Maisaka sits on a sandbar that shouldn't exist. In 1498, an earthquake and tsunami broke through the land, turning freshwater Lake Hamana into a tidal inlet. For the next 400 years, Tōkaidō travelers crossed by ferry where solid ground once stood. #東海道五十三次

CYCLE MODE TOKYO 2026 takes place April 25–26 at Tokyo Big Sight and Umi no Mori Park Island Venue, featuring the latest road, gravel, and mountain bikes to ride, a Vintage Bike Market, Sports e-Bike Area, and a Talk Stage with celebrity guests.

The Kochi Anime Creator Festival 2026 is coming — April 11–12 at Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium, Obiyamachi Shopping Street, Toyo Denka Central Park, Cinema M, and more venues across the city. Anime creators, voice actors, cosplayers, awards, and more.

Sakura season doesn't care what kind of day you're having. It's just quietly, reliably beautiful. Yozakura (cherry blossoms at night) especially.

Sakura festivals are in full swing — blossom illuminations, concerts, games, food stalls, and hanami spots, usually with free admission. Shimizu Park (Noda, Chiba Pref.), one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots, is holding its festival through April 5.

Ukiyo-e meets Evangelion — "Eva Ukiyo-e: Kabuki Series" arrives March 30. Inspired by "Kabuki Symphony No. 9 — Evangelion", 7 works reimagining Eva through the ukiyo-e tradition — from the fateful meeting of Kaworu and Shinji to ōkubi-e portraits and senjafuda for each Eva unit.

An exhibition at Meiji Jingu Museum explores the role of flowers in Imperial Household culture, presenting items from the collections of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. "Flowers and Imperial Household Culture" runs March 28 to June 21.

Student-created projection mapping works begin screening on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building on March 27. Four teams, guided by top creators over three months, bring fresh vision to one of Tokyo's most iconic landmarks as part of the ongoing TOKYO Night & Light program.

Yumeji Art Museum marks its 60th anniversary with "Yumeji and Kabuki," an exhibition exploring how kabuki inspired the work of Takehisa Yumeji, the Taisho-era artist celebrated for his bijin paintings. On view in Okayama through June 21.