This Week(End): Tokyo Area Events For Feb 8-11

A busy (and extraordinary) weekend is predicted ahead, especially if you're looking for art, inspiration and some fun with your family and friends. On the agenda are unique film and dance events, a Chinese New Year celebration, and, of course, a beautiful plum blossom event just in time for Valentine's Day. Have a great week(end) ahead!

Power Of Visuals

Yebisu International Festival For Art & Alternative Visions 2020

Held annually since 2009, Yebisu International Festival aims to gather and encourage creativity through visual art exhibitions, movies, and dance performances. With “The Art Of Transportation” as this year’s theme, the event welcomes artists and expressionists from around the world who will be showcasing their works of art in various forms, including exhibitions, film screenings, live shows, workshops and more.

Date

FRI, FEB. 7 – SUN, FEB. 23, 2020 (CLOSED MON, FEB. 10 & 17)

Time

10 A.M.-8 P.M. (LAST DAY UNTIL 6 P.M.)

Location

TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC ART MUSEUM, EBISU GARDEN PLACE, 1-13-3 MITA, MEGURO, TOKYO, AND OTHERS

Fee

FREE ENTRY

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: ART FANS, COUPLES, AND SOLO OUTINGS

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Season of Plums

Setagaya Plum Blossom Festival

From Japanese instrumental performances, rice cake pounding and a haiku workshop to a tea ceremony, plum-infused foods, and sweets — this festival offers a wide variety of events that you can enjoy by yourself, with your family or friends. It’s a great option to get you energized for spring by admiring the 650 red-and-white plum trees blossoming in Hanegi Park.

Date

SAT, FEB. 8-SUN, MARCH 1, 2020

Time

10 A.M. TO 4 P.M.

Location

HANEGI PARK, 4-38-52 DAITA, SETAGAYA-KU, TOKYO

Fee

FREE!

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: FAMILIES, INSTAGRAMMERS, COUPLES

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Not A Typical Cinema Night

Tokyo Northern Lights Festival 2020

For something a little different, Tokyo Northern Lights Festival is one event worth adding to your international culture calendar. Held at Shibuya’s Eurospace, this is an annual celebration of Nordic cinema, people, and culture. Featuring a carefully curated program of both cult classics and the new and relatively unknown, it’s not your typical movie night out.

Date

SAT, FEB. 8-FRI, FEB. 14, 2020

Time

VARIES DEPENDING ON SCREENING

Location

EUROSPACE, 1-5 MARUYAMACHO, SHIBUYA-KU, TOKYO

Fee

¥1,500

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: CULTURAL DATES; FANS OF INDIE MOVIES AND ART

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Kitchen Ambitions

Tableware Festival

Stop by at this festival dedicated to tableware which offers everything from English-style to Japanese fine china. Celebrating its 27th year, the festival welcomes British brands such as Aynsley, Japanese Kasamayaki porcelain, Venetian glassware, and regional style china. Also at the venue will be presentations by celebrities on how they decorate their dining spaces with unique table settings. You can also purchase your favorite tableware.

Date

NOW THROUGH MON, FEB. 10, 2020

Time

10 A.M.-7 P.M. (UNTIL 6 P.M. ON LAST DAY)

Location

TOKYO DOME, 1-3-61 KORAKU, BUNKYO-KU, TOKYO

Fee

¥2,200

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: PEOPLE IN NEED OF INTERIOR INSPIRATION

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Dance On!

Yokohama Dance Collection 2020

Held for the 25th time, Yokohama Dance Collection’s is a dance-inspired event which introduces premieres by cross-disciplinary artists active on the global stage and newly created and re-created works by leading Japanese dance choreographers. This weekend is the competition days where finalists selected based on videos and documentation among 187 entries from 38 countries perform their routines.

Date

NOW THROUGH SUN, FEB. 16, 2020

Time

VARIES DEPENDING ON THE PROGRAM

Location

YOKOHAMA RED BRICK WAREHOUSE NO.1, 1-1 SHIN MINATO, NAKA-KU, YOKOHAMA

Fee

VARIES DEPENDING ON THE PROGRAM

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: DANCE LOVERS

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A New Year Spectacle

China Town's Chinese New Year 2020

Held for the 34th time, Yokohama Chinatown's Chinese New Year celebration is now a popular annual tourist destination. While the famous New Year countdown is now over, this Saturday the area will be observing the spectacular parade (from 4 p.m.) and on Sunday, various life stages and lion dance performances. Expect much fun, loud sounds, and spectacular performances. Happy New Year to everyone celebrating the Chinese style!

Date

NOW THROUGH SAT, FEB. 8, 2020

Time

VARIES DEPENDING ON EVENTS (SEE WEBSITE)

Location

AROUND YOKOHAMA CHINATOWN AREAS, YAMASHITACHO, NAKA, YOKOHAMA, KANAGAWA

Fee

FREE!

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: ANYONE INTERESTED IN CHINA, ANYONE AFTER CULTURAL ADVENTURES AND GREAT FOOD, INSTAGRAMMERS

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Bottoms Up!

Sakaya Festival 2020

This event offers a selection of sake, shochu, wine, etc., selected by liquor professionals Kakuuchi (to drink alcohol bought at a liquor store inside the liquor store) style. Alongside the variety of food and drinks from all over Japan, DJs and musicians will liven up the event on the special stage! A “Kikisake Experience Corner” will be set up at the venue to introduce the differences in the types and ingredients of sake and shochu.

Date

SAT, FEB. 8-TUE, FEB. 11, 2020

Time

11 A.M. - 6 P.M.

Location

UENO ONSHI PARK FOUNTAIN SQUARE, 5-6 UENOKOEN, TAITO, TOKYO

Fee

¥2,800 (COMES WITH FOOD AND SAKE TICKETS)

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: FRIENDS, JAPANESE CULTURE FANS, SAKE LOVERS

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Counting Down

Exhibition: Tokyo 2020 Official Art Posters

In order to create momentum for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the Tokyo Organising Committee is holding a Tokyo 2020 Official Art Posters Exhibition at the entrance hall of the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. During the exhibition period, talk events with the creators of the official art posters will take place.

Date

NOW THROUGH SUN, FEB. 16, 2020

Time

10 A.M. - 6 P.M.

Location

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART TOKYO, 4-1-1 MIYOSHI, KOTO-KU, TOKYO

Fee

FREE!

Info

RECOMMENDED FOR: ART FANS, OLYMPIC FANS, AND SOLO OUTINGS

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