Things to do this week in Tokyo

Monday 7

Zojoji Tanabata Festival
Legend tells of the star-crossed lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi who, separated by the Milky Way, are only able to meet once a year on the night known as Tanabata. Celebrate the occasion under the glow of Tokyo Tower. Read more

Night Sky Café
As Tanabata is all about stars, what better way to spend 'the night of the seventh' than looking up at the sky? This Roppongi Hills stargazing event comes complete with some astronomically themed café goodies. Read more

Tuesday 8

Rakugo Comedy Night in English
Curious about rakugo, the traditional form of funny storytelling that's Japan's answer to stand-up comedy? Now's your chance to get an effective English-language introduction to the art at Shinjuku's Kinokuniya. Read more

Wednesday 9

Ichiko Aoba
Having performed alongside renowned Japanese musicians like Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Keigo Oyamada, singer-songwriter Ichiko Aoba has come a long way since her debut in 2010. Don't miss her show tonight. Read more

The Birth of Impressionism
Celebrating 140 years since the first impressionist exhibition in Paris, The National Art Center will be displaying 84 masterpieces from the French capital's Musée d'Orsay. This eagerly awaited show opens today. Read more

Thursday 10

Studio Ghibli Structures Exhibition
Studio Ghibli’s latest film, Hiromasa Yonebayashi’s When Marnie Was There, is opening next week. Warm up for the movie at this exhibition displaying miniatures and sketches of structures from past Ghibli flicks. Read more

Asakusa Hozuki-Ichi
An Edo-era legend holds that paying one's respects at a temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon on shimanrokusen-nichi (today) will count for the same as 46,000 such visits on any other day. How convenient. Read more

Friday 11

Nihonbashi Art Aquarium
Deploying a range of lighting tricks and traditional Japanese motifs, not to mention thousands of live goldfish, this annual but ever-changing exhibition is a must-visit. Go after 7pm for a hot atmosphere and cocktails. Read more

The Novembers
If you've never really gotten into Japanese alt-rock before, now's your chance: Tokyoites The Novembers end their Japan tour with this Roppongi gig, which also features an appearance by fellow alt-rockers Art-School. Read more

Saturday 12

Fuurin Matsuri
Find a pretty wind bell made of glass at this festival taking place at Adachi's Nishiarai Daishi temple. Craftspeople from all over the country will be peddling an endless variety of these summery decorations from today. Read more

Kasai Rinkai Aquarium Free Entrance Day
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Kasai Rinkai Aquarium invites you to experience the world of over 600 marine species free of charge. Don't miss the giant donut-shaped tuna tank and its fatty inhabitants. Read more

Market of the Sun
Japan's largest regular urban farmers' market will be back again at Kachidoki, and this month's speciality will be 'summer sweets'. Delicacies like shaved ice and ice cream-filled crepes promise to draw hungry crowds. Read more

Ancient Mammals Exhibition
A fearsome bunch of extinct mammals come together at this Ueno exhibition opening today. Highlights include three complete skeletons of Asian straight-tusked elephants and fossils of ancient hippos. Read more

The Dance of Reality
Opening today! Shinjuku's Cinema Qualite continues its Alejandro Jodorowsky series with this autobiographical documentary, a surrealistic journey into the great director's dreamlike childhood in Chile. Read more

Hospital + Med School
The beat will be turned up to the max at Daikanyama club Unit tonight, as South London's drum & bass labels Hospital and Med School present Etherwood, one of the hottest young names on the scene. Read more

Sunday 13

Deux Magots Paris Festival
Never mind it's a day early – celebrate the French Revolution at Bunkamura's Deux Magots restaurant, which marks Bastille Day with violin and accordion performances, delicious French food and a small flea market. Read more

Takehiko Inoue Interprets Gaudi's Universe
Surely one of the top exhibitions this summer: manga artist Takehiko Inoue toured Barcelona in search of the origins of Gaudi, a trip that resulted in this show that integrates works from two very different cultures and times. Read more

Mitsume & Kuuki Koudan
Tokyo indie quartet Mitsume are one of the rising stars in the Japanese rock sky. Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Daikanyama club Unit with them and fellow poppers Kuuki Koudan at this evening double-header. Read more