Winter illuminations around Christmas and New Year have become a popular attraction in cities across Japan. Illuminations are typically displayed between November and December, but some run longer, starting as early as October and running until Valentine’s Day or even into spring. Among Japan’s first and most spectacular light shows is Kobe‘s Luminarie, an Italian designed light festival which was first held as a memorial to the victims of the disastrous Kobe earthquake in 1995. Below are some of Japan’s popular seasonal illumination spots:
(Photos are from previous years)
Tokyo
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Tokyo Midtown
During the “Midtown Christmas”, an illumination event is held in the garden behind the main tower of
Tokyo Midtown, and there is a paid ice rink (11:00 to 21:00, November 22 to February 24).
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Marunouchi
The entire district lights up for the
Marunouchi‘s holiday events. Illuminations and displays take place especially along Nakadori Street, and at several of the buildings in the district.
More illumination displays in Tokyo…
Kanagawa
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Sagamiko Illumillion
The Sagamiko Illumillion in Lake Sagami Resort Pleasure Forest is one of the largest seasonal illuminations in the
Kanto Region. Visitors to the illumination event can see millions of LED lights covering the hillsides in color, an animated lightshow and dancing water fountain set to music, light tunnels, a chair lift up the hillside and amusement park rides including a Ferris wheel.
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Yomiuriland Jewellumination
Virtually every tree, building and attraction in the Yomiuriland
amusement park just outside of central
Tokyo is covered with lights, creating one of the largest illumination displays in the Tokyo area. In addition to the light displays, a fountain show is also held.
Sendai
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Sendai Pageant of Starlight
This illumination event in
Sendai is located along Jozenji-dori Street with about 160 keyaki (zelkova) trees, which are decorated with over half a million LED lights that bathe the area in a warm glow. Other attractions include a small ice skating rink.
Tochigi
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Ashikaga Flower Fantasy
The Ashikaga Flower Fantasy in
Ashikaga Flower Park is one of the
Kanto Region‘s largest seasonal illumination events with over five million LED lights covering most of the park. Attractions include hanging lights that are meant to resemble seasonal flowers and music-synchronized light shows.
Nagoya
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Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination
With millions of LED lights illuminating the
flower park,
Nabana no Sato is one of the largest illumination events in Japan. There are various attractions including a huge field transformed into a sea of lights below an animated light show, light tunnels and an observation deck that lifts visitors high above the park where they can get a bird’s eye view of the lights.
Osaka
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Osaka Hikari Renaissance
Nakanoshima Island hosts the Osaka Hikari Renaissance illumination event, stretching from Osaka City Hall to the eastern tip of Nakanoshima Park. Several of the historic buildings on the island are lit up with creative displays.
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Midosuji Illumination
The Midosuji Illumination stretches almost the entire length of the three kilometer long Midosuji Street through central Osaka between
Umeda and
Namba, making it one of the world’s longest illuminated streets. Hundreds of ginkgo trees as well as several shops and historic buildings that line the street are decked out in colorful lights and decorations.
Kobe
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Kobe Luminarie
The Kobe Luminarie is one of Japan’s oldest winter illumination events. It was started in 1995 in the wake of the
Great Hanshin Earthquake and meant as a memorial to the victims and to inspire hope in recovery. Since 2024, the event has been held in January instead of December and distributed over multiple sites, including Kobe East Park (Higashi Yuenchi), the
Kitano-cho district and
Meriken Park.
Nagasaki
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Kingdom of Light
Some of Japan’s largest illumination displays can be found at
Huis Ten Bosch, a Dutch-themed
amusement park. Illuminations can be enjoyed year around, while seasonally themed illuminations are added, as well.
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Ashikaga Flower FantasyThe Ashikaga Flower Fantasy in Ashikaga Flower Park is one of the Kanto Region‘s largest seasonal illumination events with over five million LED lights covering most of the park. Attractions include hanging lights that are meant to resemble seasonal flowers and music-synchronized light shows.
