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Tokyo Events This Week: Lion Dance Festival, Drag, and More Hydrangeas
What's a Cheapo to do this week?
Tokyo Cheapo
June 08, 2025
Tokyo events for Monday, June 9 to Sunday, June 15, 2025.
All aboard this week's event train as we look out the window at blossoming hydrangeas, geisha, and giant lion heads.
See more spots to see hydrangeas this week in our dedicated article.
Jun 10th - 15th
The roads will be closed and the whole town of Tsukiji will take to the streets to celebrate the annual Tsukiji Lion Dance Festival at Namiyoke Shrine. What makes this festival different from all the other mikoshi (portable shrine) processions is the giant lion heads that are carried beside the shrines.
Jun 14th - 30th
Take a trip into the mountains by moonlight and see Hakone’s famed hydrangeas in full bloom. During the peak, you can hop on the Night Hydrangea Train — a special evening ride aboard the Allegra car with reserved seats and no stops along the way. There are photo stops at Miyanoshita and Tonosawa stations, and each passenger receives a limited-edition hydrangea fan as a keepsake.
Jun 7th - Nov 4th
As the temperature gets to ridiculous highs, it's the perfect time to hide out at an air-conditioned museum — at night. Many museums in Tokyo will open their doors after hours on Friday nights from 5 p.m. to either 8 p.m. or 9 p.m.
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Jun 14th - 15th
The Turkey Festival is a celebration of Turkic culture from Mesopotamia, all the way into central Asia. In addition to food stalls offering dishes from one of the world's great cuisines, the main stage will play host to folk dance performances and musical concerts.
Jun 6th - 15th
The brilliant artist Erica Ward is once again treating us to another exhibition. This time the art will feature two of her (and our) favorite things — cats and cityscapes. See charming cats personify and watch over the nostalgic buildings of the ever-changing Tokyo.
Jun 7th - 15th
3,000 hydrangeas will be in bloom around Hakusan Shrine and nearby Hakusan Park. Entry is free and there will be a lot of festivities, including a concert, mikoshi (portable shrine) procession, stalls every weekend, free toothbrushes — really — and sketching meetups.
Jun 14th
Geisha aren't easy to find in Tokyo, so take this opportunity to see a free geisha dance performance in Tokyo's traditional heart, Asakusa. At this event, you'll get a chance to see them up close, as well as take part in games. If you're good, you can even win prizes, like photographs with the geisha.
Jun 14th
See the tantalizing new project Succubus Hideout from Tokyo drag queen collective Haus von Schwarz. Expect an adult-themed show celebrating Tokyo's LGBTQIA folks — and goths. A great way to kick off Pride Month, this performance showcases some of alternative drag's finest queens and kings.