Great Japan Beer Festival Sample over 80 different beers from both local and international brewers. June 5, 2-6pm; June 6, 11:30am-3:30pm, ¥4,500 (adv)/¥4,900 (door). Yebisu Garden Palace, Ebisu. Tel: 03-3451-5812. Nearest stn: Ebisu. www.beertaster.org/index-e.html
Big Beach Festival ’10 Outdoor festival featuring the Chemical Brothers (DJ Set), Sasha and others. June 5, 11am, ¥9,500. Makuhari Kaihin Park, Chiba. Nearest stn: Kaihin-Makuhari. http://bigbeach-fes.com
Sanno Matsuri One of Tokyo’s three biggest festivals, the Sanno Matsuri dates back to the Edo Period. June 7-17, free. Hie Shrine, Akasaka. Tel: 03-3581-2471. Nearest stn: Akasaka-Mitsuke or Tameike-Sanno. www.hiejinja.net/jinja/english
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake Award-winning choreographer returns to Japan with his “breathtaking and sexy” version of the Tchaikovsky classic. June 9-27, various times, ¥10,500 (A)/¥12,600 (S). Aoyama Theatre. Tel: Kyodo Tokyo 03-3498-6666. Nearest stn: Omotesando. www.aoyama.org
African Festa 2010 in Yokohama Japan’s largest African event, featuring food from various countries, live African music, a fashion show and more. June 12, noon; June 13, 11am, free. Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. Tel: 03-5433-0782. Nearest stn: Minatomirai. www.africanfesta2010.com
Guru Guru Mawaru Offbeat music and art fest held in a soccer stadium, headlined by jazz-performance ensemble Shibusashirazu Orchestra (above). June 26, noon-8:30pm, ¥3,200 (adv)/¥4,000 (door). Saitama Stadium 2002. Nearest stn: Urawa Misono (Saitama Rapid Railway). www.gurugurumawaru.net
Walking With Dinosaurs Prehistoric spectacle featuring life-size dinosaurs arrives in Japan. July 8-11, various times. Yokohama Arena. Nearest stn: Shin-Yokohama. Aug 5-8, various times. Saitama Super Arena. Nearest stn: Saitama-Shintoshin. All performances ¥3,150 (B, kids)/¥4,200 (B, adults)/¥5,250 (A, kids)/¥6,300 (A, adults)/¥7,350 (S, kids)/¥8,400 (S, adults)/¥10,500 (VIP). Tel: Sunrise Promotion 0570-00-3337. www.wwdj.jp
Akasaka Grand Kabuki Seasonal performance starring household-name actor Kanzaburo Nakamura. July 12-29, various times, ¥5,000 (B)/¥8,000 (A)/¥13,500 (S). Akasaka ACT Theater. Tel: Sunset Promotion 0570-00-3337. Nearest stn: Akasaka. www.tbs-act.com
Mitama Matsuri More than 29,000 colorful lanterns are displayed during this festival at Japan’s most controversial shrine. July 13-16, free. Yasukuni Shrine, Kudanshita. Tel: 03-3261-8326. Nearest stn: Kudanshita. www.yasukuni.or.jp/english
Audio Tokyo Electronic Music Festival All-night dance music bash with Octave One, DJ Krush, Daniel Bell and others. July 17, noon, ¥5,800 (adv)/¥7,000 (door). Harumi Seaside Terminal. Tel: 03-3536-8651. Nearest stn: Kachidoki. www.audiotokyo.com
Fuji Rock Festival 10 Long-running outdoor rock event, this year featuring Muse, Roxy Music, Massive Attack, John Fogerty and others. July 30-Aug 1, 11am, ¥16,800 (one day)/¥39,800 (three-day pass). Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata. Nearest stn: Echigo Yuzawa (Joetsu shinkansen line). www.fujirockfestival.com
Rock in Japan Fest Japan’s largest J-pop festival, with Spitz, Sunny Day Service, Puffy, Capsule and many more. Aug 6-8, 10:30am-8:30pm, ¥11,500 (one day)/¥22,000 (two-day pass)/¥30,000 (three-day pass). Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki. Tel: 0180-993-611. Nearest stn: Mito. www.rijfes.co.jp
Summer Sonic The local alternative to Fuji Rock Festival, with Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder, Pixies, Taylor Swift and more. Aug 7-8, 11am, ¥15,000 (one day)/¥29,000 (two-day pass). Chiba Marine Stadium and Makuhari Messe, Chiba. Tel: Creativeman 03-3462-6969. Nearest stn: Kaihin-Makuhari. www.summersonic.com
Obon Festival Many businesses close over this unofficial holiday period in mid-August, which is traditionally when families conduct religious rites in memory of the souls of the dead. Street festivals with traditional dancing are held throughout Tokyo.
Drumstruck Off-Broadway drumming extravaganza returns to Japan for the third time. Aug 17-29, various times, ¥5,000 (under 18)/¥8,000 (adult). The Galaxy Theatre, Tennozu. Tel: Horipro 03-3490-4949. Nearest stn: Tennozu Isle (Rinkai line). http://hpot.jp/drumstruck
Asakusa Samba Carnival Tokyo’s own Brazil-style carnival is held in Asakusa in late August every year. Get there early to grab a good spot for viewing the parade. Aug 28, free. Nearest stn: Asakusa. www.asakusa-samba.jp
Super Yosakoi Festival 2010 Local answer to the Shikoku traditional dance festival, featuring about 80 amateur teams. Aug 28-29, free. Tel: 03-5766-1320. Nearest stn: Harajuku or Meiji-Jingumae. www.yosakoi-harajuku.com
|
Tickets can be bought from Ticket Pia, the ticketing arm of all-you-need-to-know-about-Japanese-events mag Pia, among other places. Ticket Pia stations are all over Tokyo, and even if you don’t speak Japanese and don’t know how to fill out the form, someone should be able to help you out. Here are some Ticket Pia locations:
Shibuya 1F Bunkamura; Tokyu Dept Store, 10F West Wing; 1F Tokyu Bunka Kaikan; Book 1st; Ticket Port, 2F 109 Bldg; 8F Marui Young; World Sports Plaza, East Branch
Shinjuku 2F Isetan Dept Store, New Bldg; It’s Service Corner; Island Tower;
2F Center Wing; 1F Keio Dept Store; Ticket Port; 5F Seibu PePe; 7F Marui City; 8F Marui Young
Ueno Ueno Remix; CD Garden Flora Ueno; 9F Marui City; ABAB Ueno;
M2F Matsuzakaya
Ebisu Tsutaya Ebisu Garden Place
Ginza B1 Yamano Music Shop;
1F Sony Bldg; Hakuhinkan Ticket Park
 |
Adachi-ku Fireworks Festival July 29, 7:30-8:30pm. No. of fireworks: 12,000. Tel: 03-3880-5853. Nearest stn: Kitasenju. http://adachikanko.jp/fireworks
Sumida River Fireworks Festival July 31, 7:05-8:30pm. No. of fireworks: 20,000. Tel: 03-5246-1111. Nearest stn: Asakusa or Kuramae. http://sumidagawa-hanabi.com
Itabashi Fireworks Festival Aug 7, from 7pm. No. of fireworks: 11,000. Tel: 0570-02-9923. Nearest stn: Ukima-Funado (Saikyo line) or Nishidai (Mita line). http://itabashihanabi.jp
Edogawa-ku Fireworks Festival Aug 7, 7:15-8:30pm. No. of fireworks: 14,000. Tel: 03-5662-0523. Nearest stn: Koiwa (JR Sobu line) or Shinozaki (Toei Shinjuku line).
Seiseki Tamagawa Fireworks Festival Aug 10, 7:30-8:30pm. No. of fireworks: 5,000. Tel: 080-6574-1404. Nearest stn: Seiseki-Sakuragaoka (Keio line). http://hanabi.tama.jp
Meiji-Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival Aug 19, 7:30-8:30pm. No. of fireworks: 12,000. Tel: 03-3547-0900. Nearest stn: Sendagaya (Sobu Line). |
| |
|
