Hokkaido Product Fair
Often described as Japan’s ‘Northern Jewel’, the island of Hokkaido is famed for its fertile farmlands that are perfect for fruit and dairy farming, and also praised for the abundance of fish harvested from its pristine waters.
So it’s always a treat to attend Tokyo’s largest outdoor Hokkaido food fair where over 80 producers gather to serve the island’s best ramen soup, kaisen-don (sashimi rice bowl), yakitori (grilled meat and vegetable skewers), fruit desserts, ice cream and, of course Sapporo beer (the oldest beer brand in Japan, founded in Hokkaido in 1876).
In addition to the gourmet food, the outdoor stage will feature live music from local Hokkaido bands as well as dance performances by Hokkaido’s indigenous Ainu people.
The event takes place from the 2nd to the 5th of October, from 10 am to 7 pm at the Yoyogi Park Outdoor Stage Square in Yoyogi Park in Harajuku)
Tokyo Yosakoi
Tokyo Yosakoi, which began as a promotional event to get more people shopping in Ikebukuro in 2000, has become one of Japan’s most dynamic dance competitions, attracting over 5,000 participants from all over the country.
This year 110 colourfully costumed teams will take to the streets around the west side of Ikebukuro Station to perform yosakoi, a style of dance that blends modern choreography, fervent shouting, the use of a percussion instrument called naruko (wooden hand clappers), and traditional folk music.
As to be expected, local eateries will set up food and drink stalls along Ikebukuro Nishi-Guchi Park where the dance competition starts, as well as in the surrounding streets.
The festival is held on the 11th and 12th of October, from 11 am to 8 pm, and is centred around Ikebukuro Nishi-Guchi Park in Ikebukuro.
Shimokitazawa Curry Festival
Shimokitazawa’s compulsion with curry—there are almost 60 specialist curry restaurants in the suburb—is celebrated every October through the suburb’s annual Curry Festival, with local eateries participating over 18 days to offer their own take on the dish.
Look for the festival’s curry logo outside participating restaurants and prepare to taste curry cooked in dumplings, toasted sandwiches and even gelato.
Wondering why the dish is so beloved in this particular suburb? Legend has it that curry became popular with university students living in Shimokitazawa because it was a cheap, comforting meal that could be eaten with just a spoon while holding a book in the other hand.
The event takes place all around Shimokitazawa from the 9th to the 26th of October, from 12 pm to 8 pm.
Tokyo Ramen Festa
Is there a collective noun for a group of amazing ramen vendors found in one location? Slurp is our word of choice, and Komazawa Olympic Park in Setagaya holds one of the most satisfying slurps when Japan’s largest outdoor ramen event, the Tokyo Ramen Festa, takes place.
Close to 40 hand-picked ramen shops from across the country bring their best chefs to serve their signature soup just like they would back home and to create original collaboration ramens with other restaurants.
There’s no need to fly north to Hokkaido to slurp Sapporo’s famous black miso ramen with braised pork, or travel south to Kagoshima city to sample their rich tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen, topped with slow-cooked pork belly and a soy sauce marinated soft-boiled egg because all you need to do is show up hungry at Komazawa Olympic Park Central Square (Komazawa-Daigaku Station).
The festival runs from the 23rd of October to the 3rd November, from 12 pm to 8 pm. Admission to the event is 1,100 yen which includes your first bowl of ramen soup.
Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival
With the suburb of Shibuya officially banning Halloween festivities and Shinjuku also discouraging gatherings, it’s the western suburb of Ikebukuro that’s taken up the mantle of hosting one of Tokyo’s most photographed celebrations.
Held over three days, the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival features over 20,000 cosplayers participating in lively parades, professional photo sessions, cosplay contests, and workshops where enthusiasts can learn about costume design, makeup and prop creation.
This event focuses more on dressing up as your favorite anime, manga and video game characters than it does on trick-or-treating and eerie costumes, in contrast to Halloween celebrations in the West.
Look for booths selling cosplay merchandise, accessories and collectibles, as well as food stalls serving a variety of Halloween-themed snacks.
The event takes placefrom the 24th to the 26th of October, from 4.30 pm to 10.30 pm, around the Sunshine City shopping complex in Ikebukuro.
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