December 2024 events in Tokyo

Fireworks may be a summer tradition in Japan, but you can still find them occasionally towards the end of the year. Such as this special event in Odaiba that promises a series of mini fireworks throughout December.

The five-minute pyrotechnic display can be viewed from anywhere in the Marine Park area, as the fireworks will be launched off the coast of the Statue of Liberty, between Odaiba and the Rainbow Bridge.

The fireworks take place every Saturday in December at 7pm (December 7, 14, 21 and 28). This year, a special show will also be held on Christmas Eve (Tuesday, December 24).

Dubbed Ao no Dokutsu, meaning blue cavern, this breathtaking illumination was a huge hit when it made its debut along the Meguro River back in 2014. The now annual event made a comeback in Shibuya a couple of years ago, where it will again bathe the tree-lined walkway leading to Yoyogi Park in a fantastical blue glow this holiday season until Christmas Day.

Stretched out for 900 metres along Koen-dori and Yoyogi Park's Keyaki event space, this fantastical illumination is made up of around 600,000 blue LEDs. The lights are also reflected off the ground to create an immersive experience.

The illuminations take place daily between 5pm and 10pm.

The 400m-long Keyakizaka Street next to the Roppongi Hills shopping centre is lighting up with 800,000 sparkling white and blue LEDs until Christmas Day. From the pedestrian bridge near the Roppongi Hills Arena, you'll get a stunning view of the trees covered in shimmering lights, with Tokyo Tower in the background, from 5pm to 11pm daily. 

Always one of Tokyo's most popular light-ups, the Omotesando Illumination is back this year with some 900,000 champagne-coloured LEDs illuminating the 1km-long street lined with zelkova trees between the Jingumae and Omotesando crossings. While you’re in the area, make sure to drop by Omotesando Hills for its stunning avant-garde Christmas tree (November 13 to December 25) made from 40,000 overlapping Fresnel glass lenses.

The 1.2-kilometre-long Marunouchi Naka-dori street, always one of the most popular Tokyo illumination spots, will have around 280 trees lit up with about 820 thousand low-energy, champagne-coloured LEDs this year, making for an environmentally friendly and stylish display.

If you’d rather stay cosy while admiring the lights, visit the newly renovated Marunouchi House, where the seventh-floor terrace will feature festive illuminations for a limited time. The terrace has plenty of seats surrounded by outdoor heaters.

Closer to Christmas, Gyoko-dori between the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station will have more illuminations between November 28 and December 25.

Until January 31, the district surrounding Tokyo Skytree Town and Asakusa is lighting up with ornate takeakari bamboo lanterns created by Chikaken, an company specialising in these unique traditional lanterns. Many of their takeakari bamboo light creations have been featured at some of Japan’s popular illuminations including Hana Akari at Yomiuri Land and even at selected Tokyo’s hotels.

The Sumida River Walk bridge connecting Tokyo Mizumachi and Sumida Park is especially pretty, as it features a special installation with Tokyo SkyTree in the background. There’s another installation at the Kitajukken riverside terrace running alongside Tokyo Mizumachi, where you'll find beautifully handcrafted takemari bamboo ornaments lining the 200-metre walkway from Makura Bridge to Genmori Bridge.

Ushijima Shrine is also lit up daily from 5pm to 10pm with bamboo lights as well as colourful takemari.

Sagamiko Resort Mori Mori has gone all out for its winter illuminations, featuring over six million dazzling LEDs. This year, there's an entire area dedicated to Japan's beloved laid-back bear, Rilakkuma, along with his sidekick Korilakkuma and other San-X friends like Sumikkogurashi.

You can hop on the park’s Rainbow Chairlift and sail over colourful stripes before reaching the top of a hill, where you'll find a series of illumination art walls showcasing Rilakkuma and his friends. Walk further in to discover a massive Tarepanda inflatable and a bear-shaped igloo with Sumikkogurashi characters glowing in colourful lights.

Be sure to catch the spectacular illumination show at the San-X character stage, where Korilakkuma, Afro-dog and Ebifurai No Shippo perform live with synchronised laser lights for four minutes each. Nearby, a massive Rilakkuma is perched a set of swings, providing the perfect setup for a special photo.

While you’re there, indulge in Rilakkuma and Sumikkogurashi-themed meals and snacks. Enjoy a hearty Sumikkogurashi Bon Pasta or the Meat Doria Plate with San-X characters. Prefer something sweet? Then check out the colorful popcorn sundae or the Rilakkuma pudding in a cup.

Enoshima’s annual illumination is widely touted as one of the three biggest and most impressive light-up events in Japan, alongside the ones at Ashikaga Flower Park and Sagamiko. There are about 10 illumination spots scattered across the hilly island – including the Enoshima Shrine, Ryuren Bell of Love on Lover's Hill and Nakatsumiya Square – so put on some comfortable shoes as you’ll be trekking a lot.

Don’t miss the main attraction located at the island’s iconic Enoshima Sea Candle lighthouse, which is decked out in 70m-long strings of lights stretching from the tip of the tower to the ground, creating a formation similar to the silhouette of Mt Fuji.

The Samuel Cocking Garden, where the Sea Candle is located, is transformed into the dreamy Hoseki (bejewelled) Forest, where everything from the ground and the grass to the trees are covered in rainbow-coloured lights. Keep an eye out for the Shonan Chandelier tunnel, all decked out with luxurious crystal beads and LED lights.

Most attractions are open from 5pm to 8pm (until 9pm on weekends and holidays). You can see most of the light-ups on Enoshima for free, but you will need a ticket (¥500, children ¥250) to enter the Samuel Cocking Garden.

If you're on the island early during daylight hours, head over to Enoshima Iwaya (¥500, children ¥250), as the island's famous cave, created by decades of wave erosion, is bedecked with sparkling lights from 9am to 5pm.

The Azabudai Hills complex will host its second Christmas Market this year with the freshly opened shops in Minato’s newest hotspot. This event's centrepiece is a giant Christmas tree with roughly 20,000 LED lights. Treats include everything from mulled wine and fresh beignets served by doughnut shop Hocus Pocus, to pretzels and bratwursts from German Christmas Stand. Even vegans, who are often overlooked at these annual food markets, have something to keep their spirits high, with plant-based foods like gluten-free stollen from Eightablish.

Knick-knacks on offer include Christmas ornaments, elaborate German Christmas cards and festive mugs, but we’ve got our eyes on Fiasconaro's limited edition Panettone cakes and nougats, which come with elegant tin casings designed by Dolce & Gabbana. 

This is the 17th edition of Roppongi Hills’s popular German-style Christmas market, which is also modelled after the market in the German city of Stuttgart. Expect classic decorations, familiar carols and stalls selling gifts like snow globes. When you get hungry and thirsty, there are Christmas market staples such as sausages and beer to enjoy. Don’t miss the nearby illuminations at Roppongi’s Keyakizaka Street, which add to the festive atmosphere.

Marunouchi Street Park, which comprises the areas along Marunouchi Naka-dori and Gyoko-dori streets, is illuminated with festive lights in the evening. Until December 25, the area in front of the Marunouchi Building will have glass huts serving meals, baked goods and hot beverages, as well as stalls offering Western antiques. In front of the Marunouchi Nichome Building, you’ll find plenty of benches to rest on while enjoying live music in the evening of December 9, 10, 16 and 23.

You’ll also want to check out the ice skating rink at Gyoko-dori. It has a stunning view of the beautiful Tokyo Station building. The rink is open from 11am to 10pm daily (last entry 9.30pm) until Christmas.

The illuminations take place daily from 11am to 10pm.

Taking over from the farmers market that happens year round at Ebisu Garden Place's Clock Plaza, this European-style Christmas market at Chateau Square and Clock Plaza offers all the usual knickknacks and goodies, from snow globes to mulled wine and continental grub, in addition to French specialities such as galettes and handmade candles. An impressive tree is set up right next to the stalls, while the shopping complex below is decorated with a massive Baccarat chandelier and thousands of shining LEDs.

Note: The Christmas market at Chateau Square begins on November 29.

LA-born fashion label Madhappy has opened a special seasonal pop-up shop in Omotesando just in time for the holidays. The shop will be around until Christmas Day and carries the brand's latest items including Madhappy's classic sweatshirt series as well as clothing and accessories from the recent fall/winter collection. The store also stocks Madhappy’s shoe collabs with Mephisto and Danner and offers Tokyo and Los Angeles-exclusive T-shirts and hoodies.

Another fun part of the store is the inhouse coffee shop, Pantry. Overseen by the owner and barista of Tokyo’s Hotel Drugs, the mini café will be offering a festive menu of gingerbread lattes and homemade pretzels.

Head over to Minami-Machida for this adorable Snoopy-themed ice skating rink at outlet mall Grandberry Park. The rink is part of the shopping centre’s Christmas event and can be found at the Oasis Plaza. There are plenty of illustrations depicting Snoopy and his friends, while the rink is also illuminated in seven different colours in the evening.

Gloves are mandatory when skating here and can be purchased at the venue for ¥300. Beginners can either join a ten-minute ice skating lesson daily for ¥1,000, or a 60-minute lesson from 9.30am on December 22, 27, 29, 31 and January 3, 5, 11, 13, 19 and 26. It’s ¥3,500 per person (skate rental included) and reservations have to be made in advance online (form opens December 7) or by phone.

Skate rental is included in the admission fee of ¥2,000 (high school, junior high and primary school students ¥1,700, preschoolers ¥1,200). Visitors who drop by from 6pm will get a discount and pay only ¥1,500 (high school, junior high and primary school students ¥1,200, preschoolers ¥700).

The rink is open from 1pm to 8pm on weekdays and from 11am to 8pm on weekends and holidays; until 6pm on Dec 31. Note that the rink is closed on Jan 1 and Feb 18.

The annual illuminations at Oi Racecourse (also known as Tokyo City Keiba) are returning for their sixth run, with the sprawling venue bathed in colourful lights every evening. You can enjoy elaborate light-up and projection mapping displays across two areas.

Upon entering the venue, you’ll find yourself in the Twinkle area, where you’ll walk through a long corridor lit up with twinkling blue lights leading you to the main attractions. Aside from the vivid light projections on the ground, you’ll also come across the Aurora Forest with glowing trees and laser-lit mists. This particular attraction puts on regular five-minute light shows synchronised to music. 

The Wa no Kirameki area, on the other hand, occupies the centre of the racecourse. Here, a colourful water fountain becomes the centre of an aurora light display synchronised to music. There's also an illuminated cherry blossom tunnel, a large trellis of artificial wisteria all decked out with pink and golden lights, plus an illumination recreating a typical Japanese rural landscape complete with paddy fields and a stream.

What's more, with this event taking place at a racecourse, you can even pet and take photos with real horses.