Tokyo events for Monday, September 2 to Sunday, September 8, 2019

This week in Tokyo mixes traditional festivals, culture festivals, art events, the new Tokyo night market, fireworks and a whole lot more to keep you entertained.

Meguro Sanma Matsuri
Photo by Hajime Nakano used under CC

Nerd Nite #36: Cyber/Space

Nerd Nite is “the Discovery Channel with beer”, a monthly event series that mixes presentations, performances, trivia, demos, music, and of course drinking. The month’s talking points range from future through cyberpunk art, programming languages for education and the basics of rocket engines.

Suggested Activity
Become a Samurai in Tokyo
Who doesn't want to swing a sword and emulate the warriors of feudal Japan? Experience being a samurai for yourself in one of the coolest activities in Tokyo. During your intimate lesson, you’ll get to dress up in a samurai outfit and train with a traditional katana (single-edged samurai sword)!

Tokyo Night Market: Farmers Market × RAW TOKYO + Juniper Tokyo

The elusive Tokyo night market has found a home in the Aoyama neighborhood. The farmers’ market at UN University shifts into a laid-back after-dark hangout with food, drinks, and one-of-a-kind wares. This week, the market has joined forces with RAW TOKYO and Juniper Tokyo, a gin tasting event.

Chofu City Fireworks Festival

This festival will set off an impressive 10,000 fireworks for a modest crowd of 35,000 people (compared to the millions who attended the Sumida Fireworks Festival back in July).

Craft Beer & Comedy

Good food, great beer and the best of Tokyo’s English stand-up comedy scene. It’s the perfect way to let loose after a long week.

Geisai – Tokyo University of the Arts Festival

See the creative talent of Tokyo’s up-and-coming artists. Students from the Tokyo University of the Arts, one of the country’s most prestigious art schools—will display their works at its Ueno campus. There will also be music performances, talks, and a parade to round off the festival.

Red Bull Air Race Chiba 2019

The Red Bull Air Race is a ticketed championship event showcasing the world’s best racing pilots. The competition focuses on speed and manoeuvrability as the pilots “navigate an aerial racetrack featuring air-filled pylons in the fastest possible time, incurring as few penalties as possible”.

Meguro Sanma Matsuri

Get a free serving of grilled sanma (Pacific saury) at this annual event near Meguro Station. Around 7,000 fish will be given away to mark the beginning of the season. The whole affair runs from 10 am to 2 pm, but we recommend getting there as early as possible to beat the queue.

Kitazawa Hachiman Shrine Festival

A festive event in the hip Shimokitazawa neighborhood with traditional mikoshi (portable shrines) and dashi (wheeled floats) being paraded throughout the streets.

Afro American Caribbean Festa 2019

Head to Yoyogi Park to enjoy this festival showcasing Afro-American and Caribbean culture and cuisine—expect live music, dance and fashion shows and a slew of food stalls.

Re:birth Festival

An three-day music festival held at impressive the Nokogiriyama (“sawtooth mountain”) Quarry in neighboring Chiba Prefecture. There will be three stages banging out techno, house and psytrance jams all weekend long.

Suggested Activity
Get Tickets To the Samurai Restaurant in Shinjuku (Up to 30% Off)
Experience one of the craziest, most colorful places in Tokyo — the all-new Samurai Restaurant, from the creators of the Robot Restaurant. Get your tickets and sit back for a wild show of lasers, lights, samurai, dancers and other uniquely Japanese weirdness.

Bon Voyage: An Exhibition by Fuminori Oohashi

A free art exhibition by Fuminori Oohashi featuring nostalgic landscapes of Paris paired with music to transport spectators to the French streets.

TELL Tokyo Tower Climb

The TELL Tokyo Tower Climb 2019 is an annual event created to coincide with World Suicide Prevention. The event helps raise awareness toward suicide prevention and funds for TELL’s Lifeline, a critical crisis intervention resource for Japan’s international and English-speaking community. Register yourself or a team—or you can support the TC team and we’ll match total donations up to USD $1000.

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Filed under: Events | Things to do in Tokyo
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