Free things to do in Tokyo this week

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. 

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.

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.

German-inspired Christmas markets are taking Tokyo by storm, and this one is no exception. Tokyo Solamachi Christmas Market offers all the usual attractions like wooden stalls with various holiday accessories, beer, warm glühwein, hot chocolate and traditional confectionery such as stollen cake and waffles. The lighting in the market area combines nicely with the golden winter illuminations at Tokyo Skytree and the eight-metre-tall Christmas tree, creating a homely atmosphere at Solamachi’s Sky Arena. The Christmas market is open daily until 10pm.

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.

This is the 18th edition of Roppongi Hills’s popular German-style Christmas market, which is modelled after the market in the German city of Stuttgart. Held at O-yane Plaza, 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.

The walkways connecting the Sky Arena at the Skytree's Solamachi mall with Tokyo Skytree Station and Oshiage Station are decorated with hundreds of thousands of golden LEDs for this event, held as part of the complex's Christmas celebrations. The main spectacle, however, takes place at the Sky Arena, which is decorated with an eight-metre-tall Christmas tree that’s beautifully lit with sparkling lights. New for 2024, the nearby Sorami-zaka and Hanami-zaka staircases will be lit up for a festive projection mapping show, which features the Tokyo Skytree's regular lighting hues, as well as special Christmas colours. Look forward to special light-ups of the 634m Tokyo Skytree itself, which will be glowing green and champagne gold to resemble a Christmas tree, as well as white and red to look like a lit candle. Visitors can enjoy the illuminations while sipping on some German beer or mulled wine from the on-site Tokyo Solamachi Christmas Market (from November 7). Venture a bit further and you'll come across blue and white illuminations along Kitajukken river, which connects Asakusa with Tokyo Skytree Town. Make sure to drop by Ushijima Shrine and the adjacent Sumida Park as well, which feature beautiful bamboo lights until January 31). 

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.

The annual Hibiya Magic Time Illumination is returning for its sixth run at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya. This year, the event boasts four areas bathed in beautiful lights inspired by twinkling stars in the night sky. Hibiya-Nakadori Street is decked out with captivating multi-coloured illuminations. Hibiya Step Square, meanwhile, features seven Christmas trees (on display until December 25) inspired by Disney's soon-to-be-released 'Moana 2'. Adorned with multicoloured LEDs, the Christmas trees will light up in sync with the movie's soundtrack. Don’t miss the Park View Winter Garden on the sixth floor. Here you’ll find glittering rainbow-coloured lights on the grass lawn, which draws inspiration from Hibiya's flashy image as an entertainment district. The illuminations take place daily from 4pm to 11pm.