Gaido Japan

Kawaii Flea Market
2022-05-29 09:30 - 15:30 UTC | Kawaii Flea Market, Sunshine City, Ikebukuro, Japan
Taking place either in Nakano or Ikebukuro, this small flea market is punted at the ladies, though, in our experience, can be a good time for all genders. Check it out for previously-loved clothing, crafts, antiques, and all sorts of other “cute” stuff.
Note: These markets, especially the Nakano-Sakaue version, can be really quiet and underwhelming. As this one doesn’t always get much traffic, things might wrap up early.
On its better days, the market features stalls by independent artists and craftspeople, or live performances.
Please note, markets are sometimes cancelled due to weather or other circumstances. Markets may also be cancelled on short notice due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.
May 29: Sunshine City, Ikebukuro
July 3: Sunshine City, Ikebukuro
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, many events have been canceled. Always check official sites before heading to an event.

Umbrella Sky at Metsa Village
2022-05-15 - 2022-08-31
Metsa, comprising Metsa Village and Moomin Valley Park, is a Moomin theme park in rural Saitama. However, it can be reached from Tokyo in just over an hour by either public transport or by car. The Umbrella Sky Project is at the main entrance to the theme park. The Umbrella Sky Project at Metsa is called “Forest, Lake, and Umbrella”. At Entrance Road, the umbrellas are backdropped by a lush forest lined with stunning purple geraniums, but you can’t see the lake until after you have passed the umbrella display. The display is made up of 1000 umbrellas in varying shades of the rainbow. They cast beautiful colored shadows onto the footpath beneath. The footpath itself is painted in vibrant shades. Together they forge a breathtaking scene. There is also a smaller display of umbrellas in the Metsa Hall, a craft and workshop area with a view of Miyazawa lake. In 2019, the umbrellas in Metsa Hall are different from those at Entrance Road. They are umbrellas of different shapes and with varying patterns and motifs on them. During the event period in 2019, you could purchase a special limited edition rainbow cheesecake at Lagom, a Smørrebrød restaurant in the market hall. In 2020, information for the crafts and limited food is not yet available, but they are adding a new section of umbrella sky down by the lake. In 2020 the umbrella sky event is on twice as long as last year. They are currently planning to start on May 15th, but there may be changes due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The entrance road display will be available on July 26th and the lakeside umbrella sky will run until August 30th. The event is free and entrance into Metsa village is free. There is a cover charge to enter Moomin Valley Park. Parking is charged on weekends.

Nitoyo Coast Rock Oyster Festival
2022-05-01 - 2022-08-31
The Nitoyo Coast stretches from the southern part of Oita Prefecture to the northern part of Miyazaki Prefecture, and it’s famous for one thing in particular – rock oysters. The oysters in this part of the country are nourished by mineral-rich seawater from the Kuroshio current and ultra-clean rainwater that flows from the region’s mountains, creating the conditions for larger, richer, and creamier oysters than in other locations. Now in its 6th year, the Nitoyo Coast Rock Oyster Festival celebrates the revered local delicacy, with several different restaurants in Saiki City, Nobeoka City, Kadogawa Town, and Hyuga City participating in the event. The 19 businesses involved can be found on the PDF flyer here (in Japanese), and there is a stamp rally with prizes available for those who dine at multiple stores during the event dates.

Pola Museum of Art 20th Anniversary Exhibition
2022-04-09 09:00 - 2022-09-06 17:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
From April 9th until September 6th, 2022, the POLA Museum of Art will host an exhibition to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the venue’s opening. The event will focus on new items in the museum’s collection, with works on display from renowned artists like Claude Monet, Henri Matisse, and Gerhard Richter to name just a few.
The museum celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2022 (Photo: Rlbberlin / CC BY-SA 3.0)
At current estimates, around 120 works will be on display at the exhibition, which will cover various artistic mediums such as paintings, sculptures, and prints.
Art by Gerhard Richter will feature at the event (Photo: Pola Museum of Art)
Adult admission to the museum is priced at ¥ 1800. For more information about the venue, visit this article on Japan Travel.

Chiyoda Sakura Festival
2025-12-20 15:10 (Asia/Tokyo)
The Chiyoda Sakura Festival is an annual springtime event that takes place from late March to early April. Held around the beautiful Chidorigafuchi moat, the festival attracts approximately one million visitors each year to admire the stunning pastel-pink scenery. In addition to viewing the cherry blossoms during the daytime, the trees and the 700-meter promenade surrounding the moat are illuminated after dark, providing a perfect setting for a scenic evening walk.
If you want to enjoy the blooms from the water, boat rides are available for 800 yen for 30 minutes or 1,600 yen per hour. You can make reservations at the boat dock (details provided on the festival’s website).
