What’s New in Japan for 2020

Tokyo will be taken over by the Olympic (July 24, 2020 – August 9, 2020) and Paralympic (August 25, 2020 – September 6, 2020) Games in 2020. This means that the city is seeing a slew of upgrades to athletic facilities, such as a new national stadium, new stores, transportation, and much more. Visitors can expect a futuristic vision in the 2020 games as Japan intends to use cutting edge technology (such as robotics) to make sure Olympics fans in Tokyo and beyond can all join in on the spectacle.

Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games 2020

New national stadium

Please note that there will be changes in Japan’s usual national holidays due to the Olympics. Marine Day and Sports day will be moved to July 23 and 24 while Mountain Day to August 10, the day after the closing ceremony. The aim of this change is to reduce traffic congestion, but it can also affect opening and closing hours in stores and restaurants.

National holidays due to the Olympics

Official website for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020

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Olympic Stadium (Shin National Arena)

Tokyo Shinjuku-ku

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In 2020 Tokyo Disneyland will be expanding with its ‘New Fantasyland’ based on the world of Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast. Adults can enjoy a hefty dose of nostalgia as they stroll through Belle’s village which will include Maurice’s Cottage and Gaston’s Fountain (but likely no sheep). The ‘Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast’ will take place in the castle itself. The area will also feature Disneyland’s first full scale indoor theater, the Fantasyland Forest Theater.

Over in Tomorrowland visitors can spend time with adorable Baymax on ‘The Happy Ride with Baymax’.

New Fantasyland

The Happy Ride with Baymax

Tokyo Disneyland

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Tokyo DisneySea Direct-Entry Tickets (1-Day Pass)

¥107

Update date：2023/05/30

Universal Studios Japan in Osaka has been extremely secretive about its new expansion, Super Nintendo World. Newly released images seem to indicate that there will Mario Kart and Yoshi themed rides and an area dedicated to Donkey Kong. The new expansion will be open to the public before the start of the 2020 Olympics so look forward to having your own Mario Party in USJ!

Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World

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Universal Studios Japan Osaka Studio Pass E-Tickets

¥18,600

Update date：2023/05/30

In March 2020 the Shikoku Aquarium will officially open its doors. This “Next-Generation Aquarium” has a theme of showing off the wonder of Shikoku’s waterscape so visitors can enjoy not only observing fish but also seeing how they act in their natural habitats and how they change with the seasons.

This aquarium will also feature a Shark Shadow Aquarium, where you can see the large shadowy profiles of Hammerhead sharks as well as a large dolphin area which promises a spectacular sunset over the Seto Inland Sea.

Shikoku Aquarium

四国水族館

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In Tokyo a new type of theme park is set to open, Small Worlds Tokyo will be home to miniature areas based in reality and fantasy. Feel like a giant by passing through the Gulliver tunnel and then take your time enjoying the Sailor Moon, Evangelion, Global Village, Space Center, and Kansai International Airport models.

It’s not just viewing though; advanced 3D mapping is available so that you can join your favorite area and make items to display as well. It’s set to open April 25, 2020 and will make the perfect indoor adventure if you are caught in rainy spring weather.

Small Worlds Tokyo

Evangelion　Area

SMALL WORLDS TOKYO

Tokyo Koto-ku Ariake 1-3-33 Ariake Butsuryu Center

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Popular sightseeing place and UNESCO World Heritage Site Itsukushima Shrine has unfortunately been covered by scaffolding for renovation as of June 2019. These repairs are expected to take one year so visitors can expect this beautiful floating Shrine to be fully viewable by summer 2020.

Itsukushima Shrine’s O-torii Gate

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Okinawa, already famous for its wealth of natural beauty, will be opening a new aquarium in April 2020, the DMM Kariyushi Aquarium. Their focus will be blending art installations with underwater environments to create a new type of aquarium enjoyment. It’s not far from Naha airport so it is much more easily accessible than the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, which is good news for those who have limited time on the island.

DMM Kariyushi Aquarium

DMM Kariyushi Aquarium

DMMかりゆし水族館

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Over in Naha the street known as “the miracle mile” is set to get some new editions as the site of Mitsukoshi welcomes the new Okinawa Kokusai Goodwill Street. Those who are interested in the varieties of Japanese cuisine available in Okinawa will love the new food court and shoppers are sure to be delighted by the variety of shops. All of the stores will open in February 2020.

Okinawa Kokusai Goodwill Street

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Summer 2020 will mark the arrival of the world’s largest Godzilla as part of the Godzilla Interception Strategy-National Godzilla Awajishima Research Center in Nijigen no Mori, an animation park not too far from Kobe and Osaka.

Marketed as “life-size”, you really have to see it to believe it. There will be a small platform set up so that visitors can grab that perfect selfie as they disappear into Godzilla’s open jaws. Monster movie fans can look forward to event-limited goods and food as they take on the king of monsters.

Godzilla Interception Operation

Awaji Island Anime Park (Nijigen no Mori)

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Nijigen No Mori Theme Park Ticket & Bus Packages (With Naruto and Boruto Shinobi-Zato + Godzilla Options)

¥11,800

Update date：2023/05/30

To commemorate the release of "Shin Evangelion", scheduled for June 2020, a large-scale project will be held in Hakone from January 10 to June 30, 2020.

The Hakone area, known as the "3rd New Tokyo City", will become the stage, with a range of Evangelion-themed designs taking over everything from buses to train stations.

The famous Hakone Kowakien Yunessun hot spring amusement park will be covered with Evangelion themed displays and characters, with even the hot spring baths themselves filling with LCL allowing even the youngest Eva pilots to connect with their Evangelion Unit.

2020 MEET EVANGELION

Hakone Kowakien Yunessun

Togendai

Kanagawa Pref

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Shibuya has always been known as a modern shopper’s paradise, but in 2020 visitors can expect even more options to fill their day.

Shibuya Scramble Square offers yet more shopping options as well as a new way to view the iconic Shibuya Crossing – from Shibuya Sky. This great observation area also has hammocks so that you can rest your feet from all that shopping.

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Shibuya Scramble Square

Shibuya Sky

Shibuya PARCO, a large shopping mall, has recently opened its doors. It features both high-end and pop-up shops, but its crown jewel is the new Pokemon Center and Nintendo store.

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Shibuya PARCO

SHIBUYA FUKURAS is an exciting new gateway to this neighborhood as you can travel directly there by bus from Tokyo’s airports. Visitors should check out Shibuya-san, a trendy information center with multi-lingual support, and Pepper Parlor, a new type of robot dining experience.

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Pepper Parlor

SHIBUYA FUKURAS

Shibuya

Tokyo

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In the summer of 2020 port city Yokohama intends to rival nearby Odaiba with its very own life-size, 18 meters tall, Gundam, and this one will move! You can visit this ambitious project, called the Gundam Factory "ガンダムファクトリーヨコハマ", at Yamashita Pier which is surrounded by beautiful parks and Yokohama Chinatown as well.

To ensure the best views and most convenient travel in the Minato Mirai sightseeing area Japan will be introducing it’s first aerial gondola, the Yokohama Air Cabin. This 630-meter-long gondola will connect the JR Sakuragicho Station with Unga park in around 3 minutes. This means it will be much easier to access the Yokohama World Porters shopping mall and the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. The district expects it to open commercially before the start of the 2020 Olympics.

Gundam Factory

JR East is also developing a brand-new tower complex as part of Yokohama station. With a bright atrium, rooftop gardens, and commercial facilities this is likely to become a Yokohama landmark. One of the tenants will be NEWoMan"ニュウマン横浜", a mall focused on luxury shopping for women.

Car lovers should check out the Nissan Pavilion Yokohama, which is described as an interactive center where visitors can experience the latest in vehicular technology. It will also be used a showroom for the newest Nissan models with a focus on electric cars. It will only be open for a limited time starting from Summer 2020.

NEWoMan　Yokohama

Finally, lovers of the arts should not miss the Yokohama Triennale 2020 "ヨコハマトリエンナーレ2020", which will have its base in the Yokohama Museum of Art, close to the Minatomirai station. This will be a celebration of contemporary art featuring world renowned and up-and-coming artists.

Yokohama Triennale 2020

Minatomirai

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UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kiyomizudera, has been under construction and partially covered by scaffolding for around three years now. But finally, for the 2020 Olympics this ancient Temple can be enjoyed in all of its glory! A big point of interest in the Temple is the Otawa waterfall, which is actually where the Temple gets its name (Kiyomizu means clear or pure water) and is believed to have wish granting powers.

Kiyomizudera Temple

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

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The Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art will be opening on March 21, 2020. This will be a modern art museum with a historical twist as the museum itself actually dates back to 1933. Two lead Japanese architects, Aoki Jun and Nishisawa Tezzo, have worked to create a contemporary building that retains its historical elements.

Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art

Pre-opening event: From December 21, 2019 to May 31, 2020

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On the banks of Lake Chuzenji in May 2020 the Ritz Carlton Nikko will open its doors. For visitors who would like the benefits and conveniences of large luxury hotel without sacrificing the beauty of the Japanese outdoors, this promises to be a perfect blend of the two. You can make reservations on the official website.

Ritz Carlton Nikko

The Ritz-Carlton Nikko

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Have you ever dreamed of staying in one of Japan’s beautiful castles? As of Spring 2020 your dreams can come true at the Ozu castle stay.

This historical treasure is said to have been in use since 1331, though a fire did eventually destroy some of the buildings they have since been authentically rebuilt and now are ready for overnight guests.
The group behind this project, VMG Hotels, actually specializes in historical boutique hotels.

If you are interested in immersing yourself in traditional and historical Japan, it would be a good idea to check their website!

URL: https://www.vmg.co.jp/hotels/oozu/

Ozu castle

Ozu Castle

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In Osaka’s electronics district, Nihonbashi, a new type of hotel experience is set to begin. In April 2020 Japan’s first e-sports and gaming hotel e-ZONe will open. 3 floors will be dedicated as a gaming area while the top 4 floors will be guest rooms. For those who are just coming for a competition and not staying overnight there will be shower rooms in the basement to make your trip more convenient.

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e-ZONe

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In terms of art festivals in Japan, The Northern Alps Art Festival has been a favorite in recent years. Based in Omachi in beautiful Nagano prefecture, the aim of the festival is to challenge artists (any participants are welcome to enter) to prepare works of art using the themes of ‘water’, ‘wood’, ‘soil’, and ‘sky’.
As a result, the festival is a celebration of Japan’s rural areas as well as a modern reflection of increasing environmental consciousness.

It will take place from May 31, 2020 to July 19, 2020.

Northern Alps Art Festival 2020

● Here are some other Japanese art festivals we recommend:

・ Oku-Noto Triennale 2020 "奥能登国際芸術祭"
・ Biwako Biennale 2020 "BIWAKOビエンナーレ"
・ Tokyo Biennale 2020 "東京ビエンナーレ"
・ Sapporo International Art Festival 2020 "札幌国際芸術祭"
・ Ichihara Art x Mix 2020 "いちはらアート×ミックス"

北アルプス国際芸術祭 2020-2021

長野県大町市

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The UK based artist Banksy has received international renown for works like his ‘balloon girl’. Now, he is coming to Yokohama ASOBUILD with one of the largest exhibitions of his art featuring more than 70 original pieces.

The exhibition asks the question, ‘Banksy: Genius or Vandal?’ so head on over and discuss. The provisional dates for Yokohama are March 15, 2020 to September 27, 2020. Regional showings are also planned for cities such as Osaka, so keep your eyes peeled.

Banksy: Genius or Vandal?

ASOBUILD

Kanagawa Yokohama-shi Nishi-ku Takashima 2-14-9

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Originally displayed at the British Library in London, special exhibition ‘Harry Potter: A History of Magic’ is coming to Japan in 2020.

It will include not only rare sketches by author J.K. Rowling but also historical artifacts that trace the history of magic in Europe, so that visitors can get some background on what inspired this beloved book series.

You can visit the Harry Potter exhibition in Kobe from September 5 to November 8 and then in Tokyo from November 21, 2020 to February 21, 2021.

Harry Potter: A History of Magic

Tokyo Station Gallery

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Tokyo Chiyoda-ku Marunouchi 1-9-1

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