What's on in Tokyo
13 events in February 2027: 5 illuminations, 3 exhibitions, 3 gardens and 2 festivals, from headline festivals to neighbourhood fairs. 4 of them are annual events whose 2027 dates are still to be confirmed, listed with their usual window.
The coldest month, but a dry cold. Setsubun bean-throwing lands on the 3rd, plum blossoms open from the middle of the month, and hotel prices stay at their annual low. More on the season in Tokyo in winter.
Yomiuriland, Inagi
22 Oct - 4 Apr (dates to be confirmed)
Amusement park illumination of over 6 million jewel-toned LEDs designed by lighting designer Motoko Ishii, with a fountain show set to music. Runs deep into spring, and the gondola ride up from Keio Yomiuriland Station passes over the lights.
National Art Center, Tokyo, Roppongi
28 Oct - 8 Feb
Major exhibition celebrating pioneering female manga artists and their influence on shojo (girls') manga genre. Comprehensive retrospective featuring original works, manuscripts, and cultural impact of these influential creators.
National Art Center Tokyo, Roppongi
28 Oct - 8 Feb
Major retrospective celebrating three giants of shojo manga: Moto Hagio, Ryoko Yamagishi, and Waki Yamato. First comprehensive exhibition of their pivotal contributions to manga art.
The National Art Center, Tokyo, Roppongi
28 Oct - 8 Feb
Special exhibition dedicated to pioneering female manga artists who revolutionized the shojo manga genre. Explores the creative legacies of three influential artists through original manuscripts, artwork, and cultural impact.
Tokyo Midtown, Roppongi
1 Nov - 23 Feb
Holiday illumination event featuring the Midtown Garden with illuminated walkway of light and 3-minute light-and-music show. Paid ice rink runs through February 23, 2026.
Marunouchi area, Marunouchi
1 Nov - 28 Feb
Over 1.2 million champagne-gold LEDs lining 200 zelkova trees along the boulevard. One of Tokyo's most popular seasonal illuminations featuring elegant European-avenue styling.
Marunouchi Street, Marunouchi
13 Nov - 15 Feb
Over a million lights illuminate Nakadori Avenue from November 13 through February 15. Street park with market and musical performances featuring December midnight extension, 1.2-kilometer stretch from Tokyo Station area.
Nakadori Avenue and Gyōkō-dōri Avenue, Marunouchi
13 Nov - 15 Feb
Over 800,000 fairy lights strung along 1.2 kilometers of trees in Tokyo's financial district. The 24-year-old illumination runs nightly with lights until 11 p.m. in January, extending to midnight in December, creating an enchanting winter atmosphere through mid-February.
Ueno Toshogu Shrine Peony Garden, Ueno
1 Jan - 23 Feb (dates to be confirmed)
Around 160 winter peonies of some 40 varieties bloom under individual straw shelters in the garden beside the gilded Ueno Toshogu shrine, the largest winter peony display in the Kanto region. A quiet counterpoint to the crowds elsewhere in Ueno Park.
Zojo-ji Temple, Shibakoen
3 Feb
One of Tokyo's largest Setsubun bean-throwing ceremonies, with sumo wrestlers, actors, and people born in the year's zodiac sign scattering roasted beans from a stage to drive out demons before the traditional start of spring. Held in front of the main hall with Tokyo Tower behind.
Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa
3 Feb
Senso-ji's Setsubun features bean-throwing from a stage by the main hall, including rounds by kabuki actors and TV personalities, followed by the Fukuju no Mai dance of the Seven Lucky Gods. Asakusa's version chants that there are no demons before Kannon, so only good fortune is called in.
Hanegi Park, Umegaoka
6 Feb - 28 (dates to be confirmed)
Around 670 plum trees of more than 60 varieties bloom on a low hill in residential Setagaya, a short walk from Umegaoka Station. Weekend stalls sell plum-themed sweets, with mochi pounding, haiku classes, and outdoor tea ceremonies through the month.
Yushima Tenmangu Shrine, Yushima
8 Feb - 8 Mar (dates to be confirmed)
About 300 plum trees, most of them white late-blooming varieties, flower in the grounds of this shrine to the god of scholarship, with weekend outdoor tea ceremonies and performances. Students praying for exam success crowd the shrine at the same time, so the atmosphere is part festival, part study hall.
Tokyo International Forum, Yurakucho
1st and 3rd Sundays of the month (dates occasionally shift, no August edition)
Japan's largest outdoor antique market, held on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month with 250 or so dealers selling old kimono, ceramics, woodblock prints, and retro homeware. Dates occasionally shift and there is usually no August edition, so check the official schedule before going.
Hanazono Shrine, Shinjuku
Almost every Sunday, roughly 6:30am to 3pm, except festival days and rain
Small, atmospheric antique market held almost every Sunday from early morning in the grounds of Shinjuku's Hanazono Shrine, with 25 to 40 stalls of old ceramics, kimono, coins, and curios. Skipped on festival weekends and in bad weather, so go early and have a backup plan.
Yasukuni Shrine outer approach, Kudanshita
Sundays, sunrise to sunset, weather permitting
A modest Sunday antique market along the tree-lined outer approach to Yasukuni Shrine, with 10 to 20 dealers selling pottery, old tools, and militaria from sunrise to sunset. Small enough to browse in half an hour on the way to the shrine or nearby Chidorigafuchi.
Koganji Temple and Jizo-dori Shopping Street, Sugamo
4th, 14th, and 24th of every month
Temple fair days at Koganji, home of the healing Togenuki Jizo, held on the 4th, 14th, and 24th of every month when food and trinket stalls line Jizo-dori shopping street. Nicknamed the Harajuku for grandmas, it is one of Tokyo's most charming old-school street scenes.
Kishimojin Temple, Zoshigaya
3rd Sunday of the month, 10am to 4pm (check the schedule, some months move or skip)
Craft market held on the third Sunday of most months in the cedar-shaded grounds of Kishimojin Temple, where up to 200 makers may only sell things they made themselves. One of the best places in Tokyo to buy ceramics, leather goods, and prints directly from the artists.
Takahata Fudoson Kongoji Temple, Hino
3rd Sunday of the month, 8am to 4pm
Around 120 dealers fill the grounds of this major Kanto temple on the third Sunday of every month, selling old kimono, clocks, toys, and farmhouse finds. The name Gozare roughly means anything goes as long as it is old, and prices run cheaper than central Tokyo markets.
United Nations University plaza, Aoyama
Every Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm
Tokyo's best-known farmers market runs every Saturday and Sunday on the plaza in front of the United Nations University, with around 50 stalls of produce, honey, coffee, and baked goods from farms across Japan. An easy, food-truck-fuelled stop between Shibuya and Omotesando.
Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine, Fukagawa
Antique market on 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays; flea market on the 15th and 28th of every month
This Edo-era shrine in old-town Fukagawa runs an antique market on most Sundays plus a bigger flea market on the 15th and 28th of each month, with dealers in Imari porcelain, old kimono, and vintage toys. Markets pause in January and are cancelled in rain.
Oi Racecourse, Shinagawa
Most Saturdays and Sundays (skips race days, check the calendar)
Tokyo's biggest regular flea market takes over the Oi Racecourse parking area most Saturdays and Sundays, with 300 to 600 stalls of secondhand clothes, household goods, toys, and the occasional genuine antique. Pure local bargain-hunting rather than a curated antiques fair.
Ark Hills, Ark Karajan Place, Akasaka
Every Saturday, 10am to 2pm
One of Tokyo's longest-running weekly marches, held every Saturday morning at Ark Hills since 2009 with farmers and small producers selling vegetables, bread, and prepared food. A relaxed local scene ten minutes from Roppongi.
Ark Hills, Ark Karajan Place, Akasaka
4th Sunday of the month (2nd Sunday in December), 11am to 5pm
Around 70 vendors of antiques, vintage jewellery, art, and old kimono fill the plaza at Ark Hills on the fourth Sunday of each month, moving to the second Sunday in December. More polished and design-minded than the shrine markets, with food stalls alongside.
Tokyo Ryutsu Center, Heiwajima
About five times a year over three days, typically March, May, July or September, and December (Sep 13-15 and Dec 6-8 in 2026)
Japan's biggest indoor antiques fair, held about five times a year over three days with nearly 300 dealers from across the country under one roof. Because it is indoors it runs rain or shine, making it the safest bet of Tokyo's big antique events.
13 events are listed for February 2027: 5 illuminations, 3 exhibitions, 3 gardens and 2 festivals. 9 have confirmed dates and 4 are annual events whose exact 2027 dates are still to be announced, shown with their usual window. Every listing links to the interactive map.
The coldest month, but a dry cold. Setsubun bean-throwing lands on the 3rd, plum blossoms open from the middle of the month, and hotel prices stay at their annual low.
Near-term events are refreshed every week as organisers announce dates, and finished events drop off automatically. Annual events further out carry their typical dates until the official ones are published.