{"id":5931,"date":"2023-11-30T10:14:10","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T01:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/winter-illuminations-in-tokyo-2023\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T11:33:40","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T02:33:40","slug":"winter-illuminations-in-tokyo-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/ja\/winter-illuminations-in-tokyo-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Illuminations in Tokyo 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/japaninfoswap.com\/christmas-in-japan\/\">Christmas Day in Japan<\/a> is just another working day for the most part.\u00a0 The most interesting facet of the Christmas and holiday season in Japan is that all traces of it will be gone by morning on December 26th. \u00a0Without fail, every bell, light, and garlands; every decoration will come down and the music will stop. \u00a0This disappearing act does not, however, \u00a0hold true for one of Japan\u2019s most interesting holiday traditions; the \u201cillumination.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Illuminations are roughly equivalent to the western tradition of putting up Christmas lights.\u00a0 Rather than putting lights up on their own houses, cities or businesses will set them up and the people come to them.\u00a0 This is a very popular event for couples, and many illumination displays are set up and run from November straight until Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some of Tokyo&#8217;s most popular places to see illumination!<\/p>\n<p><b>Omotesando Hills Christmas\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The shopping center known for its high-end stores and stunning architecture will be limiting their illumination to the installation of a 4 meter tall Christmas tree and the surrounding plaza.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.omotesandohills.com\/en\/events\/event\/2023\/008688.html\">Website<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/by2jhYdtna12\">Map<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Harajuku &#8211;\u00a0Omohara Christmas Illumination<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku (or Omohara for short) holds their Christmas themed illumination on the sixth-floor rooftop terrace, featuring over 16,000 LEDs.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/omohara.tokyu-plaza.com\/news\/news.html?_id=4717\">Website<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/JP2zxq47zd92\">Map<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Harajuku Omotesando 100 Years of Light Illumination<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Omotesando-dori itself usually gets lit up between Omotesando and Harajuku\/Meiji Jingu Mae stations, and this year is just as luminous.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/omotesando.or.jp\/illumi\/\">Website<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.apple.com\/?address=25-19,%20Jingumae%204Chome,%20Shibuya-Ku,%20Tokyo,%20Japan%20150-0001&amp;auid=2771438065658567735&amp;ll=35.667944,139.707132&amp;lsp=9902&amp;q=%E8%AD%A6%E8%A6%96%E5%BA%81%20%E5%8E%9F%E5%AE%BF%E8%AD%A6%E5%AF%9F%E7%BD%B2%20%E7%A5%9E%E5%AE%AE%E5%89%8D%E4%BA%A4%E7%95%AA&amp;_ext=ChgKBAgEEAoKBAgFEAMKBAgGEHoKBAgKEAASJil9MDpb7NRBQDERtal1c3ZhQDn7BWC3EtZBQEEbu74KznZhQFAE\">Map<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Shinjuku &#8211; MinamiLumi<\/b><\/p>\n<p>At the southern half of Shinjuku Station, including the Bus Terminal, NewWoMan, Takashimaya Times Square, East Deck and Southern Terrace, you will find a variety of different illumination displays to get you into the holiday spirit with trees and surroundings festively decorated with lights. \u00a0At some points, you will even find modern art-like objects with touch sensors that activate special audio\/video shows.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.southernterrace.jp\/news\/2425\">Website<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Shiodome &#8211; Caretta Illumination<\/b><\/p>\n<p>This event is one of the most highly recommended of the holiday season. The Carretta Shiodome shopping center is once again hosting its annual Caretta Illumination. You should also plan to visit the illuminations at nearby Shiodome City Center and Nihon TV, which are not as big, but are very close.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.caretta.jp\/about\/index\">Website (Japanese)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Caretta+Shiodome\/@35.66488,139.7602981,17z\/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x60188bc2cb06ba63:0xaf05087c2b3738c3!8m2!3d35.66488!4d139.7624867?hl=en\">Map<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Roppongi\u00a0 &#8211; Roppongi Hills Artelligent Christmas<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Roppongi Hills&#8217; Christmas illuminations are always impressive. The scale of the illumination is simply impressive and not to be missed. Other highlights will be the Christmas Tree on 66 Plaza, and the illuminations in the Mori Garden. The Roppongi Hills Christmas Market, a German-style Christmas celebration, will also be worth a look.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.roppongihills.com\/en\/sp\/christmas\/2023\/\">Website<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Roppongi+Hills\/@35.6604638,139.7292487,17z\/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x60188b77093ea8e9:0xade6fa823ab305c5!4m5!3m4!1s0x60188b771049dc33:0x5bfe0248594cc802!8m2!3d35.6604638!4d139.7292487?\">Map<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Tokyo Midtown Illumination<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Tokyo Midtown&#8217;s &#8216;Starlight Garden&#8217; is among the most impressive illuminations on display in Tokyo, lighting up the spacious Midtown Garden area with 500,000 golden LEDs. This year&#8217;s theme is \u201cBe Enchanted\u201d which sounds like they are going all out for an impressive display. Other highlights here are the ice skating rink. It may be one of the best options for a winter date this December.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tokyo-midtown.com\/jp\/event\/6731\/\">Website (English)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.apple.com\/?address=7-1,%20Akasaka%209-Ch%C5%8Dme,%20Minato-Ku,%20Tokyo,%20Japan%20107-0052&amp;auid=3453417124620050508&amp;ll=35.666120,139.731289&amp;lsp=9902&amp;q=Tokyo%20Midtown&amp;_ext=ChkKBAgEEAoKBAgFEAMKBQgGEN8BCgQIChAAEiQpjYZG8SHVQUAx1DAt7Fp3YUA5zrwD3GDVQUBBHYrVxm93YUA%3D\">Map<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Tokyo Dome City Winter Lights Garden\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Not to be outdone, Tokyo Dome City will illuminate us on the subject of winter with the theme being \u201claughter.\u201d The area surrounding Tokyo Dome, including the amusement park, is festively and brightly lit in a cheerful golden light with a 15-meter tall tree decorated with 5,000 glittering smiley face ornaments being the centerpiece.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tokyo-dome.co.jp\/en\/tourists\/illumination\/\">Website<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.apple.com\/?address=3-61,%20Koraku%201-Ch%C5%8Dme,%20Bunkyo,%20Tokyo,%20Japan%20112-0004&amp;auid=1009687585988728512&amp;ll=35.703877,139.754484&amp;lsp=9902&amp;q=Tokyo%20Dome%20City&amp;_ext=ChgKBAgEEAoKBAgFEAMKBAgGEAcKBAgKEAASJClIhbF2dtlBQDHFkbEF\/HdhQDnGWtfSnNpBQEGBLRalVnhhQA%3D%3D\">Map<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Ebisu &#8211; Yebisu Garden Place<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p>The Yebisu Garden Place will again be emblazoned with thousands of lights and fixtures in an illumination display titled &#8220;Baccarat Eternal Light&#8221; that features a massive crystal chandelier 5 meters tall \u00a0and 3 meters wide, adorned with a total of 250 lights (more than it sounds like!). It\u2019s the largest chandelier in the crystal maker\u2019s history. In addition to this, there are many Christmas trees, snowmen, and the usual items commonly seen in a holiday theme.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gardenplace.jp\/special\/2023baccarat\/\">Website<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Ebisu+Garden+Place+Square\/@35.6425298,139.7130761,18z\/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x60188b15d1935773:0xb07451c411c1a512!8m2!3d35.6425298!4d139.7137369?\">Map<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Kitte Building &#8211; White Kitte<\/b><\/p>\n<p>White winter wonderland? Check. Immense tree? Check. Carolers &#8216;fa-la-la-la-la-ing&#8217;? Check. From <b>November 22 until December 25<\/b> you can find a glittering 14.5m white tree in Marunouchi&#8217;s Kitte Building (It is the biggest indoor Christmas tree in Japan). Every thirty minutes it lights up, plays music and is serenaded by carol singers and other musical events.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/marunouchi.jp-kitte.jp\/shop\/white_kitte2023\/?ref=pagetop\">Website<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.apple.com\/?address=7-2,%20Marunouchi%202-Ch%C5%8Dme,%20Chiyoda,%20Tokyo,%20Japan%20100-0005&amp;auid=4855101265115125710&amp;ll=35.679747,139.764752&amp;lsp=9902&amp;q=KITTE&amp;_ext=CiUKBAgEEAoKBAgFEAMKBQgGEIcCCgQIChABCgQIQBAACgQIQxABEiQpFhD\/VezWQUAxaTUk7nF4YUA51qB5ShjXQUBBKWUItoB4YUA%3D\">Web<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Yomiuri-Land Illumination<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Where do you go when you want to see the entire landscape bathed in lights as far as you can squint? Quick, to the suburbs! Located about 30 minutes by express train from Shinjuku station is Yomiuri-Land, Metro Tokyo&#8217;s largest theme park spread across the rolling Tama Hills just south of the Tama River. This year from <b>October 19 until April 7<\/b>(!) \u00a0the park will be lit up with over 5.5 million lights for &#8220;Jewellumination&#8221;. This attraction is celebrating its 11th year and they are trying their best to coat every square centimeter of the park in lights! Every attraction, building, and ride will have some form of LED array glistening in holiday splendor as you stroll through the park. Fees start at \u00a52,500 at the door\/ \u00a51,500 online for an adult Night pass; lower for children based on age. Combination entrance and free-to-ride attraction tickets can be found at 7-11 stores.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.yomiuriland.com\/jewellumination\/\">Website<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.co.jp\/maps\/place\/Yomiuri+Land\/@35.6247043,139.5165472,17z\/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x6018fa887471f1f7:0xe782eba55f33f953!8m2!3d35.6249398!4d139.5175343\">Map<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Yokohama Illumination<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Until<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Valentine\u2019s Day, a lot of downtown Yokohama will be bathed in iridescence.\u00a0 The area between Yokohama Station East Gate, over towards Landmark Square and Queen&#8217;s Quarter, the Cosmoworld Ferris Wheel, on down through the Akarenga Warehouse is awash in colorful lights; about 3 kilometers and several square blocks.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yokohamajapan.com\/article\/winter\/\">Website<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.apple.com\/?address=Minatomirai%20Sakura-dori,%20Nishi-Ku,%20Yokohama,%20Kanagawa,%20Japan%20220-0012&amp;auid=5142821794138350363&amp;ll=35.459368,139.630635&amp;lsp=9902&amp;q=Minato%20Mirai%2021&amp;_ext=ChgKBAgEEAoKBAgFEAMKBAgGEHMKBAgKEAASJCm0lrg1OrpBQDGQCMQX\/3NhQDkybN6RYLtBQEFmSZNwWXRhQA%3D%3D\">Map<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Sagamiko Illumination<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Around an hour outside of Tokyo and claiming to have the biggest collection of Christmas lights in the Kanto region &#8211; over 6 million LED lights &#8211; the illuminations at the Sagamiko Pleasure Forest is well worth checking out. There are various train\/bus\/park pass combos that combine the entrance pass and transport fees into one price; please be sure to check the website for details.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sagamiko-resort.jp\/illumillion\/\">Website<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.co.jp\/maps\/place\/Sagamiko+Resort+Pleasure+Forest\/@35.602829,139.1635638,12z\/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x601910aaddd473c9:0x24fd193c95589f5d!2sSagamiko+Resort+Pleasure+Forest!8m2!3d35.602821!4d139.200894!3m4!1s0x601910aaddd473c9:0x24fd193c95589f5d!8m2!3d35.602821!4d139.200894\">Map<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Christmas_Illumination_at_Tokyo_Dome_(2649609342).jpg\">Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Christmas Day in Japan is just another working day for the most part.\u00a0 The most interesting facet of the Chris [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":5932,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[65,162,103,37,246],"tags":[107,47,158,45],"class_list":["post-5931","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","category-family-friendly","category-shopping","category-tokyo-2","category-yokohama","tag-family-fun","tag-tokyo-city-2","tag-tokyo-festivals","tag-tokyo-metropolis-2"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5931","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5931"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5931\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49702,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5931\/revisions\/49702"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5932"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5931"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5931"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5931"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}