Listeners, if you are in Tokyo right now or planning your weekend, you are in for an exciting stretch of events, art, music, and summer magic. Today, Thursday August 14, you can catch two great concerts: Lamp brings bossa-nova and jazz to LINE CUBE SHIBUYA from 6 pm, while BUS hits the stage at Spotify O-EAST at 7 pm with a night of pop music—perfect for music lovers who want lively city energy. For families, the 60th Anniversary Gacha Gacha Exhibition wraps up tomorrow at Marunouchi Building, showcasing the history of Japan's beloved capsule toys, with a final entry 4:30 pm. There’s also the ongoing Sanrio Puroland Neo Summer Matsuri in Tama, brightly mixing retro and futuristic themes, games, and character meet-ups until September 2.
On Friday and Saturday, the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival continues at Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine in Monzen-Nakacho. Though this year’s version is scaled-down, you can still watch the famous mikoshi parade on Sunday, August 17, as Japan’s heaviest portable shrine is carried through the streets. Plus, don't miss special performances: jazz on Friday and traditional koto and shamisen music on Saturday.
Saturday is absolutely magical with the Asakusa Toro Nagashi O-bon Festival, taking place 6:30 to 8:15 pm along the Sumida River near Azumabashi Bridge. Watch 2,500 handmade lanterns float downriver, each inscribed with a message for ancestors, shaping a luminous tribute of tradition and summer atmosphere. For a different vibe, Tokyo Vibes brings together music, artists, and cookies in a laid-back workshop setting where participants can decorate hand fans—a breezy, creative escape from the city heat.
Art fans should make their way to the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Contemporary Art starting August 23 for Aki Sasamoto’s Laboratory retrospective, exploring two decades of boundary-pushing performance, sculpture, and video. If you’re a night owl, don’t miss LuckyFes, Japan’s fastest-growing music festival, which kicked off last weekend and continues with major artists at Hitachi Seaside Park.
For a sense of nostalgia and summer tradition, swing by the Ueno Summer Festival, which wraps on August 12. Even after, the area around Ueno Park remains lively with food stalls, local markets, and cultural attractions, a great way to enjoy Tokyo’s charm at your own pace.
That’s just a taste—the city buzzes with flea markets, sunflowers in bloom at the Zama Sunflower Festival, hands-on craft workshops, and firework displays almost nightly. Whatever you do, explore, celebrate, and make your own summer memories across Tokyo’s neighborhoods. Thank you for tuning in to this week’s event guide, and don’t forget to subscribe! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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