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- Tokyo Events This Week: Tori-No-Ichi Fairs, a Mascot Gathering, and Food Fests Aplenty
Tokyo Events This Week: Tori-No-Ichi Fairs, a Mascot Gathering, and Food Fests Aplenty
What's a Cheapo to do this week?
Tokyo Cheapo
November 09, 2025
Tokyo events for Monday, November 10, to Sunday, November 16, 2025.
The first of this month’s Tori-no-ichi fairs take place at shrines and temples across the city this week to pray for success and good fortune. 200 cute mascots will assemble in Saitama for the annual World Character Summit, and a sea of Santas will parade around Harajuku and Shibuya for a good cause, ultimately crashing the Fiesta de España at Yoyogi Park Events Square.
Tori-no-ichi Fairs
Nov 12th
Tori-no-ichi is an annual traditional festival held at shrines and temples nationwide on two dates this November to wish for good luck and prosperity in business. The tradition dates back to the Edo period.
Nov 16th
Ebina City in Kanagawa celebrates the Ebina Citizens’ Festival every year. For the latest iteration, things promise to be just as fun, festive, and full of fireworks.
Nov 15th - 16th
This is a once-a-year chance to meet mascots from all over Japan — and the world. This year’s local character festival is bigger than ever, with nearly 200 mascots appearing, including many making a comeback after years away.
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Nov 15th - 16th
The Fiesta de España is planned for two days at the Events Square at Yoyogi Park. This Spanish festival will feature more than 35 food and drink booths, as well as lectures, entertainment, and flamenco performances.
Nov 15th - 16th
We won’t venture a definition of “American food.” Here, it mostly means burgers. Big ones. Think double patties dripping with cheddar, or beef piled high with sauce made from local vegetables.
Nov 11th - 12th
The festival will include a cheese recipe contest, “talk shows,” food and wine pairings, and lots of cheese tastings with cheese producers from around the world.
Nov 16th
Honoring the starchy staple, the residents of Kurimoto will pull thousands of these purple tubers and roast them straight away in one of more than 120 earth ovens.
Nov 15th - 16th
The ginkgo trees of Hachiōji were planted along the streets when the city expanded during the Showa period. Hachiōji will have a festival to celebrate, including parades, community walks, and stalls.
Nov 10th - 15th
Following the trend of outdoor cinema festivals (see Shinjuku and Hibiya’s contribution), Shinagawa International Film Festival will show short films at Shinagawa Intercity Central Garden for free. Along with the movies, you can enjoy the many food trucks and illuminations that will be scattered throughout the event.
Nov 15th - 16th
The fall edition of Design Festa (Vol. 62) will be held in mid-November at Tokyo Big Sight — one of the numerous gigantic buildings in Odaiba resembling an alien landing craft.
Nov 14th
Do you like TED Talks? Do you want to listen to an intellectual discussion with a glass of wine or a pint of beer? Then head to Nerd Nite Tokyo for your monthly dose of wisdom — and fun.
Nov 7th
Just 1 minute from Shibuya Station, Tokyo Comedy Bar has built a name for itself as the home of comedy in the city. Each week, Tokyo’s best comedians hit the stage to showcase their sets, and the local comedy community gathers for a laugh.
Nov 16th
The Pirates of Tokyo Bay is a monthly English and Japanese improv comedy show performed at What The Dickens! in Ebisu. For over a decade, The Pirates of Tokyo Bay have been creating hilarious improvised comedy scenes, stories, and songs based on cues from the audience.
Nov 16th
Tokyo’s Santa Parade sees a legion of Santas make their way around Yoyogi Park and beyond for children’s charities. There will even be a special appearance from a suitably dressed Rilakuma.
Nov 8th
Tokyo’s annual human rights awareness festival returns. This year’s edition celebrates the upcoming Tokyo Deaflympics, with appearances by Deaflympics athletes and a chance to try a deaf shooting experience yourself.
Nov 10th
Startup Lady has launched the Go Global Hub, a platform that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and companies from Japan and abroad to connect, collaborate, and drive innovation. At the global connector salon, international and Japanese entrepreneurs, corporates, and VCs will share their business ideas and create opportunities for business collaboration.