UpcomingTodaiji's Great Buddha Hall is open 7:30–17:30 (Apr–Oct) and 8:00–17:00 (Nov–Mar); admission is ¥800 adult / ¥400 child, or a ¥1,200 joint pass with the Todaiji Museum (as of July 2026). See the 15 m bronze Buddha, the Nio guardians and Nara's deer.
© Clay Gilliland · CC BY-SA 2.0
Upcoming<strong>teamLab Planets TOKYO in Toyosu is a barefoot, body-immersion digital-art museum where you wade through knee-deep water and walk on soft, mirrored floors.</strong> Tickets are timed and start from about ¥3,200 (as of July 2026); wear knee-length shorts. Great news: it's open until the end of 2027.
© Sasa0403 · CC BY-SA 4.0UpcomingChoose **Planets (Toyosu)** for barefoot, knee-deep-water immersion and the most photogenic, family-friendly path (~90–120 min, from ¥3,200). Choose **Borderless (Azabudai)** for a shoes-on, map-less world of artworks that flow between rooms — cerebral and exploratory (~2–3 hr, from ¥3,800). Both are open in 2026; you can even do both in one day.
© Sasa0403 · CC BY-SA 4.0
UpcomingThe ~1,300 deer of Nara Park are wild, free-roaming sika deer protected as a National Natural Monument. Feed them only shika-senbei crackers (¥200 per pack of ~10, as of July 2026), buy and feed quickly, then open your empty hands to show the food is gone.
© レペゼンマン · CC BY 4.0
UpcomingKyoto rewards timing. Here's the city's year — spring dances and hanami, summer's great Gion and Daimonji, autumn fire and foliage, New Year temple bells — and how to plan around it.
© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0
UpcomingTime Kyoto by its seasons — spring geisha dances, the July Gion Matsuri, and autumn maples lit up after dark.
© Conveyor belt sushi · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingA serene Yoshio Taniguchi pavilion honoring Zen philosopher D.T. Suzuki, built around a still 'Water Mirror Garden' for contemplation.
2026/08/15 09:30 KanazawaAdult ~¥310
© 金沢市 · CC BY 2.1 jp
OfficialUpcomingA Kisho Kurokawa building tucked into Shirakawa Park, strong on the Ecole de Paris, the Mexican Renaissance and local modern art.
2026/08/15 09:30 NagoyaCollection ~¥300; special exhibitions vary
© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA lakeside museum in Ohori Park by architect Kunio Maekawa, mixing Dali and Warhol with Buddhist treasures across 16,000+ works.
2026/08/15 09:30 FukuokaCollection ~¥200; special exhibitions vary
© DrHughManning · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA Kenzo Tange landmark in Minato Mirai, freshly reopened after a three-year renovation, strong on modern art and Yokohama-rooted photography.
2026/08/15 10:00 YokohamaCollection admission modest; special exhibitions vary
© Ymblanter · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA striking subterranean museum on Nakanoshima island devoted to postwar and contemporary art, behind a soaring bamboo-like steel facade.
2026/08/15 11:00 OsakaCollection exhibition ~¥430; special exhibitions vary
© Konrad Krzyżanowski · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingCentral Sapporo's flagship art museum, with 5,000+ works spanning Hokkaido art, the Ecole de Paris, glasswork and modern Japanese painting.
2026/08/16 09:30 SapporoCollection admission modest; special exhibitions vary
© K. Takeda at Japanese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's first public contemporary art museum, a Kisho Kurokawa landmark crowning Hijiyama hill with bold rotating exhibitions.
2026/08/16 10:00 HiroshimaCollection ~¥370; special exhibitions vary
© Taisyo at Japanese Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0
OfficialUpcomingWorld-famous taiko ensemble Kodo hosts a three-day island arts festival with thunderous harbour-side concerts under the stars.
2026/08/21 17:00 Across JapanHarbour Concert tickets approx. ¥5,000–7,000 each; fringe events free
© Marco Tambara · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingThe only museum in the world systematically collecting modern and contemporary Asian art — 5,000+ works from 23 Asian countries and regions.
2026/08/22 09:30 FukuokaCollection admission modest; special exhibitions vary
© Hirho · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's oldest kabuki theatre in Kyoto stages a modern crossover, fusing the world of kabuki with the famous anime master-thief Lupin III. A playful, fast-paced gateway into the art form, with English audio guides available.
2026/09/02 11:00 KyotoTickets vary by seat class; check the official site. English audio guide available for rental.
© Chainwit. · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingPioneering woman conductor Midori Komai gives her farewell concert on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at Kyowa Wing Hakuba Cultural Hall in Nagano — a one-time-only Hakuba Philharmonic Orchestra playing Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 and other European favourites. Doors 14:00, performance 15:00–17:00. Advance tickets ¥4,500 (students ¥2,000; under-12 free).
2026/09/05 15:00 Across JapanAdvance ¥4,500 / same-day ¥5,000. Nagano residents ¥3,500; junior- and senior-high students ¥2,000; elementary-age and younger free (a free seat ticket is required if the child uses a seat). Post-event archive streaming is also sold on teket (as of 2026-07-21; confirm current details before buying).
© Licht Philharmonic Project · © Midori Komai Orchestra Project (official promotional photo, used with permission)
OfficialUpcomingA biennial festival in the ancient capital, founded under Cannes-winning director Naomi Kawase, championing first- and second-time filmmakers across screenings set among Nara's temples and parks.
2026/09/20 10:00 NaraScreening tickets typically around 1,000-1,500 yen; some free outdoor and community programs.
© DimiTalen · CC0
OfficialUpcomingIn a 340-year-old Nara ritual, shrine 'seko' wrangle wild stags with ropes inside a wooden arena before a Shinto priest saws off their autumn antlers.
2026/10/10 12:00 NaraAround ¥1,000 (adults)
© TR15336300101 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA laid-back eco-minded community fair in Yoyogi Park — organic food, world music, crafts and a mellow forest atmosphere that draws Tokyo's international and creative crowd.
2026/10/24 10:00 TokyoFree
© zannaland · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingAsia's premier competitive film festival returns for its 39th edition, taking over the Hibiya–Yurakucho–Ginza district with world premieres, red carpets and onstage Q&As with directors and stars.
2026/10/26 10:00 TokyoIndividual screening tickets typically around 1,500-2,000 yen; some open-air and free programs.
© Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingAn all-night art festival turns Roppongi into an open-air gallery, with installations, performances and museums glowing from dusk till dawn.
2026/10/31 10:00 TokyoFree
© Nicolas1981 · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingKyoto's only autumn geisha dance, staged by the geiko and maiko of the Gion Higashi district. Ten days of elegant kyomai dance under lanterns, accompanied by live shamisen and song — a refined seasonal highlight of Kyoto.
2026/11/01 13:30 Kyoto¥6,000 (viewing only); ¥7,000 with a tea ceremony. Two shows daily at 13:30 and 16:00.
© Joi (Joi Ito) · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingAt Tokyo's National Noh Theatre, watch the 650-year-old art of noh and its comic counterpart kyogen, including a piece performed by celebrated kyogen master Nomura Mansai. English subtitles appear on screens built into the seatbacks.
2026/11/06 18:30 TokyoFront-stage ¥5,800 / Side-stage ¥4,000 (students ¥2,800) / Middle-stage ¥3,500 (students ¥2,500).
© Yoshiyuki Ito · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingAt one of Japan's top hot-spring towns, kimono-clad locals cool the scalding spring water with long wooden paddles in time to folk songs — a centuries-old daily ritual at Netsunoyu.
2026/12/01 09:30 Across JapanAdults ¥700, elementary children ¥350
© Suicasmo · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingSeventeen monks heave on ropes to toll Chion-in's 70-ton bell 108 times on New Year's Eve, each deep strike clearing a worldly desire.
2026/12/31 22:30 KyotoPaid viewing — advance reservation required (from 2025)
© Marianne North · Public domainOfficialUpcomingKYOTOGRAPHIE 2027 (Apr 17–May 16): Kyoto's international photography festival shows world-class work in temples and machiya across the city. Confirmed dates, venues, Passport tickets.
2027/04/17 10:00 KyotoPer-venue tickets or an all-venue Passport; some programs are free.
© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0OfficialPast eventGion's geiko and maiko perform the elegant Miyako Odori every April, a dazzling spring dance of kimono, music and seasonal scenes.
2026/04/01 12:30 KyotoTickets from around 4,000 yen; tea-ceremony seats cost more
© Conveyor belt sushi · CC BY 2.0
LumaPast eventA reflective life-design workshop in Minato on the theme of self-love — journaling and honest conversation.
2026/06/21 15:00 Tokyo¥6,600
© LIFE DESIGN CLUB · via Luma
OfficialPast eventWade barefoot through water and light in this immersive digital-art museum where you become part of the artwork.
2026/06/24 10:00 TokyoAdmission around 3,800 yen; book timed tickets online in advance
© DannyWithLove · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventteamLab Borderless Azabudai Hills is open roughly 9:00–21:00 (Jul 2026). Tickets are timed, online-only, from ¥3,800 (adult; varies by day, +¥200 at the door), a 2-min walk from Kamiyacho Station. Allow 2–3 hours — always confirm exact hours on the official site before booking.
2026/06/25 10:00 TokyoAdult (18+) from ¥3,800 online, +¥200 for door purchase; teens 13–17 ¥2,800, child 4–12 ¥1,500, age 3 and under free, with a disability discount available. Pricing is dynamic and varies by day, so always check the exact fare for your date on the official site. As of July 2026.
© Domenico Convertini · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialPast eventExplore the crimson seat of the former Ryukyu Kingdom, a UNESCO World Heritage site now rising again from its 2019 fire.
2026/06/26 09:00 OkinawaPark areas free; paid zones include the reconstruction site view
© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventContemporary art on the 53rd floor of Roppongi Hills, paired with one of Tokyo's best skyline views from the City View deck.
2026/06/26 10:00 TokyoAdmission around 2,000 yen; often includes the observation deck
© Unknown · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventOne of Japan's most sacred shrines, set in a tranquil ancient forest in Nagoya and home to the legendary Kusanagi sword.
2026/06/27 09:00 NagoyaFree
© Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY 4.0
LumaPast eventA free, easygoing gathering for book lovers to read together and swap summer recommendations.
2026/06/27 10:00 TokyoFree
© Isheba Cornwall · via Luma
OfficialPast eventIn the heart of old-town Asakusa, this beloved yose performs 365 days a year — rakugo storytelling plus manzai, magic, acrobatics and impressions. Drop in any day for an authentic dose of downtown Tokyo entertainment.
2026/06/28 11:00 TokyoBox-office tickets, all unreserved. Day program from 11:40, evening from 16:40.
© DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0
LumaPast eventLie back and feel the resonance of Japanese taiko in an immersive sound-bath session.
2026/06/28 16:30 Tokyo¥7,000
© Nanako · via Luma
OfficialPast eventJapan's oldest and largest museum in Ueno Park, home to samurai armor, Buddhist art and an unrivaled national treasure collection.
2026/06/29 09:00 TokyoRegular collection around 1,000 yen; special exhibits priced separately
© Carla Antonini · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventTokyo's oldest yose (variety hall), founded in 1857, runs daily programs of rakugo comic storytelling alongside manzai, magic, paper-cutting and acrobatics. A relaxed, ever-changing slice of Edo-era popular entertainment.
2026/06/29 12:00 TokyoAround ¥3,500 adults / ¥2,500 students. Day program from ~12:30, evening from ~17:00.
© Wintermelonizm · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialPast eventA 50-minute sampler of Kyoto's traditional performing arts in one sitting: maiko kyomai dance, bunraku puppet theatre, kyogen comedy, court bugaku dance, tea ceremony, ikebana and koto. The easiest, most tourist-friendly intro to Japanese arts.
2026/06/30 18:00 KyotoAdult from ¥5,500; premium seats ¥6,600. Daily shows at 18:00 and 19:00 (winter Dec–Mar: Tue–Fri only).
© Joi (Joi Ito) · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventA rare surviving wooden yose from the early 20th century, Suehirotei keeps the intimate atmosphere of old Tokyo. Daily rakugo and variety acts in tatami-and-cushion seating, a one-minute walk from busy Shinjuku-Sanchome.
2026/07/01 12:00 TokyoAbout ¥3,500 adults (students ¥3,000; discounted evening entry available). Day from 12:00, evening from 16:45.
© 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventA circular, glass-walled art museum famous for Leandro Erlich's Swimming Pool — playful, interactive and free to wander outside.
2026/07/02 10:00 KanazawaFree public zones; ticketed exhibition galleries
© City of Kanazawa · CC BY 2.1 jp
OfficialPast eventKabuki's flagship Ginza theatre stages its July all-star run, headlined by a spectacular 13-role quick-change tour de force and a 43-year revival packed with aerial stunts and a real-water finale. English captioning is available.
2026/07/02 11:00 TokyoFrom ¥5,000 (Upper Tier B) up to ¥20,000 (Special Seat). English/Chinese captioning service +¥1,500.
© Shakher59 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventExplore Kanazawa's gold-leaf workshops, colorful Kutani porcelain and the preserved Higashi Chaya geisha district.
2026/07/03 10:00 KanazawaFree
© ajari · CC BY 2.0
LumaPast eventA free pop-up of paper ephemera and collage at Design Festa Gallery Harajuku — browse, shop, make.
2026/07/03 10:30 TokyoFree
© Mira Musette · via Luma
OfficialPast eventThe summer edition of Earth Garden turns Yoyogi Park into a festive evening night-market — lanterns, world music, beer and global street food after dark.
2026/07/03 15:00 TokyoFree
© Takashi Hososhima from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialPast eventAn island in the Seto Inland Sea reborn as living art, with Tadao Ando museums, a Yayoi Kusama pumpkin and outdoor installations.
2026/07/05 10:00 Across JapanMuseum tickets vary; Chichu Art Museum needs advance booking
© 663highland · CC BY 2.5
JmtyPast eventA 90-minute introductory aroma hand-therapy workshop in Yokohama, finishing with a relaxed tea gathering—wellness for caregivers and busy minds.
2026/07/07 13:30 Yokohama¥1,000
© Jupiter（宮澤） · via jmty
OfficialPast eventWorld-touring taiko troupe DRUM TAO performs a 45-minute show at its own open-air theatre, perched at 1,036m in the grasslands of Aso-Kuju National Park. Thunderous drumming, athletic choreography and sweeping highland views.
2026/07/07 14:00 Across JapanAdults (junior-high+) ¥4,500; children (4+) ¥2,500; under 3 free. Spring/autumn shows at 14:00.
© Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
JmtyPast eventA laid-back Japanese-chess afternoon in central Yokohama—beginners welcome, with coaching, free matches and original puzzle cards over a drink.
2026/07/12 13:00 Yokohama¥1,500 (includes one drink)
© 小野精一郎 (@yuru_shougi) · via jmty
OfficialPast eventA celebrated contemporary art festival scattered across the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, blending installations with fishing-village life.
2026/07/13 09:00 Across JapanPassport tickets cover many sites; some works charge separately
© 663highland · CC BY 2.5
OfficialPast eventThe home of bunraku, Japan's UNESCO-listed puppet theatre, where master puppeteers, tayu chanters and shamisen bring epic dramas to life.
2026/07/25 11:00 OsakaTickets vary by program; English audio guide available
© Hiart · CC0