Tokyo events for Monday, May 13 to Sunday, May 19, 2019
Mark your calendars for Sanja Matsuri—a major Tokyo festival that comes around every other year—taking place this upcoming weekend. The rest of the week doesn’t disappoint either with pub trivia nights, cultural festivals, parades, a design exhibition, free museum days and more.
Tokyo English Book Exchange #10
Meet up with fellow bibliophiles for Tokyo Cheapo’s 10th English Book Exchange. Come with at least one book to swap, then grab a drink and mingle. Who knows what printed treasure you might find!
Sanja Matsuri 2019 (Sanja Festival)
You won’t want to miss the Sanja Matsuri—one of the three great Shinto festivals in Tokyo—which honors the founders of Sensoji Temple. Dancers, geisha, performers, and people carrying mikoshi (portable shrines) will begin their procession from the temple and and throughout the Asakusa neighborhood. Millions of spectators make there way to see the festival—join the crowds or miss out of one of the year’s most magnificent events.
Amnesty International Pub Quiz
A classic night of pub trivia and prizes all while helping out a good cause.
| At the door: ¥1,000 | ||
Hope Quiz Night at Hobgoblin
Another pub trivia night in Roppongi. Proceeds go towards helping the neglected poor become self-reliant.
| At the door: ¥1,000 | ||
Okinawa Festival
No time and no money to visit Okinawa? No problem! Just head to Yoyogi Park this weekend for the annual festival which showcases the prefecture’s food, culture, music and crafts. Expect lots of performances including Eisa—Okinawa’s unique style of traditional dancing
Perfect Liars Club Tokyo – May Edition
A smash-hit comedy story interrogation show where four people tell an incredible story, but only three of them are true. Listen, laugh, suspect, interrogate—then vote. Are you shrewd enough to spot the liar?
International Museum Day
International Museum Day “encourages public awareness of the role of museums in the development of society”. To celebrate, many museums (big and small) in Tokyo offer free admission.
Shibuya Kagoshima Ohara Matsuri
This traditional festival hailing from Kagoshima has got it all: a parade with taiko drums, marching troupes, kimono-clad dancers, as well as food stalls.
Tokyo Ukraine Parade
This parade celebrating vyshyvanka (traditional Ukrainian embroidery) returns to Tokiwa Park. All are welcome to participate—even if you don’t have a traditional embroidered clothing, you can wear yellow or blue (representative of the Ukrainian flag).
Design Festa – Spring Edition Vol. 49
This weekend is the 49th installment of Asia’s biggest art event—Design Festa. Expect all things creative, with live performances and a workshop area to boot.
| Advance sales: ¥800 | At the door: ¥1,000 | |
Tokyo Port Festival
The is a yearly event to commemorate the opening of Harumi Port as an international trade port in May 1945. There will be stage performances, a stamp rally, a firefighting display and plenty more—good fun for the whole family!
Live From The Kitchen Disco Vol. 60: 5th Anniversary Party
A free night of music in an Indian restaurant where cold beer and a friendly crowd is always on the menu.
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