Ah, winter! When the residents of Japan celebrate the festive season with cream-covered sponge cakes, buckets of KFC, and visits to love hotels.
Even if you can’t bring yourself to partake in these fine traditions, it’s well worth making the effort to enjoy some of the spectacular Christmassy light-ups that proliferate throughout Tokyo.
Until recently, it was all about the number of bulbs — LEDs make it possible to string up tens of thousands of twinkly lights without draining all the electricity from the power grid or electrocuting birds on a rainy day. But now, the light-up game has changed with projection mapping, digital choreography, and markets being used to draw in an audience. Here’s our list of the best and twinkliest.
1. Tokyo Mega Illumination
Unlike the other places on this list, Tokyo Mega Illumination is a destination in itself. As such, the organizers have pulled out all the stops. In total, there are more than 15 different illumination installations spread over an enormous area — plus, horses! The ample breathing space is welcome as some of the other places on this list can get a little bit crowded.
Tokyo Mega Illumination
2. Roppongi Hills Christmas Illumination
Going all out with the Christmas lights, Roppongi Hills has a few different spots to visit. For the first time in three years, Mohri Garden will be lit up (from Nov. 18) and the Christmas Market will return. There will be two different types of Christmas trees, a “reflective” one on the West Walk and a Cartier-inspired tree at Roku-Roku Plaza. But the big guns are saved for Keyakizaka — the 400-meter-long street that runs down a gentle slope on the Azabu side of the Hills. Here, there will be about 800,000 LEDs glowing in the theme of “Snow Blue” (i.e. white and blue).
Roppongi Hills Christmas Illumination 2023
3. Omotesandō Illuminations
The mature zelkova trees, wide sidewalks, and fancy shops make Omotesandō one of the top illumination spots each winter. There aren’t really any gimmicks — you just go there and walk up and down the street strewn with 900,000 lights. Don’t forget to drop into Omotesandō Hills while you are in the area. This year, they’ll have a Christmas tree made up of (and surrounded by) around 14,000 shining balloons.
Omotesando Illumination
4. Marunouchi Illumination
Marunouchi Illumination is one of the classier ones — with cobblestone streets, 220 roadside trees, public sculptures, and the reproduced facades of big banks, this is probably the closest you’ll get to a ye olde European-style Christmas light-up. They’re using 1.2 million “eco-illumination” lights (in champagne gold, the classiest of colors) that perform with 65% less power than standard. Continue the journey by visiting the other illuminations in the area, like White KITTE and Hibiya Magic Time Illumination, and the Marunouchi Building, where you’ll see a Christmas tree laden with clocks.
Marunouchi Illumination 2022
5. Tokyo Dome City Winter Illumination
Something about the size and all the open space around Tokyo Dome makes it seem really, really cold in winter, but the two million twinkly LED lights make up for it. The theme for 2022 is Gifts and there will be a stamp rally, a photo competition, and a unique food menu.
Tokyo Dome City Winter Illumination
6. Ebisu Garden Place Illumination
The Baccarat Eternal Lights champagne-gold illumination at Ebisu Garden Place definitely goes heavy on the amps. The area in front of the main tower is typically flooded with fairy lights, illuminated bells, a giant chandelier, and anything else they can find to make it extra bright and shiny. The chandelier will occasionally turn different colors, so pay attention.
Ebisu Garden Place Illumination
7. Tokyo Skytree Dream Christmas
The Skytree (and Skytree Town) will be decked out in colorful finery for the festive season and this year they are going the extra mile to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the illuminations. From November 18, the Christmas market is back and selling things like German-made ornaments, beer, sausages, and the like. There will be live music and a general wintery feeling all around.
Tokyo Skytree Dream Christmas 2023
8. Midtown Winter Lights
This is hands down one of the most popular displays in Tokyo. It usually sees thousands of visitors (and hundreds of security guards) every evening until the dramatic finale on December 25 with monster crowds. A huge snow globe will be erected surrounded by colorful lights, along with smoke, bubbles, and a “Party Popper” tree that will change color. Next door, take your chance on the ice at Midtown Ice Rink.
Midtown Winter Lights 2023
9. Kioi Winter 22/23
Featuring a 10-meter-tall Christmas Tree and Tokyo Garden Terrace’s distinctive giant stag symbol, Kioi Winter 22/23 is set to run from November 2022 until February 2023. You can get some striking pictures from nearby Benkei Bridge, which you will cross if you are coming from Akasaka Mitsuke.
Kioi Winter 22/23
10. Yomiuriland Jewellumination
Yomiuriland is an amusement park less than an hour away, west of Shinjuku Station on the Odakyu Line. The winter illumination at Yomiuriland is justifiably named “Jewellumination” seeing as Motoko Ishii — a famous Japanese lighting designer — blingified the entire amusement park with literally millions of LED lights. You can choose between a viewing ticket or a pass ticket which includes access to all of the rides. While you’re here, you should also try the Hana Akari bamboo light illuminations next door.
Yomiuriland Jewellumination
Honorable mentions
You won’t be able to head out in winter in Tokyo without running into an illumination or two. Nearly all department stores will have a Christmas tree and some lights, such as Miyashita Park, who are having a purple explosion for its first Christmas illumination, and the year-round lights in Odaiba. Here’s a few of our other favorites.
Shibuya Blue Cave Illumination
A cave made up of trees (much nicer than a real cave in our opinion), this illumination is one of the most magical thanks to the impressive colors. It draws huge crowds for good reason; 600,000 LED lights are strung up on an 800-meter route between Shibuya and Harajuku, and you can access it from either station. 2022 will see it back for the first time since 2019.
Shibuya Blue Cave Illumination
White KITTE
Running from November 24 until December 25 within the KITTE shopping mall next to Tokyo Station, White KITTE is a unique Christmas light-up event featuring real fir trees and white decorations. With the Marunouchi Illumination and a light up in Hibiya happening nearby, this is sure to be a hugely popular free show.
White KITTE 2023
Shinjuku Southern Terrace Illumination
These annual illuminations around the south side of Shinjuku Station always attract a crowd and are well worth checking out if you’re in the area. This year, there will be around 170,000 LED bulbs.
Shinjuku Southern Terrace Illumination
Meguro River Illumination
From Nov. 11 to Jan. 28, 2023, you’ll be able to see the famous cherry blossom view of Meguro River in winter — well, sort of. The area along the river bank between Gotanda and Osaki Station will shine with nearly 350,000 pink-colored LEDs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night. The lights will be powered by cooking oil waste from local homes and businesses.
Need more holiday cheer in your life? Check out these Tokyo Christmas markets.
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