1,500 for high school students and under (childcare services available at ¥2,000 per child)

Yoyogi Park Flea Market

The weather on Sunday is forecast to be warm and sunny, so what better place to spend the day than the park? In addition to the fresh air, sunlight and beautiful scenery, there will also be a flea market set up at the park’s event space. Get a little treasure hunting in between a long walk and a picnic!

When: Feb. 28, 2016, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Where: Yoyogi Park Event Space, 2-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

How much: Free!

Art Takeshi

Takeshi Kitano, also known as Beat Takeshi, is one of Japan’s most prominent entertainers, trying his hand at everything from comedy and television hosting to film directing and screenwriting. What many people don’t realize is that Kitano is also a prolific artist, and a new exhibition will introduce visitors to this little-known side of the entertainer. There will be 100 of Kitano’s works on display, with no names and no theme to the exhibition. Simply enjoy the art and take from it what you will!

When: Now through Mar. 7, 2016, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. (last entry 7:30 p.m.)

Where: Matsuya Ginza 8F Event Square, 3-6-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Admission: ¥1,000 for adults; ¥700 for university and high school students; ¥500 for junior high school students; ¥300 for elementary school students

Pleasure in the History of Fashion

Drawing from the collection of Akira Ishiyama, a scholar of Western clothing who passed away in 2011, this exhibition presents fashion books and plates dating from the 16th century to the early 20th century, as well as historical monographs and colored prints from the Meiji Period. The exhibition is further enhanced by clothing from the same eras on loan from the collection of the Kobe Fashion Museum.

When: Now through Sun, Apr. 10, 2016, Tue–Sun, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Where: Setagaya Art Museum, 1-2 Kinuta Koen, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

How much: ¥1,000 for adults; ¥800 for seniors 65 and over and university and high school students; ¥500 for elementary and junior high school students

A Million Steps: A Joint Photo Exhibition by Ken Noguchi and Ryota Fujimaki

This exhibition brings together two unlikely collaborators: the alpinist Ken Noguchi and musician Ryota Fujimaki. Both count photography as a hobby and photograph the many inspiring places their careers take them. Now friends, the two have embarked on various travels together. The exhibition features photos taken during their journeys to the Himalayas, Africa, Australia, Iceland, Alaska, and other locations in the United States, and captures the range of feelings they experienced in each of these places.

When: Now through Wed, Mar. 9, 2016, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. (last entry 6:50 p.m.)

Where: Fujifilm Square, Tokyo Midtown, 9-7-3 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

How much: Free!

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