Japan22nd ALL JAPAN STUDENT CHEERLEADING CHAMPIONSHIP (Tokyo): Dec. 11-12; 120 teams from Japan compete at National Stadium Yoyogi Gymnasium No. 1; 1,500-2,500 yen; five-minute walk from JR Harajuku Station & Meiji Jingu-mae Station on Metro Chiyoda Line or a 10-minute walk from JR Shibuya Station; 03-3403-2226.
GRAND SLAM TOKYO 2010 INTERNATIONAL JUDO TOURNAMENT (Tokyo): Dec. 11-13, Tokyo Gymnasium; former Kano-Trophy Judo Championships renamed this year as Grand Slam, a major Judo tournament in Tokyo; 2,900 yen; Sendagaya Station on Sobu-Line; 03-3435-7000; www.judo-ch.jp/english/.
JAPAN TABLE TENNIS JTTL FINAL FOUR 2010 (Saitama prefecture): Dec.11-12; top four teams of men’s and ladies’ divisions compete at Urawa city Athletic Park Sogo Taikukan; ladies’ final 11:30 a.m. and men’s final 2:30 p.m. Dec. 12; 1,500-2,000 yen adults, 700 yen senior, junior and elementary school students; 03-3481-2371.
64th ALL JAPAN BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIP (Tokyo): ends Dec. 12; at National Yoyogi Stadium No. 2 Gymnasium; 2,000 yen adults, 1,000 yen youths; five-minute walk from JR Harajuku Station & Meiji Jingu-mae Station on Metro Chiyoda Line or a 10-minute walk from JR Shibuya Station; 03-3481-2382.
UENO PARK POTTERY FESTIVAL (Tokyo): Ends Dec. 12, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; potteries produced in Japan, such as Saga, Arita, Imari, Karatsu, Bizen, Hagi, Shimizu and more on sale at a discount; at Ueno Park fountain square; free; 090-3198-2164; dai-toukiichi.com (Japanese only).
BEST FLEA MARKET (TOKYO): Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; more than 100 dealers participate; in the courtyard of Tokyo International Forum, 3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, one-minute walk from JR Yurakucho Station; 03-5805-1093; www.t-i-forum.co.jp/english/index.html.
TOKYO SUMMERLAND FLEA MARKET (western Tokyo): Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; monthly flea market; at the parking lot of Tokyo Summerland amusement park; 600 Kamiyotsugi, Akiruno city, Tokyo; 042-558-0441; www.summerland.co.jp/guide/familysports_freemarket.html (Japanese only).
MUSCLE MUSICAL “M-JUMP” (Tokyo): ends Dec. 12; features music, costume, acrobatic skills, art and muscle power; Shibuya Muscle Museum; 10-minute walk from JR Shibuya Station; 5,800-7,800-9,800 yen adults, 5,500 yen children; 0120-917-999; www.musclemusical.com/ (Japanese only).
JINGU-GAIEN GINGKO TREES (MAIDENHAIR) FESTIVAL: ends Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; refreshment booths, local crafts and products and live street performances available at Jingu-Gaien fountain park, one of Tokyo’s most popular fall attractions featuring more than 140 Gingko trees; free; 03-3401-0312; www.meijijingugaien.jp/event/ (Japanese only).
47 RONIN (Tokyo): Dec. 14; Sengakuji Temple celebrates the 47 Ronin who avenged their master; five-minute walk from Sengakuji Station on Toei Asakusa-Line.
SETAGAYA BORO ICHI (“Rag Fair”) (Tokyo): Dec. 15-16 and Jan. 15-16, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; see merchandise, from vintage clocks to mallets for pounding New Year’s mochi; take Tokyu Den-en Toshi Line from Shibuya to Sangenjaya Station and change to Tokyu Setagaya Line to Kamimachi Station or Setagaya Station: no parking; 03-5432-1111.
EMPEROR & EMPRESS’S TROPHY VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL ROUNDS (Tokyo): Dec. 16-19, Dec. 23; 48 teams of six-person volleyball team among 12-year-olds and older including pro teams qualified in the preliminary rounds, compete at National Stadium Yoyogi Gymnasium No. 1; 2,000-2,500 yen; five-minute walk from JR Harajuku Station & Meiji Jingu-mae Station on Metro Chiyoda Line or a 10-minute walk from JR Shibuya Station; 03-5786-2100.
HAGOITA ICHI (Tokyo): Dec. 17-19, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Battledore Fair at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa; hanetsuki is Japan’s badminton-like game traditionally enjoyed by Japanese girls as a New Year’s pastime, but these days the paddle is an ornament believed to bring good luck; Sensoji Temple in Asakusa; Ginza Line to Asakusa Station; 03-3842-0181.
HEIWAJIMA ANTIQUES FAIR (Tokyo): Dec. 17-19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; pottery, furniture, textiles, glass, lacquer, prints, dolls, armor, jewelry and more; Heiwajima Ryutsu Center in Tokyo; take Tokyo Monorail from JR Yamanote Line Hamamatsucho Station to Ryutsu Center, one- minute walk; 03-3822-5918.
EMPEROR’S PALACE RUNNING FESTA (Tokyo); Dec. 18; 10km race at 9:30 a.m., followed by 5km race at 9:45 a.m., start and finish at Sakurada-mon Clock Tower; 3,000 yen for 10km race, 2,500 yen for 5km race; 03-3222-6735.
46th JAPAN COLLEGE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP (1st ROUND) (Tokyo): Dec. 19, noon and 2 p.m.; 1st round preliminary games at Prince Chichibu Rugby Stadium; 500-1,500-2,500-3,000-4,500-5,500 yen; five-minute walk from Gaien-mae Station on Ginza-Line or a 15-minute walk from JR Sendagaya Station; Japan Rugby Football Association 03-3401-3290.
The 21st LACROSSE JAPAN CHAMPIONSHIP (Tokyo): Dec. 19; women’s final at 11 a.m. and men’s final at 2 p.m.; at Edogawa-ku Track and Field; 1,700 yen; Japan Lacrosse Federation 03-3249-2504; www.lacrosse.gr.jp/ (Japanese only).
EMPEROR’S BIRTHDAY: Dec. 23; Japan’s national holiday, to celebrate the 77th birthday of Emperor Akihito. Visitors can enter the palace from Nijubashi Bridge on this day. The emperor and his family will receive people’s well wishes at the Imperial Palace and greet visitors at 10:20, 11 and 11:40 a.m. Visitors can register near Sakashitamon Gate of the Imperial Palace; 03-3213-1111.
CHRISTMAS WISHES AT TOKYO DISNEYSEA (Chiba prefecture): Ends Dec. 25; festivities include colorful decorations, a show starring Disney characters and the illumination of a giant Christmas tree on Mediterranean Harbor; Tokyo DisneySea Station, a nine-minute monorail ride from Resort Gateway Station/Maihama Station, JR Keiyo Line; 5,800 yen adults, 5,000 yen ages 12-17, 3,900 yen ages 4-11, 5,100 yen ages older than 60, discount Starlight Pass after 3 p.m.: 4,700 yen adults, 4,100 yen youths, 3,200 yen children; www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/tdr/english/howto/tds_10xmas/index.html.
CHRISTMAS FANTASY AT TOKYO DISNEYLAND (Chiba prefecture): Ends Dec. 25; a Christmas fairytale with Christmas trees and sparkling illuminations on the theme of “White Holiday Christmas;” Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland Station a two-minute monorail ride from Resort Gateway Station/Maihama Station, JR Keiyo Line; 5,800 yen adults, 5,000 yen ages 12-17, 3,900 yen ages 4-11, 5,100 yen for ages older than 60, (discount Starlight Pass available after 3 p.m.: 4,700 yen adults, 4,100 yen youths, 3,200 yen children; 0570-00-8632; www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/tdr/english/howto/tdl_10xmas/index.html.
21_21 DESIGN SIGHT – REALITY LAB (Tokyo): ends Dec. 26 (closed Nov. 30 & Dec. 14), 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; features a new fashion-design by Issei Miake; Roppongi Station on Oedo-Line and Hibiya-Line or a three-minute walk from Nogizaka Station on Chiyoda-Line; 1,000 yen; 03-3475-3221; www.2121designsight.jp/en/.
YOKOHAMA AKARENGA (RED-BRICK) WAREHOUSE ART & ICE SKATING: ends Feb. 28, 1-10 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m-10 p.m. weekends; art of lights with the theme of “Ice Painting Dreams,” designed by XLR Project illuminated the warehouse and neighboring ice skating rink; 500 yen adults, 400 yen children; 500 yen shoe rental; 045-211-1515; www.yokohama-akarenga.jp (Japanese only).
SAYAMA SKI & SNOWBOARD: ends April 3; indoor ski and snowboarding slope; 2167 Kami-yamaguchi, Tokorozawa city, Saitama prefecture, Seibu Kyujo-mae Station, Seibu Line; one-day pass on weekdays: 3,500 yen adults, 2,500 yen junior and senior high school students and 2,000 yen elementary school students, 2,500 yen seniors, weekends: 4,000 yen, 2,800 yen, 2,200 yen and 2,800 yen each, three-hour pass: 2,500 yen, 2,000 yen, 1,500 yen and 2,000 yen each; 04-2922-1384; www.sayama-ski.jp/ (Japanese only).
Okinawa22nd GINOWAN WHEELCHAIR MARATHON 2010: Dec. 12, 10 a.m.; includes half-marathon, 5K and 1.5K trim marathon; Ginowan-shi Shakai Fukushi Kyogikai; 2,000 yen for half-marathon, 1,500 yen for 5K and 1.5K trim marathon; 098-892-6525; www.ginowanshakyo.or.jp (Japanese only).
KUME ISLAND SPECIAL PRODUCTS FESTIVAL: Dec. 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; see the famous silk Kumejima-Tsumugi as well as various vegetables and products along with cloisonné ware accessory making and Japanese paper making; Gushigawa Noson Kankyo Kaizen Center; three hour and 15-minute ferry ride from Naha Port or a 25-minute flight from Naha Airport; 098-985-7134.
URUMA CITY’S BULLFIGHT & EISA: Dec. 12, 2-4 p.m.; bullfighting, Eisa dancing and more; Ishikawa Multi-purpose Dome, 70-minute drive from Naha Airport, five-minute drive from Ishikawa I.C. on Okinawa Express; 1,500 yen adults, 1,000 yen children; 098-965-4441.
22nd NAGO YAMBARU TWO-DAY MARCH: Dec. 12-13; the event includes a 5K, 10K, 20K, 30K and 40K walk that starts and ends at Nago city 21st Century Gymnasium; 1,800 yen; Naga city sightseeing Association 098-53-1212.
6th URUMA INDUSTRIAL FESTIVAL: Dec. 18-19, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; local products and crafts on sale at Uruma city Ishikawa Athletic Park; 70- minute drive from Naha Airport or 10-minute drive from Ishikawa IC on Okinawa; 098-065-5634.
KoreaYEONGDONG DRIED PERSIMMON FESTIVAL (SEOUL): Dec. 17-19; Nangye Hall of Korean Classical Music, Youth Center Districts; free; 82-43-1330.
PYEONGCHANG TROUT FESTIVAL (JINBU-MYEON): Dec. 23-Feb. 6; Jinbu-myeon, free; 82-33-1330.
SEONGSAN SUNRISE FESTIVAL (SEOUL): Dec. 31-Jan. 1; Seongsan Ilchulbong area; free; 82-64-1330. MUSICAL, “GREASE” (Seoul): open-ended run, 8 p.m., Mon., Wed.-Fri., 3 & 7 p.m., Sat., 2 & 6 p.m., Sun. and holidays, Dongsoong Art Center; 40,000-60,000 won; 1588-5212
