If travelling to Japan in winter, do not miss out on the winter illumination experience that has become a major tourist draw of various cities throughout the country. The following are some of the most popular winter illumination spots that you should check out:

Tokyo

  • Shiodome – Called the Caretta Illumination, Shiodome becomes an ocean of bright, sparkling LED lights from mid-November to mid-January.
  • Shinjuku – From the second week of November until the second week of February, illumination displays fill the surroundings of the south exit of the JR Shinjuku Station.
  • Roppongi Hills – For about six weeks, from mid-November until Christmas Day, Roppongi Hills hosts Artelligent Christmas, which features several colourful displays of lights along Keyakizaka Street and around the Mori Tower area.
  • Omotesando – Five million bright and colorful LED lights adorn the surroundings of the Omotesando and Harajuku stations from 1 – 25 December .
  • Odaiba – Whether it is winter or not, Odaiba’s illuminations are on display, particularly the Daiba Memorial Tree offered by Decks Odaiba shopping mall.
  • Ginza – The boutiques, department stores and shops that are found in Ginza become livelier and more vibrant from the end of November to mid-January as the streets are decorated with multi-coloured illumination displays.

Winter illumination in Tokyo at Shinjuku district, Japan

Osaka

  • Midosuji – The ginkgo trees, historic buildings and shops that line Midosuji Street become covered with vibrant decorations and lights from the second half of November up until mid-January.
  • Nakanoshima Island – Just a few minutes’ walk from Naniwabashi and Yodoyabashi stations, the Osaka Hikari Renaissance illumination display, which is observed from 14 – 25 December, includes a long stretch of brightly lit decorations, starting at the Osaka City Hall and finishing at Nakanoshima Park.

Christmas lights decoration in Osaka, Japan.

Sendai

  • Jozenji-dori – Known as the Sendai Pageant of Starlight, Sendai’s illumination event is held from 9 – 31 December and features hundreds of thousands of LED lights that cover the keyaki or zelkova trees that line Jozenji-dori Street.

Kobe

  • Central Kobe – To remember the Great Hanshin earthquake that occurred in 1995, the city of Kobe celebrates an illumination event called Kobe Luminarie. In the first half of every December, the city offers vibrant displays of lights designed by local artists and Italian donors to remember the more than 6,000 people who died in the tragedy.

Kobe, Japan, Christmas