Tokyo events for Monday, November 20 to Sunday, November 26, 2023.
This week is filled with holiday cheer as Christmas markets open and illuminations for winter and autumn blink on.
Events spill out onto Thursday (Nov. 23) due to the public holiday (Labor Thanksgiving Day), so make use of the extra day to see some art, dancing, and cultural festivals.
The Pirates of Tokyo Bay Bilingual Improv Show
For over a decade, the Pirates of Tokyo Bay have been making audiences laugh with short-form improv comedy shows in English and Japanese. Join them as their performers create scenes, stories, and songs inspired by you, the audience. Whatever language you speak, they’ll make you laugh at their monthly show at What the Dickens in Ebisu.
| Advance sales: ¥2,000 | At the door: ¥2,000 | |
Shibuya Street Dance Week
Newer to the Yoyogi Park event scene, this yearly dance festival is already wildly popular. There will be dance performances, battles, and even workshops. And it doesn’t matter your skill level, everyone and anyone is invited to participate.
Erica Ward Solo Exhibition: Miyabori
Erica Ward’s detailed Japan-inspired works of watercolor and ink combine the mundane and the surreal. Her solo exhibition uses miyabori motifs to ask the viewer to contemplate the objects we may be taking for granted in our daily lives.
Free Japanese Language Meetup Every Saturday
The WeLearn Community makes learning a new language fun and inexpensive. Japanese teachers for different levels play card and board games together with you in English and Japanese. You can also experience cultural activities such as learning yo-yo from a specialist.
Philippine Festival
This festival promises to be Japan’s biggest Philippines event of the year. Taking place in Yoyogi Park, this Philippines Embassy-supported festival will feature domestic entertainers as well as those flown in from the Philippines.
Japan Fisherman’s Festival
Celebrating all things fish, this fisherman’s festival will have an array of stalls to choose from. Run by the Sakana and Japan Festival, it was attended by over 140,000 people in 2019 and is filled with the best seafood from across the country.
Tokyo Festival of Modular
The Tokyo Modular Festival is an event where modular synth artists, sound designers, engineers, graphic artists, and music lovers join forces. This festival explores the creative possibilities of the modern modular synthesizer, which is undergoing a resurgence in popularity across the globe
Akasaka Antique Market in Ark Hills
The Ark Hills Antique Market is much classier compared to some of Tokyo’s usual fairs. In addition to the amazing finds you can usually dig up at a flea market, like jewelry and home goods, you can also find stylish clothing brands — for November and December the market also gets a Christmas makeover.
101st Gaigosai Festival
The Tokyo Foreign Studies University (Tokyo Gaigo Daigaku) in Fuchu has its Gaigosai festival each year from mid- to late November. The student organizers promise “a tour around the world without the need for a passport”.
Tokyo Dome City Winter Illumination
This winter illumination features an amazing 2,000,000 LEDs draped over structures both temporary and permanent at Tokyo Dome City. There will also be a towering Christmas tree.
Christmas Markets
Is it too early for Christmas? Never. These Christmas markets are already opening their doors just before the start of December.
- Tokyo Christmas Market (Nov. 23–Dec. 25)
- Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Christmas Market (Nov. 24–Dec. 25)
- Roppongi Hills Christmas Market (Nov. 25–Dec. 25)
Autumn Illuminations
While most winter illuminations are already up and running, the autumn lights are now giving them a run for their wattage. Check out the best time to see autumn leaves in Tokyo.
- Autumn Night Garden at Shinjuku Gyoen. Buy tickets in English. (Nov. 22–Dec. 3)
- Meiji Jingu Gaien Autumn Leaves Illumination (Nov. 25–Dec. 3)
- Autumn Evening Illumination at Rikugien Gardens (Nov. 22–Dec. 3)
Tori-no-ichi Fairs
Tori no Ichi is a colorful and long-running fair that’s all about wishing for luck and prosperity in business endeavors. The last one of the year takes place on November 23 at shrines around Tokyo. Highlights:
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