What's on in Tokyo
Next three months, refreshed 27 July 2026
79 festivals, markets, art exhibitions, seasonal garden openings, fireworks, and traditional performances coming up over the next three months. Worth planning a trip around, and refreshed every week as new ones are announced.
Mori Art Museum, Roppongi
29 Apr - 23 Sept
Major retrospective of Australian artist Ron Mueck's hyperreal sculptures, famous for eerie life-like realism achieved through altered scale. Exhibition includes rare works displayed previously in Paris, Milan, and Seoul before coming to Tokyo.
Mori Art Museum, Roppongi
29 Apr - 23 Sept
Retrospective of British artist Ron Mueck's uncanny hyperrealist sculptures. Features figures so lifelike they provoke unsettling recognition. One of the year's most anticipated art exhibitions exploring the boundary between art and reality.
Mori Art Museum, Roppongi
29 Apr - 23 Sept
A major solo exhibition of Australian sculptor Ron Mueck featuring 11 sculptures spanning his career, with six making their Japanese debut. Works include monumental installations and a documented studio process, requiring pre-booked timed tickets.
Mori Art Museum, Roppongi
29 Apr - 23 Sept
First major exhibition of Australian hyperrealist sculptor Ron Mueck's extraordinarily realistic figurative works. Showcases sculptures of remarkable technical mastery and emotional depth.
Tokyo Tower Main Deck, Shibakoen
11 May - 6 Sept
Immersive projection mapping display combining summer imagery with Tokyo's night view. Features hydrangeas, summer skies, sunflowers, and fireworks projections with firefly-inspired laser lights and floor effects creating Japanese summer festival atmosphere.
Ueno Royal Museum, Ueno
29 May - 12 Aug
First phase of a two-part exhibition from the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands, tracing Van Gogh's development from his Dutch period through Paris and culminating in his Arles period masterpiece Café Terrace at Night. Features works never before shown in Japan.
National Theatre of Japan, Chiyoda
1 Jun - 30 Sept
Traditional kabuki performances presented by Japan's national theatre with English audio guides and assistance. Features authentic performances by top-notch practitioners of 400-year-old theatrical art form.
National Noh Theatre, Sendagaya
1 Jun - 30 Sept
Traditional Noh mask plays featuring sophisticated performances with deep historical roots. Multiple programs available throughout summer with exhibition of masks, costumes, and props.
The National Art Center Tokyo, Roppongi
10 Jun - 21 Sept
Around 80 works including Blue Period portraits and Harlequin series arranged in a playful, personal, alive space. Picasso's work seen through designer Paul Smith's lens, marking 50 years since the artist's death.
The National Art Center, Tokyo, Roppongi
10 Jun - 21 Sept
Exhibition exploring the relationship between Picasso's revolutionary art and contemporary fashion design through the lens of designer Paul Smith. Comprehensive look at how Picasso's work continues to influence modern visual culture.
Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Ginza
13 Jun - 23 Sept
Around 130 works by Monet, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Picasso exploring how cafés, cabarets, and dance halls shaped modern art. Features Van Gogh's iconic Terrace of a Café at Night, back in Japan for the first time in roughly 20 years.
Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Ginza
13 Jun - 23 Sept
First exhibition in Japan tracing the ripple of Parisian cafe culture to Spain, featuring Ramon Casas and the legendary Els Quatre Gats. Includes Casas' prized masterpiece 'Madeleine' in its first Japan appearance in 35 years, with immersive scent installations.
Tokyo National Museum, Heiseikan, Ueno
16 Jun - 23 Aug
Thematic exhibition in the Heiseikan exploring Japanese archaeological discoveries and cultural heritage. Part of Tokyo National Museum's ongoing programming with focus on Japan's ancient history and material culture.
The National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo, Marunouchi
16 Jun - 13 Sept
A major solo exhibition of contemporary artist Hiroshi Sugimoto focusing on his long engagement with silver gelatin photography, a medium disappearing in the digital age. Explores the future of art shaped by AI.
Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Meguro
18 Jun - 21 Sept
Photography exhibition highlighting work of prominent female photographer. Explores women's perspectives and artistic achievement across extended summer months at this major photography institution.
Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Meguro
18 Jun - 21 Sept
Exhibition exploring the golden age of poster art in late 19th-century Paris featuring works by Alphonse Mucha, Jules Chéret, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Shows how commercial art became part of fine arts and influenced later creativity.
Creative Museum Tokyo, Shibuya
20 Jun - 31 Aug
Exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time' with original storyboards, layouts, and drawings from acclaimed animation director Mamoru Hosoda's creative process and visual development.
Shinjuku area gallery, Shinjuku
20 Jun - 31 Aug
Annual LGBTQ+ artist exhibition spotlighting expressive photography, mixed media, and personal storytelling during Tokyo's Pride season. Community-driven showcase of local creatives with authentic alternative to mainstream gallery culture.
Seikado Bunko Art Museum, Meguro
27 Jun - 23 Aug
Rare exhibition of works by early ukiyo-e pioneer Hishikawa Moronobu including the famous Beauty Looking Back. Features Genroku-period paintings and genre scenes of ordinary life, with many of his most celebrated works.
Oi Racecourse, Shinagawa
27 Jun - 20 Sept
Tokyo's largest regular flea market with hundreds of vendors selling secondhand goods from everyday items to rare collectibles. Held nearly every weekend with food trucks and local atmosphere.
Tokyo International Forum, Yurakucho
29 Jun - 27 Sept
Tokyo's largest open-air antique fair with 250+ vendors selling vintage kimonos, retro homeware, ceramics, and collectibles. Held twice monthly on Thursdays and the first Sunday of the month. Curated stalls showcase Japan's blend of old and new.
Hanazono Shrine, Shinjuku
29 Jun - 27 Sept
Monthly antique market held at shrine grounds showcasing Japanese art, crafts, rare collectibles, and vintage kimonos. Intimate setting near shrine with curated stalls. Perfect for discovering unique one-of-a-kind items in Shinjuku's atmospheric location.
Setagaya Literary Museum, Setagaya
30 Jun - 6 Sept
First large-scale exhibition dedicated to creator of Anpanman, one of the most beloved characters in Japanese history. Traces Yanase's wide-ranging career as manga artist, poet, illustrator, and editor with hundreds of works on display.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Shinjuku
1 Jul - 31 Aug
Special evening garden events featuring lanterns and cooling air after sunset. The combination of traditional Japanese, French formal, and English landscape gardens takes on different character in extended summer hours.
Shimokitazawa area, Shimokitazawa
1 Jul - 30 Sept
Regular flea market in bohemian Shimokitazawa neighbourhood featuring vintage clothing, antiques, and artisan crafts among eclectic mix of vendors. Cultural shopping experience in historic theatre district.
Tokyo Summerland amusement park, Amusement Park Area
1 Jul - 30 Sept
Regular flea market at water park facility featuring around 250 vendor stalls with mix of vintage items, fashion, and collectibles. Established casual outdoor shopping experience.
Taka Ishii Gallery, Roppongi
1 Jul - 30 Sept
Gallery specializing in photography and video expression featuring works by renowned photographers including Hiroshi Sugimoto and Daido Moriyama. Located in architecturally significant Piramide Building with contemporary art focus.
Kabukiza Theatre, Ginza
2 Jul - 26 Aug
Japan's premier kabuki theater presents monthly rotating programs of traditional kabuki performance. Matinee and evening shows feature English or simplified Chinese captioning available for rent.
Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Meguro
2 Jul - 21 Sept
Photography exhibition exploring food and dining through works by internationally acclaimed Japanese photographers. Traces meanings of eating and sharing meals across memory, place, and social change.
Kabuki-za Theatre, Ginza
2 Jul - 26 Sept
Monthly kabuki performances featuring classical dramas with elaborate costumes, traditional music, and stylized acting. Performances run approximately 25 days each month. Single-act tickets available for accessible entry to this 400-year-old theatrical tradition.
Hikarie Hall, Shibuya
4 Jul - 26 Aug
Exhibition featuring around 200 works by approximately 30 women photographers spanning over seven decades of Japanese photography history. Brings acclaimed international tour to Tokyo in expanded form.
Hikarie Hall, Shibuya
4 Jul - 26 Aug
Expanded exhibition reconsidering Japanese photography history through women artists' eyes. Features approximately 200 works by roughly 30 photographers spanning over seven decades. Presented in Japan in expanded form following international tour.
Shibuya Hikarie Hall, Shibuya
4 Jul - 26 Aug
Expanded presentation featuring around 200 works by approximately 30 women photographers spanning seven decades. This exhibition reconsiders the history of Japanese photography through women artists' perspectives, offering a unique look at the medium's development.
National Museum of Western Art, Ueno
4 Jul - 27 Sept
Exhibition featuring Rembrandt works collected primarily by the Rembrandt House Museum and the National Museum of Western Art. Showcases his outstanding etching techniques and masterful use of light and shadow that influenced countless artists.
Oi Racecourse, Shinagawa
5 Jul - 4 Oct
Tokyo's largest regular flea market with 300 to 500 vendors held nearly every weekend. Extensive selection of secondhand goods, vintage fashion, home decor, toys, and rare collector's items. Food trucks provide refreshments throughout the day.
National Noh Theatre, Sendagaya
6 Jul - 4 Oct
Japan's premier venue for Noh and Kyogen traditional performances. Regular monthly programmes feature mask plays and comedic plays with a long history. The venue includes a restaurant overlooking gardens, perfect for pre-show dining or reflection.
National Museum of Western Art, Ueno
7 Jul - 23 Sept
Exhibition exploring Rembrandt's remarkable etchings and lasting influence on generations of printmakers. Features works from the Rembrandt House Museum and prints from museums and private collections in Japan and abroad. Scholarly examination of printmaking's past.
Suntory Museum of Art, Roppongi
8 Jul - 30 Aug
Exhibition exploring artistry of tableware centered on Japanese and Chinese ceramics. Showcases vessels adorned with seasonal motifs and auspicious symbols expressing hospitality across cultures. Reflects how dining utensils embody cultural and aesthetic values globally.
Ueno Park, Shinobazu Pond area, Ueno
10 Jul - 11 Aug
Month-long summer event featuring 3,000 wind chimes displayed on the Shinobazu Pond viewing deck, taiko drum performances, traditional games, shooting galleries, and a daily antique market from 2-8pm.
Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art, Shiodome
11 Jul - 23 Sept
A retrospective of artist Hasegawa Tsutomu's career with works from the Machida City Museum of Graphic Arts. Features his evolution from avant-garde painter to master of mezzotint, with still life works suspended in fathomless black featuring soft, grainy fields and delicate brushwork.
Ueno Park, Ueno
12 Jul - 12 Aug
Month-long festival recreating Edo period atmosphere with bon odori dancing, food stalls, taiko drum performances, and traditional entertainment. Open-air celebrations across park grounds celebrating Japanese summer culture.
Shibuya Garden Tower, Shibuya
12 Jul - 27 Sept
Monthly outdoor flea market in leafy plaza featuring around 100 vendors from Japan and worldwide selling antiques, vintage treasures, handcrafted accessories, fine art, plants, and organic food on 2nd and 4th Sundays.
Shibuya Garden Tower, Shibuya
12 Jul - 4 Oct
Held second and fourth Sundays monthly with around 100 vendors selling antiques, vintage handicrafts, jewellery, art, home goods, clothing and plants. Features food and drink stalls. Cancelled in case of rain; check Instagram for updates.
Tokyo Midtown, Roppongi
15 Jul - 30 Aug
Summer cooling festival featuring Ashimizu stream for foot soaking with added ice, garden cooling, sunshades, and 2,000 sunflowers (Himawari Mid Garden). Night illuminations transform the garden with workshops and games for children.
Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine grounds, Fukagawa
15 Jul - 28 Oct
Monthly antique fair at a historic Edo-era shrine featuring 50-80 stalls with Japanese ceramics, folk art, vintage items, and rare books. Held on 15th and 28th of each month from dawn to sunset.
Mori Arts Center Gallery, Roppongi
17 Jul - 14 Sept
Major exhibition celebrating the popular Fate franchise with original artwork, character designs, and interactive displays from the acclaimed game series. Features conceptual art and production materials across multiple gallery spaces.
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Ueno
18 Jul - 13 Sept
Special exhibition marking the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum's 100th anniversary featuring approximately 110 masterworks from the Musée d'Orsay including paintings by Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, and Claude Monet.
Hanazono Shrine grounds, Shinjuku
20 Jul - 18 Oct
Weekly antique market in Shinjuku featuring 25-30 stalls with coins, ceramics, vintage treasures, and curiosities. Hidden in the heart of busy Shinjuku, offering peaceful browsing near luxury department stores.
Uruoi Square, Sumida
1 Aug - 31
Lively summer festival featuring open-participation bon dance, Eisa dance from Okinawa, Yosakoi dance from Kochi, and performances by local groups. Food trucks and booths provide festival atmosphere in historic downtown area.
Kabukiza Theatre, Ginza
2 Aug - 26
Daily kabuki performances at Japan's only theatre dedicated exclusively to the art form. Traditional Japanese theatre with 400 years of history featuring English subtitles and audio guides for international audiences.
Kabuki-za Theatre, Ginza
2 Aug - 20 Oct
Traditional kabuki performances held continuously throughout the month with various classical plays. Theatre-goers can purchase single-act tickets for one-hour viewings of Japan's most sophisticated theatrical tradition.
Kanda Myojin Shrine, Chiyoda
6 Aug - 9
A people's food festival on Kanda Shrine grounds featuring popular restaurants from across Japan offering local specialties and signature dishes at reasonable prices, paired with draft beer, craft beer, and sake. Limited-edition VTuber collaboration sake labels available.
Asagaya Pearl Center Shopping Street, Asagaya
7 Aug - 11
Marking its 70th edition, this is one of Japan's three largest Tanabata festivals featuring massive papier-mâché decorations of anime and cartoon characters alongside traditional bamboo displays. Fully covered arcade protects from summer heat and rain with festival games and diverse street food.
Jingu Gaien area, Shinjuku
8 Aug
All-ticketed fireworks event in prime Shinjuku location near Meiji Shrine. Premium reserved seating available for this popular summer display with thousands of shells.
Jingu Stadium, Aoyama
8 Aug
Unique indoor fireworks display held inside Jingu Stadium with approximately 10,000 fireworks set to music and live artist performances. Reserved seating only; all spectator areas require advance tickets. Features city-skyline views without riverbank crowds.
Meiji Jingu Gaien, Shibuya
8 Aug
Over 10,000 fireworks launched over the stadium area with tiered paid seating available. The festival features competitive fireworks performances alongside live musical accompaniment.
Jingu Gaien, Shibuya
8 Aug
Tokyo's most accessible fireworks show with over 10,000 shells launched over the stadiums accompanied by live musical performances. Reserved seating available; free ground viewing also possible with advance reservation.
Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine, Fukagawa
13 Aug - 17
One of Tokyo's three great Edo festivals held once every three years (2026 is a honmatsuri year). Over 120 portable shrines are carried through streets while spectators splash purifying water on bearers. Known as the 'water-splashing festival' with taiko drums, music, and shrine performances.
Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine, Fukagawa
14 Aug - 16
One of Tokyo's three great Edo festivals held at full scale in 2026 (Hon-matsuri year). Over 50 decorated mikoshi portable shrines parade 8km through streets while spectators drench carriers with water as purification ritual. Creates exhilarating festival atmosphere amid August heat.
Shimokitazawa Ichibangai Street, Shimokitazawa
15 Aug - 16
Annual festival featuring around 20 dance troupes including three local teams performing the traditional Awa dance from Tokushima. High-energy performances fill the main street with traditional music and community spirit.
Azabu Juban district, Minato
22 Aug - 23
Lively summer festival in upscale Azabu Juban district with local restaurants setting up food stalls and embassies from nearby areas contributing international atmosphere. Traditional festival atmosphere with international cultural elements.
Azabu Juban District Streets, Azabu
22 Aug - 23
Lively summer festival in upscale Azabu Juban district where local stores organize food stalls alongside international embassy booths. Transforms quiet neighborhood into vibrant celebration with community participation.
Azabu-Juban neighborhood streets, Azabu-Juban
22 Aug - 23
Traditional summer festival featuring food stalls, traditional games, and yagura stage with bon odori dancing. Small neighborhood event maintaining authentic Edo-period summer celebration atmosphere.
Shinjuku streets, Shinjuku
29 Aug - 30
Traditional Awa Odori dance festival with numerous groups performing the fluid, graceful dance originating from Tokushima Prefecture through Shinjuku's streets. Energetic late-August celebration featuring hundreds of dancers in colorful costumes.
Koenji Shopping Streets, Koenji
29 Aug - 30
Tokyo's largest dance festival with over 10,000 dancers in 180 groups performing the traditional Awa dance. Around one million spectators gather over two nights to watch energetic performances along eight dance routes. Originated in 1957 to revitalize the shopping district.
Koenji Shopping Streets, Koenji
29 Aug - 30
Over 12,000 dancers in 180 groups perform traditional Tokushima dance through eight performance areas. One million spectators gather for this lively festival with traditional costumes, instruments, and energetic choreography celebrating Obon season.
Koenji Shopping Streets, Koenji
29 Aug - 30
One of Tokyo's largest dance festivals outside Tokushima, with over 12,000 traditional dancers performing choreographed routines through the neighbourhood's shopping streets. Accompanied by drums and chanting, the festival draws over one million spectators annually.
Koenji Station area, Koenji
29 Aug - 30
One of Japan's largest Awa Odori dance festivals outside Tokushima features over 150 dance groups performing traditional Tokushima-style dancing. The festival transforms Koenji's streets into a massive celebration with participants and spectators.
Koenji Station surrounding streets, Koenji
29 Aug - 30
Tokyo's largest Awa Odori dance festival outside Tokushima, featuring over 12,000 traditional dancers performing in colorful costumes through neighborhood streets. Evening performances attract a million spectators.
Asakusa streets, Asakusa
29 Aug - 31
Unique fusion of Japanese and Brazilian cultures featuring colourful samba parades through traditional Asakusa streets. International dance troupes perform elaborate costumes competing in energetic displays for over 40 years.
Nezu Shrine, Nezu
1 Sept - 30
Major annual festival at Nezu Shrine established in 1714 featuring traditional dance performances and street stalls. The festival brings the historic neighbourhood to life with cultural performances and local food vendors celebrating community and shrine traditions.
The National Art Center, Tokyo, Roppongi
2 Sept - 14
Annual exhibition by the NIKAKAI Association of Artists showcasing painting, sculpture, design, and photography across multiple venue halls and outdoor exhibition areas.
Oi Racecourse parking area, Shinagawa
5 Sept - 6
One of Tokyo's largest flea markets with approximately 600 stalls selling secondhand goods, vintage fashion, furniture, and collectibles. Held multiple times monthly in a covered outdoor area resistant to weather.
Konno Hachimangu Shrine and surrounding area, Shibuya
12 Sept - 14
One of Shibuya's largest festivals featuring Shinto kagura dance demonstrations, portable shrine (mikoshi) processions, and 14 shrine converging in front of Shibuya 109 on the final day.
Shimokitazawa District, Shimokitazawa
15 Sept - 1 Oct
Fourth edition of art festival celebrating autumn and the Japanese tradition of tsukimi moon viewing. Features giant moon installation, illuminated bunnies, immersive theater performance 'Cat Town' with poetry and fantasy themes, traditional Noh performances, art exhibitions, and panels throughout the neighborhood.
LaLaport Toyosu, Koto
19 Sept - 13 Oct
German beer festival featuring six types of German beer from traditional makers including Karmeliten and Paulaner, accompanied by authentic German cuisine and fusion menu items with Japanese ingredients. Open-air atmosphere by Tokyo Bay with live music performances.
Roppongi District, Roppongi
25 Sept - 27
All-night open-air art festival transforming Roppongi into dynamic cultural hub. Installations, performances, and exhibitions across major venues: Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Midtown, National Art Center. Culmination of summer art season bridging to autumn.
Yoyogi Park, Shibuya
1 Oct - 31
October food festival celebrating Kyushu regional specialties including charcoal-grilled local chicken, Hakata hormone grill, champon noodles, and tonkotsu ramen. Features sake pairings and regional crafts.
New National Theatre, Tokyo, Shibuya
1 Oct - 31
Introduction to Kabuki performance featuring English audio guide for beginners. Traditional all-male actors perform highly stylized drama with music and dance in elaborate costumes. October performance is at the prestigious Playhouse venue.
This page lists 79 upcoming Tokyo events across the next three months: festivals, markets, art exhibitions, garden openings, illuminations, and traditional performances. Each one shows dates, the venue, and the nearest station.
Weekly. New events are added as they are announced and past events drop off automatically, so the list always covers roughly the next three months.
Most neighbourhood shrine festivals and street events are free to walk into, you only pay for food stalls and games. Exhibitions, some illuminations, and seated performances usually charge admission, check the linked official page for each event.