Tokyo events for Monday, December 2 to Sunday, December 8, 2024.
Add even more events to the top of your December to-do list.
The weekly December fireworks in Odaiba make a triumphant return. Pyrotechnics also rule at the Chichibu Night Festival and Tokyo Comic Con sees world-famous celebrities flock to the capital.
Chichibu Night Festival
Chichibu Shrine itself has over 2,000 years of history. This is a great opportunity to catch an enchanting traditional festival. The large floats, apparently weighing up to 20 tons each, are festooned with countless lanterns and decorated with flowers and spears.
Akibasan Fire Festival
The festival, which dates from the 16th century, is ostensibly for offering protection from fire. A better description might be “fun with fire” — with robed priests doing a variety of activities with fire, including writing Chinese characters in the air with a flaming stick and firing arrows into a bonfire.
Oji Tori-no-Ichi Fair
These markets sell kumade, ceremonial bamboo rakes that are beautifully decorated and hung with traditional Japanese good-luck charms. So, if you’re feeling a bit down on your luck (or just want to pick up a bit more), hustle over to the precincts of Oji Shrine and pick up one of the thousands you’ll find for sale there.
Candlelight: A Night of Christmas Classics
Christmas is just around the corner, and this Candlelight concert will get you in the mood with some classic Christmas crackers. A string quartet will take you through some of the most iconic Christmas music over the years. Take in the beautiful performances and let yourself get swept away in the nostalgia.
Tokyo Comic Con
So far for 2024, Sebastian Stan and Jason Momoa will be on the bill, as well as Morena Baccarin (Deadpool) and Ben McKenzie (Gotham). It has recently been announced that actors Christopher Lloyd, John Boyega, and Daniel Logan — from the Star Wars series — will also be in attendance.
| Advance sales: ¥4,400 | ||
| Advance sales: ¥2,500 | ||
Tokyo Art Tank Vol. 12: The Winter Exhibition
Immerse yourself in a world of creativity and explore a diverse range of artistic expressions that capture Tokyo’s current art scene. There’s a wide range of captivating styles on display — marvel at the abstract, realist, contemporary, and impressionist works.
Philippine Festival
This festival promises to be Japan’s biggest Philippines event of the year. There will be carnivals, fashion shows, traditional dancing, a dance contest, cosplay, and more. You can also try some traditional Filipino food at one of the many food booths that will be there on both days.
Heiwajima Antiques Fair
The Heiwajima Antiques Fair is a popular indoor flea market that’s held five times a year for a period of three days each time. Close to 300 vendors from all over Japan come to sell their wares, which comprise a wide range of Japanese antiques. You’ll find more professional antique dealers than people trying to offload what they found in the attic.
Shibuya Blue Cave Illumination
Originally a Nakameguro event from way back in 2014, the Blue Cave is now a Shibuya highlight each winter. This year’s 800-meter display will feature around 770,000 LED lights (guess what color) stretching between Shibuya Koen Dori and Yoyogi Park (just south of Yoyogi Park Events Square).
Odaiba Rainbow Fireworks
This out-of-season fireworks display takes place every Saturday in December at 7 p.m. for five minutes. The fireworks are shot into the sky between Odaiba and the Rainbow Bridge — so there are some awesome photo opportunities.
Yorunoyo Yokohama Winter Illumination
The Yokohama waterfront shines brighter at the Yorunoyo Yokohama Winter Illumination as it transforms the area into a dazzling array of light art and projections. If you’d rather watch from indoors, Osanbashi Passenger Terminal will have a projection mapping display. Wherever you go, the lights, sights, and music will brighten up your winter night.
Omotesandō Illumination
A classy and impressive annual display, the Omotesandō Illumination is a light-lit walk of just over 1 km along Omotesandō Avenue. With over 900,000 lights wound around the trees, it’s got a definite winter-wonderland feel. Illuminations start from sunset each day until 10 p.m.
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