Things to do this week in Tokyo

Monday 4

Tibet Festival
This celebration of Tibetan culture and religion takes place at Komagome's Kichijoji Temple and forgoes the food trucks for more spiritual pursuits, including meditation sessions, mandala making, ritual dancing, chanting practise and traditional fortune telling. Read more

U-1 Udon Grand Prix
Competing for the title of Japan's Best Udon, 20 top noodle-makers from all across the country will do battle on the Ishi to Hikari plaza in Ariake, where you can look forward to offerings from the likes of Yamagata's Yamakame and Fukuoka's Kasu Udon. Read more

Doki Doki Flea Market
There are flea markets, and then there's the eye-popping spectacle that unfolds at Makuhari Messe during Golden Week. The Doki Doki Flea Market is Japan's largest bric-a-brac fair, drawing around 1,500 vendors each day and also offering everything from music to festival food. Read more

Plus Tokyo feat. Takkyu Ishino
Looking to spend your Golden Week Monday on the dancefloor? Veteran DJ Shin Nishimura's party returns to Air after a three-month break and continues its tradition of serving up hard-hitting, no-nonsense techno. Read more

Tuesday 5

Kurayami Matsuri
Translating as 'darkness festival', Okunitama Shrine's annual highlight includes float parades, performances and plenty of family-friendly fun. Don't miss the climax tonight, when eight mikoshi are carried through the shrine grounds to the beat of huge taiko drums. Read more

Melonpan Festival
Savour a vast variety of sweet, melon-shaped bread at this one-day festival in Akasaka, where 13 bakeries team up to show off their 'melon pan' and raise funds for a charity active in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Read more

Haisai Festa
Kawasaki's La Cittadella is taking a trip to Okinawa with food, music and dance from Japan's southernmost prefecture. Look out for eisa dancing, stalls selling Okinawan soba, mango kakigori and Orion beer, plus a full-scale Okinawan music festival. Read more

The Beauty of Asian Art
Centring on ceramics from China, Korea and Japan, all of which share a common heritage related to the craft, this display at the Idemitsu Museum traces the history of East Asian art all the way from ancient China to Korea and into Vietnam and Thailand. Read more

Brand New Beat
Shimokitazawa's musical multi-space Mona Records invites a gang of 'artists leading the next generation' for this indie night. The up-and-comers taking the stage should be able to give you a comprehensive intro to the latest underground trends. Read more

Wednesday 6

Local Gourmet Festival
Take a break from riding the roller coasters and indulge in some local specialities at Yomiuri Land, where more than 60 food varieties (including eternal favourites like yakisoba and ramen) and plenty of ji-biiru (local beers) will be on offer at this annual bash. Read more

Electric Zoo Beach
It's time for a blazing-hot dance party on the picturesque beaches of Makuhari, as EDM boogeyman Steve Aoki and his fellow laptop-bashers fire up this Japan version of New York's top dance music festival. Great if you need a mental reset before the end of the holidays. Read more

Thursday 7

Manual Pop-Up Shop
Designer Yasuaki Goto's skateboard brand Manual teams up with Ikejiri gallery Re Studio for this pop-up that should serve as a nice intro to the local skate scene. Collaborating with the likes of Nakano board shop Fatbros, Manual will be offering an all new line of goodies here. Read more

Friday 8

Breakfast from Spain
Head over to Aoyama from today for a wide variety of Spanish morning offerings, from simple coffee and churros to more substantial fare such as bruschetta-like pan con tomate, Spanish omelette, pinchos and cold gazpacho soup. Read more

Akira Sato Exhibition
Azabu-Juban gallery Take Ninagawa highlights photographer Akira Sato with this display focusing on the black-and-white series of girls that this postwar visionary is best known for. The exhibit also incorporates some of his later European shots. Read more

Hatonomori Takigi-noh
Hatonomori-Hachiman shrine in Sendagaya holds its annual open-air takigi-noh performance and fits in a little kyogen theatre as well. A great opportunity to watch traditional Japanese musical drama right in the centre of the city. Read more

Saturday 9

Tokyo Flea Market
Find everything from furniture and old books to clothes and cameras at this massive flea market, held at the Chofu Velodrome and featuring hundreds of sellers from all over the country. You can also pick up fabrics and fun knick-knacks at the Nordic Market. Read more

Harajuku Kawaii!! Week
Despite the name, the spring edition of this celebration centring on the aomoji-kei fashion movement takes place over only two days – but those days are packed with fashion shows, flea markets, parades and plenty more fun happening all over the Harajuku area. Read more

Spring Hokkaido Fair
Ueno's Matsuzakaya serves up treats like fine seafood, luxury wagyu beef and veggie ramen, courtesy of around 60 restaurants from Japan's northernmost prefecture. Go hungry and prepare to battle a horde of well-heeled shoppers. Read more

Fair Trade Marche
Today is World Fair Trade Day – mark it at this Shinjuku market, where socially conscious retailers show off their wares and visitors can shop for everything from clothing to candy. More hands-on workshops and other events take place simultaneously in Ikejiri. Read more

Nina Kraviz: DJ-Kicks
Her two 2014 performances in the capital were both knockout shows, so Tokyo clubbers will be more than happy to welcome Russian DJ phenom Nina Kraviz back to the city and Womb. These are tunes well worth appraising live. Read more

Sunday 10

DrinkOut Tama Craft Beer Fair
Friends of craft beer will want to make the trip out west to Tama City for this gathering, where breweries like Ishikawa (known for their Tama no Megumi brews), Kiuchi and Coedo will join local restaurants and bars for an outdoor feast by the Tama River. Read more

Grand Wagyu Fair
Today's your last chance to sample some deluxe yakiniku-don (grilled beef over rice) at this Shinjuku gathering featuring delightfully meaty offerings from Japan's best beef areas, including Kobe and Matsusaka. Read more

Specimens of Time
Presenting his first-ever solo exhibit, Shanghai-based artist and art director Ling Meng takes over Shibuya's Diesel Gallery with his meditations on nature and science, presented in a variety of media including typography, photography and computer design. Read more

Jakuchu and Buson
Last chance today! Kyoto-based painters Ito Jakuchu and Yosa Buson came to make indelible marks on Japanese art history with their stylistic innovations in the middle of the Edo period. See their work now at the Suntory Museum. Read more