Winter is almost here, which means the wintertime illuminations are set to warm the streets of Japan once again this year with their radiance. Here are 4 must-visit illuminations taking place in and around Tokyo this year.
Meguro River Minna no Illumination 2019 in Nakameguro
This year, Meguro River will be decorated with an unmissable illumination display to warm the heart. What’s more is that 100% of the energy for the illumination will be produced by recycled oil.
As Shinagawa will also be lit up at the same time, visitors will be able to treat themselves to a glorious view of 410,000 cherry blossom-coloured lights. The beautiful illuminations along the riverbank of Meguro River will also be the largest illumination project along the Yamanote Line with a total length of 2.2km of riverbanks covered (counting both sides of the river).
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/266636
▼Meguro River Minna no Illumination 2019
Locations: Gotanda Fureai Mizube Hiroba (2 Chome-9-11 Higashigotanda, Shinagawa City, Tokyo)
Gotanda Minami Park and Meguro Riverside (2 Chome-8-8 Higashigotanda, Shinagawa City, Tokyo)
Running: November 8, 2019 – January 1, 2020
Times: 17:00 – 22:00
*The illumination project will still run in rainy weather but will be postponed in stormy weather.
Website: http://www.minna-no-illumi.com/
Tobu Zoo Winter Illuminations 2019-2020
The “Illumination Show” will make use of the biggest LED display in Japan’s Kanto region, combining music with CG visuals, and illuminated decorations will twinkle in front of it. This year, the display will also feature new full-colour lasers. Three magical and dynamic shows will light up the area, including the Amatsuki Live Illumination show.
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/260368
▼Tobu Zoo Winter Illuminations 2019-2020
Running: October 26, 2019 – February 11, 2020
*Open on weekends and public holidays in November including Saitama Day on November 14, 2019
*Open every day from December 1, 2019 to January 5, 2020
*Open on weekends and public holidays only from January 6, 2020
Opening Hours: 17:00-20:00 (Until 21:00 on December 24-25, 2019)
Location: Throughout Tobu Zoo (110 Suka, Miyashiro, Minamisaitama-gun, Saitama)
Price: Please check the official website or at the zoo
Event Page: http://www.tobuzoo.com/event/teiki/illumination/
Roof Star Garden at GINZA SIX
Ginza’s biggest shopping centre GINZA SIX is set set to light up its rooftop garden with an enchanting illumination event titled Rooftop Star Garden. Standing at 56 meters high, the rooftop garden is the “closest place to the stars” in Ginza. This will be GINZA SIX’s first ever illumination event and it will shine a bright spotlight against the nightscape of Ginza’s streets.
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/259779
▼Rooftop Star Garden
Location: GINZA SIX Garden (Building Rooftop)
Address: 6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo Ward, Tokyo
Running: November 26, 2019 – February 24, 2019
*Will close during bad weather or during invitation-only events
Time: Sunset to 23:00
Entry: Free
GINZA SIX Official Website: https://ginza6.tokyo/
Omotesando Hills Christmas 2019
This winter’s lights at Omotesando Hills will be provided with contemporary design studio we+.The illuminations at the main large staircase of the atrium will take on the theme “Christmastime seduced by water magic.” “The water-based illuminations will constantly change colour and appearance.
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/255660
▼Omotesando Hills Christmas 2019
Running: November 13, 2019 – December 25, 2019
Illumination Time: 11:00-23:00
Omotesando Hills Official Website: https://www.omotesandohills.com/en/
Did you enjoy our picks? Seeing the illuminations is a must when travelling to Japan during wintertime. Choose your location and take your friends, family and loved ones.
RELATED ENTRIES
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There are plenty of events going on in Tokyo to celebrate the holiday season, but this one might be the most peculiar. Elemis, a skincare brand from England, has teamed up with bus operator Upstar for Japan’s first bus tour featuring afternoon tea! This extremely limited event will drive guests around the city to see some of the most impressive Christmas lights in Shibuya, Roppongi, Omotesando, and other spots. Only 60 seats are available each day and the bus will run from December 1 until December 25, 2022.
5 Unique Features of the Elemis Special Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
① Enjoy a Special Christmas Afternoon Tea Menu by ElemisA special Christmas menu will be available on board, including a Santa Claus shortcake and a party popper-inspired sandwich.② Travel on a Bus Filled with Elemis Christmas DecorationsInside the bus, guests can enjoy fir trees and original decorations inspired by the Elemis holiday collection! ③ Best-Selling Elemis Goods will be Gifted to Guests!Guests will receive a trial size of Elemis’ best-selling Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm as a Christmas present! ④ A Special Gift Campaign will run from November 15 until December 25Prior to the start of the bus tour, a campaign will be held on Instagram and Twitter. Winners will snag tickets for the bus tour and an Elemis makeup set worth over $12,000! ⑤ Travel on a Special Route to Enjoy Tokyo’s Christmas Lights!The bus tour will take visitors to some of Tokyo’s best Christmas locales, from Shibuya and Omotesando to Keyakizaka and Roppongi. The 90-minute journey starts and ends in Omotesando. How would you like to enjoy Tokyo’s Christmas lights on a British bus enjoying some of the best beauty products on Earth? Get into the holiday spirit with this unusual and unique tour! Information
Elemis Christmas Afternoon Tea
Running: December 1 – December 25, 2022 *Not running December 12, 13
Times:
1st Service / 15:00~16:30
2nd Service / 17:00-18:30
3rd Service / 19:00-20:30Length: 90 minutes
Departure Point: In front of the Shioda Building (5-10 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Price: ¥6,800 (Adults, Tax Included) / ¥3,000 (Children, Tax Included)
Reservations: https://www.upstar-londonbus-travellingnewtokyo.com/booking
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The popular anime series Tokyo Revengers is coming to Tobu Zoo in Saitama! From March 12 until May 15, 2022, a limited collaboration event will bring everyone’s favorite characters to this gorgeous locale in Miyashiro.
The event will feature original illustrations of Tokyo Revengers characters in animal hoodies, as well as collaboration tickets with special offers, original merchandise, themed food, and mini-games. More details will be released soon, so stay tuned! ©和久井健・講談社／アニメ「東京リベンジャーズ」製作委員会 Information
Tokyo Revengers x Tobu Zoo Saitama
Running: March 12 – May 15, 2022
Location: Tobu Zoo Saitama
Official Site: https://www.tobuzoo.com/event/details/1845/ -
The online commerce site ARMA BIANCA has opened preorders for some collaborative products between Attack on Titan and the Tobu Zoo. Tobu Zoo, located in Saitama, combines a zoo, an amusement park, numerous gardens, and more. A new sketchbook is available as part of this collaboration and is perfect for amateurs and professionals. The brand is one of the most popular art brands in Japan.
Collaborative Sketchbook: ¥935 (Tax Included)
Three designs are available, featuring Eren, Levi, and a group shot of Eren, Jean, Erwin, and Levi. Featuring a rough texture, the pages are rough and durable and are perfect for watercolor. Fans can use it as a notebook too!Information
Collaborative Sketch Book
Available in 3 varieties (Eren, Levi, Group)
Size: 113 x 165 x 16mmOrder Online: https://armabianca-shop.com/products/title/70,413
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From January 28 until February 27, 2022, Nagato Yumoto Onsen in Yamaguchi Prefecture will host the ‘Otozuregawa Uta Akari,’ a light-up event based on a poem by children’s poet Mizusu Kaneko. The event will feature poem narration and music, with motifs created by children and students in the city set up to create an unforgettable scene. The ‘Uta Akari Gentou Rondo,’ a light performance set to a poem reading, and thousands of light bowls created by young people in the city will be prepared at the venue.
Sound and Light Entertainment ・Gentou Rondo Area
Welcomed by 3,000 Lights ・Misuzu’s Garden Area
Welcomed by 3,000 Lights ・Misuzu’s Garden Area
New Area・Dreaming Fish Area
Hage Ware Lampshades・Light of the Earth Area
Performances
Misuzu’s Garden Area（Onyu, Lawn Area）About 3,000 elementary and junior high school students in the city created light motifs for the event. Inspired by the timeless poetry of Misuzu Kaneko, these illuminations will warmly welcome visitors. Otozuregawa Area（Onshinkawa Onsen Park） Large-scale lighting motifs created by local residents and workshop participants will be installed along the river. The slowly flickering illuminations will seem to float atop the gently flowing water, creating a fantastic scene. Dreaming Fish Area（Onshinkawa Onsen Park） In 2022, the event will take up more space on the property. A fish-shaped light will be placed in the center of Onshinkawa Onsen Park, and guests will be invited to see the many sea-inspired works donated by kindergarten and nursery school students. Light of the Earth Area（NearOntoshoku) Lampshades made of local Hagi ware will be installed along the riverside path near the hot spring resort. More than 20 of these lampshades were made by local elementary school students along with cooperation from teachers from the Fukagawa Kiln. The crafting school has a history of 360 years in the Minose area near Nagato Yumoto Onsen. Gentou Rondo Area（Near Bamboo Forest Stairs) Watch as shadow puppets dance to the music and recitation of poems by Misuzu Kaneko! The lights in the bamboo grove and plaza will playfully change as the night goes on.Information
Otozuregawa Illuminations
Running: January 28 – February 27, 2022
Illumination Hours: Sunset (around 17:30) – 22:00
Address: Nagato Yumoto Onsen (Fukawayumoto, Nagato, Yamaguchi)
Entry Free: Free
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Accommodation Plan Overlooking ‘Tokyo Dome City Illuminations’ and Matching Collab Cocktail Announced
Tokyo Dome Hotel has announced that a special accommodation plan overlooking the 'Tokyo Dome City Illuminations, which will be lit up between November 5 2021 and February 28 2022, and a matching collaboration cocktail will be available between November 5 and January 10.Room Example: Deluxe Double Room
A spectacular view from the rooms! Sample image of Tokyo Dome City Illuminations
Tokyo Dome City Winter Illuminations Collab Cocktail 'Winter Bright'
Bar '2000' Interior
The event theme this year is "Lights you'll want to snap a picture of." Tokyo Dome City, including the giant 15m Christmas tree, will be decked out in over 230,000 champagne gold LED lights which can change between white, red, blue, purple, and orange. Photo frame shaped photo-spots will be spread across five locations throughout Tokyo Dome City, full of gimmicks to offer amazing photo opportunities! In addition to the beautiful lights, there will be exciting and playful light displays to encourage visitors to take photos and have fun at the same time. With this new accommodation plan, you can enjoy the beauty of the illuminations from the comfort of a private hotel room. The offer includes two one-time-use amusement park ride tickets per person, giving guests the opportunity to visit their favorite attractions while taking in the fantastic night view that can only be seen over the winter period. The Tokyo Dome City illuminations can be fully appreciated from bar '2000,' who will be offering a limited-time collab cocktail during the event period. The 'Winter Bright' cocktail is made using strawberry and peach liquor, orange juice, and tonic water, with the red, white, and orange layers that match perfectly with the backdrop of glowing illuminations. Why not visit and spend an evening sipping on this fruity cocktail while enjoying the beautiful winter view?Information
Tokyo Dome City Winter Illumination Accommodation Plan
Duration: November 5 2021 ~ January 10 2022
30 rooms are available per day.
Official Site. https://www.tokyodome-hotels.co.jp/
Collaboration Cocktail “Winter Bright”
Availability: November 5 2021 ~ January 10 2022
Tokyo Dome City Winter Illuminations
Duration: November 5 2021 ~ February 28 2022
※The main tree will be displayed until January 10 2022
Location: Tokyo Dome City
Hours: 17:00 ~ 24:00 ※Subject to change based on social conditions and sunset time.
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To mark its 12th season, Yomiuri Land will be unveiling the new 'Yomiuri Land Jewellumination Lights of Hope! ~A Symphony of Diverse Lights~,' visible between October 21 2021 and April 3 2022." The Jewellumination is produced by Ishii Motoko and is the world's first light display to use LED lights to appear like jewels.
Grand Guignol of Hope
Jewelry Crystal
Fountain Show (from last year)
The Yomiuri Land Jewellumination opened in 2010 and is a unique spot where you can enjoy one-of-a-kind jewel-colored lights sparkling amongst the Tokyo nighttime scenery. Once again, the light display has been produced by Ishii Mitoko, a world-renowned lighting designer, who has named "Hope" as the theme for this years display, with the aim that those viewing the lights will be filled with happiness after seeing beauty, and feel a sense of fulfilment in their life. The lights this year will be lit using Green Power, a power source that is generated by natural energy and has a low impact on the environment. The season's sub-theme is "A Symphony of Diverse Lights~.' Last year, the jewel-themed areas were split by color, but for the upcoming Jewellumination, the rainbow of colors from previous displays have been combined to create a beautiful and colorful space. The iconic Yomiuri Land ferris wheel has been titled the Grand Guignol of Hope, with the upper part illuminated in gold to express "hope and energy to live," while the lower half is lit up in emerald green to represent "the brilliance of life." The huge diamond Jewelry Crystal ring has been created in the Ranran Square, decorated in jewel motifs to create a vivid and colorful space, transporting you to the inside of a crystal. As for the overwhelmingly popular Fountain Show which combines fire, lasers, and water, the wave pool area has been transformed into a tropical island amongst a sparkling sea, with fresh green and forest jewelry colors. Heal your heart with the beautiful Yomiuri Land Illuminations! Jewellumination is a registered trademark of Yomiuriland Co., Ltd.Information
Yomiuriland Jewellumination The Light of Hope! ~A Diverse Symphony of Color~
Duration: October 21 2021 ~ April 3 2022
Only the daytime theme park will be open on weekdays between March 1 and March 18.