Keyakizaka Illumination
Photo: Roppongi Hills
Photo: Roppongi Hills

29 incredible illuminations and light-ups in Tokyo

Enjoy the city at its most sparkly, when Tokyo switches on its festive lights and illuminations in autumn through winter

Contributor: Shota Nagao
Advertising

The days may be getting shorter and colder, but even so, Tokyo doesn't turn into a dark and desolate place at this time of year. In fact, from autumn to winter in the city, millions of colourful LED lights are wrapped around trees and buildings, turning Tokyo into a sparkling wonderland. Illuminations, as they’re usually known here, are big in Japan, but Tokyo’s are some of the biggest and the best.

We've listed our top picks of where to admire these light displays, which are, of course, best enjoyed in good company. So layer up, grab your scarf, and head out to see Tokyo at its brightest and festive best. It’s gonna be lit.

RECOMMENDED: 12 most beautiful autumn destinations in Japan

Tokyo's finest light shows

  • Things to do
  • Omotesando

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.

  • Things to do
  • Mukojima

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.

Advertising
  • Things to do
  • Tama area

If you’re looking for the most OTT illumination in Tokyo, this is it. Yomiuri Land's annual winter light show will bedazzle even the most jaded illumination-fiend. As the name suggests, jewels are the focus here: literally millions of colourful LEDs are set up throughout the vast theme park evoking sparkling gems. The park is split into ten areas where you will be treated to beautifully lit attractions. 

In addition to the 180-metre-long, rainbow-lit Celebration Promenade and Crystal Passage, you’ll spot two gigantic sparkly Ferris wheels to mark the amusement park's 60th anniversary. The highlight, however, is the fountain show, with water illuminated in different colours and sprayed into the air to create stunning shapes. There are three kinds of show happening every 15 minutes from 5pm daily. Also look out for the fountain’s flames and lasers, which are synchronised to music.

  • Things to do
  • Oimachi

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.

Advertising
  • Things to do
  • Ebisu

This annual wintertime display at Yebisu Garden Place incorporates a Baccarat chandelier that's 5m tall and 3m wide, making it one of the largest in the world. Made of 250 light bulbs and 8,500 crystals, the chandelier emits a warm and elegant light. That’s not all, though. There are smaller displays in the Entrance Pavilion, Clock Plaza, Promenade, Center Plaza, Glass Square and on the 38th floor of Yebisu Garden Place Tower. In total, the event uses roughly 100,000 light bulbs. 

While you're there, check out the European-inspired Christmas Marche at Chateau Square and Clock Plaza. Here you'll find holiday trinkets and hearty soups as well as mulled wine and hot chocolate to warm you up on a cold evening.

The Christmas Marche is held daily from 5pm to 8pm (12noon-8pm on weekends) until December 25. Christmas Marche at Chateau Square opens on November 29.

  • Things to do
  • Kanagawa

Located next to Tokyo amusement park Yomiuri Land, the Hana Biyori garden is lighting up with a spectacular illumination display until April 6 2025. Follow the path lined with 500 takeakari bamboo lanterns and takemari (ball-like ornaments made from bamboo) and you’ll come to a historical gate that was transplanted from the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

Once inside, you’ll find a wall of illuminated Japanese umbrellas that look like colourful lanterns, leading you further into the garden. Awaiting here are more takeakari and takemari, in addition to a glowing chozuya (basin with purified water) decked out with flowers.

A new addition this year are the kiri-e (paper cutout) lanterns, which are placed around the garden’s east waterfall, as well as an illuminated bamboo wall featuring cutout images of flowers, wind and water.

To complement your experience, you can rent a Japanese umbrella and lantern to walk around and take photos for just ¥200.

Advertising
  • Things to do
  • Odaiba

Odaiba shopping mall Decks Tokyo Beach is celebrating the year-end holiday season with an illumination display revolving around a 20 metre-tall tree. Furthermore, the entire third floor terrace will be glowing with around 100,000 lights.

Don’t miss the massive Odaiba signage lit up in blue for this occasion. It makes for a great photo spot, especially with the Rainbow Bridge in the background.

More importantly, you'll want to be here on December 7, 14, 21, 24 or 28 for the Odaiba Rainbow Fireworks at 7pm. Expect five minutes of fireworks in the sky, synced to a musical medley.

  • Things to do
  • Marunouchi

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.

Advertising
  • Things to do
  • Sagamiko

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.

  • Things to do
  • Hibiya

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.

Advertising
  • Things to do
  • Shinjuku

The annual Shinjuku Minamillumi light-up is back this year for the 10th time, happening from November 15 to February 14. Six venues in the area will be participating in this illumination special, namely the JR Minami Shinjuku Building, JR Shinjuku Miraina Tower, Suica Penguin Plaza, Takashimaya Times Square, Shinjuku Maynds Tower, and Shinjuku Southern Terrace.

Suica Penguin Plaza, located in front of Shinjuku Station’s New South exit between the promenade and Takashimaya Times Square, is bathed in crystal blue lights. The plaza features an illuminated ‘welcome gate’, complete with two adorable penguin statues. You may recognise the penguin character from JR East’s Suica IC cards. 

Trees along the 46-metre-long promenade at Southern Terrace are also decorated with golden lights, and the path is even equipped with motion sensors that activate a special light show. Venture further and you’ll come across a red and golden Christmas tree (until December 25) set up on the second floor of Takashimaya Times Square, plus even more lights that illuminate the entire terrace.

The illuminations take place daily from 5pm to 12midnight until the end of November, and from 4.30pm between December and February.

  • Things to do
  • Yokohama

Yokohama’s nighttime light-up spectacular brings sparkle to the waterfront from November through December. Focal points this year include a five-minute lights-and-sound extravaganza named Highlight of Yokohama, and a massive projection-mapping show in Yamashita Park and around the Osanbashi cruise terminal.

Advertising
  • Things to do
  • Gotanda

Osaki's annual Meguro River Minna no Illumi event has found a novel solution to the issue of massive energy consumption during Japan’s winter illuminations season. Resembling winter cherry blossoms, the pink LED used in the light-up are all powered by biodiesel electricity generated using waste oil collected from local homes and restaurants.

The eco-friendly lights illuminate a stretch of the 2.2km-long Meguro River near Osaki and Gotanda stations. You can catch this beautiful sight from 5pm to 10pm every day from November 15 2024 until January 13 2025.

Check the event website for the event map and more details.

  • Things to do
  • Harajuku

Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Omokado celebrates the festive season with a beautiful Christmas illumination at its rooftop garden from November 10 to January 13. Around 20,000 lightbulbs form a starry forest complete with shooting stars, and there are also Christmas trees decorated with animal ornaments. Wear your warm jacket, grab a bento and enjoy a winter picnic under the pretty LEDs.

The illuminations take place daily from 5pm to 10pm.

Advertising
  • Things to do
  • Ikebukuro

The Global Ring Theatre in Ikebukuro’s Nishiguchi Park is being illuminated with iridescent blue lights in winter. The roof is decked out with lights made to look like icicles and the surrounding trees are lit up with the same blue lights as well.

Don’t miss the Extreme Illumination Digital Program, a light show that synchronises with the park’s fountain and the 3D video projected on the big screen. This show is on five times a day, happening once every hour starting at 4.30pm, each lasting for around five minutes.

The park also has a designated photo spot featuring an adorable aquarium-inspired illumination with dolphins and fish that look like they are swimming in a sea of lights.

  • Things to do
  • Suidobashi

This is one of Tokyo’s glitziest illuminations, with many areas around Tokyo Dome City decked out with twinkling lights. To commemorate its 20th anniversary this winter, the event will feature a special design inspired by snow globes – or ‘snow domes’, as they are commonly called in Japanese.

Expect to see a huge 15-metre-tall tree adorned with over 250,000 multi-coloured LEDs at the Crystal Avenue Lawn Square. Be sure to hang around, as every 15 minutes, a dazzling light and bubble performance transforms the space into a magical, snow globe-like wonderland.

Over at the LaQua garden, you can pose for photos in a gigantic igloo-like snowflake dome. Once inside, you can operate a tablet to switch on the lights and take a picture. The Thunder Dolphin passage on the second floor of Laqua, on the other hand, will be lit up with illuminated orbs, shiny Christmas ornaments, snowflakes and shimmering mini LEDs.

Advertising
  • Things to do
  • Kioicho

Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho this year is hosting an ‘Authentic Christmas’ illuminations for the winter. The trees surrounding the facility’s two public art installations – ‘White Deer’ by Kohei Nawa and ‘Echoes Infinity - Immortal Flowers’  – as well as those flanking the river are decked out in 400,000 champagne-gold lights until February 28. From now until Christmas Day, there’s also a towering 10 metre-tall Christmas tree at the main entrance. 

The Kioi Winter illuminations take place daily from 4.30pm until 11pm.

  • Things to do
  • Odaiba

The massive Unicorn Gundam statue in front of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba is getting lit up with special winter lights. Until February 16, you can see the robot illuminated in blue, red and yellow to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Mobile Suit Gundam animated series, which first premiered in 1979. While you can see this exclusive light-up from 5pm to 11pm daily, we recommend visiting between 7pm and 9.30pm to also see a special show featuring a short screening of the animation, held every 30 minutes.

Advertising
  • Things to do
  • Yokohama Station area

This winter, the 1.5km-long street right outside the east exit of JR Yokohama Station turns into a sparkling wonderland. Stretching from the station to Grand Mall Park and beyond, this illumination display uses 350,000 LEDs to bathe the area in warm blue and white light from 4pm to 11pm every day. The trees all get a lot more festive and the Hamamirai Walk pedestrian bridge becomes a beautifully lit walkway. This year, the lights will be powered by sustainable energy such as solar and wind power.

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Enoshima

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.

More things to do in autumn & winter

Recommended
    You may also like
    You may also like
    Advertising