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!

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. 

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?

Tokyo-based amusement park Yomiuri Land and flower park HANA・BIYORI are celebrating 10 years of Studio Chizu, the animation studio spearheaded by director Mamoru Hosoda, as well as the upcoming release of their new film Belle with a special event that is running from July 17 to September 5.

Studio Chizu 10th Cross Park in Yomiuri Land

Flowers collide with digital art at HANA・BIYORI

Solve puzzles in an AR rally

Themed food

Exclusive merchandise

The events will celebrate Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu’s entire filmography including The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, Wolf Children, The Boy and the Beast, Mirai, and their upcoming film Belle which will be released in Japan on July 16. This includes themed attraction, food, merchandise, and more. There will also be a special AR rally where guests will need to locate hidden characters around the park. A digital art show will also take place at HANA・BIYORI which is connected to Yomiuri Land.

More details about the attractions and food will roll out in early July.

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.

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

Tobu Zoo is set to turn on 3 million LED lights for its winter illumination event that will run from October 26 to February 11 next year.

Tobu Zoo has lots of surprises lined up for this year’s event, including an illumination installation made in collaboration with male Japanese singer Amatsuki, which will bring together lights and music. This will include a giant LED display showing music videos from Amatsuki in addition to exclusive and original videos, a 50 meter long light tunnel with Amatsuki-inspired decorations and his music playing, and more. Full details are to be announced in the coming weeks.

“Illumination Show” Giant LED Display (Location: In front of Heartful Garden)

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.

Heartful Garden (Location: Heartful Garden)

The zoo’s Heartful Garden spans 8,000 m², and it’s here that bright and beautiful flower topiary installations will be set up.

Theatrical Projection Mapping (Location: Tobu Zoo HOLA! Event Stage) *Running from November 30, 2019

The zoo’s 1,300 capacity event stage HOLA! will make use of breathtaking ‘theatrical projection mapping’ which will be projected onto the stage and the ceiling

The theme of this year’s projection mapping event is an animal musical which will serve up an incredible entertainment show for the audience. Various animals will make an appearance in the form of projection mapping to tell a story with dance and music.

Cherry Blossom Illuminations (Location: East Gate, Swan Pond)

Gorgeous cherry blossom-coloured lights will be strung on the Yoshino cherry trees lining the Swan Pond, creating a pink panorama right before your eyes.

Amusement Park Illuminations (Location: Around the amusement park)

Lights will also twinkle around the attractions in the amusement park, creating a different atmosphere than daytime, and there will also be various photo areas themed on fairy tale worlds including Cinderella, Princess Kaguya, The Little Mermaid and more.

Enjoy a romantic evening with the warm, cosy lights at Tobu Zoo.

Japanese amusement park Yomiuri Land is set to hold its first ever Yozakura Jewel Illumination event from March 21 to April 7. It will combine evening-time cherry blossoms with gorgeous illuminations.

The event will give bloom to various attractions, such as “Jewel Aurora ~Nighttime Ferris Wheel” designed by internationally-active Japanese lighting artist Motoko Ishii. The park’s 180-meter long strip of cherry trees will combine the vivid cherry blossoms with bright pink lights.

Sakura Promenade: 180-meters of magical cherry trees

Using the light pink cherry blossoms as the base, the Sakura Promenade will be lined with bright lights in the evening, creating a memorable and must-see display.

Jewel Aurora ~Nighttime Ferris Wheel: Illuminated in Cherry Blossom Pink

The huge Ferris wheel will be lit up with colourful lights in the image of cherry blossoms.

Bandit: The fastest ever hanami experience at 110km!

Enjoy a fast hanami flower-viewing of the cherry blossoms at high speed on Bandit, the park’s most popular roller coaster.

Gondola Sky Shuttle: Hanami from above

Enjoy gazing at the cherry blossoms up high over the trees aboard the gondola. It will be like gliding over a pink carpet.

Cherry Blossom Tunnel

Walk through the 180-meter long cherry blossom tunnel and enjoy the sights whether strolling or kicking back on the benches.

Yomiuri Land Oka no Yu: Hanami from the open-air baths

For a separate fee, sit under the cherry trees inside the open air baths for a relaxing experience.

Enjoy a different kind of hanami this year at Yomiuri Land with their many cherry blossom events.