Issuu

Keisuke Tanigawa

AOI YAMADA

One with the earth Whether you’ve seen her on a festival stage, in Netflix’s First Love, Wim Wenders’s Perfect Days, in the just-released art book Ebizazen or a viral vegetable-dance video, chances are you’ve been captivated by Aoi Yamada’s creative range at some point over the past few years. The Nagano-born multihyphenate appears to be wearing so many hats, we couldn’t help but wonder how she stays on balance. Just fine, she says (and demonstrates as much on our cover). We caught up with Yamada in between yoga poses to uncover her wellness secrets – and learned how deep her bond with veggies truly goes.

I’m troubled by something, the world around me gets shut out, but when I’m in a good mood, I can take it all in. I’ve always wanted to become a tree or a flower. A vegetable would be fine too. A living thing that can grow without breaking, swaying with whatever flow nature brings. Just the other day, I harvested some zucchini and eggplant in my garden, and when I ate them I thought, ‘I want to be like these guys’. You know, those tiny seedlings I had planted had grown so big and splendid, and then nourished me in turn. Vegetables are such powerful forms of life, and I aspire to be more like them.

When do you feel most alive?

You’ll be appearing as (Yamada and Tuki Takamura’s performance duo) Aoi Tuki at Ringo Music Fest in Matsumoto again

When I sense the warmth of the sun, hear the sound of the wind, and birds singing. When

Cover

Art direction: Steve Nakamura Photography: Takeshi Hanzawa Hair, make-up: TORI Styling : Yui Sawada (UM) Bra ¥4,990 ,Cropped tank worn underneath ¥5,490,Leggings ¥5,990 / all KIT STORE

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Genya Aoki

Digital Editor Kaila Imada

Deputy Editor Ili Saarinen

Editors Jasmina Mitrovic Kosuke Hori Kaoru Hoshino

Photographers Keisuke Tanigawa Kisa Toyoshima Analicia Graça

Contributors Karin Minamishima Shota Nagao Henri Qian

Designer Soraya Tengan

Sales Reika Kurita

Administration Momo Ando

Executive Vice President Akiko Toya President/ Publisher Hiroyuki Fushitani

Our cover star Aoi Yamada on why eggplant is her final form

this year. What can we expect from the show?

The venue is really close to the house where I was born and raised, and where my grandmother still lives. I’d like to give a performance that makes each person watching feel that their story, the story of where they come from, is something truly irreplaceable. Ringo Music Fest takes place September 26–27 at Alps Park in Matsumoto, Nagano. Follow Aoi Yamada @aoiyamada0624.

Find out more online – check out Time Out Tokyo and Osaka GO→

ORIGINAL Inc. 101, 5-9-9 Hiroo, Shibuya, Tokyo, 150-0012 +81 (0)3 5792 5721 www.timeout.com/tokyo Advertising and general enquiries: info@timeout.jp

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LEVEL UP YOUR WELL-BEING

Why new lifestyle and wellness retreat The Hotel Well-Hub Haneda makes the ideal base for adventurous Japan travellers

Japan is as much about adventures in the midst of wondrously diverse nature as it is about giant cities. And now you can have the best of both worlds on the doorstep of Tokyo – by settling in at the new Well-Hub Haneda, a hotel that hands you the keys to Japan’s wild side with a stacked line-up of activities and curated experiences. Nestled at the mouth of the Tama River just a 10-minute drive from Haneda Airport, the property feels seamlessly connected to the local nature. Step out of the lobby and you’ll find yourself at the starting point of an unimpeded 120km-long riverside running and cycling route; the perfect spot to try out one of the e-bikes available free of charge for all guests. Inside, the lobby and its River Cafe invite you to linger over wood-fired pizza, burgers, craft beer and organic coffee while admiring the art, retro furniture and vintage cars that adorn the warehouse-style space (see p6 for more on WellHub’s restaurants). The same laidback vibe is present in the thoughtfully designed rooms, which combine the convenience of apartment-style living with a sprinkle of effortless luxury. Oh, and the views are something else: rooms on the upper floors, as well as the shared baths and rooftop terrace, offer unimpeded vistas over the river towards Haneda Airport. Keen to learn more? Good. Over the next seven pages, we’ll give you the full lowdown on why Well-Hub is your ultimate launchpad for diving deep into Japan’s nature and culture.

HOW TO GET TO THE HOTEL WELL-HUB HANEDA Free shuttle buses run to and from Haneda Airport (10–20 min) and Kawasaki Station (20 min). The closest train station is Kojima-Shinden on the Keikyu Daishi Line, followed by a 15-minute walk or 5-minute taxi ride.

Haneda Ariport Hotel Well-Hub Haneda

Kawasaki Station

Kojima-Shinden Station

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BUFFET BURNERS When you check in at Well-Hub, you’re not just handed the key to your room; you also unlock the hotel’s ample selection of sports and cultural offerings. Morning yoga and karate classes and Japanese tea ceremony experiences led by expert instructors are offered to all guests at no extra cost, while additional activities – such as kayaking or SUPing in the Tama River, or a round of riverside golf – can be booked separately.

YOGA There are few more calming ways to start your day than a yoga session in the open air. Well-Hub’s classes, taught by Yoga Alliancecertified instructors, take place by the river, combining active relaxation with the sounds and sights of nature and the view of planes landing and taking off in the distance.

DAY TRIPS AND EXCURSIONS When you’ve tried all the in-house activities, it’s time to level up and explore the surroundings. Whether you prefer an adventurous kayaking tour on the Tama River, a laidback day of golfing or a surf trip to the beaches of Shonan, Japan’s most iconic wave-riding destination, WellHub has got you covered. Just hit up the activities counter in the lobby and staff will make the arrangements.

KARATE Always wanted to learn how to do a proper karate chop? Leave it to Takehiro Kaga to show you the ropes. Having represented Japan at the World Karate Championships, Well-Hub’s resident karateka runs his own dojo and knows a thing or two about teaching beginners. Don’t miss the opportunity to study under a martial arts master in the ultimate casual setting – right on the lawn in front of the hotel.

TEA CEREMONY An extended stay at Well-Hub makes the ideal opportunity to shake up your daily routine. Try substituting your morning coffee for a verdant brew prepared by award-winning tea master and calligrapher Mutsuki Yamamoto, who offers regular tea ceremony experiences in the hotel lounge. His approachable classes provide fascinating insight into the philosophy of hospitality central to Japanese tea culture.

DINING WELL

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Introducing the restaurants at Well-Hub Haneda

RIVER CAFE

SUKIYAKI OISHI For carnivores, a sukiyaki meal is an essential part of any stay in Japan. The hot-pot dish combines tender cuts of beef with vegetables, tofu and ingredients such as jellylike shirataki noodles, which are lightly cooked in a sweetened soy-sauce broth. Then you fish them out and dip them into beaten raw egg – pure meaty bliss. At Oishi, the taste bud-pampering experience gets elevated further with melt-inyour-mouth wagyu provided by the historic meat wholesaler Hiyama, one of Tokyo’s premier purveyors of top-grade Japanese beef. The other ingredients meet the same high standard, with seasonal organic greens from a farm in the mountains of Nagano, premium free-range eggs, and rice selected by a certified ‘five-star master’ of the staple grain. Pair all that with a pick off the tightly curated wine list and you have yourself a feast you’ll keep reminiscing about for days. First time at the show? No worries: English-speaking staff are on hand to cook your meat and veg, so you can focus on eating – and on the spectacular view of the glittering lights and aviatorial action of Haneda Airport. à5F. 5pm-10pm (last orders 9.30pm), closed Wed.

044 280 1095.

This ground-floor café could be the comfiest spot of them all at Well-Hub, and that’s saying a lot. With natural light streaming in through the warehouse-style windows, you’re invited to kick back among Americana-coded miscellanea and gaze out at the spacious lawn, all while warm analogue tunes emanate from a pair of massive vintage speakers. River Cafe boasts a plentiful menu of French- and Italianinspired sweet and savoury bites (don’t miss the jiggly coffee jelly!), plus a solid selection of burgers, sandwiches and woodfired pizza. On the drinks front, be sure to try the craft beer courtesy of Haneda Brewery nearby, or explore the range of soft drinks from smoothies to additive-free sodas. On a sunny weekend day, arrive early to secure a seat on the terrace by the aforementioned lawn, and watch as local motorcyclists gather by the car park to show off their polished rides. à1F. Mon-Fri 11am-9pm (last orders

8pm); Sat, Sun & hols 9am-9pm (8pm). 044 277 5400.

INSIDERS SAY

How Well-Hub’s all-star cast of sports and culture instructors like to spend their time at the hotel

TEA: MUTSUKI YAMAMOTO ‘Tea culture is such a rich expression of the Japanese spirit and sense of beauty,’ says Mutsuki Yamamoto, Well-Hub’s go-to tea master, whose classes provide an introduction to the traditional form of hospitality in an informal and easy-going setting. ‘The practice of tea teaches you to be more altruistic and considerate of others. In that way, I think tea can make the world a better place.’ A former sommelier and bartender, Yamamoto runs a teahouse in the beach town of Zushi south of Tokyo. His favourite thing about Well-Hub’s activity programme is its ability to inspire and make your stay feel more meaningful. ‘It’s like a portal into Japanese culture,’ he smiles. ‘Tea, karate and yoga all stimulate the senses and open up new avenues of thought.’

KARATE: TAKEHIRO KAGA Former World Championship athlete Takehiro Kaga’s morning classes function as a crash course to karate for beginners of all ages. You’ll learn how to warm up, punch, kick, parry and belt out martial arts-style greetings, all over the course of 45 minutes. ‘My goal is simple,’ says the everjovial instructor. ‘Make sure that everybody has fun, and that nobody gets hurt.’ When he’s done with a session, Kaga enjoys hanging out at River Cafe with his family. ‘It’s child- and pet-friendly, and there’s plenty of space for both our son and our dog to run around,’ he smiles. ‘Just the other day, we all had breakfast together after my class. When my son gets a little older, I hope he’ll want to try karate here, too.’

YOGA: YUMI Trained in Hawaii and based in beachside Shonan south of Tokyo, Yumi knows a thing or two about laidback life. Her early-morning sessions aim to help you soothe both mind and body and start your day in the best possible way. ‘Yoga can help you restore balance after an adrenaline-fuelled outing, as well as relieve stress and help you sleep better,’ she says. ‘I hope my classes can help guests enjoy their vacation to the fullest.’ Besides yoga by the river, Yumi’s perfect day at Well-Hub includes indulging in another of the hotel’s morning highlights. ‘I recommend the buffet breakfast,’ she says. ‘They’ve got a great selection of yoghurt, fruits and veggies, not to mention the onigiri.’

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With its loaded catalogue of sports, fitness and cultural experiences, Hotel Well-Hub Haneda lets you build an entire itinerary without leaving the property. But that’s not to say we don’t recommend exploring the surroundings. On the contrary: for those looking to get an undiluted taste of local life, the hotel’s home city of Kawasaki offers a captivating mix of historic sights, down-to-earth eateries and dive bars. Here are some of our favourites.

1 PRAY FOR SAFETY ON THE ROAD

Established nearly 900 years ago, Kawasaki Daishi (Heikenji) Temple has long been Kawasaki’s most famous attraction. Scores of devotees from around the country visit the Buddhist sanctuary for New Year worship, but on a regular weekday the spacious grounds allow for a leisurely stroll amidst towering halls, pagodas and a garden with a pretty red bridge. Don’t miss the Indian-style Traffic Safety Hall, where visitors can have their cars blessed for protection. à 4-48 Daishimachi, Kawasaki. kawasakidaishi.com.

2 SIT DOWN FOR A CLASSIC TEMPLE SNACK

The Nakamise street leading up to Kawasaki Daishi is lined with dozens of souvenir shops, tea rooms and eateries, but you’ll want to resist temptation, walk right up to the huge main gate and into Sumiyoshi. This venerable purveyor of familiar Japanese sweets like manju buns and kakigori shaved ice is best known for its kuzumochi: a soft, chewy delicacy made from fermented wheat starch and served with roasted soybean flour and brown sugar syrup. à 4-47 Daishimachi, Kawasaki.

@daishikuzumochi.

Haneda Airport

1 Kawasaki Station

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Hotel Well-Hub Haneda

Kojima-Shinden Station

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Kawasaki

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The spots worth seeking out in Well-Hub’s home neighbourhood – all within biking distance from the hotel

3 UNWIND OVER HERBAL TEA

A tiny oasis of calm on the ground floor of a private home in the residential streets north of Kawasaki Daishi, Herb Tea Café Franc invites you to relax over nourishing lunch sets, healthy sweets and some 20 varieties of herbal tea. à 2-15-11-3 Nakaze, Kawasaki.

@cafefranc.calendar.

4 STAND UP FOR SAKE EDUCATION

New to Japan’s indigenous alcoholic drinks? You’ve come to the right place. Stand bar Craft Sake Shoten Kawasaki carries 50 types of seasonal sake. English-speaking staff take you on an intoxicating journey into the world of the brew, enlightening you on the terminology from ginjo to genshu while you sip the good stuff and dig into a seasonally rotating selection of elevated bar bites.

6 CATCH A MOVIE AND SOME DOLCE VITA

Twelve-screen multiplex Cinecitta is the crown jewel of La Cittadella, a sprawling mixed-use mall modelled on an Italian hillside town, and combines exotic design choices with reliably comfy seating, a booming ‘Live Zound’ audio set-up and eclectic programming. à La Cittadella, 4-1 Ogawacho, Kawasaki. cinecitta.co.jp.

à Muza Kawasaki 1F, 1310 Omiyacho, Saiwai, Kawasaki.

7 SIP CHAMPIONSHIP-GRADE COCKTAILS

@craftsakeshotenkawasaki.

5 UNLEASH YOUR INNER BLADE RUNNER

Look for the sign with a panda handling a shaker and take the time-worn elevator to the third floor to find Bar Laugh, a relaxed cocktail sanctuary open from 4pm. Owner and award-winning bartender Hiroaki Kataoka is particularly proficient in classic gin concoctions, but also does creative mixtures inspired by cities and regions across Japan.

The views from Well-Hub toward Haneda Airport are picturesque, but equally striking vistas can be enjoyed in the opposite direction. Make your way down to Chidori Bridge at night to marvel at the steely majesty of the Keihin Industrial Zone, where massive canalside factory units, power plants, warehouses and cranes combine for scenery that looks like it’s been lifted straight from a sci-fi flick. à Chidoribashi, Chidoricho, Kawasaki.

à Apple Bldg 302, 4-45 Higashidacho, Kawasaki.

@barlaugh114.

8 VISIT THE CURRY WIZARD

Innovating in the spice space since June 2026, chef Kensuke Ota at Spice & Spirits Chicken Yarou conjures up a steady smattering of limited-edition curries to complement his lip-smacking regular offering, a light but filling chicken and keema halfand-half. He’s also a trained bartender, who recommends pairing your dinnertime curry with some craft gin, mezcal or whisky. à 1-10-16 Watarida,

Kawasaki. @s_s_chicken_yarou.

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GRAND TOURS After getting your bearings at Well-Hub, go out and discover Japan’s natural beauty on these adventurous excursions, from Hakuba to Okinawa. Just stop by the activities counter in the lobby, and the staff will help you with your next stop

SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING AT HAKUBA, NAGANO Hakuba Valley in the Northern Japanese Alps is one of the country’s best-known snow resorts, and for good reason. The host town of the alpine skiing and ski jumping events at the 1998 Nagano Olympics comprises ten distinct resorts, all with stunning scenery, and you can easily shuttle between the various slopes to make the most of the diverse area. Numerous hot springs are dotted around the valley and make a great place to relax after a day of riding the trails. Hakuba is also very English-friendly and is a popular spot for international travellers. The season runs from late November to early May.

Hakuba Valley is accessible in under three hours from central Tokyo via shinkansen and bus. An hour-and-a-half shinkansen ride will get you to Nagano Station, then an hour-long bus ride will take you directly into Hakuba.

WHERE TO STAY

Hakuba Tokyu Hotel Elegant lodge-style property a mere 500 metres from the Happo-One resort, Hakuba’s largest, with easy access to a plethora of excellent dining options. à tokyuhotels.co.jp/en/hakuba-h/index.html

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SURFING AT IZU, SHIZUOKA Once you’ve gotten a feel for Japan’s waves on a Well-Hub day trip to Shonan, it’s time to step things up a notch and steer south to the Izu Peninsula for bigger breaks. Start at the picturesque Shirahama Beach, an 800m stretch of white sand known for its excellent surfing conditions. Tip: there’s a constant break in front of the small Shinto shrine near the edge of the beach. Shirahama is spacious and clean, and there are convenience stores and restaurants as well as facilities to rent beach umbrellas. Nearby Tatadohama Beach offers a fine mixture of nature and seashore, with rolling waves that make it popular among surfers, while the smaller Imaihama Beach is recommended for beginners. Izu is about three and a half hours from central Tokyo. Take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Atami Station and switch to the local Ito line to Izukyu Shimoda Station.

WHERE TO STAY

Izu Imaihama Tokyu Hotel Right in front of Imaihama Beach, this Hawaiiinspired getaway boasts predictably stunning ocean views, hot-springs baths and restaurants serving local seafood. à tokyuhotels.co.jp/en/imaihama-h/index.html

SNORKELLING AND TRIATHLON AT MIYAKO ISLAND, OKINAWA Those whiter-than-white sands and bluer-than-blue waters? Not AI: they really exist around Miyako Island, some 300km southwest of Okinawa Island. The ocean at Miyako has such a beautiful shade that it’s often referred to as ‘Miyako Blue’, and the island is known as a great diving spot. There’s no need to go deep either: you stand a pretty good chance of encountering sea turtles and brilliantly colourful tropical fish when snorkelling at spots like Yabiji or Shigira Beach. Among triathletes, Miyako is well known as the venue of the All-Japan Miyakojima Triathlon, which takes place on the island every April. If you think you’re up for a 3km swim, a 123km bike ride and a full 42km marathon – all in one day – enter the participation lottery in November. Miyako can be reached in three hours by direct flight from Haneda Airport.

WHERE TO STAY

Miyakojima Tokyu Hotel & Resorts Tranquil and comfortable 247-room resort right on the doorstep of Yonaha Maehama Beach, often considered one of the most beautiful in Asia. à tokyuhotels.co.jp/en/ miyakojima-h/index.html

Kawita Vatanyankur, The Machine Ghost in the Human Shell, 2024. In Collaboration with Pat Pataranutaporn

Mika Ninagawa with EiM: Breathing of Lives, 2023 ©mika ninagawa, Courtesy of Tomio Koyama Gallery (Reference work)

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GUNMA

MAEBASHI BIENNALE 2026 Inspired by Maebashi’s vision of the city’s future development and a decade of private sector-led redevelopment, the inaugural Maebashi Biennale unfolds across the central district of Maebashi city in Gunma prefecture. Art, architecture, food, music and poetry come together at art sites scattered throughout the city centre, weaving walkable art experiences into Maebashi’s evolving urban landscape. The line-up of some 70 artists and groups ranges from Martin Margiela to Mika Ninagawa with EiM, who will unveil a brand-new installation. àSep 19–Dec 20.

maebashi-biennale.com.

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Culture carnivals The best art and music festivals going on across Japan this autumn

ART 1 TOKYO ATLAS, TOKYO Works by the likes of Yayoi Kusama and Abraham Poincheval pop up in parks, parking garages and across the shores of Tokyo Bay when this new international art exhibition takes over the Daiba, Aomi and Tennozu districts. Highlights include Leiko Ikemura’s 6-metre-tall rabbit sculpture in the water off Odaiba Marine Park’s artificial beach, and Zhao Yao’s giant balloon installation. Seeking to sprinkle contemporary art into daily life, Tokyo Atlas is sure to make a splash along the waterfront. àOct 10–Dec 20. tokyoatlas.jp.

2 GERO ART DISCOVERY

2026, GIFU Art comes to the historic hot springs of Gero with the inaugural edition of this international showcase featuring 59 artists from 14 countries. Besides the town of Gero Onsen, works will be displayed in old post stations, abandoned schools and secluded groves. Lithuanian luminary Stasys Eidrigevičius exhibits a sculpture inspired by a local snake legend at a Shinto shrine, while Eat & Art Taro unveils a health-themed project centred on local culinary culture. àSep 11–Nov 8. gero-art-discovery.jp.

MUSIC 3 FESTIVAL DE FRUE,

SHIZUOKA The 2026 edition of this willfully, brilliantly uncommercial crowd-pleaser features a cast of familiar Frue faces, from German dance innovator Acid Pauli and Argentine singer-songwriter Juana Molina to the Master Musicians of Joujouka, the Moroccan mega-ensemble sometimes considered the world’s oldest musical group. Whether you’re into jazz, rock, techno or something in between, there will be something to get your juices flowing here. àOct 31–Nov 1. festivaldefrue.com.

4 EACH STORY, NAGANO A festival built for those who really want to listen, not just be seen, Each Story unfolds in the forests of Nobeyama, some 1,350 metres above sea level. Leave the mundane behind and immerse yourself in ambitious tunes by the

likes of long-time Ryuichi Sakamoto collaborator Fennesz and the trio of Spanish experimental master Suso Saiz, Tomo Katsurada of psych-rock outfit Kikagaku Moyo and ambient virtuoso Jonny Nash, who’ll be teaming up for an extra special collab. àOct 3–4. eachstory.net.

5 ULTRA JAPAN, TOKYO One of the largest dance music events in the world is coming back to Tokyo in September. Ultra Japan takes place across three stages, each with its own theme, and once again welcomes a stellar array of artists – from progressive house president Alesso to Japan’s own superstar Yousuke Yukimatsu, plus Zedd and Knock2 performing a B2B set. Expect worldclass convenience, too: the Odaiba venue is only 15 minutes from Shibuya. àSep 19–20. ultrajapan.com.

10 THINGS TO DO IN JAPAN

What’s hot across the country right now

01 03

OSAKA | Things to do

Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri This boisterous, centuries-old celebration centres on majestic danjiri floats – massive wooden vessels weighing as much as four tons, adorned with intricate carvings depicting historical battle scenes and local folklore. The colossi are hauled down the streets at high speed using pure manpower, accompanied by energetic drumbeats. àSep 18–20 and Oct 10–11. Kishiwada Castle Town, Osaka. www.city.kishiwada.lg.jp/site/danjiri.

TOKYO | Things to do

Tokyo International Comedy Festival

Gear up for 11 days of LOL as the Tokyo International Comedy Festival returns with a programme featuring shows by a star-studded cast of comedians, plus international roast battles, stand-up contests, bilingual improv and much more. With shows in both English and Japanese, this comedy extravaganza is for everyone in Tokyo.

àSep 17–27. Multiple venues in Tokyo. tokyocomedybar.com/festival.

KANAGAWA | Art

Null²n

After wowing the world at Expo 2025 in Osaka, media artist Yoichi Ochiai’s striking installation of vibrating and warping mirrors and kaleidoscopic AIgenerated visuals lands in Yokohama in the form of a permanent immersive theatre. Use the dedicated ‘Mirrored Body Lite’ app to make a digital avatar of yourself appear within the installation. àOpens Oct 14. Yokohama Landmark Tower 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi, Yokohama, Kanagawa. null2.nexus.

Find out more online – check out Time Out Tokyo and Osaka GO→

KYOTO | Things to do

Jidai Matsuri

The entire 1,000-year history of Kyoto gets condensed into a single afternoon in this annual parade, one of the city’s ‘three great festivals’, in which some 2,000 participants dressed in historically accurate garb march from the Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine. Booking a paid seat is highly recommended. àOct 22. Central Kyoto. heianjingu.or.jp/ritual/jidaimatsuri.

OSAKA | Restaurant

Time Out Market Osaka

Time Out Market Osaka keeps on evolving. Bringing together some of the Kansai region’s most celebrated chefs and restaurateurs in a stylish basement space just steps away from Osaka Station, the food and cultural market has welcomed six new kitchens over the past few months. Psst: beer is half off on Mondays.

àGrand Green Osaka South Building B1F, 5-54 Ofukacho, Kita, Osaka. timeout.com/time-out-market-osaka.

10 THINGS TO DO IN JAPAN KYOTO | Art

Zen and Ghibli

Beneath the fantastical surfaces of Studio Ghibli’s beloved anime films, there lie emotional nuance, moral ambiguity and contemplative pacing – features that resonate strikingly with the philosophical principles of Zen. ‘Zen and Ghibli’ explores this unexpected yet deeply rooted connection through Zen’s emphasis on presence and perception.

àOct 3–Dec 6. Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art Higashiyama Cube, 124 Okazaki Enshojicho, Sakyo, Kyoto. zen-ghibli.jp/kyoto.

TOKYO | Nightlife

Harajuku Horror Night

Street culture impresario Verdy hosts one of Tokyo’s wildest Halloween parties every year. Harajuku Horror Night pulls in the city’s most dressed-up crowd – people show up looking ready to kill, maybe literally – and a line-up that mixes major names with Verdy’s friends across music, fashion and nightlife.

àDate TBC. Spotify O-East and Azumaya, 2-148 Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo.

YAMAGATA | Hotel

Hoshino Resorts Kai Zao

Inspired by Zao Onsen’s renowned crater lake, this brand new resort makes use of the region’s highacidity hot spring water throughout its circular wellness zone – a unique design that lets guests move seamlessly between the baths, saunas and jacuzzis. The rooftop terrace offers stunning 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains.

à903-2 Zao Onsen, Yamagata. hoshinoresorts.com/en/hotels/kaizao.

TOKYO | Art

Nanzuka flagship gallery

As one of Tokyo’s leading contemporary art galleries, Nanzuka reimagines the gallery experience through an open and welcoming environment. Its new flagship in the heart of Shibuya features a logo by the legendary Keiichi Tanaami and is opening with ‘Do Not Bomb’, a solo exhibition exploring Tanaami’s memories of war through works spanning the 1960s to previously unreleased pieces created in 2024. àOpens Sep 12. Shibuya Axsh 3F, 2-17-1 Shibuya, Tokyo. nanzuka.com.

AICHI | Sports

20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026

Nagoya and Aichi prefecture are gearing up to host the Asian Games, welcoming around 15,000 athletes from 45 nations to compete across numerous venues. This is the third time Japan has hosted the Games, following Tokyo and Hiroshima. Sports include baseball, cricket, field hockey, taekwondo, wrestling, skateboarding and surfing. Additionally, at Hisaya-Odori Park in Nagoya, One Asia World will bring together medalist celebrations, sports public viewings, food, music and culture from across Asia, with free admission. àSep 19–Oct 4. aichi-nagoya2026.org/en.