Photo by Vincent Camacho on Unsplash

23 Things To Do in Tokyo This Week: August 21–27

Tokyo Weekender's guide to the best events, activities and things to do in the city

Summer is here and to go with the warm weather, Tokyo has sizzling hot events happening all over town. This week is your last chance to check out select summertime events and limited edition menus.

Community and Live Events

1.
More Tokyo Music: Afrodyty, Konnichiwa Typhoon, Yasu Cub, Hana Bookman

This event series hosted by More Than Music brings together the cream of the crop of the Tokyo live music scene. If you are a live music lover you simply can’t miss out on this series.

Right in the heart of Tokyo, in Shibuya’s club named 7th Floor, groove to the sounds of Afrodyty (R&B, soul), Konnichiwa Typhoon (blues, blues rock), Yasu Cub (dreamy rock) and Hana Bookman (singer-songwriter, R&B).

Date & Time Aug 25, 2023・18:30-23:30
Price Online ¥2,800 | Door ¥3,500 | Free for MTM Members
Location Shibuya 7th Floor

2.
Ragtag Socials Malibu Dream at Or Miyashita Park

Hi Barbie and Ken! Get ready to step into a Barbie Dreamhouse, where fantasies come alive. Ragtag’s Malibu Dream will be a party all about bringing Barbie’s plastic world into reality. Swing by Or Miyashita Park for a night of DJs, live music, art, and of course, fashion. Which Barbie or Ken will you be?

Date & Time Aug 26, 2023・21:00~
Price ¥3,000 + 1 Drink

3.
Nihongo Wakara-Night! at Tokyo Comedy Bar

A special night of comedy for all Japanese language learners. If you are suffering from JLPT-PTSD or are sick and tired of your wa’s and ga’s mixing up, then this is the show for you. Tokyo’s top comedians will be telling their most hilarious horror stories about learning Japanese, every Thursday weekly in the course of August.

Date & Time Aug 03-31 2023・21:00~・Happening every Thursday
Price ¥2,500

Exhibitions

4.
Hiroshi Nagai Exhibition: “Palm Street Songs”

Isetan the Space, Shinjuku presents Hiroshi Nagai’s solo exhibition “Palm Street Songs.” Nagai has been at the forefront of the Japanese art and illustration scene for over 40 years. The exhibition will feature approximately 20 original artworks, ranging from new works created for this exhibition to archival works from the 1980s, which show the differences in Nagai’s work from one era to the next.

Date & Time Aug 02-28 2023・11:00-22:00
Price Free

5.
Eijiro Tokunaga Exhibition at Huls Gallery Tokyo

Eijiro Tokunaga, a potter in Arita, is a unique figure who continues to create earthenware works at the heart of the porcelain production region. For this exhibition, “Encounter – In Search of Unseen Scenery,” Huls Gallery Tokyo will showcase a wide range of works that are available for purchase, including the refreshing blue Hagi glazed ware, new tea bowls ”tabi-chawan,” and the classic carbon-fired sake cups. Explore these vessels that combine both beauty and practicality.

A dialogue with the artist will be held on August 18 and 19.

Date & Time Aug 18-29 2023・10:00-18:30・Closed on Sundays and public holidays
Price Free

6.
DinoScience Expo at Tokyo Midtown

The DinoScience Expo is back in Tokyo Midtown. Visitors can experience the world of dinosaurs based on the latest scientific discoveries. The Expo offers a unique atmosphere and interactive exhibitions alongside an entertaining nighttime space.

Date & Time Jul 21-Sep 12 2023・09:00-22:45
Price From ¥900-¥3,000
Location Tokyo Midtown Hall & Conference

7.
“Seeing Without a Seer” Exhibition at Fergus McCaffrey Tokyo

Fergus McCaffrey Tokyo is pleased to announce the opening of “Seeing Without a Seer,” a drawing exhibition by eight artists: Joe Bradley, Cecily Brown, Sam Francis, Marcia Hafif, Natsuyuki Nakanishi, Brice Marden, Cy Twombly, and Jiro Yoshihara.

Date & Time Jul 04-Sep 16 2023・11:00-19:00・Closed on National Holidays
Price Free

8.
Exhibition: Sampling Furniture

These days, interest is growing in making customization and DIY part of our daily lives. D&Department are pursuing this trend with tools for daily living that transcend traditional concepts. D&Department’s Sampling Furniture series, “creates without creating” by reassembling existing commercial products, parts, and waste materials into sample products that resemble everyday furniture items like chairs and storage chests.

Date & Time Jul 14-Oct 15 2023・12:00-20:00・Last entry 19:30
Price Free

Kusama in the exhibited hexagonal mirror room at “Kusamaʼs Peep Show” or “Endless Love Show,” a solo exhibition at Richard Castellane Gallery, New York. 1966 © YAYOI KUSAMA

9.
Yayoi Kusama’s Self-Obliteration/Psychedelic World Exhibition

This exhibition focuses on the psychedelic aspects of Yayoi Kusama’s work and presents rich variations of her creations from different periods. It includes the premiere of her latest series of hexagonal mirrored rooms — first presented at her solo exhibition in New York in the latter half of the 1960s, as well as a film and related materials. Through these showcases, this exhibition introduces Kusama’s activities at that time, which were also a driving force of the psychedelic movement.

Date & Time Apr 29-Sep 18 2023・11:00-17:30・Closed Mon, Tue & Wed (Except national holidays)
Price ¥1,100
Location Yayoi Kusama Museum

10.
MOT Presents: How I feel is not your problem, period.

“How I feel is not your problem, period.” at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo serves to cast an eye on the difficulties of life that teenagers may feel and proposes to continue thinking about various unanswerable questions through engaging with contemporary art.

The works of five artists: Shigeo Arikawa, Makiko Yamamoto, Atsushi Watanabe (I’m here project), Riki Takeda, and Kayako Nakashima attempt to think about and understand people they don’t know, or those who are not there in front of them. Through this exhibition, the artists hand over the words “How I feel is not your problem, period.” to teenage children, with the message that it is okay not to empathize.

Date & Time Jul 15-Nov 05 2023・10:00-18:00・Closed on Mondays with exceptions
Price ¥1,300
Location Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT)

Seasonal Events

11.
Tokyo Midtown Garden Summer: Midpark Lounge and Foot Bath

Tokyo Midtown Garden changes with the seasons and holidays. To make the most of summer, they’ve created the Tokyo Midtown’s Midpark Lounge. A special menu will be on offer and diners can relax on specially-installed tables and chairs, relishing the summer breeze. From 5pm daily, guests are invited to enjoy the refreshing ashimizu (Japanese traditional cold foot bath) area. Sit down to paddle your feet in the cool running stream.

Date & Time Jul 14-Aug 27 2023・12:00-22:00・Starts at 15:00 on weekdays
Price Free
Location Midtown Garden
More Info Towels available for ¥100

12.
Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo x Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa Bamboo Illumination

Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo and the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa, are hosting the Bamboo Illumination event in their historic gardens, showcasing the beauty of nature and celebrating their 70th anniversary. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in enchanting garden strolls illuminated by bamboo lamps, creating a captivating experience.

Date & Time Apr 10-Sep 18 2023・18:00-23:00
Price Free

13.
Hotel Gajoen Tokyo “Hyakki Yagyo” Illumination

Under the theme of “Colorful Night Parade of a Hundred Demons,” Hotel Gajoen Tokyo presents a space filled with light art creating a story-like atmosphere. In this luxurious cultural heritage site, the combination of light, original music, and fragrance created specifically for this exhibition transports visitors from the real world to a fantastical realm.

Date & Time Jul 01-Sep 24 2023・11:00-18:00
Price ¥800-¥1,500

Afternoon Tea and Limited Edition Menus

14.
Hilton Tokyo Hello Kitty Sweets Gallery

This is Hilton Tokyo’s first collaboration sweets buffet with the cartoon icon. The menu includes 25 different sweets using seasonal fruits such as melon, peach and mango inspired by Hello Kitty, and nine mains such as roast pork with apple sauce and lemon zucchini pasta.

Date & Time May 12-Aug 31 2023・14:30-17:00
Price ¥5,500-¥5,900

15.
Strings Hotel Summer Parfait Collaboration with Adelia Retro

Six cute and colorful glasses of elegant fragrant tea and two types of summer fruit parfaits will be on offer at the Strings by Intercontinental Tokyo. Both nostalgic yet novel, the parfaits are served in a Showa-era Adelia Retro glass. You can pair it with a mocktail for a full experience.

Date & Time Jul 01-Aug 31 2023・11:30-21:00
Price ¥4,180-¥7,700

16.
Signature Summer Afternoon Tea at The Peak Lounge, Park Hyatt Hotel

Aiming to bring the beach to the center of Tokyo, The Peak Lounge’s 2023 Signature Summer Afternoon Tea is full of delightful creations imagined by Executive Pastry Chef Julien Perrinet and his team, like a vanilla and strawberry cake shaped into a flamingo buoy, a blueberry fromage mousse topped with a white chocolate sea star, and a lifelike chocolate cream pearl in a beautiful oyster shell. Finish with a refreshing peach-infused shaved ice.

Date & Time Jul 10-Aug 31 2023・12:00-17:00
Price ¥9,900 per person
Location The Peak Lounge
More Info Minimum two-day advance reservation required

17.
Tokyo Marriott Hotel Presents: Peach Pink Afternoon Tea

For the months of July and August, the Tokyo Marriott Hotel’s Afternoon Tea will be peachy pink. The hotel’s sweet and savory dishes use an abundance of peaches, the fruit that represents the summer season with its bright sweetness. The pastry chef’s passion for peaches is expressed in his desire for customers to enjoy them in their best condition. The lineup also includes nine other cute sweets, such as bonbon chocolates and cream puffs, all designed to resemble the essence of the peach. Four savory dishes, including a pasta dish accented with cool basil and lovely pink sandwiches, are also being served.

Date & Time Jul 01-Aug 31 2023・13:00~
Price ¥7,500
Location Lounge & Dining G

18.
Summer BBQ Terrace at Grand Hyatt Tokyo

Making the best out of the summer season, the Grand Hyatt Tokyo has a seasonal summer terrace offering American barbecue and free flowing drinks. Oak Door Summer Terrace “BBQ Road Trip” is an indulgent spread of five types of meat including Japanese beef and pork ribs, as well as grilled shrimp and scallops. There’s also a plan for a free flow of tropical fruit, sweet and sour cocktails and ice-cold beer. The theme revolves around traversing the Mid-Southern United States on “Route 66.”

Date & Time Jun 01-Aug 31 2023・18:00~・Seating is 2 hours, free flow is 90 minutes. There are four seatings per day: 18:00 | 18:30 | 20:30 | 20:45
Price Starts from ¥8,800 and varies according to the menu
Location Grand Hyatt Tokyo

19.
Il Lupino Prime Mango & Tropical Fruits Afternoon Tea

Il Lupino Prime in Tokyo, a German-owned Italian restaurant established in Hawaii, is offering a new Mango & Tropical Fruits Afternoon Tea course beginning on June 15. It features six different savory dishes, including USDA prime beef mini hamburgers, lemon and caviar capellini and fresh vegetable sticks.

Date & Time Jun 15-Sep 15 2023・11:30~・Reservations required
Price ¥6,800 (Weekdays) | ¥7,800 (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
Location IL LUPINO PRIME TOKYO 表参道 イタリアン レストラン テラス ペット可

20.
The Steakhouse Forest Boost at ANA InterContinental Tokyo

Forest Boost is an afternoon tea-style menu that contains a variety of savory dishes with colorful ingredients. There are specialty meat dishes unique to The Steakhouse and adorable petit gateaux inspired by summer, served in an original wooden box.

Date & Time May 08-Sep 30 2023・11:30-21:00
Price ¥6,464 per person

21.
Matcha Afternoon Tea at ANA InterContinental Tokyo

This hotel offers an elegant afternoon tea featuring 12 types of petit gâteaux combining summer fruits and fragrant matcha, as well as five beautifully presented savory dishes, all made with matcha tea. Enjoy a cool afternoon with a wide variety of beverages, including Ronnefeldt tea. The set is served in the Atrium Lounge with a two-hour seating limit.

Date & Time Jun 01-Sep 30 2023・11:00-19:00・19:00 is last entry | Seatings last up to two hours
Price ¥7,500 per person
Location InterContinental - ANA Tokyo, an IHG Hotel

22.
Rooftop Champagne Garden feat. Moët & Chandon at Pullman Tokyo Tamachi

Enjoy a night out at Pullman Tokyo Tamachi’s rooftop bar Platform9 with a glass of Moët & Chandon and free flowing wine. The rooftop bar boasts impressive Moët & Chandon decorations and fresh white parasols, where you can escape the heat and the hustle and bustle of the city.

Date & Time Jun 01-Oct 28 2023・19:00-23:00
Price From ¥8,000-¥12,000

23.
The Steakhouse Chef’s Brunch at ANA InterContinental Tokyo

The hotel’s international team of chefs came up with a menu that would suit the diversified lifestyles of the ever-evolving cosmopolitan city of Tokyo. Based on the concepts of “the city that never sleeps,” “any person can eat anytime,” and “always brunch time,” The Steakhouse Chef’s Brunch features a lineup of international dishes suitable for a brunch that is not restricted by time.

An eye-catching seven-course of snacks is served on a three-tiered stand in the style of afternoon tea. Snacks include a mini croissant with grilled bacon, deviled eggs, hummus and more. This is followed by a fixed-style menu with a choice of appetizers, main dishes and desserts.

Date & Time Feb 04-Oct 30 2023・11:30-18:00・Not available on Tuesdays
Price ¥8,452 per person
Location InterContinental - ANA Tokyo, an IHG Hotel

More Things To Do in Tokyo

See what other activities Tokyo has to offer: