In scenic Shiga prefecture, visitors can find one of the largest light-up events in the Kansai region. The Rosa & Berry Tawada park is celebrating ten years in 2021, and to celebrate this milestone, the Rosa & Berry Illumination 2021 is covering the space in thousands of brightly colored rainbow lights!
Giant 4-meter Wreath and Treehouse
Constructing the Giant Wreath
Illuminated Flowers
Glittering Balloons & Rainbow Churros
The main stage, Stardust Lake, is located beside the Galaxy Railroad area. Guests can experience the beauty of Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, as they wander the illuminated grounds. Don’t miss this year’s unique light show ‘Rainbow of Hope,’ a wish for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In commemoration of the park’s 10th anniversary, a huge wreath over four meters wide will be hung within the park. Created by Yoshihi Futana, the wreath was created with carefully collected plants that were starting to wither. The size is sure to impress, so don’t miss your chance to snap a picture with this work of art!
The church-like building sitting atop a hill in the park is decorated with illuminated flowers made by creative team You Ru Maru. Fans of Shaun the Sheep can enjoy a store dedicated to the popular character and his friends on-site, some hotpot during the cooler months at the Kotatsu Nabe restaurant, and a hot cup of tea overlooking the lights at the Hillside Cafe Tearoom. Don’t forget to grab a rainbow churro as you wander around the park!
Information
Rosa & Berry Illumination 2021 ~Hills of Twinkling Lights~
Running: October 8, 2021 – February 14, 2022 (Closed Tuesdays)
Hours: 17:30-21:00 (*Hours change depending on the season)
Address: Rosa & Berry Tawada English Garden (Maibara, Shiga Prefecture)
Official Site: https://www.rb-tawada.com
RELATED ENTRIES
-
NAKED’s DANDELION PROJECT will be held at Shiga’s Hikone Castle for eight days starting November 5, 2022. The work will be exhibited as a part of NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO, a next-generation art project put on in conjunction with Kyoto City, Uji City, and Otsu City in Shiga Prefecture. Created by Ryotaro Muramatsu, the art project has appeared in a number of towns and cities around the world, inviting participants to create flowers and send them around the globe digitally as a hope for peace. Visitors can use their smartphones to send dandelion fluff digitally to other participants around the world, sharing a wish for world peace. Following last year’s event, the DANDELION art piece will be exhibited at Hikone Castle again in 2022. The castle is over 400 years old and the castle tower, completed in 1606, is designated as a national treasure. During this time, the art piece will also be on display at Enryakuji and Shigain Monzeki Temple in Shiga. Hikone Castle is currently seeking to be registered as a World Heritage site. Why not take part in this unique project to bring the world a bit more peace?
Information
DANDELION PROJECT
Venue: Hikone Castle (1-1 Konkicho, Hikone, Shiga)
DANDELION: Hikone Castle Keep*Hikone Castle is a satellite site of the NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO Project.
Dates:
November 5, 12, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 / December 3
*The Special Autumn Colors Hikone Castle Night Viewing will be held starting on September 10. The DANDELION exhibit will be on display starting November 5.
Hours: 18:00-20:30 (Last entry at 20:00)
Official Site: https://www.knt-ks.co.jp/ec/2020/hikone/ -
From November 11, 2022 until August 2023, Izu Granpal Park in Shizuoka Prefecture will host the 8th Izu Kogen Grand Illumination event! The Izu Kogen Grand Illumination was ranked #1 in the Walker+National Illumination Ranking for six consecutive years and is beloved by visitors of all ages. This isn’t just a collection of pretty lights–the Grand Illumination also includes a number of hands-on experiences for everyone to enjoy. In 2021, the event won first place in the Ninth Illumination Awards for the second year in a row. Known as Japan’s first ‘hands-on illumination experience,’ the park has continued to evolve year after year, adding more attractions and finding its unique style. These attractions include a zip line through the lights, Dinosaur Go-Karts, and more.
This year, the Flower Lantern Area and Sweets Lantern Area have been completely redesigned and upgraded to be even more three-dimensional and colorful. Come enjoy this incredible world of lights and have some fun with the whole family! Information
Izu Kogen Grand Illumination ~8th Season~ (Hands-on)
Venue: Izu Granpal Park
Running: November 11, 2022 – August 2023
Official Site: https://granillumi.com
-
From November 17 until December 25, Tokyo Midtown will hold the popular Midtown Christmas event for 2022! Adults and children are sure to love this massive Christmas event. Each year, a massive Christmas tree appears in Tokyo Midtown, but this year’s festivities will also throw some more unique pieces of art into the mix. This year, visitors will see golden lights on the city's trees, as well as a pop-up Christmas tree inspired by party poppers. Lights and music will join together to make guests feel as though they’ve walked into an outdoor theater, and the popular ice skating rink will once again be open for everyone to enjoy. Why not enjoy the Christmas season in Tokyo’s shimmering midtown?
Bubbles Fill the Air for a Limited Time at the Christmas Story Lights
A Massive Dome Filled with 300 Lights Invites Visitors to Celebrate the Season
Hands-on Experiences at the Party Popper Tree
Information
Midtown Winter Lights
Running: November 17 – December 25, 2022
Venue: Midtown Garden, Plaza 1F
Light Hours: 17:00-23:00
*Some event times and details are subject to change.
Admission: Free
Sponsored by Netflix -
From November 11 until December 25, 2022, Roppongi Hills Christmas will cover Tokyo in glittering lights once again. The Keyakizaka Lights, one of Tokyo’s most popular winter attractions, will also take place in 2022, with the 400-meter-long Keyakizaka street covered in over 800,000 blue and white LED lights. For the first time in three years, the Mohri Garden will be covered in lights as well. The annual Christmas market will invite guests to experience an authentic German Christmas, and Christmas cakes and gourmet food unique to Roppongi Hills will be for sale. The Roppongi Hills Christmas event utilizes LED lights and has done so since the first event was held in 2003. Clean power will be used again this year, and the lights will be switched on from 5 PM until 11 PM each night.
Information
Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Lights
Running: November 10 – December 25, 2022 *Daily from 5:00 – 11:00 PM
*Lights may begin at a different time on November 10 only.
Location: Roppongi Keyakizaka Street
Official Site: https://www.roppongihills.com
-
Japanese creative company NAKED will hold a Night Walk event at Zuiganji Temple in Matsushima, located near one of the top three most scenic spots in Japan. The event will run from October 29 until November 23, 2022. The NAKED Night Walk was created to revitalize hot spring resorts and other tourist spots during the pandemic. This special event will bring the illuminated experience to Zuiganji Temple, one of the Tohoku Region’s most famous Zen temples. Guests will be invited to carry beautiful lanterns around the grounds, maintaining social distancing while enjoying the cool evening weather. These lanterns will cast one of three unique designs onto the ground below–a starry sky, a camellia flower, or a lotus.
Guests can also enjoy NAKED’s Flower Fortune Telling, pulling unique paper flowers from a massive wall, with each holding a personalized fortune. These flowers can then be tied to a nearby tree to further spread NAKED’s art. You can also take home your flower as a souvenir! The event will only run for a limited time. For more information including admission fees and hours, see the official website! Information
NAKED Night Walk – Matsushima, Zuiganji Temple (National Treasure)
Address: Zuiganji Temple (Chonai-91 Matsushima, Miyagi District, Miyagi Prefecture)
Running: October 29 – November 23, 2022
Hours: Weekdays 17:00-20:00 / Fridays, Weekends, Holidays 17:00-21:00
Official Site: https://zuiganji.or.jp/
-
The third phase of the popular illumination event at the English Garden Rosa & Berry Tawada will be held from October 8, 2022 until February 12, 2023! One of the largest light-up events in the Kansai region, this year’s theme is ‘Evolutionary Lights!’
Let Time Pass in The Golden Forest
Visitors will be welcomed into a glorious forest of golden lights as they arrive in the main area. The clock tower rises in the center, and the spectacular production begins at the start of nightfall when the tower itself begins to glow and 100 trees are enveloped in golden light.The White and Silver Garden of the Fairies
The area has undergone a major transformation, from the warm European-inspired colors of last year’s event to a mysterious silvery-white color scheme. Visitors can also enjoy the popular light-up experience Miraculous Blue Roses and the Seven-Colored Prayer Tree.※Details: Lights and effects are triggered in response to the sound of bells rung by visitors and special pedals stepped on as they explore the event. Shaun the Sheep Area
A special Christmas display inspired by the new Shaun the Sheep movie, releasing in December 2022, will be on display.*Images of the special display will be available in mid-September.SHAUN THE SHEEP AND SHAUN'S IMAGE ARE ™ AARDMAN ANIMATIONS LTD. 2022 Galactic Express Milky Way
The Milky Way is said to be a magnificent shade of blue. The Milky Way Galaxy Railroad, which requires a separate fee, runs through the area, inviting guests to explore a sea of stars. Why not take a trip through this glittering world of lights while taking some incredible photos?Why not visit this incredible sea of lights this winter? Information
Rosa & Berry Illumination 2022-2023 – Evolutionary Lights
Running: October 8, 2022 – February 12, 2023 *Closed on Tuesdays
Hours: 17:30-21:00 *Subject to change depending on the season
Venue: English Garden Rosa & Berry Tawada (Maibara, Shiga)Official Site: https://www.rb-illumi.com/