Looking for something cheap and awesome to do in Tokyo or Yokohama this weekend? From a beach fireworks show to historical Japanese festivals and Diwali celebrations, there’s heaps of low-budget fun to be had.
If you want to see some old-school Japanese fun, there are two traditional festivals worth checking out on Saturday and Sunday. At the Koto Ward Citizens Festival you’ll be able to see people trying (mostly failing) to balance on floating logs, and lots of other timber-related tricks celebrating the area’s history. The Kawagoe Festival in Saitama features more pomp and ceremony, with a parade of impressive floats featuring exquisitely crafted dolls. There will be a kind of float face-off with orchestra music, which is always fun.
Over in Yokohama, Yamashita Park will be decked out for the Diwali festival of lights celebrations. Besides beautiful photo opps, you can enjoy tasty curries, Bollywood-style dancing and yoga. Around 200 000 people are expected to attend. If you’re down there, you might want to roll over to the beach at Enoshima for the Fujisawa Enoshima Fireworks Festival on Saturday evening. Around 3 000 shots will be fired into the autumn sky (which so far looks like it will be clear).
Also on is the Myanmar Festival at Zojoji Temple near Shiba Park – a chance to enjoy local food and music and get a glimpse into the culture of the country. And if you feel like trying some salty daikon radish pickles and other tsukemono, 400-500 street stalls will be open till late at the Nihonbashi Ebisu-ko Bettara Market on Sunday and Monday.
Anything else on that you’d like to share with fellow Cheapos? Leave it in the comments.
