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Blossom Blast Art Exhibition (Mar 1-18): Blossom Blast is an art exhibition spotlighting the creative talents of female artists. The exhibition aims to support these highly talented and accomplished artists, whose works are often overshadowed and under-priced in comparison to those of their male counterparts. In tandem with International Women’s Day (celebrated globally on March 8), TokyoDex and UltraSuperNew Gallery have invited curator Miki Saito to gather a group of artists who explore the concept of this year’s show, “What It Means To Be A Woman” today. You can show some love and check out some pretty remarkable creations until March 18.
Tokyo Cheapo Downtown Drinks (Mar 3): Join the TC gang and fellow cheapos for a drink (or few) and casually mingling at Commune 2nd, Omotesando’s happening outdoor food court. This is our 16th casual monthly meet-up and all are welcome—from readers to travelers to mysterious strangers.
Jindaiji Temple Daruma Doll Fair (Mar 3-4): One of Japan’s three biggest daruma markets, there are around 300 street stalls selling these traditional dolls at Jindaiji Temple. Once you’ve picked a doll, have the vendor write your wish on the back of the daruma. You then take it to a special stall, where a monk will fill in the left eye with a character indicating you’ve made a wish. One year later, you come and return the old one. If your wish came true, they mark the right eye with another character representing its fulfillment. Various ceremonies also take place over the two days.
Earth Day Market (Mar 5): If you’re in the Harajuku/Shibuya area, pop by Yoyogi Park for the Earth Day Market. Earth-friendly goods can be found for sale at some 52 stalls lining the ‘Keyaki Namiki’ stretch between Shibuya and the main part of the park—from organic fruit/veg to fair trade products to handmade crafts.
Plum Blossoms: This is the last call for most plum blossom festivals around Tokyo. A few of our favorites include the Setagaya Plum Festival (ends Mar 5) and the Odawara plum grove in Kanagawa prefecture with 35,000 trees (its festival ends March 5th with a lion dance performance). Check our full plum blossom guide for all the various festival details.
Midtown Ice Rink (until Mar 5): This is the last weekend to go for a spin on the Tokyo Midtown ice rink. A fun and seasonal way to work off some of those winter lbs!
Akasaka Antique Market in Ark Hills (until March 26): The Ark Hills antique market is a classier step-up compared to some of Tokyo’s usual fairs. Find the flea market classics, like jewelry, home goods, and religious motifs, or take this opportunity to update your wardrobe. There are also food trucks parked here and there, so you can hunt for cheapo deals all day, or at least until 4 pm when it closes.
Super Ukiyo-e: The Edo Code (until late May): Enjoy some 20,000 ukiyo-e prints by master artists in high-res digital form. These images are the best of the best: coming from the Spaulding Collection in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and other top-class galleries. Special video technology blows up and animates some of the most famous works for a 3D effect. Immerse yourself in the world of ukiyo-e as it shows you Edo-era fashion, kabuki, and the old city’s dark streets, where ghosts and monsters tend to appear.
