With warmer days popping up here and there, it’ll soon be time to start shedding those heavier layers and forgetting just how cold the winter was. With a very balmy Sunday on the forecast, it’ll be perfect weather for catching one of Tokyo’s plum festivals. And we’ve got plenty of other activities lined up for this weekend’s roundup, from a pair of sakura-themed activities to art and music offerings. As always, click on the header for each event for more details. And have a good weekend!
Cirque du Soleil: Kurios
Cirque du Soleil continues to wow audiences around the world with their highly imaginative shows, otherworldly characters, and death-defying acts. All of which you can experience in their production entitled “Kurios,” The theme centers around an ambitious inventor who defies the laws of time, space and dimension to reinvent everything around him. In typical Cirque du Soleil fashion, the world is literally turned upside down.
Sakura Island 2018
Enjoy a whole slew of sakura and Easter-inspired events and decorations at Hakkejima this spring! From hanami penguin parades to cherry blossom-decorated barbeque venues, and sakura-decorated desserts, this is the place to experience the best of the season.
Sakura Chill Bar
Get ready to start the hanami (cherry blossom viewing) season early with a fresh burst of spring at this stylish pop-up sakura sake bar! Sakura Chill Bar will be open for a fleeting 10 days while it serves up a selection of 22 different brands of sake. This is not your standard sake bar – with a full-size cherry blossom tree rising up between the first and second floor, and a “pool” of sakura petals awaiting you, it’s sure to be one of the hottest Instagram spots in Tokyo, so catch it while you can.
Crossdressers in Ukiyo-e
The Edo period in Japan was surprisingly free in many ways, and the concept of what was male and what was female was something that could be played with — at least in the world of art and theater. Gain some insight into the customs and creative pursuits of Edo period artists through this unique exhibition of ukiyo-e pieces.
New Planet Photo City – William Klein and Photographers Living in the 22nd Century
An exhibition examining the evolution of cities and their relationship with photography. Focusing on the work on William Klein alongside Asian photographers who explore cities and their inhabitants, the images surpass conventional pictures, offering fresh perspectives and innovation.
Pan no Fes — Yokohama Bread Festival (2018 Spring Edition)
Bakeries from all over Japan join for the bread event of the year. Esteemed bakeries like Kanaya Hotel Bakery (established in 1873) and Kyoto’s Uguisudo will appear alongside modern creatives Aruch to provide an unrivaled selection of classic and modern bread, sweets, and cakes.
Ishiuchi Miyako: Grain and Image
Ishiuchi Miyako is currently one of the most highly acclaimed photographers in the world. This year is the 40th anniversary of her solo exhibition “Yokosuka Story,” which in effect marked her debut as a photographer. This exhibition focuses on “grain,” one of Ishiuchi’s keywords, and consists of about 200 items from 13 series, from her early years to never-before-shown works. This is the last weekend to catch this engaging exhibit.
Buffet Night with JAZZ KLAXON
Feast on a night of great jazz and a great buffet, as UNDER DEER Lounge hosts JAZZ KLAXON for two sets of tasty live music.
Love is Wonderful
Romance is in the air at the Snoopy Museum Tokyo with their current exhibition “Love is Wonderful.” Join Snoopy and his pals as you take a tour through the romantic episodes of the Peanuts series. Childhood crushes, unrequited love, drama and heartbreak are among the many classic moments of amore, from Charlie Brown’s sweet affection for the Little Red Haired Girl to Lucy’s one-sided love for Schroeder.
Plum Blossoms Around Tokyo
Feast on the fragrant blooms before the showy sakura make their appearance in a few weeks’ time. Here’s our rundown of some of the spots where you can catch the plum blossoms at their prettiest.
