Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the TOKYO SKYTREE® observation deck, The Sakura SKYTREE® event brings the beauty of cherry blossoms to the sky. Themed around "Sakura × Sky," this event features four photogenic spots decorated with vibrant displays inspired by different cherry blossom varieties, including Somei Yoshino, Shidare Zakura, Maihime, and Yaezakura. It’s a perfect opportunity to capture stunning panoramic views alongside these delicate floral decorations.

On the Tembo Deck (Floor 350), the nighttime-exclusive SKYTREE ROUND THEATER® transforms the windows into a massive screen using 13 speakers and 24 projectors, immersing visitors in a mesmerizing visual and sound experience that captures the fleeting beauty of Japan’s cherry blossoms. Additionally, SKYTREE CAFE offers limited-time sakura-themed treats, including cherry blossom-flavored cocktails, soda drinks, and sakura mochi-flavored donuts.

TOKYO SKYTREE® will light up with special illumination, "Sakura SKY (桜宙)," creating a magical scene of cherry blossoms drifting across the night sky. The lighting effects capture the beauty of petals fluttering in the wind, making it feel like you're gazing up at a spring sky filled with sakura. (Check the official website for lighting schedule details.)

On the 5th floor at SKYTREE SHOP, a cherry blossom tree will be set up, and limited-time sakura-themed goods will be available for purchase.

From January 15 to March 16, 2025, Tokyo Disneyland® is hosting "Vanellope’s Sweets Pop World" as the third installment of the Disney Pal-Palooza event series. Inspired by the candy-filled world from Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph, this limited-time event brings Vanellope’s sugary dreamland to life.

The highlight is the "It’s a Sweets-Full Time!" parade (held once daily), where Disney characters dressed in candy-themed costumes sing and dance to create a fun-filled atmosphere. Mickey Mouse joins the celebration in a strawberry-topped tart outfit, riding on a fruit tart-inspired float designed like a lively concert stage.

Visitors can also find limited-edition merchandise inspired by the event, including candy-themed Minnie ears, shoulder bags, and the Sweet Poppin’ Stick, a Mickey-shaped treat designed to look like colorful candy.

For a taste of Vanellope’s Sweets Pop World, don’t miss the special menu featuring treats like the Choco Mint Special Donut, coated in mint-flavored chocolate, and the Cake Drink, a fun, drinkable take on classic cake flavors.

Keep an eye out for cast members carrying special buckets around World Bazaar and Castle Forecourt—if you spot one, say "Happy! Pal-Palooza!" and you’ll receive a limited-edition candy as a sweet surprise!

Tokyo DisneySea® is hosting the Duffy & Friends’ Wonderful Kitchen event, bringing a delightful culinary experience to life. At Miguel’s El Dorado Cantina in Lost River Delta, the restaurant will be transformed with charming decorations inspired by the creative desserts invented by CookieAnn. The whimsical setting is sure to make every visit feel extra special.

Inside, guests can enjoy Duffy-themed special menu items, including the Duffy’s Special Set (Beef), crafted to match the warm and playful world of Duffy & Friends.

Guests can also shop for exclusive Duffy & Friends merchandise, featuring adorable food-inspired designs. Look out for colorful plush costumes themed around ingredients like cherries and oranges, a shoulder bag shaped like a pancake with a fried egg on top, and a soft, fluffy scarf featuring Gelatoni holding an orange—perfect for adding a touch of warmth and cuteness to your outfit.

For those who love to cook, the event also offers practical kitchen items featuring Duffy & Friends. Pick up a pancake pan that lets you make pancakes shaped like Duffy’s face or a cute apron decorated with Duffy & Friends—perfect for adding a touch of Disney magic to your kitchen!

Don't miss the food souvenirs, including the Vanilla Mousse & Lemon Jelly with a Souvenir Cup (1,300 yen) and the Strawberry & Whipped Cream Sandwich with a Souvenir Plate (1,300 yen)—perfect keepsakes to take home along with your sweet treats!

Held every spring at Takao-san Yakuo-in Temple in the outskirts of Hachioji, Tokyo, the Fire-Walking Festival is a powerful Buddhist ritual. In Japanese Buddhism, fire is believed to purify misfortunes, and during the ceremony, ascetic monks pray for world peace and good health before stepping barefoot into the blazing flames, chanting as they walk through. Once the fire dies down, visitors are invited to walk the same path, receiving blessings without having to endure the flames themselves. The mesmerizing ritual draws thousands of spectators each year, as simply witnessing the event is believed to bring good fortune.

Additionally, yamabushi (mountain monks) carry a sacred mikoshi adorned with Bonten talismans (available for purchase on the day for 500 yen), walking around the fire to ward off misfortune and pray for safety.

Held at Jindaiji Temple in Chofu, one of Tokyo’s oldest temples, the Daruma Market is one of Japan’s three major Daruma doll markets. Officially known as the Yakuyoke Ganzandaishi Grand Festival, this event dates back to the mid-Edo period and honors Jikei Daishi, a revered monk from Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei.

The temple grounds come alive with around 300 vendor stalls, with Daruma doll sellers at the center of the festivities. Throughout the event, Goma prayer rituals for warding off misfortune and granting wishes are held approximately every 30 minutes from 9:30 AM to 1 PM, with a final session at 3 PM.

At 1:45 PM, a procession takes place, followed by the traditional Hyakumi Kuyo ritual at 2 PM, where tea and sweets are offered before the sacred image of Ganzandaishi. Visitors can also participate in the Daruma eye-painting ritual (9 AM – 5 PM) at the Daruma Eye-Painting Station, where Jindaiji monks inscribe the character "Ah" (阿) in the left eye to signify a new beginning and "Un" (吽) in the right eye when the wish is fulfilled. Limited-edition festival Goshuin stamps (500 yen) are also available.

Held at Takao Baigo, a well-known plum blossom viewing spot, this festival celebrates the arrival of spring with stunning floral displays. Takao Baigo refers to a 4.5 km stretch along the Old Koshu Highway and Kobutsu River, where eight plum groves are home to around 10,000 red and white plum trees in full bloom. Visitors can enjoy a scenic walk from Yuhodo Plum Grove, near the Takao Station and Takaosanguchi Station area, all the way to Kobutsu Plum Grove, the farthest point on the trail.

Each year, the festival features food stalls, a stamp rally across the groves, Yosakoi dance performances, open-air tea ceremonies, and koto music performances. The best time to see the blossoms is mid-February to early March, though bloom timing varies by location.

The Honzon Jigen-e is a traditional ceremony held at Sensoji Temple, commemorating its legendary founding. According to history, on March 18, 628, two fishermen casting their nets in the Sumida River unexpectedly pulled up a sacred Buddhist statue. They brought it to Haji no Nakatomo, the village chief, who identified it as the Holy Kannon Bodhisattva. Moved by its significance, he became a monk and enshrined the statue, marking the beginnings of Sensoji Temple.

On the day of the event, the head priest leads a ceremonial procession from Denbo-in Temple, passing through Nakamise Street before reaching the main hall of Sensoji. At 2 PM, a special Buddhist service is held in honor of the temple’s founding.

A highlight of the celebration is the Golden Dragon Dance (Kinryu no Mai), performed on the temple grounds. This dynamic and elegant dance is inspired by a legend that says when the sacred statue was pulled from the Sumida River, a golden dragon descended from the heavens, creating a thousand pine trees overnight. A massive 18-meter-long, 88-kilogram golden dragon is paraded through the air, bringing the myth to life.

Additionally, on the evening of March 17, a sacred ritual between Sensoji Temple and Asakusa Shrine takes place. The deities of Asakusa Shrine visit Kannon Bodhisattva, enshrined at Sensoji. The three portable shrines (mikoshi) used in the Sanja Matsuri are purified and placed inside Sensoji’s main hall for the night in a ritual known as Dounage (hall placement), illuminated by torchlight. On March 18, the Dousage (hall removal) ceremony is performed, where the mikoshi are taken back to Asakusa Shrine.

Tokyo’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade has become an annual spring tradition, bringing a lively celebration of Irish culture to the streets of Omotesando. First held in 1992 by Irish Network Japan with support from the Embassy of Ireland, the event introduces Irish traditions to Japan in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere. Featuring marching bands, Irish dancers, and even Irish Wolfhounds and Setters dressed in green, the parade is a multicultural gathering of locals and international visitors alike.

Held on March 16, 2025, the parade is part of the larger Green Ireland Festival, Japan’s biggest Irish celebration. Alongside the parade, the festival at Yoyogi Park (March 15–16) will offer traditional Irish music, dance performances, and Irish food and drinks. The event welcomes over 100,000 visitors each year, making it a must-visit for anyone looking to experience Ireland’s vibrant culture in Tokyo.

AnimeJapan 2025, one of the world's largest anime events, returns to Tokyo Big Sight. Last year, the event set a new record with 130,000 attendees, making headlines as the biggest edition yet.

With over 110 exhibitor booths, including major studios like Toei Animation, known for Detective Butt and other popular titles, AnimeJapan 2025 is a must-visit for anime fans. Exclusive merchandise will be available, including the AJ Gacha, featuring original key visual illustrations created specifically for the event.

The event also boasts exciting stage programs, such as a special stage for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and a pre-broadcast special for the return of the One Piece anime, making it an unforgettable experience for attendees.

From December 21, 2024, to March 31, 2025, Ukiyo-e Immersive Art: The Floating World of Japan will be held at Terada Warehouse in Tennozu, Tokyo. This interactive digital art exhibition brings traditional ukiyo-e to life, allowing visitors to step into the vibrant world of Japan’s iconic woodblock prints.

The exhibition features over 300 masterpieces from renowned ukiyo-e artists such as Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige, reimagined using cutting-edge 3D CGI animation and projection mapping. With around 10 immersive digital spaces, visitors can fully immerse themselves in the floating world of ukiyo-e like never before.

Highlights include "Ai," a breathtaking display that celebrates the deep blue hues known as "Japan Blue," and "Rei," which beautifully captures the changing seasons in vivid colors. Each space offers a unique interpretation of ukiyo-e, blending tradition with modern digital artistry.

From January 9 to March 7, 2025, the Edo in Light Daimaruyu event transforms the Otemachi, Marunouchi, and Yurakucho areas into a dazzling tribute to Edo-period aesthetics, reimagined with modern illumination. As the grand finale, the Haru-Mination illumination event will take place from March 3 to 7, featuring traditional Japanese umbrella (wagasa) lighting displays.

During the Edo period (1603–1868), this area flourished with daimyo residences, granted to feudal lords by the shogun. The Haru-Mination event brings this historical legacy to light, using wagasa lanterns decorated with cherry blossoms and floral motifs, casting a soft glow that welcomes spring. The serene atmosphere of Otemachi’s business district, home to financial institutions and media headquarters, creates a unique contrast with the traditional elegance of the illuminated wagasa, offering a mesmerizing blend of history and modernity.

The internationally acclaimed stage production, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, has finally arrived in Japan with an original Japanese cast! Co-created by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne, this official sequel to the Harry Potter series takes place 19 years after the original story.

Previously performed in six cities worldwide, the Tokyo production marks the first in Asia and the seventh globally. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the Harry Potter universe, this spectacular production promises breathtaking magic, immersive stage design, stunning costumes, and an unforgettable soundtrack—bringing the wizarding world to life like never before.

March in Tokyo is filled with plum blossom festivals, seasonal celebrations, and traditional events that welcome the arrival of spring. While the days can be warm, mornings and evenings may still be chilly, so be sure to bring some extra layers when heading out!

(The information in this article is current as of February 2025. Please check official websites for the latest updates.)