Tokyo’s cherry blossoms are popping and are expected to reach full pink plumage next week. For those not willing to wait for the sakura extravaganza, head to Yomiuriland where the amusement park will be all aglow in roseate luminescence. Besides early-bird hanami parties, Tokyo’s weekend is looking pretty in pink with art exhibitions, budding comedy stars, flowery operas and more.

Yomiuriland Jewellumination

Yomiuriland’s 180-meter avenue of cherry blossom trees lights up with a very special Sakura Illumination designed by Motoko Ishii from March 21 and April 7.

Millennials English Comedy: Mateen Stewart

American comic Mateen Stewart has already racked up numerous TV and film credits and now brings his hilarious act to audiences worldwide.

Kawai Gyokudo, Parting Spring (detail), 1916, Important Cultural Property

Spring Festival at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

Celebrate the sakura season with two fascinating Japanese-style paintings – Kawai Gyokudo’s Parting Spring, a masterpiece depicting cherry blossoms, and Atomi Gyokushi’s Scroll of Cherry Blossoms.

“Werther” Opera

This revival production of Jules Massenet’s opera “Werther” at New National Theatre Tokyo faithfully recreates the atmosphere of the original story with leading lyric tenor Saimir Pirgu playing the titular Werther.

Perfect Liars Club Tokyo

A night of deception, interrogation and plenty of laughter awaits at Good Heavens Bar, this time in a special International Women’s Day Edition with an all-female lineup.

Fleurant, 2015. Acrylic and resin on canvas. 160 x135 x3 cm © Bernard Frize / ADAGP, Paris & JASPAR, Tokyo, 2019

Bernard Frize

Kaikai Kiki Gallery and Perrotin Tokyo marks French painter Bernard Frize’s return to Japan after a 13-year absence with a wide range of paintings, including new productions, and an artist’s reception on March 22.

The Peninsula Loves Sakura

This spring The Peninsula Tokyo celebrates the arrival of cherry blossoms with modern take on the time-old traditional hanami and hundreds of three-meter-high cherry trees.

Izanami Project: Miyabi

This dance team from Chichibu, Saitama intertwines kabuki and noh dance with modern stylized dances to create a unique new show.