Here are free things to do happening across Tokyo for the month of October. Check out exhibitions, festivals, events and more!
Exhibitions and Art Shows in October
Mona Sugata: In Between Exhibition
UltraSuperNew Kura art gallery will host an exhibit featuring the work of Mona Sugata, exploring invisible connections between living beings.
| Date & Time | Oct 3-Nov 7・2–7 p.m.・Tuesday–Friday by appointment only, Saturday open to all (11:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.), Closed on Sunday and Monday |
| Price | Free |
| Location | UltraSuperNew KURA |
T3 Photo Festival Tokyo 2026
This October, the eighth edition of the T3 Photo Festival Tokyo turns the city’s central hubs — Yaesu, Nihonbashi, Kyobashi and Ginza — into a 24-day celebration of photography. This year’s theme is “& to,” (“to” is the Japanese conjunction for “and”) and examines how the camera can bridge unexpected gaps, connecting human stories with the changing environments around them. The festival features 12 exhibitions, all free to visit, with more than 16 artists and collectives taking part. Two main exhibitions lead the lineup. South African visual activist Zanele Muholi presents Somnyama Ngonyama (Hail the Dark Lioness), a striking series of self-portraits where everyday household items like scouring pads and clothes pins are transformed into regal headpieces. Simultaneously, American photographer Lucas Foglia’s Constant Bloom tracks the migration of Painted Lady butterflies from Africa into Europe, capturing their delicate forms alongside various human lives and across political borders. You’ll also want to stop by two special exhibitions. The first is “Shoji Ueda’s Inner Child / Hidden Within the Chrysalises,” which pairs legendary Japanese photographer Shoji Ueda’s series Children the Year Around (1971) with his former student Akemi Mure’s subtle portraits of teenage life. The second, Sarah van Rij’s “L'épaisseur du temps,” showcases the acclaimed Dutch photographer’s surreal, cinematic renderings of Tokyo street scenes and fleeting gestures. For those interested in acquiring work or exploring photo publishing, the festival also hosts T3 Photo Asia (October 17–19), a ticketed art fair that brings together 24 galleries from across the region, and T3 Book Marché, a photo book fair held concurrently.
| Date & Time | Oct 3-26 |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Various indoor and outdoor locations across Yaesu, Nihonbashi, Kyobashi and Ginza |
| More Info | T3 Photo Asia is ticketed, costing ¥2,500 on the day, with advance tickets available for ¥2,000 |
Sumida Five Colors Art Festival
The Sumida Five colors Art Festival will show exhibitions, plays, dances and music events across over 50 locations throughout Sumida Ward.
| Date & Time | Oct 4-Dec 20 |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Various locations throughout Sumida Ward |
Tania Herman Overthinkers Exhibition
HVEN Gallery will welcome visual artist and sculptor Tania Herman with an exhibition exploring doubt, anxiety and uncertainty.
| Date & Time | Oct 8-30・opening reception on October 8 from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Hven Gallery |
Tokyo Poetry Week
Tokyo Poetry Week makes its return this October, bringing brings poets, artists, writers and curious audiences together across the city.
| Date & Time | Oct 13-23 |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Various Locations in Tokyo, including the Den in Koenji |
A Lighthouse called Kanata Omotesando 1st Anniversary Exhibition: 'Ars Longa, Vita Brevis'
A Lighthouse called Kanata is celebrating the first anniversary of its relocation from Nishi-Azabu to Omotesando this autumn. Founded with the mission to advocate the universality of beauty and revalue Japanese art on a global scale, the gallery marks this milestone with a special anniversary exhibition.
| Date & Time | Oct 14-30・11 a.m.–6 p.m.・(Closed Sundays, Mondays, and Public Holidays) |
| Price | Free |
| Location | A Lighthouse called Kanata (1F & 2F Galleries and Rooftop Terrace) |
| More Info | No advance ticket required |
Yoann Bourgeois Art Company © Pascale Cholette
Roppongi Art Night 2026
This year’s Roppongi Art Night returns with its signature all-night format. From dusk on October 31 until dawn on November 1, the neighborhood becomes a temporary stage with roughly 60 site-specific installations, outdoor performances and extended museum hours across Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Midtown and surrounding venues.
| Date & Time | Oct 31-Nov 1・5 p.m.–6 a.m.・Select outdoor installations remain on view through Nov 1, 10 p.m. |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Various locations across Roppongi (including Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Midtown, The National Art Center, Tokyo, Mori Art Museum and Suntory Museum of Art) |
| More Info | Museum exhibitions and select indoor programs require separate tickets |
Man Ray, Giant Chess Set, 1961. Installation view, c. 1961. Photo by Jacqueline Hyde.
Take Ninagawa: Man Ray
Take Ninagawa highlights this multidimensional practice with a solo exhibition that centers on one of Man Ray’s most enduring obsessions: the game of chess. Building on recent global retrospectives like the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 2025–26 showcase, this exhibition explores how chess served not just as a thematic subject, but as a dynamic structural framework for his art — a site where logic, strategy, chance and desire collide.
| Date & Time | Aug 1-Oct 3・11 a.m.–7 p.m.・Closed Sun, Mon and Holidays; Summer holiday closure August 9–17 |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Take Ninagawa |
Ufan Lee, Untitled, 1979. Photo by Nobutada Omote
Lee Ufan: Work on Paper / Sculpture
Scai The Bathhouse is hosting Lee’s first solo gallery show in Tokyo in four years. Bringing together drawings and sculptures from the 1970s through recent years, this show offers a clear entry point into his quiet, contemplative practice across paper and three-dimensional media. You’ll see charcoal and watercolor works on paper, along with pieces from his celebrated Relatum Sculpture series, which place natural river stones beside industrial iron plates.
| Date & Time | Aug 4-Oct 10・12–6 p.m.・Closed Sun, Mon and Holidays, and August 8–17 |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Scai The Bathhouse |
Nigel Cooke, The Island, 2026 © Nigel Cooke
Nigel Cooke: ‘Night Ruins’
Known for his evocative blend of figuration and elemental abstraction, British painter Nigel Cooke brings a series of nocturnal Venetian landscapes to Tokyo for his first solo exhibition in Japan.
| Date & Time | Aug 28-Oct 10・11 a.m.–7 p.m.・Closed Mondays, Open until 6 p.m. Sundays |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Pace Gallery Tokyo |
Kour Pour, To Be Titled (2025), courtesy of Kotaro Nukaga
Kour Pour: ‘Points Of Entry’
Los Angeles-based artist Kour Pour draws on his upbringing in Exeter, England — where he grew up around his Iranian father’s carpet shop — to explore how art and images travel across borders.
| Date & Time | Sep 26-Nov 8・11:30 a.m.–6 p.m.・Closed Sundays & Mondays |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Kotaro Nukaga Roppongi |
Hernan BAS, "All you ever wanted to know about 5B" (2026). Photographer : ©2026 Silvia Ros Images. Courtesy of Perrotin.
Hernan Bas: ‘Time To Shine! (The Salesmen)’
In “Time To Shine! (The Salesmen)” at Perrotin Tokyo, Bas places his youthful figures behind tables at front-lawn yard sales, flower stalls and beachside souvenir stands.
| Date & Time | Sep 9-Nov 11・11 a.m.–7 p.m.・Closed Sundays & Mondays |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Perrotin Tokyo |
2k540, HIBIYA OKUROJI, EDO NOREN
Art Arcade Tokyo
Art Arcade Tokyo is an autumn public art event running from September 26 to November 30, across three distinct commercial venues in Tokyo: Hibiya Okuroji, Edo Noren and 2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan.
| Date & Time | Sep 26-Nov 30 |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Hibiya Okuroji, Edo Noren, 2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan |
Festivals and Outdoor Events in October
Yoyogi Halloween Carnival 2026
The Yoyogi area is celebrating spooky season, with special gourmet offerings, shopping, performances and a stamp rally throughout October.
| Date & Time | Oct 1-31 |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Yoyogi Area |
Sunshine City Fun! Fun! Halloween 2026
Sunshine City will hold a kid-friendly Halloween event with activities, treats, festival games, concerts and photo ops.
| Date & Time | Oct 1-31 |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Sunshine City |
| More Info | Some activities require a fee |
Shinise Festival & Local Specialty Market 2026
In honor of "Shinise no Hi," a day that celebrates long-established businesses, the Shinise Festival will be held in the Nihonbashi area.
| Date & Time | Oct 3, 2026・10 a.m.–6 p.m. |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Mitsui Fukutoku Garden and Nomura Conference Plaza |
| More Info | Food and drink coins start at ¥3000 |
Kichijoji Halloween Festa 2026
The Kichijoji Halloween Festival is returning for its 14th year with family-friendly and community-wide activities, candy and costume shows.
| Date & Time | Oct 23-25 |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Around Kichijoji Station |
| More Info | Advance registration and participation fees may apply |
Loft Autumn Stationery Festival
The "Stationery Festival 2026 Autumn" is bringing a huge collection of new and exclusive autumn stationery to Loft stores nationwide.
| Date & Time | Aug 29-Oct 16 |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Loft stores nationwide |
Tokyo Tower City Light Fantasia Halloween Party 2026
Tokyo Tower will transform with Halloween colors and projection mapping, mixing ghosts and witches with a stunning cityscape view.
| Date & Time | Sep 11-Oct 31・5:30–10:50 p.m. |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Tokyo Tower |
| More Info | Observation deck fee of ¥1500 |
Asakusa Hanayashiki Kimono Festival
Asakusa Hanayashiki, Japan's oldest amusement park, will be offering free admission for guests wearing kimono.
| Date & Time | Sep 2-Oct 31・10 a.m.–6 p.m.・Last entry at 5:30 p.m. |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Asakusa Hanayashiki |
Sea Paradise Fireworks Symphony
Yokohama Sea Paradise's nightly summer fireworks show with music and various areas to enjoy the show with food and drinks.
| Date & Time | May 30, 2026-Mar 21, 2027・Until September: show starts at 8:30 p.m. | From October onwards: show starts at 8:00 p.m. |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise |
| More Info | Premium paid seating is available |
Live Music and Night Life Events in October
More events coming soon.
Anime and Manga Events in October
More events coming soon.
Community and Performative Events in October
Fuji-Q Highland x Porta Halloween Dance Party 2026
Fuji-Q Highland will bring together local dance studios, high school teams and other talented performers to celebrate Halloween with dance.
| Date & Time | Oct 31-Nov 1・11 a.m.–4 p.m. |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Fuji-Q Highland |
| More Info | Admission into the theme park and the event is free; attractions require a fee |
Food and Drink Events in October
Shinjuku Takashimaya 30th Anniversary Wagashi Tamashii Confectionery Festival
Shinjuku Takashimaya will host Wagashi Tamashii, a massive event with 120 Japanese confectionery shops from all 47 prefectures of Japan.
| Date & Time | Oct 1-6 |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Shinjuku Takashimaya |
Ramen Grand Prix Tokyo 2026
Some of the top ramen restaurants to compete for the title of best ramen and a grand prize of 5 million yen.
| Date & Time | Oct 10-Nov 15・11 a.m.–9 p.m.・Ends when sold out at each store |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Shinjuku Okubo Park |
| More Info | Ramen bowls are ¥800 each |
8th Onden Apple Road Market
The 8th Onden Apple Road Market will showcase carefully selected teas grown in the mountain regions of Taiwan.
| Date & Time | Oct 25, 2026・10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Onden Promenade Cat Street (Omotesando/Harajuku) |
Yaki Imo Festival Tokyo 2026
Yaki Imo Festival will offer 14 sweet potato shops with over 30 different menu items, including crepes, chips, smoothies, burgers and soups.
| Date & Time | Oct 30-Nov 8・11 a.m.–7 p.m.・weekends and holidays: 10:00-19:00 |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Nakano Shiki no Mori Park |
| More Info | only cashless payment will be accepted for meal tickets |
Film, Gaming and Pop Culture Events in October
Heritage Auctions Japan's Pop Culture Auction Exhibition
Showcasing over 500 iconic items valued at more than $15 million, the event features the largest public display of Star Wars lightsabers ever staged — headlined by Darth Vader’s original screen-used hilt from The Empire Strikes Back. Visitors can also view authentic The Walking Dead costumes, ultra-rare Pokémon cards (including a PSA 10 "Shining Mew"), sealed retro video games and sports memorabilia.
| Date & Time | Sep 18-Oct 27・11 a.m.–6:30 p.m.・Closed on Mondays and National Holidays |
| Price | Free |
| Location | Heritage Auctions Pop-Up Exhibit |
Related Posts
Tokyo Events October 2026: Exhibitions, Festivals & Pop-Ups
