8 Things You Don't Want to Miss This Weekend: February 8–10

“A fly can’t bird, but a bird can fly,” sings the silly old bear Winnie-the-Pooh in the song “Cottlestone Pie.” According to Benjamin Hoff in his whimsical treatise The Tao of Pooh, this passage means you shouldn’t ignore reality as it is – or you can’t fit a pooh bear in a honey pot. See original sketches from the beloved children’s tale and much more at the exhibition launching February 9 at The Bunkamura Museum of Art, and suspend reality at plum blossom festivals, a trance music show, robot meet-and-greets and more this weekend in Tokyo.

Feature image: ‘Pooh sitting on his branch… beside him, ten pots of honey’ Winnie-the-Pooh chapter 9, line block print, hand coloured by E.H. Shepard, 1970 © E H Shepard colouring 1970 and 1973 © Ernest H. Shepard and Egmont UK Limited

‘Pooh and Piglet go hunting’, Winnie-the-Pooh chapter 3, pen and ink sketch by E. H. Shepard, 1926. From the collection of Clive and Alison Beecham © The Shepard Trust

Winnie the Pooh – Exploring a Classic

This playful exhibition explores the magical world of one of the most adored fictional characters of all time, Winnie-the-Pooh. The popular exhibition first held at the V&A Museum in London makes its way to Tokyo. Discover the English origins of the beloved bear and the story behind the creative partnership of A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard.

Setagaya Plum Festival

Before sakura season hits in full force it’s time for the plum blossom to bloom and bring in the crowds for the first obligatory flower viewing of the year. Hanegi Park in Setagaya-ku is one of the most famous spots for plum viewing in the city, and its annual plum festival starts this weekend. Check out our complete guide to Tokyo’s plum festivals for other locales to catch the cherry blossom’s often-overlooked sister.