Venue Shibuya Club Quattro
Address 5F, 32-13-4 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Transport Shibuya Station (Yamanote, Ginza, Hanzomon, Fukutoshin, Denentoshi, Tokyu Toyoko, Keio Inokashira lines), Hachiko exit
Tokyo Vegefood Festa 2013
Sat Oct 19 – Sun Oct 20, 2013
Yoyogi Park (Keyaki Namiki Road)
Throughout the year,
Yoyogi Park serves as a gathering point for Tokyo’s various ethnic minorities and special interest groups. This weekend, one of the more long-suffering communities gets its moment in the sun: the vegans. Tokyo Vegefood Festa boasts roughly 100 stalls, ranging from macrobiotic cafes to vegetable vendors to fair trade goods. Though the event hopes to convert a few carnivores to the cause, it’s probably the people who’ve already sworn off meat, fish and dairy that’ll enjoy it the most.
Details
Open Oct 19-20
Time 10am-5pm
Venue Yoyogi Park (Keyaki Namiki Road)
Address 2-1 Yoyogi Kamizounocho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Transport Harajuku Station (Yamanote line), Yoyogi-Koen Station (Chiyoda line), Yoyogi-Hachiman station (Odakyu line)
Tokyo Meat Market Festival
Once every year, and perhaps as a rebellious answer to Yoyogi’s Vegefood Festa, this unique wholesale market opens its doors for one meaty festival. This is your chance to try free samples, buy special wares at reduced prices, and marvel at the various animal flesh-related exhibits. The focus is squarely on the good stuff: shabu-shabu, tonkatsu cutlets, yakiniku, and so on.
Details
Open Oct 19-20
Time Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 10am-3pm
Address 2-7-19 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Transport Shinagawa Station (JR lines)
Japan Hoop Dance Championship
The time has come to give credit to the most talented hoop dancers in the land. Although relatively popular in the West, hooping has failed to break out on a large scale in Japan so far. However, the community keeps growing and this event brings together the best dancers from all over the country. Marvel at the finalists’ performances at the main gala show and get acquainted with this energetic form of expression.
Details
Open Sat Oct 19
Time 1pm-3:30pm
Admission General admission ¥1,500, children ¥500 (first-come, first-serve)
Venue Ushigome Tansu Citizens’ Hall
Address 15 Tansumachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Transport Ushigome-kagurazaka Station (Oedo line), exit A1
Sancha de Daidogei
Though Sangenjaya is always nice for a wander, there’s no better time to visit than during this two-day street performance festival, in which acrobats, clowns, musicians, dancers and assorted costumed freaks ply their trade to a gawping public. Keep an eye out for the international visitors including France’s aerial hoop artist Julot and the stilt-sporting Nani-Sole (who, at about 10 feet tall with enormous wings, is pretty hard to miss).
Details
Open Oct 19-20
Time 6pm-8pm
Venue Setagaya Public Theatre , around Carrot Tower
Address 4-1-1 Taishido, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Transport Sangenjaya station (Tokyu Denentoshi line) Sancha Patio exit.
Nezu-Sendagi Shitamachi Matsuri 2013
Nezu flaunts its shitamachi (downtown) roots at this autumn festival, a relatively recent invention that marks its 15th edition this year. The action centres around Nezu Shrine, which will be hosting concerts and performances throughout the weekend, accompanied by a flea market and stalls selling traditional goods. The rest of the neighbourhood follows suit, with attractions including a Sunday afternoon parade, and performances of traditional Japanese music and various dances at the Fureai-kan on Shinobazu-dori.
Details
Open Oct 19-20
Time 6pm-8pm
Venue Nezu Shrine
Address 1-28-9 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Transport Nezu Station or Sendagi Station (Chiyoda line), Todaimae Station (Namboku line)
Kagurazaka Bakeneko Parade
Sun Oct 20, 2013 Kagurazaka Nursing Home, around Kagurazaka O-dori
Kagurazaka will again play host to the Bakeneko Parade, one of the more curious Halloween-related events in the city. Everyone is welcome, all you have to do is dress up as a cat and bring a feline attitude. You can get a cat makeup done for ¥100 before the parade, and there are also costume-related goods available for purchase in case you feel the need to complement your outfit. The parade route reaches along Kagurazaka O-dori toward Iidabashi Station and back again.
Details
Open Sun Oct 20
Time 2pm-3.30pm
participant registration 10am-1pm at Kagurazaka Nursing Home
Venue Kagurazaka Nursing Home, around Kagurazaka O-dori
Shimokitazawa Curry Festival
Until Sun Oct 20, 2013 Shimokitazawa area
‘Making Shimokitazawa the holy ground of curry’ is the motto of this spicy ten-day festival, in which participating restaurants (over 70 in total) tout their specialty curries in all corners of the trendy neighborhood. Meet the ‘Curryman’ mascot, see who gets crowned ‘Miss Curry’, and use the curry map (available for free around town) to discover the tastiest curry joints.
Details
Open Oct 11-20
Time Varies by event
Venue Shimokitazawa area
Rhizomatiks Inspired by Perfume
Creative group Rhizomatiks – best know for their work on the stage productions of J-poppers Perfume – will be displaying their work in an exhibition. This group of creators and engineers have garnered attention around the world for their original production methods and use of cutting-edge technology – including 3D scanning and data visualisation. This exhibition will introduce visitors to their production techniques, and showcase costumes and equipment from Perfume’s music videos and stage performances, as well as 3D models of Perfume group members.
Details
Open Sep 21-Oct 20 Closed Mon (Tue if Mon is a holiday)
Time 11am-6pm
Venue NTT InterCommunication Center
Address 4F Tokyo Opera City Tower, 3-20-3 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Transport Hatsudai Station (Keio line)
Mitsuaki Iwago: Cats & Lions
Popular wildlife photographer Mitsuaki Iwago just can’t seem to get enough of milking the internet’s favourite meme. Following his
Go With Cats show at Mitsukoshi Nihombashi, the avid snapper heads to the more highbrow Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography for another exhibition devoted to all things feline. This time around, Iwago will be juxtaposing photos of domestic cats with similar images taken of lions in the wild. ‘Cats are just small lions,’ he observes. ‘Lions are just big cats.’ Deep.
Details
Open August 10-October 20 Closed Mon (Tue if Mon is a holiday)
Time Tue-Sun 10am-6pm (Thu, Fri until 8pm)
Admission Adults ¥800, students ¥700, over 65s, high school & junior high school students ¥600
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