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 Elemis

A 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 Decorations

Inside 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 25

Prior 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!

The Daimaru location in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, will soon begin selling limited edition Rilakkuma and Sumikko Gurashi goods! About 1,400 rare goods previously only available at 10 locations around Japan will be available in Shimonoseki from May 25 until May 30. Inspired by locales around the country, these adorable items will inspire you to travel when you can!

Limited Edition Sumikko Gurashi Goods

Ise Shop Exclusive

Dangling Stuffed Animal

Dangling Stuffed Animal

Jisho-ji Shop Exclusive

Dangling Stuffed Animal

Kyoto Kiyomizu-Zaka Shop Exclusive

Dangling Stuffed Animal

Shrine and Temple Stamp Book

Castella Manju

Dazaifu Shop Exclusive

Dangling Stuffed Animal

Rilakkuma’s Teahouse & Rilakkuma’s Bath Exclusive Goods

Arashiyama Shop Exclusive

Honey Castella Manju

Miyajima Shop Exclusive

Stuffed Animal

Roasted Mochi Pieces, Soy Sauce Flavor (with Can)

Kurokawa Shop Exclusive

Japanese Pattern Towels

Dogomachi Shop Exclusive

Stuffed Animals

Kusatsu Shop Exclusive

Stuffed Animal

With over 700 Sumikko Gurashi goods available, each symbolizing a specific locale with a cherry blossom theme, it won’t be easy to choose which items you’ll want to take home. Photo spots will also be set up at the venue, so come snap some pics for social media! Also, look forward to the Summer Bread and Sweets Festival 2022 in the adjacent venue!

The Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media will house a new work by DJ Licaxxx, the fifth installment of the ‘sound tectonics installation.’ The new work, Reason and Emotion ‘22, will be on display in the museum’s courtyard. 

Licaxxx is a popular DJ and beatmaker who has been active in many unique fields over the past few years. The artist has created music for commercials and other advertisements while also contributing works to museums and art spaces.

The new sound installation features trackmaker Dan Kubo and electronic musician Kazuki Muraoka as collaborators. The goal of this ongoing project is to critically examine the act of viewing art in general, including music, and to generate music in real-time based on the current environment. The installation is impacted by weather, temperature, and the number of people viewing the work. The courtyard venue faces the main foyer and features a large glass atrium. 

Come enjoy a new listening experience like no other before the installation disappears in November.

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?

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.

The Five Story Pagoda of Ruriko Temple is a National Treasure of Yamaguchi Prefecture. The site is commemorating the 600th anniversary since the birth of Sesshū Tōyō, the Japanese master of ink and wash painting, with a special event on September 26 and 27 and October 10 and 11.

The Five Story Pagoda was built in 1442 using skilful architectural techniques from the mid-Muromachi period. It is considered one of Japan’s three most beautiful pagodas.

1,000 candles are set to be lit along the pathway to the pagoda, lighting up the way with enchanting light. The spectacle is set to be posted on the official Yamaguchi Prefecture PR YouTube page so that more people can enjoy the show.

2020 marks the 600th anniversary of Sesshū Tōyō who is considered the most prominent master of ink and wash painting in Japan. In his mid 30’s, he visited Yamaguchi so that he could cross over to China on the Ōuchi clan’s mission to Ming China. He returned to 1483 where he based himself and worked until he passed away in 1506 at age 87.

teamLab’s upcoming new digital art exhibition teamLab: Resonating Life in Acorn Forest is set to open in Higashi-Tokorozawa Park in Saitama on August 1, 2020. The interactive display will react to and change from the presence of people.

The Kadokawa Culture Museum calls the collection of oaks and other deciduous broadleaf trees of Musashino the “Musashino Woods.” These Musashino Woods transition through the greens of spring and summer, display beautiful autumnal leaves from fall until early winter, and are home to ripe acorns in autumn.

Deciduous broadleaf forests were widespread in Japan during the Jomon Period. These forests were home to acorn-bearing trees, and acorns were a major food source for the Jomon people. During the Jomon Period, many people existed alongside the acorn forests, living easily with this abundant food source.

teamLab’s Digitized Nature art project uses non-material digital technology to transform nature into art without having a physical impact on it.

teamLab: Resonating Life in the Acorn Forest will transform the acorn forests of Musashino into an interactive art space which changes due to the presence of people.

Autonomous Resonating Life – Liquified Light Color, Sunrise and Sunset / teamLab, 2020, Interactive Digital Installation, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi

With sunrise, the ovoids begin to reflect the world around them. When pushed down by a person or blown by the wind, the ovoids fall back and then rise releasing a resonating tone. The ovoids around it also respond one after another, continuing to resonate with the same tone.

As the sun sets, the ovoids shine by themselves. When an ovoid is pushed by a person or blown by the wind it falls down and then rises, a sound resonates out, and it emits a light color specific to the sound.

Resonating Trees / teamLab, 2014, Interactive Digitized Nature, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi

The trees shine brightly. The light of each tree is autonomous, slowly blinking.

The light transmitted from Autonomous Resonating Life – Liquified Light Color, Sunrise and Sunset causes the trees’ lights to change color, and a tone specific to that color resonates out. The light of a tree is transmitted to the surrounding trees one by one, as the sound is continuously emitted.

When a light resonates from the trees in the distance, it signifies the presence of people. Perhaps people will become more aware of the existence of others in the same space.

The town of Chikuzen in Fukuoka Prefecture is home to a 2km strip of cherry blossom trees which bloom their pink beauty along the Kusaba River in spring. The area sees countless people flock there during the Hanami season to see the trees in full bloom.

But Kusaba River isn’t only home to cherry blossoms; it also sees rape blossoms sprout their yellow flowers during springtime, which offers a beautiful contrast to the overhead pink from the cherry trees.

The place is lit up in the eveningsーa great chance to see the cherry blossoms in a different light at night.

Rich verdure lines the whole of Kusaba River, so be sure to visit if you’re heading to Fukuoka this spring to see the cherry and rape blossoms.

Shinagawa Season Terrace Illumination 2019 is set to run from December 1 to 25.

The event will take place at Shinagawa Season Terrace, a towering office building in Tokyo, where the rolling grass lawn will be lit up beautifully with enchanting blue lights. They offer a breathtaking view against the city nightscape of Tokyo’s skyscrapers. Last year’s event saw nearly 17,000 people in attendance.

2019 marks the 4th run of the event, and this year, the long staircase leading up to the lawn will also be lit up, welcoming visitors to see the illuminations from their first step upon arrival. The lights will flicker in 10 different patterns from the first floor (ground floor) up to the second.

Entry is free, and visitors will be able enjoy an unbroken view of the structural spectacle that is Tokyo Tower too. If you’re in Tokyo this December, be sure to mark Shinagawa Season Terrace Illumination 2019 in your calendar for the holiday season.

*Pictured photos are for illustrative purposes only

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.

On March 12, 2020, Hoshino Resorts will open a brand new resort around Yumoto Hot Spring (Nagato, Yamaguchi prefecture). Following plans for a new hot spring district in Nagato that were created in January 2020, Hoshino’s hot spring resort brand KAI will be opening a resort in Nagato with numerous spa facilities. With the cooperation of the local government and community, this plan has been put into action. 

As part of the masterplan, Hoshino KAI Nagato will include a cafe called Agebono Cafe. This will be the first KAI resort to extend their cafe services to non-guests. The cafe will sell sweet dorayaki pancakes that guests can enjoy while strolling the streets of the hot spring district. 

KAI is a hot spring ryokan brand owned by Hoshino Resorts and can be found all over Japan. The theme of KAI resorts is traditional yet new. Although the room designs are inspired by nature and old and traditional Japanese culture, they cater to the needs of modern guests.

Exterior Appearance

KAI Nagato is the 16th hot spring resort of Hoshino KAI. It is located in the north of Yamaguchi prefecture and is surrounded by grand mountains. The resort sits by the peaceful Otozure River which is the main source of hot spring water for Yumoto Hot Spring. KAI Nagato is located where Agebono bridge stretches across the river. The resort aims to provide guests with an enriching experience of Yamaguchi’s traditional old tea house residences (Ochaya Yashiki) as well as the opportunity to indulge in the regions finest traditional culture, food and experiences.  From the lobby to the guest rooms, the resort is full of Yamaguchi’s samurai culture.

KAI Guest Room

The designs for the guest rooms were inspired by Yamaguchi’s samurai. Each room is fit for a Feudal Lord. The beds are located on flooring which is slightly higher than the rest of the room. The surrounding wooden pillars create a luxurious private atmosphere.

Patterned Wall Decoration

The wall behind the bed is decorated with Tokujihori washi paper which is a type of Japanese paper unique to Yamaguchi prefecture and has a history dating back to the Muromachi period over 800 years ago. This special paper has even been acknowledged as an Intangible Cultural Asset to Japan. The beautiful dainty paper has been dyed a variety of bright and elegant colours to create this beautiful masterpiece. 

Hagi Ware *This is currently still in production so the appearance may vary.

 The room even has a Tokonoma, which is a small alcove where artistic pieces are displayed. Old Hagi ware, which was traditionally used for tea-making, is displayed here. 

Luxury Banquet for One

Enjoy a luxurious banquet for one made with locally sourced seasonal ingredients in a semi-private dining space. Each meal is served on a dainty dish. As Yamaguchi Prefecture is the second largest squid producer in the country, KAI Nagato serves the region’s highly-praised Yamaguchi squid as an appetizer and as sashimi. The sweet, soft and chunky squid will leave your mouth watering for more. The dinner set also includes a range of pickled vegetables and a luxurious plate of seasonal sushi and sashimi. All dishes are served in special Hagi ware. 

KAI Nagato was created to fulfil the goal of creating a relaxing hot spring district where visitors can stroll for a relaxing break. KAI has taken one more step towards achieving this goal by creating the Agebono Cafe, which is the first ever KAI cafe to extend its services to non-guests . 

The cafe serves Japanese dorayaki pancakes with sweet jam fillings made using Yamaguchi’s original citrus fruits such as Yamaguchi’s original Nagato Yuzukichi and the Natsu Mikan. The Natsu Mikan was introduced to Japan from overseas and is now cultivated in Yamaguchi prefecture. Enjoy the refreshing tangy citrus flavour of Yamaguchi prefecture as it perfectly balances with the sweet jam flavour. This is best enjoyed with a cafe latte. 

Hoshino Resorts KAI Nagato is packed with the cultural wonders and flavours of the region. Take a moment to relax in the Yumoto Hot Spring and explore the culture of Japan.

The 25th Kobe Luminarie light festival will take place from December 6 to 15. The theme of this year’s festival is “25 Years, Guided by the Light of Hope” (Original Italian title: Da 25 anni, guidati dalle luci della speranza).

Kobe Luminarie is an illumination festival that has been held annually since 1995 in commemoration of the Great Hanshin earthquake which hit Kobe that year on January 17. The event has continued as a symbol of hope for Kobe and has also become a festival associated with the winter season. Last year’s festival saw around 3.43 million people in attendance.

The “Light Bulbs” make a comeback radiating their warm light

Formerly the doorstep to foreign culture, Nakamachi-dori, lined with countless tasteful stores, will be lined with around 270 meters’ worth of decorations. The entrance decoration, named Frontone, stands almost 22 meters tall with three towering gates each connected to each other. The Sparri Ara is a wide wall of lights which runs 50 meters from Frontone all the way to Kyomachisuji Crossing. And as a special instalment to the 25th run of the festival, the light bulbs used at the first festival will be strung up to create another wall illumination from Itomachi to the East block which will be dubbed the “Memorial Zone.”

The event’s largest light dome

In the eastern amusement park plaza, Cassa Armonica―an illuminated church structure set up every year―will be enveloped in a large 21 meter high dome featuring an arch for the first time standing 4 meters tall in the memorial area

Over in the floral clock area, the Sparri Ara wall lights twinkle beside the wisteria trees. The lights will change and transform to the sound of the music. Attendees will also be able to pick up small gifts too as well as take pictures at the various photo spots.

Earthquake Talk Booth

Talks will be held discussing the origins of Kobe Luminarie and why it started. Earthquake survivors will also talk about their real experiences.

International Creative Director and Executive Producer Daniel Monteverde, who has been working with Luminaire for 20 years, made the following comment: “The city of Kobe will bustle once again this year, which will mark 25 years. People will fill the streets and look to the sky while they wait for the chime of the bell to signal the illuminations. We hold the memories of the people we lost 25 years ago close to our hearts. I hope we can convey our hopes and dreams and our story to our children and the young people who will bear the next generation. I hope people will be proud of Kobe which has recovered from the earthquake.”

He continues: “The Kobe Luminarie lights will shine once more for Hyogo, for Japan, and for the world. These lights are a symbol of each and every person’s devotion, their efforts, and their love. I pray that the Luminarie lights will send a message of hope to the world and continue shining in our hearts for the rest of time.” * Full comment translated from Japanese