This Weekend: Tokyo Area Events for July 2-3

Summer Celebrations, Festivals and Fun in The City

By The Savvy Team |
June 30, 2016 |
What's Happening

With the rainy season finally coming to an end it's time to welcome the beginning of summer — and there's no better way to do that but go out in the city and enjoy it to the fullest! This weekend there are plenty of outdoor events, including an Earth Garden in Yoyogi Park, a sunflower festival in Chiba, two Tanabata celebrations and a shrine visit festival in Asakusa, as well as a beer garden — for there's nothing like a taste of summer but a chilled beer! Enjoy!

Eco Lifestyle

Earth Garden 2016

Join ecologists and free minded Tokyo hippies for a yet another celebration of Earth Garden, one of the best known eco-conscious events in the capital. There'll be plenty of stalls, food booths, talk sessions and workshops, as well as stage performances and good music. Bring your own cups and plates, or buy some at the venue for discounts.

Date: Sat, July 2 - Sun, July 3, 2016
Time: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Saturday), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sunday)
Location: Yoyogi Park Event Space, 2-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Fee: Free!

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Flower Labyrinth

Sunflower Festival in Chiba

It's a labyrinth you wouldn't want to escape from! Plunge into the sea of 900,000 blooming sunflowers, take some great shots and even bring home as many flowers you can carry!

Date: Fri, July 1 through Fri, July 31, 2016
Time: All day
Location: 6057 Sekiyadodaimachi, Noda, Chiba Prefecture. Access: Kawama Station on the Tobu Noda Line.
Fee: Free

Add Life to Your Interior

Green Lifestyle Workshop

Make your own Terrarium and help support quake-damaged Miyagi Prefecture's forest recovery under the guidance of Takuma Nitta, a gentleman from Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture who produces the brand Urban Green Makers. Participants will create a Terrarium, a living green planter that brings early summer breeze to your room! Bring your creativity and take it home to add life to your interior. Limited to 10 people on first-come, first-served basis.

Date: Sun, July 3, 2016
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: OnJapan Cafė, 6-8-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Fee: ¥2,500 (including one free drink)

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Summertime Worship

Natsumode Asakusa Shrine Festival

A play on words, Natsumode is an event celebrating the first shrine visit (hatsumode) for the summer (natsu) period. With half a year gone by, visit the shrine to purify yourself from all bad vibes accumulated through the first half of the year, relax in a natural environment, and just enjoy a quiet, spiritual night. Enjoy a lineup of various events, including nagashisomen (flowing somen noodles), a special Tanabata "Milky Way" light up, traditional dance stages and more.

Date: Now through Thu, July 7, 2016
Time: All day, some events start from late evening
Location: Asakusa Shrine, 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Fee: Free

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Summer Cheers!

Ikebukuro Beer Garden

Rise high above the urban heat and concrete to the top floor of the Tobu department store, and enjoy its “carnival” summer beer garden, accompanied with a gorgeous overview of the city. Choose between a variety of party food sets, lots of beer, wine, whisky and other goodies to satisfy your appetite and thirst. Note: these places get crowded, so we highly recommend a reservation in advance.

Date: Now through Sun, Oct. 2, 2016
Time: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. (weekdays), 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. (weekends & holidays)
Location: 16F Tobu Department Store, 1-1-25 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Fee: ¥4,320 for Standard Course (including all-you-can drink), ¥5,400 for Premium Course, or order a-la-carte.

Wish Upon a Star

Tanabata Festival at Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden

Literally meaning the “seventh night,” Tanabata, or the Star Festival, is one of most famous Japanese summer (and romantic) festivals. If you’re celebrating the romantic way, the Kyu Shiba Rikyu Japanese traditional Garden is the perfect choice - there will be traditional musical performances, quiet “wish upon a star” stalls surrounded by Japanese chimes’ summer breeze sounds and plenty of seasonal flowers to enjoy!

Date: Sat, July 2, 2016
Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden, 1-4-1 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Fee: ¥150 (General)

Treasures of Ancient Greece

A Journey to the Land of Immortals

The first large-scale exhibition in Japan of artworks gathered from Ellada, this rare event brings the best of ancient Greece, including over 300 sculptures (of some gorgeous gods and goddesses!), fresco paintings and other objects. Just as its name implies, the exhibit follows Greece on its full artistic journey of development from the Neolithic to the Hellenistic periods, including a special corner on the ancient Olympic Games.

Date: FROM TUE, JUNE 21 THROUGH MON, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
Time: 9:30 A.M. - 5 P.M. (SAT, SUN, HOLS UNTIL 6 P.M.)
Location: HEISEIKAN, TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM, 13-9 UENO-KOEN, TAITO-KU, TOKYO
Fee: ¥1,600 (GENERAL)

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!