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Looking to do something different this New Year’s Eve? Consider a countdown cruise around Tokyo Bay (no longer available). It includes fireworks, live music, champagne and more.

Tokyo events for Monday, November 26 to Sunday, December 2, 2018

Photo by pumishig

Tokyo English Book Exchange #5

Meet up with fellow bibliophiles for Tokyo Cheapo’s 5th English Book Exchange. Come with at least one book to swap, then grab a drink and mingle. Who knows what printed treasure you might find!

Doburoku Matsuri

The Doburoku Matsuri is an annual festival celebrating crude, home-brewed sake. Taking place at Koami Shrine, visitors will be offered free sake and can enjoy Shinto performances in the afternoon.

Suggested Activity
Get Tickets To the Samurai Restaurant in Shinjuku [10% OFF]
Experience one of the craziest, most colorful places in Tokyo — the all-new Samurai Restaurant, from the creators of the Robot Restaurant. Get your tickets and sit back for a wild show of lasers, lights, samurai, dancers and other uniquely Japanese weirdness. ...

Story Night

Startup Lady Japan is hosting Story Night—a chance to listen to (or tell) women’s stories of struggle and success to inspire others to achieve their goals.

Hope Rocks 2018

Hope Rocks is a charity music event at Hobgoblin Roppongi pub. Proceeds go towards the neglected poor in Cambodia, Ethiopia and the Philippines.

Nabe Festival

Nabe is a Japanese hot pot dish with meat and veggies. Get your fill of the stuff at Hibiya Park at this three-day festival featuring different variations from across the country.

Soba and Sake Festival

A four-day event at Yoyogi Park with myriad food and drinks stalls serving up handmade soba noodles and traditional Japanese rice wine.

Museum of Modern Art – Free Admission Day

The MOMAT houses mainly Japanese works of the 20th century including a number deemed ‘Important Cultural Properties’ or masterpieces—see it all for free this Sunday.

Jingugaien Itcho Festival

With colorful autumn leaves ablaze, you’ll want to head to Icho Namiki Avenue where the numerous and intensely yellow gingko trees are star. Plus, tons of food stalls will be set up for your grazing pleasure. For more spots to see some autumn leaves in Tokyo, check out our full fall guide.

Autumn Evening Illumination at Rikugien Gardens

The famously beautiful Edo-period gardens of Rikugien will be illuminated until December 9th from sunset to 9pm daily. The gardens are known as one of the best spots for autumn foliage viewing, so it’s a perfect for an evening stroll.

Christmas illuminations

Christmas season in Japan is already upon us with light-up festivals galore taking place all over the city. There are plenty to choose from, with some running until February 2018, and some finishing on Christmas Day—so be sure to note the end dates. With new themes, music accompaniments and increasingly impressive displays every year, you’re sure to enjoy what the bright city streets have to offer. Click here for the top 10 Tokyo illuminations.

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