Tokyo events for Monday, April 29 to Sunday, May 5, 2019
The long-awaited 10-day Golden Week holiday has just begun and it’s the perfect opportunity to join in on some unique and fun festivities. Tour the world at the Cambodia or Hawaii festivals, quench your thirst at Spring Oktoberfest, see traditional Japanese ceremonies and parades, or bring your appetite to the various food festivals throughout Tokyo.
Bone Music
This exhibition spotlights the strange story of the Soviet Underground and the sounds that were outlawed.
| Advance sales: ¥1,200 | At the door: ¥1,400 | |
Artist Talks: Spring Edition
Artist Talks is an informal gathering of artists to discuss art and ideas. Artists give short talks followed by a few questions from the audience.
Nikufes
Niku is the Japanese word for “meat”—and a lot of it is what you can expect at this festival. Meat from Japan and abroad will be served up in every form imaginable: kebabs, hot dogs, steak, roast pork, xiaolongbao, and much more.
Kurayami Festival
This festival is touted as one of the “three strangest festivals in Kanto”. Among the oddities will be funny costumes, colorful mantou dances and bellies with faces painted on. Festival favorites include food stalls, floats, lanterns and various performances.
Ome Grand Festival
This traditional festival features twelve giant wheeled floats known as “dashi”—each representing one of the neighborhoods of the city of Ome in far western Tokyo. Costumed mannequins ride the dashi, which are pushed and pulled through the streets to the accompaniment of traditional flutes and drums by the residents of the neighborhood they represent.
Cambodia Festival
This is a festival to promote friendship between Japan and the Kingdom of Cambodia. Buy Khmer products and feast on traditional Khmer food while enjoying dance and cultural performances.
Tokyo Sea Life Park – Free Admission Day
Enjoy a free day at the impressive Tokyo Sea Life Park. Highlights include a donut-shaped tank containing 2,200 tons of water housing bluefin tuna and a penguin park.
Museum of Modern Art – Free Admission Day
The MOMAT is free this Sunday. The museum houses mainly Japanese works of the 20th century including a number deemed ‘Important Cultural Properties’ or masterpieces.
Kachiya Festival
Join 100,000 spectators at the Kachiya Festival, dedicated to the kachiya (victory arrow). The main attraction is a traditional samurai procession which traces a 2 km route through the shrine grounds and around Kameido Station.
Haisai Festa
The Haisai Festa is an annual event which celebrates the many aspects of Okinawan culture—from cuisine, music, dance, traditional arts and more. A major draw of course are the various food and drink stalls serving up local specialties (like soba and awamori). And stick around for the traditional eisa performances with plenty of energetic singing, chanting, dancing and drumming.
African-American-Caribbean Golden Week Food Festa
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.
Spring Oktoberfest
The spring edition of Oktoberfest will be taking place in Odaiba over Japan’s Golden Week holiday. Entrance is free but food and drink is pay as you go. There will be a plethora of beer stalls, featuring both German and local Japanese brews, and food stands with the usual German fare, like pretzels, sausage, sauerkraut and more.
Odaiba Hawaii Festival 2019
This year’s festival will feature Hawaiian music performances by national and international artists, a Polynesian show, Tahitian and hula dance shows, and Hawaiian market where you can pick up goods and snack on tasty Hawaiian food.
Meiji Shrine Spring Grand Festival
Meiji Shrine is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Every spring the shrine holds a week-long event spanning Golden Week that features an impressive lineup of traditional performing arts presentations. Festivities include traditional Japanese music, theater and dance performances and a main Shinto ceremony.
Tokyo Rainbow Pride
Tokyo Rainbow Pride celebrates Tokyo’s LGBT community with a 3 km long parade on Saturday and Sunday around the Harajuku/Shibuya area. All welcome!
Toshio Suzuki and Studio Ghibli Exhibition
The highly anticipated new Ghibli exhibition is now open. The exhibition focuses on the vital but lesser-known creator at Studio Ghibli—Toshio Suzuki.
Kameido Tenjin Wisteria Festival
Another beloved blossom, wisteria is celebrated at Kameido Tenjin Shrine with food stalls, tea ceremonies and ikebana (flower arrangement) displays.
Nezu Shrine Azalea Festival
Nezu Shrine’s 300-year-old garden blooms again—with 3000(!) colorful azalea bushes. In addition, there is a plant fair, an antique fair, and many festive stalls.
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