Things to do this week in Tokyo

What to watch, wear, listen to and eat around the capital this week

Things to do this week in Tokyo

Things to do this week in Tokyo
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday



Wednesday 19



Jim O’Rourke Six Days
‘If I didn't have to ever play a show again, I'd be happy,’ Jim O'Rourke told us when we talked to him recently – so presumably he's enjoying this career-spanning, six-night engagement at SuperDeluxe. Read more


Sweet udon @ Tsurutontan
Summer: a time for scoffing ice cream, sorbets, kakigori snow cones, watermelon and... sweet udon? Head to Tsurutontan for some mango & yoghurt or ‘Macedonia-style Italian fruit punch’ noodles. Read more


It’s All About Money!
If you're having trouble adapting to the Age of Austerity, perhaps a trip to this finance-minded show at the Miraikan – which aims to teach visitors about their own spending habits – is in order before it finishes on Sunday. Read more


Aliens
James Cameron's sci-fi actioner ranks as one of the greatest sequels of all time, and Toho Cinemas is offering the rare chance to see the film's Ultimate Edition on a big screen. Just hurry up: it finishes tomorrow. Read more

Thursday 20



Suntory ‘Sosogu Dake’ Bar
If you aren't the kind of person to balk at drinking a mojito straight from the bottle, head to this pop-up bar in Roppongi Hills to try Suntory's new range of pre-mixed cocktails, for the piddling price of ¥100 per glass. Read more


Lionel Loueke Trio
Beninese guitarist/vocalist Lionel Loueke has earned a winning reputation for his sophisticated blend of jazzy impulses and African resources. Catch him in a trio with Michael Olatuja and John Davis at Pit Inn tonight. Read more


Story of the Year
Back from a temporary hiatus, these emo-tinged St Louis rockers have reconvened to mark the 10th anniversary of Page Avenue, their first – and by far their most popular – album. My First Story (no relation) support. Read more


Laura Mvula
Soul singer Laura Mvula's debut album, Sing to the Moon, has seen her hailed as the Nina Simone of her generation in the UK – and for once, the hype actually feels justified. She makes her Japan debut tonight. Read more

Friday 21



Color-Hunting
How blue is Sky Blue? When was the last time you saw an Olive Green olive? Dai Fujiwara, former creative director of Issey Miyake, delves deep into the world of colours in this new show at 21_21 Design Sight. Read more


Van Halen
If David Lee Roth is based in Tokyo now, does that make this a homecoming gig? Postponed from last November, Van Halen finally head to Tokyo Dome in support of their none-too-shabby 2012 comeback album. Read more


After Earth
Will and Jaden Smith play the last survivors of a spaceship crash on a devastated, human-abandoned future Earth in this M Night Shyamalan sci-fi. Is it as awful as advance reviews suggest? Find out today. Read more


Highball Garden 2013 in Tokyo Tower
Offering an alternative to the ubiquitous summer beer gardens, Tokyo Tower is serving up whisky highballs in a summer-only outdoor bar. Try the 'Tokyo Tower Highball', flavoured with bitter orange and herbs. Read more


Control presents Jonny Pierce
Regular visitors The Drums have left Japan off their current tour itinerary, but you can catch the band's chiselled, blond-mopped frontman, Jonny Pierce, in a rare DJ set at Shibuya House tonight instead. Read more


Hennessy Artistry
Hennessy's cognac-soaked party wagon returns to Sound Museum Vision with a typically rock-solid lineup, crowned by one Talib Kweli – making his first trip to Tokyo in six years – and local legend DJ Krush. Read more


Marcel Dettmann
Now that Eleven's no longer with us (RIP), Liquidroom is picking up some of the slack. The venue's latest all-nighter stars Marcel Dettmann, a resident at iconic Berlin techno club Berghain since before there was a Berghain. Read more

Saturday 22



Seminaked Party by Desigual
You'll have to get up early to take part in this retail stunt organised by Desigual: the bonkers Spanish brand is giving free clothes to the first 100 people to arrive at its Harajuku shop wearing nothing but swimsuits. Read more


Yatsui Festival 2013
Comedian and moonlighting DJ Ichiro Yatsui brings the worlds of music and mirth together at this all-day fest, which sees a range of bands, stand-ups and DJs ply their trade across nine different venues in Shibuya. Read more


Harry Potter: The Exhibition
Toss a Quaffle, pull a Mandrake and see hundreds of props and costumes from the Harry Potter films as this touring exhibition devoted to everybody's favourite wizard descends on Tokyo for the summer. Read more


Gokiburi Combinato’s haunted house
Extreme performance troupe Gokiburi Combinato offer their own spin on the fairground spook house at Ginza's Vanilla Gallery, and it's one that's been specifically designed to scare the bejeezus out of grown-ups. Read more


Leo Lionni: Book! Art! Book!
If the Bunkamura's recent exhibition of work by Spanish hyperrealist Antonio López was a little too austere for your tastes, this new show dedicated to well-loved children's illustrator Leo Lionni might be more appealing. Read more


Bugge 'n Friends
Adventurous Norwegian pianist Bugge Wesseltoft reconvenes this semi-regular band at the Blue Note Tokyo, featuring trumpeter Erik Truffaz, saxman Ilhan Ersahin and NYC house veteran Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell. Read more


06S
After drawing a capacity crowd for its 12th anniversary party with Andy C during Golden Week, drum 'n' bass bash 06S is keeping things local for the follow-up, with a headlining set by homegrown producer Makoto. Read more


Lilith 3rd Anniversary
Who said rap and deep house don't mix? San Francisco boy Navid Izadi will be proving the haters wrong in a live/DJ set at Air, while former staff members of Eleven (RIP) man the decks in the club's upstairs lounge. Read more

Sunday 23



Vintage clothing shops
If you're looking to give your wardrobe an overhaul in time for summer, take a look at our new guide to Tokyo's top used clothing stores: the best places for everything from cheap T-shirts to century-old spectacles. Read more


Shimokitazawa Indie Fanclub 2013
Ever wondered what a Japanese SXSW might look like? Head to Shimokitazawa today and you can find out, as over a hundred indie acts play at venues ranging from familiar live spots to the local branch of Muji. Read more


Odilon Redon: Les origines de la fantaisie
That great artist of the fantastic, Odilon Redon bucked the prevailing trends of Impressionism to explore the realm of the interior. Catch this show of his work at Sompo Japan Museum of Art before it finishes today. Read more


Kayo Ume: Umekayo
Today is also your last chance to check out the first major solo show by photographer Kayo Ume, who's made a career of cataloguing the brief moments of humour and weirdness that enliven our everyday lives. Read more


Ukiyoe: Floating World
After restricting itself mostly to 19th century European art, the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum is plunging headfirst into the world of ukiyoe this summer, with a show so sprawling that it's had to be split into three parts. Read more

By James Hadfield
Please note: All information is correct at the time of writing but is subject to change without notice.

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