[Latest for 2025] Refresh in the heart of the city this spring: 6 outing spots to visit during Golden Week

Golden Week is just around the corner. With the pleasant spring weather, it is the season when you feel like going out somewhere.

Speaking of Golden Week, do you know how many consecutive days off it is this year? It can be as many as 11 days in a row.

Picnics, art, music, gourmet food… Events you can drop by and enjoy on a whim will be held across Japan again this year.

In this article, SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP, which handles PR communications, presents a curated list of recommended places to go in Tokyo.

This Golden Week, why not casually visit the spots that catch your eye and find a way to spend the holidays that feels true to you?

A must-see new facility that just opened this spring in Yoyogi Park: Yoyogi Park BE STAGE “BE STAGE DAYS”

At “Yoyogi Park BE STAGE,” which opened this spring in Yoyogi Park (Jinnan 1-chome area) located between Shibuya and Harajuku, the first Golden Week event, “BE STAGE DAYS,” will be held.

Hawaiian restaurant “Tiki’s Tokyo,” making its Japan debut, is a dog-friendly venue where you can dine with your beloved pet; during the event period, leis for your dog will also be available to borrow free of charge for photos. At the adjacent “NORTH SHORE CAFE,” you can receive their signature “malasada” by following the official Instagram account, and enjoy a Hawaiian picnic experience in the park.

In addition, there is a full lineup of programs, including children’s activities where they can try circuits such as vaulting boxes and horizontal bars with Ryohei Kato, who won numerous gold medals as a member of Japan’s men’s gymnastics team, as well as programs where you can experience urban sports such as skateboarding, parkour, breaking, freestyle football, and double dutch.

Why not explore a variety of ways to enjoy the new area of Yoyogi Park—with friends or family, or with your dog?

Picnics and new sports in the middle of the city: Toranomon Hills “Oval Plaza Picnic Park”

This Golden Week, why not casually enjoy outdoor fun and great food at Toranomon Hills in Tokyo?

At the open, greenery-filled Oval Plaza, you can enjoy limited-time foods perfect for spring outings and “TORANOMON HILLS BBQ.”

Free picnic sheet rentals are also available, making it appealing to drop by on a whim and spend springtime at your own pace. In addition, a “new sports” experience area will also appear, where anyone can easily give it a try. Both adults and children can move their bodies and feel refreshed.

Also, at “TOKYO NODE” within the same complex, the popular exhibition “Design Ah! Exhibition neo” will be held concurrently. With “verb” installations and decorations scattered throughout the city, it may even spark your sense of discovery.

This is a spring event unique to Toranomon Hills, where you can fully enjoy nature, art, and gourmet food—all while staying in the city.

Azabudai Hills’ Central Plaza becomes a playground: Azabudai Hills “MAY AT THE GREEN – playground –”

*Image is for illustrative purposes only.

In this season of dazzling fresh greenery, Azabudai Hills, spreading out in the heart of the city, will host the outdoor event “MAY AT THE GREEN – playground –,” where you can spend Golden Week comfortably.

During the event, the Central Plaza will be transformed into a “playground” themed around “play,” featuring plenty of content that not only children but also adults can get absorbed in.

From an outdoor cinema and performances to spaces where you can immerse yourself in the world of picture books and giant block play, the plaza will be filled with family-friendly experiences.

In addition, there will be a “Green Tour” around Azabudai Hills’ greenery, wellness programs to move your body and refresh, and a robust selection of gourmet food and drinks to enjoy while feeling the early-summer air.

This Golden Week, when the weather is perfect for going out, why not spend a holiday at Azabudai Hills surrounded by nature and a sense of playfulness?

Dynamic colors and cultures intersect: Tomokazu Matsuyama Exhibition FIRST LAST

A major solo exhibition by contemporary artist Tomokazu Matsuyama, active on the global stage—“Tomokazu Matsuyama Exhibition FIRST LAST”—is now being held at Azabudai Hills Gallery.

More than 40 works are on display, including large-scale pieces being shown in Japan for the first time, bringing the space to life with an overwhelming scale and vivid colors.

A highlight is the new series “First Last.” Based on the perspective that “the last shall be first, and the first shall be last,” it depicts contemporary society where multiple cultures intermingle. Spreading across the canvases are thousands of colors mixed by Matsuyama himself, layered with diverse techniques to create striking visuals.

The paintings sample a variety of motifs, including the familiar Koala’s March and other recognizable characters, as well as dogs that look almost photorealistic. Please be sure to take a close look at the details as you view the works.

In addition, “Broken Kaleidoscope” features an exhibition room like a wonderland that Alice might wander into, prompting many visitors to take photos and videos.

From tradition and religion to pop culture and everyday items, a wide range of cultural elements blend together in the colors, creating an immersive experience that feels as if you are standing at a “crossroads of cultures.”It is an exhibition you can truly experience.

《We The People》2025
In a wide corridor modeled after the floor of an American supermarket, a diverse range of people are depicted. Several figures positioned at the center of the work meticulously recreate the composition of “The Death of Socrates” (1787) by French Neoclassical painter Jacques-Louis David, reviving it in the present day as a form of “direct quotation.” As you view the piece, consider the meaning of the cereal and painkillers.

Bring Golden Week to life with music: Roppongi Hills “TOKYO M.A.P.S”

On Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4 during Golden Week, a free live music event co-hosted with radio station J-WAVE will be held at Roppongi Hills:“J-WAVE Roppongi Hills present TOKYO M.A.P.S Nagaoka Ryosuke EDITION”.

Launched in 2008,“TOKYO M.A.P.S”is an event that showcases music, art, and performances through a wide range of expressions. Each year, a prominent figure in the music scene serves as organizer, presenting distinctive stages aligned with the theme.

The 2025 organizer is Ryosuke Nagaoka, vocalist and guitarist of Petrolz, who also serves as navigator for the J-WAVE program “CITROËN FOURGONNETTE.”

Under the theme “Listen with your skin—wonderful sounds from wonderful people,” artists selected through his sensibilities will deliver memorable performances.

The open, free live performances are also a welcome highlight, making it easy to encounter music casually—while shopping or out for a walk. Why not enjoy an unexpected encounter with music in the middle of the city?

Go see a luxury cruise ship: “Cunard Yokohama Port Jack”

A special event, “Cunard Yokohama Port Jack,” is now underway, turning Yokohama Port into a celebration of the “Queen Elizabeth.”

For about two months starting Saturday, March 29, landmarks around the port will be enveloped in a luxurious atmosphere to coincide with the ship’s calls.

At Yokohama Marine Tower, a photo exhibition, discount campaign for the observation floor, and special illuminations will be held. At “THE WHARF HOUSE” in Yamashita Park, limited-time programs will also appear, including collaboration-only menu items such as British-style fish and chips and a special plan to enjoy the footbath terrace at a great value.

In addition, from spots such as the Yokohama Bay Bridge Sky Walk, you will have the chance to see the majestic Queen Elizabeth up close as it is berthed at Daikoku Pier. On port-call days, each facility will also distribute original postcards in limited quantities free of charge—perfect as a keepsake.

Even without boarding a cruise, this period lets you enjoy the feeling of a special voyage in the port city of Yokohama. For your Golden Week outing, be sure to experience something extraordinary—just by looking.

Have you found a place you would like to visit?

All of these events are enjoyable whether you drop by casually or spend time at your leisure. Please find a way to spend the holidays that suits you and enjoy Golden Week.

There are also many more events for which SUNNY SIDE UP handles PR. They are featured on SUNNY DAYS, so please be sure to check them out as well.