WHAT’S HAPPENING IN TOKYO JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2025

JANUARY 2025 What: Hatsumōde is the tradition of paying homage at a temple or shrine to welcome in the new year and pray for good fortune. Expect a festive atmosphere with food stalls lining the streets and people wearing traditional clothing like kimono. When: Midnight 31st December 2024, 1st to 3rd January 2025 Where: Meiji […]

JANUARY 2025

What: Hatsumōde is the tradition of paying homage at a temple or shrine to welcome in the new year and pray for good fortune. Expect a festive atmosphere with food stalls lining the streets and people wearing traditional clothing like kimono.

When: Midnight 31st December 2024, 1st to 3rd January 2025

Where: Meiji Shrine (Harajuku) and Sensō-Ji Temple (Asakusa)

What: The Grand Sumo Tournament, the first sumo tournament of the year, held in Tokyo.

When: 12th to 26th January 2025

Where: Ryōgoku Kokugikan (Sumo Stadium)

What: The Setagaya Boroichi Market, where over 700 vendors sell food, vintage clothes, antiques and handicrafts. The market has been in operation since 1578, originally selling boro (fabric scraps).

When: 15th and 16th January 2025

Where: Boroichi Street, Setagaya

What: The Handmade in Japan Festival, where 3,000 exhibitors from around Japan sell handmade homewares, clothing, accessories and artworks.

When: 18th and 19th January 2025

Where: East Hall 5 and 6, Tokyo Big Sight

What: The Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Exhibition, a celebration of Japan’s most famous feline through videos, original artworks and collaborations with contemporary artists. Same day tickets must be purchased via the website.

When: January and February 2025

Where: Tokyo National Museum (Ueno)

FEBRUARY 2025

What: Setsubun is an 800-year-old tradition in which roasted soybeans are flung into the air to symbolise the removal of evil spirits and the arrival of health and prosperity. 

When: 3rd of February 2025

Where: At Sensō-Ji Temple (Asakusa), you can join cheering crowds all trying to catch roasted soybeans tossed by priests and Japanese celebrities, and watch masked dancers perform the famous ‘Dance of the Seven Lucky Gods’.

What: The Samurai Festival is a four day event held in Ueno Park with sword fighting demonstrations and Japanese street food and sake stalls.

When: 21st to 24th February 2025

Where: Takenodai Square, Ueno Park

What: Ume Matsuri (plum blossom festival). Don’t despair If you’re not in Tokyo for cherry blossom season (late March to early April) as many public parks and shrines also celebrate the blooming of ume (plum) trees.

We think that the best place to see the fluffy pink and white blossoms is at Yushima Tenjin Shrine (just near Ueno Park) which has over 300 ume trees.

The month long celebration includes tea ceremonies, traditional drum and music performances, street food stalls and plum wine tasting events

When: First week of February to the first week of March 2025

Where: Yushima Tenjin Shrine