Off-base festivities
Events are as accurate as possible at press time. Since times or event schedules can change, please verify events before attending.
Japan
MUKOUJIMA HYAKKA-EN GARDEN MOON VIEWING FESTIVAL (Tokyo): Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 5-9 p.m., garden open 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; viewing the full moon in mid-autumn has been a long tradition in East Asian countries and this garden will be decorated with paper lanterns, and koto — Japanese harp performances — and tea ceremony scheduled ; 3-18-3 Higashi-Mukoujima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, eight-minute walk from Higashi-Mukoujima Station, Tobu Isezaki Line; 150 yen; 03-3611-8705.
RAKUTEN JAPAN OPEN TENNIS 2012 (Tokyo): Sept. 29-Oct. 7; world pros including Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych, Janko Tipsarevic, Juan Monaco, Cicolas Almagro, Milos Raonic, Gilles Simon, Kei Nishikori and more are to compete at Ariake Colosseum; 4,000-5,000 yen (Sept. 30), 6,000-7,000-9,000-11,000-19,000-24,000 yen (Oct. 1-2); 7,000-8,000-9,000-11,000-13,000-21,000-26,000 yen (Oct. 3-4); 10,000-11,000-12,000-16,000-18,000-26,000-31,000 yen (Oct. 5), 11,000-12,000-13,000-20,000-22,000-30,000-35,000 yen (Oct. 6-7), two-minute walk from Ariake Tennis-no mori Station on Yurikamome Line or six-minute walk from Kokusai Tenjijo-mae Station on Rinkai-Line; 03-3481-2511; http://tinyurl.com/8opaxr7.
HUIS TEN BOSCH GARDENING WORLD CUP SHOW (Nagasaki prefecture): Sept. 29-Oct. 8; gardens designed by the world’s top-ranked gardeners displayed at Huis Ten Bosch; 0956-27-0001; www.gardeningworldcup.com.
AUTUMN BONSAI DISPLAY (Tokyo): Through Sept. 30, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; more than 50 bonsai — potted dwarf trees — at Shokubutsu Kaikan Exhibition Hall, Jindai Botanical Garden, 5-31-10 Jindaiji Motomachi, Chofu City, bus from Mitaka Station, JR Chuo Line, or Chofu Station, Keio Line, Jindaiji Shokubutsu Koen Mae bus stop; 500 yen for garden entrance; 0424-83-2300; www.tokyo-park.or.jp/english.
17TH YOKOHAMA FLOATING YACHT SHOW (Kanagawa prefecture): Through Sept. 30; featuring 23 yacht floating along Yokohama Bay Sight Marina; five-minute walk from Torihama Station on Kanazawa Seaside Line; free; 03-3434-5181.
2012 WORLD RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS CLUB TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (Tokyo): Through Sept. 30; at National Yoyogi Gymnasium No. 1, JR Harajuku Station and Meiji Jingu-Mae Station on Metro Chiyoda Line; 1,800-5,400 yen Sept. 28, 1,800-3,600-9,000-13,500 yen Sept. 29-30; 03-5770-5711.
TOKYO SUMMERLAND GREAT JOURNEY/ADVENTURE LAGOON: Through Sept. 30, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends and Japanese holidays; outdoor water park has swimming pools, water slides and tubes, waterfalls, and more in a tropical atmosphere; just off the Akiruno I.C., Ken-o-do Expressway, admission for Summerland, including Adventure Lagoon, is 3,500 yen adults, 2,500 yen kids, summer one-day pass including swimming pool/unlimited ride in amusement park is 4,500 yen, 3,000 yen kids, 2,000 yen infants & seniors; 600 Kamiyotsugi, Akiruno-city, Tokyo; 042-558-6511; www.summerland.co.jp.
TOKYO DISNEYLAND/ DISNEYSEA CAMPUS DAY PASSPORTS (Chiba prefecture): Through Sept. 30; special discount for students of universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, technical schools, senior high school or junior high schools in Japan and student I.D. must be shown when purchasing the tickets at major JR train stations, Tokyo Disney Resort ticket center and Disney Stores in Japan until Sept. 30, or Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea ticket booths, major private railway stations, convenience stores in Japan between Sept. 1-30; 4,900 yen for students 18+, 4,300 yen for ages 12-17; Disneyland: two-minute ride from Resort Gate Station/Maihama Station, JR Keiyo Line, DisneySea: three-minute ride from Resort Gate Station/Maihama Station, JR Keiyo Line; Tokyo Disney Resort Information 0570-00-8632; www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp.
INTERNATIONAL TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHY FAIR: Through Oct. 1, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; more than 1,000 photos from more than 40 art galleries, museums and publishing companies around the world at Tokyo Midtown Hall; 1,500 yen adults, 1,300 yen students; Roppongi Station on Oedo-Line or three-minute walk from Nogizaka Station on Chiyoda-Line or /10-minute walk from Roppongi Station on Nanboku-Line; 03-3740-4770.
OMOTESANO COLLECTIONS HAIR TRENDS 2012 (Tokyo): Oct. 2, 3 p.m.; hair styles from 18 top-ranked hair salons are featured along with makeup and fashion; National Yoyogi Gymnasium No. 2, five-minute walk from JR Harajuku Station and Meiji Jingu-Mae Station on Metro Chiyoda Line; 5,000-6,500 yen; 03-5469-1570.
ANTIQUE FAIR AT YOKOHAMA ARENA (Kanagawa prefecture): Oct. 2-3, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; more than 230 licensed antique dealers participate; five-minute walk from JR Shin Yokohama Station; free 090-8814-5101.
CEATEC JAPAN (Chiba prefecture): Oct. 5-6; biggest IT and electronics event in Asia for disseminating and exchanging related media and information; at Makuhari Messe, seven-minute walk from JR Kaihin Makuhari on Keiyo Line; free if you register by computer in advance; 03-6430-3193; www.ceatec.com/2012/en/.
F1 GRAND PRIX (Mie prefecture): Oct. 5-7; Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka – Round 15 of 20, renovated in 2008 and a very tough circuit that attracts enormous crowds, will offer a race for the 2012 season championship between Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, Lotus’ Kimi Raikonen, Red bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Vettel’s teammate Mark Webber; Suzuka City, from Tokyo, take the Tomei Expressway and leave at the Suzuka Interchange, the nearest station to the Suzuka Circuit is Shiroko, which is a 20-minute walk or a 15-minute bus ride from the track. An express train from Nagoya to Shiroko takes around 40 minutes; 62,000 yen, 0570-000-777; www.suzukacircuit.jp/f1/.
MISS VEEDOL TOBE — TOBE CONTEST 2012 (Aomori prefecture): Oct. 6, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; commemorating the first successful nonstop flight across the Pacific Ocean from Misawa to Wenatchee, Washington State, by U.S. aviators Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon Jr. in 41 hours and 13 minutes; paper airplane contest at Misawa Ozora Hiroba, 10-minute drive from Misawa Airport; NPO Take off Misawa 0176-50-7000.
TSUCHIURA ALL JAPAN FIREWORKS COMPETITION (Ibaraki prefecture): Oct. 6, 6-8:30 p.m.; about 20,000 fireworks at Sakuragawahan, 20-minute walk from Tsuchiuwa Station on JR Jyoban Line; 029-826-1111.
TAMAGAWA RIVER WALKING FESTA (Tokyo): Oct. 6; six courses from 4 km to 50 km along river, starting at Haginaka Koen and finishing at Gas Bashi (bridge) Ryokuchi, 4-26-46, Haginaka, Ohta-ku; 03-5256-7855.
MUSICAL “ROMEO & JULIETTE” (Tokyo): Oct. 6-21; in French and subtitled in Japanese; 11th floor at Shibuya Hikarie at Tokyo Theatre Orb; JR Shibuya Station; 5,000-9,000-13,000 yen; 03-3477-3244.
SPORTS DAY: Oct. 8; This Japanese national holiday held the second Monday in October commemorates the opening ceremony of Tokyo Olympics in 1964.
HAGI FESTIVAL (Tokyo): Through Oct. 8, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; hagi, a Japanese bush clover that is one of the symbolic autumn flowers, is offered before the tablet of the deceased during autumn equinox; Mukoujima Hyakka-en Garden, 3-18-3 Higashi-Mukoujima, Sumida-ku, eight-minute walk from Higashi-Mukoujima Station, Tobu Isezaki Line; 150 yen admission; 03-3611-8705.
28TH MORI NO TAKIGI NOH (Tokyo): Oct. 8, 6:15 -8:30 p.m.; Takigi Noh (Bonfire Noh), a beautiful and mystic musical theater lit by bonfires at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden; 5,500-6,500 yen; Shinjuku Gyoen, Shinjuku-mon (gate) is only available for Takigi Noh due to regularly closed-hours after 4:30 p.m.; 10-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station; 03-3344-3160; www.shinjukuku-kankou.jp/.
AUTUMN TAKAYAMA FESTIVAL (Gifu prefecture): Oct. 9-10; the festival, which marks the arrival of autumn in Takayama city, originated as a showcase for the wealth of the city’s merchants and the skills of its craftsmen and 1-3:20 p.m. Oct. 9, see a parade of 10 floats and Oct. 10, 8:30-9:30 a.m. & 1:30-3:40 p.m., and in the evening, lanterns on the floats are lit and floats are drawn through the streets; 0577-32-5328.ADACHI FIREWORKS (Tokyo): Oct. 13, 6 p.m.; 15,000 fireworks beside the Arakawa River, 15-minute walk from Kitasenju Station on Tobu-Line/JR/Metro/Tsukuba Express; 03-3880-5853.
2012 AUTUMN/WINTER TOKYO GIRLS COLLECTION (Saitama prefecture): Oct. 13, 3 p.m., Saitama Super Arena; one-minute walk from Saitama Shin Toshin Station on JR Keihin Tohoku Line; 5,000-7,000-9,500-15,000 yen; 0570-064-708 Kyodo Tokyo.
2012 MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – 15th ROUND JAPAN (Tochigi prefecture): Oct. 12-14; Twin Link Motegi; 9,000-12,000-14,000-16,000 yen adults, 1,000-1,500 yen ages 15 and younger; 0285-64-0080; http://tinyurl.com/9nrytgs.
AUTUMN ROSE FESTIVAL (Tokyo): Oct. 13-28, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; this 30,780-square-meter garden has a Western-style garden on the slope, with blooming roses, and a Japanese garden on the lowland; 30-minute concerts 1 & 3 p.m. Oct. 11, 18 & 25; Kyu-Gurukawa Teien Garden, 1-27-39 Nishigahara, Kita-ku, Tokyo, 12-minute walk from JR Komagome Station, Yamanote Line; 150 yen; 03-3910-0394; www.tokyo-park.or.jp.
KASAMA INARI JINJA CHRYSANTHEMUM FESTIVAL (Ibaraki prefecture): Oct. 13-Nov. 23; this festival began in 1890; Kasama Inari Museum and Kasama Inari special Chrysanthemum decorated dolls exhibition, 800 yen adults, 400 yen kids; 0296-73-0001; www.kasama.or.jp.
OKTOBERFEST (Yokohama): Through Oct. 14; taste more than 80 varieties of beer, four from Munich and 45 from other regions of Germany and local breweries at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, 15-minute walk from JR Kan-nai Station; 045-227-2002.
KANAGAWA MARCHING BAND & BATON TWIRLING FESTIVAL (Kanagawa prefecture): Oct. 14, 10:30 a.m.; Yokohama Arena, five-minute walk from JR Shin Yokohama Station; 3,000 yen adults, 2,000 yen kids; 03-6231-6033.
CORMORANT FISHING (Gifu prefecture): Through Oct. 15; more than 40 sightseeing ships are set on Nagara at 6:15, 6:45 & 7:15 p.m.; fare is 3,000-3,300 yen/person; Nagara River Cormorant Fishing Boat Reservations 058-262-0104; http://tinyurl.com/9s87eqd. Other places to observe cormorant fishing are Uji River in Kyoto, 0774-23-3334; Katsura River in Kyoto, 075-861-0302; Kiso River in Inuyama city, Aichi prefecture, 0568-61-0057; Hiji River in Oozu, Ehime prefecture, 0893-24-2664; and Nishiki River in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi prefecture, 0827-41-0470 or http://tinyurl.com/8vuae62.
TOKYO BIG SIX BASEBALL LEAGUE: Through Oct. 28; Waseda University, 2012 All Japan College Baseball tournament champion, challenges; Jingu Stadium, six-minute walk from JR Suidobashi Station; 1,100 yen for infield bleachers, 700 yen for outfield bleachers; 03-3409-5610. DISNEY HALLOWEEN: Through Oct. 31; twice-daily parade including more than 90 Disney-costumed characters at Disneyland and 110 Disney-costumed characters also twice daily at DisneySea; Tokyo Disneyland, two-minute ride from Resort Gate Station/Maihama Station, JR Keiyo Line; 6,200 yen adults, 5,300 yen ages 12-17, 4,100 yen ages 4-11; 0570-00-8632; http://tinyurl.com/cwsmso7.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN – SURPRISE HALLOWEEN: Through Nov. 11; join in Halloween costume parade held daily and go trick or treating, and 6 p.m. Fri.-Mon. is Halloween Horror Night “Bio Hazard”; Universal City Station on JR Yumesaki-Line; 6,400 yen adults, 4,300 yen kids and after 3 p.m. cost is 5,200 yen adults, 3,900 yen kids; 06-6465-3000; www.usj.co.jp/e/.
WHALE SHARK VIEWING: open-ended run; see 4.9-meter-long and 5.4-meter-long whale sharks at feedings and performances; Hakkeijima Sea Paradise; Seaside Line, Hakkeijima Station; 4,200 yen adults, 3,000 yen children; 045-788-8888; www.seaparadise.co.jp/english/.
FANTASMIC (Chiba prefecture): open-ended run; night-time show, featuring 27 animated characters such as Mickey Mouse and Cinderella, filled with special effects using water and fire on Mediterranean Harbor; Tokyo DisneySea, three-minute ride from Resort Gate Station/Maihama Station, JR Keiyo Line; one-day passport 6,200 yen adults, discount passport after 3 p.m. 4,900 yen adults; 0570-00-8632; www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/en/tds/index.html.
MEIJI JINGU ICE SKATING (Tokyo): year-round, noon-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends; adults 1,300 yen/day, children 900 yen/day and after 3 p.m., adults 1,000 yen and children 700 yen and 500 yen for shoe rental; Kasumigaoka, Shinjuku-ku, one-minute walk from Kokuritsu Kyogijyo on subway Oedo Line or five-minute walk from JR Shinanomachi Station on Sobu Line; 03-3403-3458, www.meijijingugaien.jp/english/ice-skating.html.
Okinawa
TOUR DE MIYAKOJIMA BICYCLE RACE 2012: Sept. 29-30; touring events of 10 & 60 km Sat. and 100 & 160 km races Sun.; Miyako Island; 0467-84-8639.
RYUKYU DYNASTY MOON VIEWING FESTIVAL: Sept. 29-30, 6:30-9 p.m.; reproduction of the Mid-Autumn Banquet held during the Ryukyu Dynasty to welcome envoys from China and guests enjoy traditional Okinawan performing arts; Shuri Castle Park, 1-2 Shuri Kinjo-cho, Naha city; 098-886-2020; http://tinyurl.com/8j3s2zn.
56TH ALL JAPAN CYCLING FESTA ON OKINAWA – RYUKYU DYNAMIC RIDE: Sept. 30, 5 a.m.-8 p.m.; 30, 130 & 260 km cycle rides, start and end at Yomitan Village Bunka Center; 7,000 yen for 30 km, 9,500 yen for 130 km and 15,000 yen for 260 km entry; 098-860-5133.
ITOMAN TUG OF WAR: Sept. 30, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; local citizens pull a 180-meter giant rope on Route 331 at 5 p.m.; 30-minute ride from Naha Airport or 20-minute ride from Tomigusuku I.C.; 098-840-8135.
NAHA TUG OF WAR: Oct. 7, 2:30-5 p.m.; about 15,000 people pulling on a 200-meter giant rope is the highlight of the Oct. 8-10 festival; Route 58, Kumoji intersection; 098-866-4858.
MAEZATO TUG OF WAR: Oct. 1; tug-of-war is 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., and Eisa dances are 6 p.m. at Memichi Square, Itoman; 098-994-4468.
18TH IHEYA MOONLIGHT MARATHON: Oct. 27, 3 p.m.; the only official marathon in Japan held at night with a half marathon at 5 p.m.; 0980-46-2867/2177.
2012 KUMEJIMA MARATHON: Oct. 28, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; full marathon at Nakazato Ball Park, followed by half-marathon, 5 & 10 km races; 4,000 yen for marathon and half-marathon 3,500 yen for 5 & 10 km; 098-985-7106.
South Korea
“SSANGHWA BYEOLGOK,” THE MUSICAL: Through Sept. 30; Universal Art Center, Seoul; 50,000-70,000-90,000-110,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
MUSICAL “THE CELESTIAL CLOCK”: Through Oct. 1; Gyeonghuigung Palace, Sungjeongjeon, Seoul; 44,000-55,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
SEOUL DRUM FESTIVAL: Oct. 2-3; professional and amateur percussionists from around the world to gather to perform with different types of instruments at Seoul Plaza, Seoul-si Jung-gu Sogong-don, City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), exit 5 or 6; www.seouldrum.go.kr.
“POLLONIA” THE MUSICAL: Seoul, Oct. 5-7, Arko Art Theater; 30,000-50,000-70,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
“A TALE OF TWO CITIES,” THE MUSICAL (Seoul): Through Oct. 7; Chungmu Art Hall, Grand Theater, 50,000-70,000-100,000-120,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
MUSICAL “INTO THE MOONLIGHT”: Through Oct. 7; Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, M Theater, Seoul; 10,000-20,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
“MUSICAL, “CHICAGO” (Seoul): Through Oct. 7; D Cube Art Center, 40,000-70,000-90,000-110,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
MUSICAL, “MAN OF LA MANCHA” (Seoul): Through Oct. 7; Charlotte Theater, 60,000-80,000-110,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
MUSICAL, “WICKED” (Seoul): Through Oct. 7; Blue Square Musical Hall; http://tinyurl.com/crgg3uy.
CLOSING OF LOVE (CLOTURE DE L’AMOUR),” THE MUSICAL: Seoul, Oct. 9-10, Daehangno Arts Theater Small Hall; 30,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
MUSICAL, “CLOSING OF LOVE” (Seoul): Oct. 9-10; Daehangno Arts Theater Small Hall, 30,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
MUSICAL, “PEER GYNT” (Seoul): Oct. 11-14; LG Arts Center, 40,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
“JEKYLL AND HYDE,” THE MUSICAL: Busan, Oct. 12-21, Busan Citizen Hall; 50,000-70,000-110,000-130,000 won; Gyeonggi, Nov. 3, 3 & 7:30 p.m., Nov. 4, 2 & 6:30 p.m.; Seongnam Arts Center, Opera House; 55,000-88,000-99,000-110,000-120,000 won; Incheon, Nov. 9-11, Incheon Culture & Arts Center Grand Theater; 77,000-88,000-99,000-110,000-130,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
“THE ODYSSEY,” THE MUSICAL: Seoul, Oct. 13-15, Daehangno Arts Theater Grand Hall, 30,000-50,000-70,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
MUSICAL, “A TALE OF TWO CITIES” (Seoul): Through Oct. 17, Chungmu Art Hall, Grand Theater, 50,000-70,000-100,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
KOREAN NATIONAL BALLET’S SWAN LAKE (Gyeonggi): Oct. 19, 8 p.m., Oct. 20, 3 p.m.; Seongnam Arts Center, Opera House, 30,000-50,000-70,000-100,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
MUSICAL, “HEDWIG” (Seoul): Through Oct. 21; KT&G Sangsang Art Hall, 55,000-66,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
BUSAN INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS FESTIVAL: Oct. 22, 6-27, 8-9:30 p.m.; teams from U.S., Poland, Japan and China compete in a 15-minute fireworks show at Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge area; and Oct. 29, 8-9 p.m., flying high-themed fireworks at Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge area; www.bff.or.kr/ENG.
THE MUSICAL, THE SORROWS OF YOUNG WERTHER (Seoul): Oct. 25-Dec., 16, Universal Arts Center, 50,000-80,000-100,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
THE MUSCIAL, GULLIVER’S TRAVELS (Seoul): Oct. 26-28, CTS Art Hall, 27,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
MUSICAL, “THE MISSING PRINCE” (Seoul): Through Oct. 28, Daehakro Art One Theater 1; 40,000-60,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
MUSICAL, “FANTASY PERFORMANCE, KARMA,” (Seoul): Through Oct. 31, Gaya Theater, 44,000-55,000-77,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
MUSICAL, “SHERLOCK HOLMES” (Seoul): Through Nov. 4, Doosan Art Center, Yongkang Hall, Fanta-Stick Theatre, 40,000-60,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
MUSICAL, “FANTA-STICK” (Seoul): Through Dec. 31, Fanta-Stick Theatre, 40,000-50,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
MUSICAL, “WORLD BEAT VINARI” (Seoul): Through July 31; Cine Core Theater 2; 40,000-50,000-60,000 won; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
MUSICAL, “GREASE” (Seoul): open-ended run, 8 p.m., Mon., Wed.-Fri., 3 & 7 p.m., Sat., 2 & 6 p.m., Sun. & holidays, Dongsoong Art Center; 40,000-60,000 won; 1588-5212; http://tinyurl.com/3e6rwhe.
To see your listings here, e-mail: PSSEDTLibrary@mail.pstripes.osd.mil.
