One of the most visually spectacular festivals in Tokyo happens this week at the Ikegami Honmonji temple near Ikegami Station in the southeast art of Tokyo. The Oeshiki Festival runs over all three days of the long weekend. The highlight is a parade of mini pagoda-like lanterns – although they’re only mini compared to a full sized pagoda.  You can get more info here.

You might remeber the Fukuro Festival from a couple of weeks ago. Well, that was just Part 1 – Part 2 happens this weekend.  The focus of Part 2 is the 14th Tokyo Yosakoi Festival – a huge team dancing competition.  The main location for the festival is next to Ikebukuro Station, but there are also 8 other venues throughout Toshima Ward.

For Cheapo foodies, there is the World Festa Yokohama 2013 in Yamashita Park. There will be booths from many of the international communities that call Yokohama home. Stalls open at 10am and close at 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday. The closest station to Yamashita Park is Motomachi-Chukagai on the Yokohama Subway (trains run directly from central Tokyo on the Toyoko Line from Shibuya Station)

Suggested Activity
Sumo Morning Practice Tour at Stable in Tokyo
Try this insider’s experience at a sumo wrestler morning practice session. Enjoy exclusive access to a sumo stable, watching as these massive athletes put themselves through their daily training regimen and go head-to-head.

If you’d like to get in some golf practice in the park without annoying/injuring your fellow park goers, Nike has a free event on at Tokyo Midtown on Monday (it’s “Health and Sports Day”) where you can test out some Nike gear and play various “golf games”. The games begin at midday and finish at 5pm. The closest stations are Roppongi on the Hibiya and Oedo Lines and Nogizaka on the Chiyoda Line.

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