If all of the Christmas markets, bonenkai, winter illuminations and various other end-of-year obligations you have on your calendar aren't enough, don't worry: we've put together a list of more family-friendly events and activities to check out in the coming weeks.

 

We'll have a separate round-up of New Year's Eve and New Year's celebrations, so keep your eyes peeled for that, as well!

 

 

Find all the beautiful office supplies of your dreams at this vendor-filled event. From customizeable pens and notebooks, to more cute erasers and washi tapes than you can count, it's worth a trip!

 

Enjoy the beautiful exhibits of the National Museum of Western Art, featuring Monet and Van Gogh, for free on 14 and 28 December.

 

The New National Theater, Tokyo is putting on this holiday classic for a week in mid-December. Plan a date for the whole family to enjoy the tale of a girl and her nutcracker!

 

 

Head to the iconic Senso-ji in Asakusa to pick up hagoita - essentially good luck bats. Decorated with the faces of anyone from sports stars to kabuki actors, they're playful accessories for a New Year's game of hanetsuki.

 

Even if you believe they'll someday throw over the human race, robots ARE pretty cool. Check out all different kinds at this exhibition at Odaiba's Big Sight.

 

Celebrate the longest night of the year at the Winter Solstice Festival in Waseda. You'll be able to enjoy a market selling seasonal goods and, of course, plenty of hot food and beverage options to keep you toasty on the first official day of winter.

 

 

A bit different than the other winter illuminations around Tokyo, the Daikanyama Noel is lit entirely by thousands of candles. There's also traditional caroling, plenty of food and opportunities to grab last-minute Christmas gifts.

 

The Tokyo Michi Terrace is a super popular annual event in Marunouchi. The classic facade of Tokyo station is the screen for an awe-inspiring light show that unsurprisingly draws huge crowds. It's a must-see!

 

Dedicated to independent manga, the Winter Comiket is a great event for any anime lovers in your household. It's free to attend, but if you want to join in on the cosplay action, you'll need to pay a small fee.

 

 

Start your new year with engaging and enigmatic artwork at the Museum of Modern Art. It's hard to beat a free day of culture!

 

If you want to see a bunch of really souped-up cars under one roof, the Tokyo Auto Salon is the place to do it. Previous years featured a van covered in flowers and plenty of custom Priuses.