Abracadabra
Daikanyama’s Saloon welcomes Tokyo resident Englishman Max Essa for this intimate Friday-night bash, where he will be joined by house veteran Toshiyuki Goto.
Details
Open Fri Feb 7
Time doors 11pm
Admission ¥1,500 (¥1,000 with flyer)
Venue Saloon
Address ZaHouse Bldg. B3F, 1-34-17 Ebisunishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Transport Daikanyama Station (Tokyu Toyoko line); Nakameguro Station (Tokyu Toyoko line, Hibiya line); Ebisu Station
Tokyo Grand Shopping Week
Pick up the official Time Out Tokyo-produced leaflet and map for full information on all discounts, souvenir recommendations, and Restaurant Week offers. During the event, foreign tourists who spend ¥1,000 or more at any of the participating shops receive a scratch card, thus participating in a lottery with prices including gift vouchers and gift items. Shoppers who pay with an overseas-issued Visa card also receive an additional scratch card at the time of purchase.
On February 1 and 2, visitors can experience Japanese culture at workshops, with alternatives including trying on anime and manga character costumes or kimonos, traditional ink marbling, origami paper folding, ‘kendama’ (a Japanese ring-and-pin game), and handkerchief decoration. Guided tours of the Harajuku-Omotesando area will also be available.
Details
Open Jan 23-Feb 5
Time Varies by store
Venue Laforet Harajuku , Omotesando Hills, Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku, and other area shops and restaurants
Address 1-11-6 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Transport Harajuku station (JR Yamanote Line), Takeshita Exit, Meiji-Jingumae station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda, Fukutochin Lines), exit 5.
The 88th Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition
Hobbyists battle it out for years just to get their trees accepted for judging at Japan’s (and the world’s) premier bonsai exhibition, first held in 1934. If you attend both parts, you’ll see over 500 of these fascinating little masterpieces.
Details
Open Part 1: Feb 4-7, Part 2: Feb 9-12
Time 9:30am-5:30pm
Admission ¥1,000 (students ¥500)
Venue Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
Address 8-36 Ueno Koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Transport Ueno Station (Yamanote line), park exit; (Ginza, Hibiya lines), Shinobazu exit
High Street feat. DJ Craze
High Street, a ‘street-style party for adults’, returns from a 10-month slumber with a bang. Master turntablist DJ Craze and former DMC world champion Kentaro bring the heat to Shibuya’s Vision with their unrivalled scratch skills – a can’t-miss opportunity for any and all aspiring DJs and friends of technical electronic music.
Details
Open Fri Feb 7
Time doors 10pm
Admission Adv ¥3,000; same-day women ¥3,000, men ¥3,500
Venue Sound Museum Vision
Address 2-10-7 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Transport Shibuya Station (Yamanote, Shonan-Shinjuku, Ginza, Hanzomon, Fukutoshin, Denentoshi, Tokyu Toyoko, Keio Inokashira lines)
Sterne
The stars will truly be out tonight at Tokyo techno emperor Takkyu Ishino’s regular party, as Germany’s mysterious and masked house maniacs Snuff Crew take over Womb. Minimal techno master A. Mochi will be responsible for keeping the party going in the lounge area.
Details
Open Fri Feb 7
Time doors 11pm
Admission ¥3,500 (¥3,000 with flyer)
Venue Womb
Address 2-16 Maruyamacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Transport Shibuya Station (Yamanote, Ginza lines), Hachiko exit; (Hanzomon line), exit 3A.
The Mastery of Time
014 marks the 150th anniversary of Swiss-Japanese diplomatic relations, which is the perfect excuse to celebrate something both countries do extremely well: keep time. This exhibition traces the evolution of timepieces from ornate table clocks to modern-day smartwatches, and also displays traditional Japanese-style clocks.
Details
Open Feb 7-12 2014
Time 11am-6pm
Admission Free
Venue Roppongi Hills
Address 6-10 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Transport Roppongi station (Hibiya line), exit 1C; (Oedo line), exit 3.
Sarabeth’s Daikanyama Special Valentine’s Day Menu
Owing to its heavenly french toast and pancakes, Sarabeth’s morning offering is known as the ‘Queen of breakfasts’. This special Valentine’s menu – ‘Chocolate Explosion’ – is only available at the Daikanyama location, and features a harmonious mixture of fluffy pancakes topped with chocolate sauce and marshmallows, finished off with a small explosion of chocolate sauce.
Details
Open Feb 3-14
Time 9am-10pm
(Last order for food 9pm, for drinks 9:30pm)
Venue Sarabeth’s Daikanyama
Address 1-35-17 Ebisunishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Transport Daikanyama Station (Tokyu-Toyoko line)
Chinese Spring Festival 2014
While it’s fun to visit whatever the season, Yokohama’s Chinatown district is never livelier than during its New Year festival. The two weeks of festivities include traditional lion dance performances and music on February 1, 2, 8, 9 and 11 (at Yamashitacho Park), as well as a parade of traditional costumes on the afternoon of February 8.
Details
Open Jan 31-Feb 14
Time Various times
Venue Yokohama Chinatown
Address Yamashitacho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Transport Motomachi Chukagai Station (Minatomirai line), Ishikawacho Station (Keihin-Tohoku, Negishi lines)
The Lumineers
Details
Open Sat Feb 8 2014
Time Show starts 6pm (venue opens from 5pm)
Admission 1/F Standing: ¥6,000 (advance tickets) 2/F Reserved seats: ¥6,000 (advance tickets)
Telephone 03-3444-6751
Venue Shibuya AX
Address 2-1-1 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Transport Harajuku station (Yamanote line), Omotesando exit or Meiji-Jingumae station (Chiyoda line), exit 1.
Acid City
As last year’s ‘Acid City’ album proved to be a success, veteran producer DJ Emma decided that a regular acid house-themed party was in order in Tokyo. His plan has now been realised, and this first date at Air will feature Hokkaido’s deep house star Kuniyuki.
Details
Open Sat Feb 8
Time doors 10pm
Admission ¥3,000 (¥2,500 with flyer, under-23s ¥2,000)
Venue Air
Address Hikawa Bldg B1F-B2F, 2-11 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Transport Daikanyama station (Tokyu Toyoko line).
Off The Rocker & Verbal present Rad
Details
Open Sat Feb 8
Time doors 11pm
Admission Women ¥3,000, men ¥3,500
Venue Sound Museum Vision
Address 2-10-7 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Transport Shibuya Station (Yamanote, Shonan-Shinjuku, Ginza, Hanzomon, Fukutoshin, Denentoshi, Tokyu Toyoko, Keio Inokashira lines)
Little Nap Music Stand
Yoyogi Park’s Little Nap Coffee Stand celebrates its third anniversary with an evening of music, with performances by artists Tica and Kyo Sakurai, as well as DJs Shunji Mori, Michiharu Shimoda, and Pepe California. Jinnan bistro Rojiura provides the food, and interestingly-named pastry makers Mad Donuts Riot serve their signature delicacy. Special t-shirts and prints are also available for purchase. Reservations are required – send an email titled ‘Little Nap Music Stand’ to the address below, and write down your names and contact details.
Details
Open Sun Feb 9
Time doors 4pm
Admission ¥3,000 (includes a cup of coffee) ※Reservation required – email booking@n0idea.com
URL www.vacant.vc/
Venue Vacant
Address 3-20-13 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Transport Harajuku station (JR Yamanote Line) or Meiji-jingumae station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
Zoushigaya Handicraft Market
This handicraft market runs once a month at Kishimojindo shrine, selling everything from pottery and woodcrafts to bags and accessories. Browse the stalls while chatting to the artists over a slice of delicious cake and home-roasted coffee.
Details
Open Sun Feb 9
Time 9am-4pm
Venue Kishimojindo , Otori Shrine
Address 3-15-20 Zoshigaya, Toshima-ku
Transport Kishibojin-mae Station (Toden Arakawa line) or Zoushigaya Station (Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin line)
Chocolate Making at Lindt Jiyugaoka
Everyone knows Lindt, and everyone wants some of their goodies for Valentine’s Day. Not only can you get the classic heart-shaped gift box for your beloved one, you can also drop by the café in Jiyugaoka to try making your own matcha or raspberry chocolate. Events are held twice on both Saturday and Sunday, and up to eight people can participate in each event (a minimum of four people are required). Reservations are essential.
Details
Open Feb 8-9
Time 10am-noon, 2-4pm on both days
Admission ¥5,000 (includes ingredients and box)
Telephone 03 5726 8921
Venue Lindt Chocolat Café Jiyugaoka
Address 2-9-2 Jiyugaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Transport Jiyugaoka Station (Tokyu Toyoko line)