Tokyo illumination has been a popular point of interest in winter. In fact, it's one of the best winter illuminations in Japan.
During this time, districts, private companies, local communities, and tourist attractions glimmer at night through light displays, projection mapping, Christmas decors, and whatnot. Now that Japan is once again wide open to foreign tourists, Tokyo illumination is back with an even grander winter celebration. Here are the best winter illuminations in Tokyo:
1. Tokyo Skytree Winter Illumination
Tokyo Skytree — Japan’s tallest building — celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2022 through a grander winter illumination. A massive 8-meter-tall white Christmas tree stands at the ‘Sky Arena’ where the main event takes place. A projection mapping show also appears while the Tokyo Skytree building itself is lit to champagne gold.
Location: Tokyo Skytree, Sumida
Start Date: November 10, 2022
End Date: December 25, 2022
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Admission Fee: FREE
Also Read: Top Things to Do in Japan in Winter
2. Tokyo Dome Winter Illumination
Tokyo Dome City — a leisure complex in Bunkyo — holds one of the biggest winter illuminations in Tokyo every year. Part of the Tokyo Dome winter illumination event includes decorative illuminations at Tokyo Dome and Christmas lights all over the complex.
Location: Tokyo Dome City, Bunkyo
Start Date: November 11, 2022
End Date: February 28, 2023
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Admission Fee: FREE
3. Marunouchi Illumination
Marunouchi — a business district in Chiyoda — hosts its 20th winter illumination in 2022, featuring almost 1 million champagne gold LED lights hanging on over 340 trees that stretch for 1.2 kilometers. The Tokyo Torch Park is also lit up.
Location: Marunouchi, Chiyoda
Start Date: November 10, 2022
End Date: February 19, 2023
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. (opens until midnight in December)
Admission Fee: FREE
Also Read: Top Things to Do in Shinjuku at Night
4. Roppongi Hills Winter Illumination
Roppongi Hills — a business district in Minato and popular for nightlife among foreign tourists — flickers even brighter at night in winter as it holds one of the best Tokyo winter illuminations. Roppongi Hills winter illumination features a 400-meter stretch of zelkova trees along Roppongi Keyaki-zaka Street is clad in over 800,000 snow and blue LED lights.
Location: Roppongi Hills, Minato
Start Date: November 10, 2022
End Date: December 25, 2022
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Admission Fee: FREE
5. Yomiuri Land Jewellumination
Yomiuri Land — the largest amusement park in Tokyo City — holds its 13th winter illumination, showcasing over 6 million lights throughout the park. As its winter illumination title suggests, Yomiuri Land Jewellumination focuses on jewel tones and colors.
Location: Yomiuri Land, Yanokuchi
Start Date: October 20, 2022
End Date: April 09, 2023
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Admission Fee: From 1,800 yen for adults and 1,000 yen for children
Also Read: Iris Flower Watching in Mizumoto Park
6. Yebisu Garden Place Winter Illumination
Yebisu Garden Place's winter illumination centers on its massive Baccarat chandelier, one of the world’s largest. It has over 250 lights and turns blue every 30 minutes.
Location: Yebisu Garden Place, Ebisu
Start Date: November 12, 2022
End Date: January 9, 2023
Time: 11 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (during winter only)
Admission Fee: FREE
7. Odaiba Illumination
Although it’s open throughout the year, Odaiba Illumination is worth mentioning. It covers a good part of Odaiba, a shopping and entertainment district, that includes a 20-meter-tall Christmas tree, the Odaiba Memorial tree wrapped in lights, and over 40 trees clad in 2,200 sparkling lights stretching for 200 meters.
Location: Odaiba
Start date: Opens daily
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Admission Fee: FREE
Also Read: Tokyo to Osaka: How to Enjoy Osaka for a Day
8. Shinjuku Minami Lumi
After three years of hiatus, Shinjuku Minami Lumi is back with a few displays. The entire Shinjuku Station South Exit area is donned in lights. The Suica Penguin Plaza, located outside the new Shinjuku Station South Exit, showcases an igloo, a Suica Penguin statue, and a tunnel of light leading to the alameda of Shinjuku Southern Terrace, Shinjuku Maynds Tower, and Takashimaya Times Square.
Location: Shinjuku Station area
Start Date: November 14, 2022
End Date: February 14, 2023
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Admission Fee: FREE
9. Magic Time Illumination
Magic Time Illumination takes place in Hibiya, a midtown business district in Chiyoda. From Tokyo Midtown Hibiya to Hibiya Nakadori Avenue, the entire city participates in one of the grandest Tokyo illuminations.
Location: Hibiya
Start Date: November 17, 2022
End Date: February 14, 2023
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Admission Fee: FREE
10. Midtown Winter Lights
Although Roppongi Hills glimmers in winter lights, Tokyo Midtown is worth singling out. Midtown Winter Lights features “Promenade of Light” where the whole place shines in gold and a “Snow Light Globe,” a 3-meter-high glowing snow globe.
Location: Tokyo Midtown, Roppongi Hills
Start Date: November 17, 2022
End Date: December 25, 2023
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Admission Fee: FREE
11. Meguro River Illumination
Meguro River Minna no Illumination boasts an environmentally-friendly winter illumination in Tokyo. They use recycled cooking oil to generate power for the cherry blossom-colored LED lights that light on the Meguro River banks.
Location: Tokyo Midtown
Start Date: November 11, 2022
End Date: January 8, 2023
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Admission Fee: FREE
12. Omotesando Illumination
Over 900,000 champagne gold LED bulbs decorate the zelkova trees and shrubs from Jingubashi to Omotesando intersections that stretch for about 1 kilometer. Only shrubs will be lit from December 29 until January 5.
Location: Omotesando Avenue
Start Date: December 1, 2022
End Date: December 29, 2022
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Admission Fee: FREE
13. Shinagawa Season Terrace Illumination
Shinagawa Season Terrace Illumination features thousands of blue lights that transform its grassy yard into a winter wonderland. The “Staircase of Light” displays 10 different light patterns.
Location: Shinagawa Season Terrace, Minato
Start Date: December 1, 2022
End Date: December 25, 2022
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Admission Fee: FREE
14. Shibuya Blue Cave Illumination
Shibuya Blue Cave Illumination showcases over 600,000 blue LED bulbs adorning zelkova trees from Shibuya to Yoyogi Park. A giant Christmas card also appears at Yoyogi Park.
Location: Shibuya
Start Date: December 8, 2022
End Date: December 25, 2022
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Admission Fee: FREE
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