Tokyo Disneyland is hosting the first series of the special event 'Minnie's Funderland.' Themed around 'Minnie Mouse's fantasy world filled with her favorite things,' the park is adorned with Minnie Mouse-like polka dots, pink and blue colors, and ribbon motifs. In the 'Minnie's Funderland' program, Minnie and her friends appear in cute outfits decorated with heart accessories and lovely polka dots, riding on floats with large ribbons. Additionally, for a limited time, the handwashing areas at Tokyo Disneyland feature Minnie-shaped foam. Special Minnie-themed merchandise and menus are also available.

Event Details
・Venue: Tokyo Disney Resort
・Dates: January 10 to March 19, 2024
・Hours: Vary, so please refer to the official website
・Admission: Varies, please refer to the official website
・Days Closed: Open daily during the event
・Phone Number: 0570-00-8632 (Navigator Dial)

Setsubun, the day before the start of spring, falls on February 3 in 2024. It's a time for rituals to ward off evil spirits and pray for everyone's health and happiness. Practices include throwing beans while saying 'Demons out, luck in,' and eating Ehomaki, a special sushi roll. The main event of the three-day Shimokitazawa Tengu Festival is the 'Tengu Procession,' held on the second day, February 3 (Saturday), starting at 2 PM. Participants, including large and small Tengu, mountain priests, and lucky men and women, parade through the shopping district, scattering beans. A highlight is the 'Tengu Mask Cart' carrying a giant Tengu mask, measuring 3 meters tall and 2 meters wide.

On the third day, there's the 'Tengu Lucky Beans - Guess the Weight!' event, where participants guess the weight of beans scooped with a ladle, open to tourists as well. Interestingly, in this festival, instead of saying 'Demons out,' the focus is on inviting luck in by chanting 'Luck in' three times during bean-throwing.

Event Details
・Venue: Shimokitazawa Ichiban Street Shopping District
・Dates: February 2-4, 2024
・Hours: Varies by event
・Admission: Free
・Days Closed: Open daily during the event
・Phone Number: 03-3468-2933

The Setsubun Festival at Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa is renowned as Tokyo's first major Setsubun celebration. On February 3, starting at 10 AM, bean throwing by children from Senso-ji Kindergarten takes place in front of the main hall. This is followed by two more bean-throwing sessions at noon and 2 PM on a special stage to the right of the main hall, led by 'Toshiotoko,' men who have the same zodiac sign as the current year. Before the bean throwing, these men, dressed in 'Kamishimo,' traditional samurai attire from the Edo period, and carrying lanterns with their names, will parade through the temple grounds. Those interested in watching should arrive at the stage slightly before the start. The beans, packed in bags, are scattered, and it's considered lucky to catch them. Even if you don't catch any, blessed 'Fuku-mame' (lucky beans) are available for purchase on the grounds. Besides bean throwing, the temple also hosts a performance of 'Fukuju no Mai' (Dance of the Seven Lucky Gods), one of the three great temple dances of Senso-ji.

Event Details
・Venue: Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa
・Date: February 3, 2024
・Time: Bean throwing starts at noon
・Admission: Free
・Phone Number: 03-3842-0181

Zojoji Temple's Setsubun event, 'Setsubun Tsuina-shiki,' begins with a procession called 'Oneri' through the temple grounds, with the important cultural asset, the San'enmon Gate, as a backdrop. Leading the procession are men and women of the current year's zodiac sign ('Toshiotoko' and 'Toshiotome') dressed in traditional 'Kamishimo,' followed by brightly clad kindergarten children and dogs from the pet club. Bean throwing starts around noon on a special stage. Besides the Toshiotoko and Toshiotome, sumo stablemasters, high-ranking wrestlers, athletes, and celebrities also participate in bean throwing. The temple also sells 'Fuku-mame' (lucky beans) for 1,000 yen and 'Fuku-masu' (lucky boxes) for 2,000 yen (limited quantities). Events include mochi pounding and 'Oni Mondou,' where children from Meitoku Kindergarten throw beans at oni (demons) on stage.

General public can also participate as Toshiotoko and Toshiotome (advance application required, fee-based, details here). On the day, participants wear Kamishimo, join the Oneri procession, pray for misfortune removal in front of the temple's 'Black Amida Hall,' and throw beans from the stage.

Event Details
・Venue: Zojoji Temple Grounds
・Date: February 3, 2024
・Time: Bean throwing starts around noon
・Admission: Free
・Phone Number: 03-3432-1431

This event, held at Ikegami Honmonji, the head temple of Nichiren Buddhism, attracts about 10,000 visitors each year. On February 3 at 1 PM, the 'Oneri Parade' begins, with Fukuo (lucky men) and Fukujyo (lucky women) starting from Ota Ward's community center, Tokumochi Hall, and passing through Ekimae Street Shopping District, Honmonji Street Shopping District, and Shin-Sando. At 2 PM, a ritual called 'Tsuina-shiki' is held in the main hall to purify and pray for good fortune, followed by bean throwing starting at 3 PM. Participants often include professional wrestlers, sumo wrestlers, and martial artists, who throw approximately one ton of beans from a 50-meter-wide special stage. Ikegami Honmonji also sells blessed 'Fuku-mame' (lucky beans) for 500 yen at the main temple office or the general information center, which include a 'Fukumamori' charm that has been blessed with sutras. General public participation is also possible, not limited to those born in the year's zodiac sign (advance application required, fee-based, details here).

Event Details
・Venue: Ikegami Honmonji Temple
・Date: February 3, 2024
・Time: Bean throwing starts at 3 PM
・Admission: Free
・Phone Number: 03-3752-2331

The 'Spring Festival,' equivalent to the Lunar New Year, falls on February 10 in 2024. Yokohama Chinatown celebrates with an illumination event. The area is fantastically lit with auspicious red and gold lights. On two main streets, Chukagai Dori and Sai-mon Street, you'll find the 'Hundred Section Dragon' and 'Fifty Section Dragon,' made up of about 100 lanterns. These giant dragons, crafted with 99 yellow lanterns and one green sphere, stretch an impressive 80 meters in length. The shopping street 'Motomachi' features a 'Light Bridge' decorating the Ichiba Street Bridge, and 'Yamashita Park' along the coast is connected to the park's entrance with a 'Light Promenade.' These illuminations not only enhance Yokohama Chinatown but also the Motomachi and Minato Mirai areas.

Event Details
・Venue: Entire Yokohama Chinatown, Ichiba-dōri-bashi Bridge, Yamashita Koen-dori
・Dates: November 1, 2023 to February 24, 2024
・Hours: Illumination from 4 PM to 11 PM
・Admission: Free
・Days Closed: Open daily during the event
・Phone Number: Inquiries via form

The Kawazu Cherry Blossoms, blooming annually from early February to early March in Kawazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, is an early-blooming cherry blossom known for its large, pink flowers. Unlike the Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms in Ueno Park that bloom and scatter quickly, these blossoms take about a month to fully bloom. Along the Kawazu River, about 850 cherry trees blossom, with the town boasting around 8,000 trees in total. During the festival, food stalls and souvenir vendors are set up, and various events take place. There are also 'Night Sakura Light-ups' from 6 PM to 9 Pm at two locations: downstream of Tatehashi and Mine Onsen Sakura Tunnel. Besides the river, it's recommended to view the cherry blossoms from the viewing platform at Nehando in Izu and Kawazu Castle Ruins Park. The festival spans about 3.6 kilometers from Hamahashi to Mine Ohashi, so comfortable walking shoes are advised. There are also footbaths like Toyoiwa along the river!

Event Details
・Venue: Along Kawazu River
・Dates: February 1 to 29, 2024
・Hours: Sakura Light-up from 6 PM to 9 PM
・Admission: Free
・Days Closed: Open daily during the event
・Phone Number: 0558-32-0290

This event is held at two locations: 'Soga Plum Grove,' one of the three great plum groves in the Kanto region, and 'Odawara Castle Ruins Park,' both with views of Mount Fuji. Soga Plum Grove features about 35,000 white plum trees in bloom, with shops selling local specialties and plums, and a restaurant open during the festival. There are also walking trails where visitors can enjoy views of Sagami Bay and Mount Fuji. In Odawara Castle Ruins Park, around 250 red and white plum trees bloom against the backdrop of the castle tower, the copper gate, and the Tokiwa-bashi Bridge, and the 'Risshun Blue Sky Haiku Gathering' takes place. During the festival, local performing arts like the longevity lion dance and festival music are showcased. Additionally, stalls selling sweet sake, oden, local specialties like pickled plums, and plum jam are set up at each venue.

Moreover, at the Odawara Flower Garden, visitors can enjoy about 200 varieties and around 480 trees of early and late-blooming red and white plum blossoms. Tsujimura Botanical Park focuses on late-blooming white plum trees, with about 570 trees for viewing.

Event Details
・Venue: Soga Plum Grove & Odawara Castle Ruins Park
・Dates: February 3 to 29, 2024
・Hours: Varies by venue
・Admission: Free
・Days Closed: Open daily during the event
・Phone Number: 0465-20-4192 (Odawara City Tourist Association)

The Plum Festival held at Yushima Tenjin, known since the Edo period for its plum blossoms, features about 20 varieties and a total of around 300 plum trees. The majority are white plums, especially the 'Shirokaga' variety, along with others like 'Tsukikage,' late-blooming 'Bungo' in pale red, red 'Kankobai,' and light red 'Kenkyo.' The variety of colorful plum blossoms is a key attraction.

Every Sunday during the festival, there's an outdoor tea ceremony (fee not yet determined, including Japanese sweets). On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, except March 2, performances include Yushima Tenjin Shirobai Taiko by a local taiko drum team, rakugo (comic storytelling), Japanese dance, Kappore dance, and Shamisen music. On March 2, there's even a karaoke contest. Local shops within the precincts sell plum-related sweets. Evening light-up of the plum garden is planned from dusk until closing.

Event Details
・Venue: Yushima Tenjin
・Dates: February 8 to March 8, 2024
・Hours: Plum garden open from 8 AM to 7:30 PM
・Admission: Free
・Days Closed: Open daily during the event
・Phone Number: 03-3836-0753 (Bunkyo Plum Festival Executive Committee, inside Yushima Tenjin)

Salon du Chocolat' is the world's largest chocolate festival, held annually in Paris, France, from late October to early November. In Japan, it started in January 2003 at Isetan Shinjuku Store and this year marks its 22nd edition.

This year's theme is 'Touch!' The event is divided into three parts, each with a different theme. 'PART3,' scheduled from February 5 (Monday) to 14 (Wednesday) 2024, focuses on 'THE NEXT – Diversity of Chocolate.' Featured brands include 'Jean-Paul Hévin,' 'Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki Paris,' 'Laurent Le Daniel,' and 'Yvan Chevalier,' among others.

Due to its popularity, entrance before 12 PM is through a lottery-based reservation system (details on the official website). For those without a timed-entry ticket, free admission starts after 12 PM each day. However, free admission tickets must still be collected after the store opens at 10 AM at the entrance to the event space on the 6th floor of the main building.

Event Details
・Venue: Isetan Shinjuku Store, Main Building, 6th Floor Event Space
・Dates: February 5 to 14, 2024, for 10 days
・Hours: 10 AM – 8 PM; until 4 PM on February 8, and until 6 PM on the final day
・Admission: Free
・Days Closed: February 4, 2024 is open only to MI Card members

In Japan, strawberries start to appear around January and reach their peak season from February to April. Tokyo Skytree Town® hosts the 'Strawberry Fair,' where shops like 'Strawberry Mania' and 'Qu'il Fait Bon' offer strawberry-themed menus, including desserts like parfaits and tarts made with seasonal strawberries, as well as strawberry cocktails. Unique treats like 'Ichigo Matcha Anko Maki' (strawberry and green tea wrapped sweet bean paste) from 'Tsukishima Specialty Monja Daruma' are also available.

In addition, there are sales of strawberry-themed accessories, bag charms, and dishcloths. Workshops such as 'Towel Strawberry Making!' and 'Strawberry Motif Workshop' where participants can create resin clay sweets and aroma stones are also part of the event.

Event Details
・Venue: Tokyo Skytree Town, Tokyo Solamachi®
・Dates: January 12 to February 29, 2024
・Hours: Varies by event and stall
・Admission: Varies by event and activity
・Days Closed: Open daily during the event

This event offers the chance to enjoy award-winning hot sake from the 'National Hot Sake Contest 2023,' paired with snacks, at platform 3 of JR Ryogoku Station.

Platform 3, usually reserved for special trains, makes entry itself a unique experience. It's a pre-sale only event. For 3,500 yen (tax included), you get 'Oden for One' from the food manufacturer Kibun, a filling crab-flavored kamaboko 'Shitaraba®,' and a set of 10 tasting tickets. Each ticket allows for one cup of sake. With a total of 10 breweries participating, you can either compare different sakes or stick to your favorite.

Since the platform can be very cold, it's advisable to bring warm clothes. There are no chairs, as it's a standing event, so minimize your belongings. Also, as soft drinks like water are not sold at the event, purchase them beforehand if needed.

Event Details
・Venue: JR Ryogoku Station, Platform 3
・Dates: February 1 to 4, 2024
・Hours: Feb 1-2 from 2:30 PM to 8:50 PM, Feb 3 from 12:30 PM to 8:40 PM, Feb 4 from 11:10 AM to 4:10 PM
・Admission changes every 60 minutes. Price: Pre-sale only at 3,500 yen (no same-day tickets). Pre-sale tickets, sold out as of January 2024, will be available again on the evening of February 1. They can also be purchased at Ryogoku Tourist Information Center, located on the first floor of 'Ryogoku Edo NOREN,' a dining complex directly connected to JR Ryogoku Station (until January 31). Check the official website for more details.
・Days Closed: Open daily during the event
・Phone Number: Sake Culture Research Institute 03-3865-3010 (9:30 AM – 5:30 PM)

Yomiuriland, spanning Inagi City, Tokyo, and Tama Ward, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa, is more than just an amusement park. It's a place where creativity comes to life in the form of a stunning illumination event. Renowned lighting designer Makiko Ishii, a luminary in the world of lighting design, is the mastermind behind this enchanting spectacle. This year, the theme is "LIGHT is LOVE," and it introduces a brand-new color called "Earth Blue Jewel Color," representing our profound love for the planet. The illumination combines a palette of deep and rich hues, evoking the beauty of the sea with aquamarine and sapphire, and embracing the lush green forests with the vibrant emerald.

The event also features a crowd-pleasing fountain show that boasts a colossal 15-meter water screen ring, 188 fountains, and mesmerizing effects created using lasers and flames. It's a showcase of cutting-edge technology that guarantees a delightful experience.

While the park's attractions, including the most popular Bandit rollercoaster, are adorned with splendid decorations, consider visiting Yomiuriland not just for the thrills but to immerse yourself in the captivating beauty of the illumination.

Event Details
・Venue: Yomiuriland
・Dates: October 19, 2023 to April 7, 2024
・Hours: 4 PM to 8:30 PM
・Prices: One-Day Pass: Adults 5,800 yen; After Pass (entry after 3 PM on Jewellumination days + unlimited rides): Adults 3,100 yen
・Days Closed: Open daily during the event

"Marunouchi Illumination" completely transforms the heart of Marunouchi, including Marunouchi Nakadori, the vicinity of Yurakucho Station's Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan building, and the area near the Nihombashi exit of JR Tokyo Station. This stunning display involves adorning approximately 340 roadside trees with an astonishing 1.2 million LED lights.

What makes this illumination truly unique is its exquisite color palette, featuring a captivating champagne gold hue. This warm and vibrant shade of yellow creates a luminous and vivid ambiance, setting it apart from the typical yellow lights you often encounter.

What's even more impressive is the commitment to sustainability. All the power required for the Marunouchi Nakadori illumination comes from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. Additionally, the expansive outdoor space known as TOKYO TORCH Park in front of Tokyo Station's Nihombashi exit will also be illuminated, providing visitors with a delightful experience, even though it's slightly separated from the main Marunouchi area.

Event Details
・Venue: Marunouchi Nakadori, Tokyo Station Front Area, and more
・Dates: November 16, 2023, to February 18, 2024
・Event Times: 3 PM to 11 PM
・Admission: Free
・Closed: Open daily during the event
・Phone Number: 03-5218-5100 (Marunouchi Call Center)

Yokohama Milight 2023, the biggest illumination extravaganza in Yokohama, transforms the Yokohama Station and Minato Mirai area into a mesmerizing wonderland of light. Spanning approximately 1.5 kilometers from the east exit of Yokohama Station to Grand Mall Park, this event dazzles with a stunning display of around 350,000 LED lights in hues of blue, gold, and white.

What makes this event truly exceptional is the extensive array of illuminated hotspots it offers. You can immerse yourself in the radiance at various locations including the east exit of Yokohama Station, Hamamirai Walk, Minato Mirai Pedestrian Bridge, Yokohama Sympho Stage, Grand Mall Park, and the majestic sail training ship Nippon Maru.

What's even more remarkable is that all the electricity powering this spectacle is generated from renewable sources like solar and wind power, often referred to as "Green Energy." In December, a festival with dazzling light and sound adds to the enchantment. So, while enjoying the breathtaking illuminations, you can also savor the sea breeze in the picturesque coastal city of Yokohama. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the magic!

Event Details:
・Venue: Yokohama Station East Exit to Grand Mall Park, Minato Mirai Area
・Dates: November 9, 2023, to February 11, 2024
・Event Times: 4 PM - 11 PM
・Admission: Free
・Closed: Open daily during the event

Tokyo Dome City is all set to host its spectacular annual winter illumination, promising an exciting experience for visitors this year. The theme for this season is 'SHOW,' adding a dash of theatrical flair to the festivities. The illumination is not just about lights; it's an entire experience designed to captivate and entertain.

Adding to the charm, a special area within Tokyo Dome City, creatively produced by the comedian Shohhei Naga from the Yoshimoto Kogyo talent agency, features unique and meticulously crafted decorations. This area is filled with various surprises, ensuring that every visit is filled with moments of joy and wonder. It's an ideal spot for those looking to add a touch of whimsy and laughter to their winter evenings.

Event Details
・When: November 21, 2023 to February 29, 2024
・Time: 5 PM – Midnight
・Admission: Free
・Closed: Open daily

February in Tokyo offers a range of unique gourmet events, including the world's largest chocolate festival, strawberry fairs, and hot sake events. The average temperature in Tokyo during February is 6.1°C, so it's still quite cold. Remember to bring warm clothing if you're participating in outdoor events and activities.

*Note: The information in this article is as of January 2024. Please check the official websites for the most up-to-date information.