Golden Week in Tokyo, 2012

Friday

Jackson Pollock: A Centennial Retrospective
Where: MOMAT, Takebashi
The pitch: This exhibition of work by the divisive 20th century paint splatterer wraps up on Sunday, but the museum stays open until 8pm today. Until May 6. Read more

Hiraku Yoshimura and friends
Where: Shibuya O-Nest, Shibuya
The pitch: On-the-up singer-songwriter Hiraku Yoshimura ropes in a posse of indie acts for his Golden Week show, including Thai Kick Murph and H Mountains. Read more

Tokyo M.A.P.S.
Where: Roppongi Hills Arena, Roppongi
The pitch: Akiko Yano headlines on the second day of her free music festival, joined by Google Chrome campaign girl Hiroko Sebu and rocker Keiichi Suzuki. Read more

Delano Smith
Where: Eleven, Nishi-Azabu
The pitch: Detroit deep house veteran Delano Smith hits town to celebrate his long, long overdue debut album. Turn up before 11.30pm for ¥1,000 entry. Read more

Sterne
Where: Womb, Shibuya
The pitch: The monthly techno night veers off in a housey direction, with guest sets by LA-based party starter Jesse Rose and protege-slash-collaborator Oliver $. Read more

Bonjour Music School
Where: Sound Museum Vision, Shibuya
The pitch: German electro kingpin Boys Noize guests at this party organised by Kitsuné pals Bonjour Records, also featuring M-Flo's Verbal and French duo BeatauCue. Read more

Adrenaline
Where: Solfa, Nakameguro
The pitch: No point pussyfooting around: if you're looking for a techno night that feels more like being clobbered into submission, Frank Kvitta is your man. Read more

Calm presents K.F.
Where: Unit, Daikanyama
The pitch: Ambient artist Kiyotaka 'Calm' Fukagawa plays selections from his latest album, alongside sets by DJ Krush, Dachambo and Tha Blue Herb's O.N.O. Read more

The Artist
Where: Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills
The pitch: Catch a late-night screening of this year's Best Picture winner at the Roppongi cinema – or Wrath of the Titans, if you're that way inclined. Read more

Saturday

Tokyo International Bar Show
Where: Tokyo Midtown, Roppongi
The pitch: Whisky Live has mutated: the annual malt celebration returns as part of a bigger drinks event where the bartenders are the stars of the show. Until May 6. Read more

Bruxellensis
Where: Yokohama Minato Beer Garden
The pitch: While it started on Thursday, this Belgian beer fest looks like it's only going to enjoy one day of decent weather – which would be today, natch. Read more

Mongolian Spring Festival
Where: Hikarigaoka Park, Hikarigaoka
The pitch: Japan and Mongolia celebrate 40 years of diplomatic ties in a festival of Mongolian music, dance, food, fashion – and some quality wrestling. Read more

Vakula Japan Tour 2012
Where: Unit, Daikanyama
The pitch: One of the most out-there producers operating in the world of house music, Vakula gears up for his debut album release with a headlining DJ set tonight. Read more

Japan Jam 2012
Where: Studio Coast, Shin-Kiba
The pitch: Rolling Stones devotees Okamoto's revive their old band during the final day of this music fest, which also features Triceratops and The Novembers. Read more

Ultra Music x Tokyo Madness
Where: Ageha, Shin-Kiba
The pitch: Russian superstar DJ Arty will be lending some progressive, trancey flavours to Ageha's house music bash, joined by roller girls, pole dancers and drag queens. Read more

Golden Player 2012
Where: Differ Ariake, Ariake
The pitch: Couldn't afford a ticket to Goa during Golden Week? Get the next best thing at this psytrance party featuring Israeli producers Astrix and Pixel. Read more

Sound of Berghain
Where: Eleven, Nishi-Azabu
The pitch: Revered Berlin club Berghain dispatches one of its top resident DJs, Marcel Dettmann, to play an extended set alongside DJ Nobu. ¥1,000 entry before 11.30pm. Read more

Drums of Death
Where: Shibuya House, Shibuya
The pitch: Expect acid, techno and, er, voodoo as face-painted Scottish producer Drums of Death descends on one of Tokyo's weirdest nightspots. Freaky stuff. Read more

Big Groove feat. DJ Spinbad
Where: Air, Daikanyama
The pitch: Tokyo's turntable aces trade blows with 'the fastest hands in New York', DJ Spinbad, with an additional dance showcase by the body-poppin' Bigdogss crew. Read more

Sunday

Yokohama Oktoberfest 2012 Spring
Where: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
The pitch: Hopefully the sun will show its face for the final day of this un-seasonal celebration of German suds – but even if it doesn't, the beer should compensate. Read more

Odaiba Oktoberfest 2012
Where: Symbol Promenade Koen, Aomi
The pitch: Don't fancy a trip to Yokohama? You can have a boozy old time here in Tokyo, too, at the final day of Odaiba's own answer to the Munich beer festival. Read more

Tokyo Hotaru Festival 2012
Where: Sumida River, near Asakusa
The pitch: Golden Week's most high-concept festival will see 10,000 glowing balls floated down Sumida River, to simulate what it would look like if the fireflies returned. Read more

Ay-O: Over the Rainbow Once More
Where: MOT, Miyoshi
The pitch: Today is your final chance to check out this exhibition by former Fluxus member Ay-O, including an interactive installation and a new 30-metre painting. Read more

Tokyo Dionysos 2012
Where: Earthdom, Shin-Okubo
The pitch: Did your Golden Week turn out to be a crushing disappointment? Go get your ears blown out at Earthdom and forget about it all, son. Read more

FilFla/Qodibop
Where: Shibuya O-Nest, Shibuya
The pitch: Electronica artist Hiroshi Sugimoto enlists a full band to celebrate his latest FliFla album release, while Sapporo post-rockers Qodibop celebrate their own. Read more

10am Film Festival
Where: Toho Cinemas Miyukiza, Hibiya
The pitch: This weekend's 10am Film Festival flick is a real humdinger. Sit back and have a good laugh at Robert Altman's classic 1970 war satire, MASH. Read more