Listeners, Tokyo is absolutely buzzing with excitement this first week of September, so let’s dive straight into the best things to do around town today, tomorrow, and through the weekend.

Tonight, music lovers have a treat waiting as Macaroni Empitsu lights up Shelter starting at 8 PM, a must for J-Pop and pop rock fans. Tomorrow, get ready for J-Pop icons Misia at NHK Hall at 2:30 PM, as well as a much-anticipated Nogizaka46 concert at Meiji Jingu Stadium in the evening. It's a big weekend for live music, with Atarashii Gakko! bringing their energetic show to Ichikawa City Cultural Hall on Saturday at 5 PM.

If traditional Japanese festivals are calling to you, Akasaka is hosting its famous Hikawa Matsuri. This three-day event fills Minato with vibrant floats, locally paraded shrine mikoshi, and bon odori dances. Expect lively street food stalls and a truly local atmosphere all weekend, especially around Akasaka Hikawa Shrine. Over in Suginami Ward, Ōmiya Hachiman Festival offers classic autumn matsuri energy with music, performances, and that unmistakable festive Tokyo spirit.

Kichijōji turns lively with its Fall Festival, where portable shrines parade through the narrow district streets. If history’s your thing, it’s a vivid window into long-running neighborhood traditions. Plus, autumn is bringing flower festivals to gardens across the city. You’ll spot dazzling blooms and seasonal displays, especially in parks around Shinjuku and Ueno.

Yoyogi Park is going global with Namaste India 2025, Japan’s largest Indian festival. It’s a weekend showcase of Indian cuisine, performances, and crafts, so make sure to swing by for some cross-cultural fun and spicy bites.

The World Athletics Championships kick off in Tokyo on September 13, transforming the National Stadium and surrounding venues into a real stage of international competition. Over 2,000 athletes from 200 countries compete for glory in various track and field events, and it’s the perfect spot for sports fans who crave electrifying action and dramatic finishes.

For those who want to see a side of Japan almost untouched by time, mark your calendar for the Nezu Shrine Festival, where the shrine grounds are transformed by traditional music, dance, scrummy food stalls, and the famous omikoshi procession. The main dance performances happen at 7 PM Saturday and 2 PM Sunday, and it’s free to join in.

Sumo is back at Ryogoku Kokugikan starting September 14, with matches running throughout the month. Tickets are still available—feel the earth shake as sumo wrestlers clash for glory and national pride.

Art and vintage fans, don’t miss the Hanazono Shrine Antique Market for rare finds under the open sky or the Oedo Antique Market, the largest outdoor vintage event in Japan. And flea market aficionados can pick up vintage treasures at Shinjuku Chuo Park all weekend.

Ultra Japan, Tokyo’s premier EDM festival, brings world-class DJs and an electrifying crowd to Odaiba. If you’re ready to dance, this Saturday is a sonic celebration you won’t want to miss.

Whether you’re grooving at a concert, joining in a matsuri, cheering at the National Stadium, or simply strolling through blooming gardens, Tokyo’s mix of culture, sport, and entertainment is unbeatable this week.

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