Japan has really started to embrace the Christmas spirit recently with so many magical illuminations around the country. And what better place to visit than the nation’s capital and its surrounding regions.

In this article, we’ll show you when and where to go to warm your heart during the chilly Japanese winter. And for more on these incredible light shows, check out our Japan winter illuminations guide or our list of Kyoto’s best illuminations.

Yomiuri Land Jewellumination

Location: Yanokuchi, Ingi-city, Tokyo
Price of admission: Adults, 5,800yen, Children 2,400 yen (one day pass including unlimited rides) Tickets after 3pm including rides Adults 3100 yen, Children 1500 yen
Dates: October 19th – April 7th

Yomiuri land’s annual winter wonderland is a must visit for anyone who considers themselves an illumination enthusiast. Although the entrance fee is a bit steep, it’s worth it given the quality and quantity of things to do.

The park consists of 10 separate areas with millions of LED lights between them. Here are some of the highlights:

• Love Grand Objet. This section is dedicated to love and contains a Ferris wheel for couples to snuggle up in.
• Sakura Promenade. A section of park with trees lit up from the trunks to the highest branch.
• Colorful Jewellery Town. Host to several theme park rides, all lit up like a Christmas tree.
• Passage of Love. A winding tunnel full of sparkling lights.

Other highlights include fountain shows where spurting water is lit up, roller coasters, and occasional dance performances.

Tokyo Mega Illumination

Location: Katsushima, Shinagawa-city,  Tokyo
Price of admission: Adults, 1,000 yen, Children 500 yen. (Date specific advanced tickets: Adults, 800 yen, Children, 400 yen)
Dates: November 16th – February 18th. (because the event is located at Oi Racecourse the event is not held on race days)

The Oi racecourse has been holding the Tokyo Mega Illumination event for five years now and each year it keeps getting more elaborate. It hosts several stunning displays of illumination projection mapping through two main areas.

The highlights at this year’s Tokyo Mega Illumination are:

• The Twinkle Area – a long, illuminated corridor of blue light leading to other main attractions.
• The Wa no Kirameki area – Could be translated as ‘sparkling harmony’ and is set up in the middle of the racecourse to resemble a traditional rural village. You’ll see paddy fields, streams, and even cherry blossoms all in spectacular illumination.
• The Aurora Forest – a short show that uses lasers to light up trees while colors are projected onto the sky. The show lasts about 6 minutes and is displayed in sync with music.
• The Mega Tree – a giant tree standing in the middle of the aurora forest that sets the stage for an 8 minute performance accompanied by music.

Marunouchi Illumination

Location: Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku,  Tokyo
Price of admission: Free
Dates: November 10th – February 19th

Spanning over 1.2 kilometers, this year’s annual Marunouchi Illumination event consists of over 360 illuminated trees with over 1.2 million LED lights decorating the popular fashion district of Marunouchi.

It’s celebrating its 22nd annual event by illuminating the streets in champagne gold. One of the highlights is the terrace that has several seats with the convenience of outdoor heaters so you can take in the beautiful winter illumination while staying cozy in the Tokyo winter.

Midtown Christmas

Location: Akasaka, Minato-city, Tokyo
Price of admission: Free
Dates: November 16th – December 26th

Located in the Tokyo Midtown district, the annual ‘Midtown Christmas’ event is held in the lead-up to Christmas. This year’s theme is champagne gold with an 80 meter-long path lit up to give this year’s event a more glamorous feel.

Oh, and if you’re feeling like going for a little Christmas ice skate, there’s a rink right in the thick of the illumination that’s open from 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM until February 25th. Enjoy the whole scene with Tokyo Tower hovering in the background!

Yorunoyo: Winter Light Show 

Located: Shinko Central Square, 1 Chome-5 Shinko, Naka, Yokohama
Price of admission: Free
Dates: November 27th – January 4th

Located in the Yokohama bay area, the Yoruno illumination event consists of 40 facilities all working together to produce a five minute synchronized light show every 30 minutes during the evening.

At over 100 meters high, Shinko Chuo Square’s interactive project mapping is Japan’s largest and quite a sight to behold. The Y-terminal also has project mapping on the deck that resembles a sea of lights spread out like waves.

Sagamiko Illumination

Location: Sagamiko Resort Pleasure forest, Wakayanagi, Midori-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa
Price of admission: Adult, 2,800 yen, Children, 2,200 yen
Dates: November 3rd – May 12th

Located in the Sagamiko lake resort, the Sagamiko Illumination is one of the biggest light shows in the Kanto region. The slightly more rural location means that you can experience unique illuminations that you won’t see in the city. With over 6 million LED’s spread throughout the resort, Sagamiko Illumination could probably be spotted from Mars.

This year there’s an entire section dedicated to Doraemon, making it a great choice for families. There’s an arrangement of Doraemon themed illuminations, foods, and a laser show set to the music of Doraemon.

White Kitte Christmas Tree

Location: Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku,  Tokyo
Price of admission: Free
Dates: November 22nd – December 25th

If you’re looking for a more traditional Christmas experience, then visiting the 12 meter tall Christmas tree in Kitte Marunouchi shopping mall is a must. Every year they choose fir trees from Nagano prefecture and decorate it with thousands of snow flake styled ornaments. The end result is a winter wonderland.

At the base of the Tree there are several cascading pillars that make for an incredible photo opportunity. It’s the 10th anniversary of this event, and they went all-out.

Shibuya Ao no Dokutsu

Location: Yoyogi Park, Yoyogi Kamizono-cho, Shibuya-ku Tokyo
Price of admission: Free
Dates: December 1st – 25th

Shibuya’s Ao no Dokutsu, or ‘blue cave’ in English, has been a popular spot since 2014. It boasts over 770,000 blue LED’s illuminating a path along Koen Dori to Yoyogi park. The blue lights are reflected in the ground to create a very unique scene.

This year’s theme is Day & Night with a Christmas market and food truck area located on the Harajuku station side of the walkway. On the Shibuya station side is a big, blue Christmas tree that makes for an amazing photo backdrop.

Although the area is open from 3-10 PM, note that the illumination doesn’t start until 5 PM and the Christmas market closes at 9.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in Tokyo this winter, consider yourself spoiled. There are so many incredible illumination events to choose from that you can’t go wrong. Grab a warm Boss coffee or royal milk tea from a vending machine, and enjoy walking through a wintery fairy tale.

Tokyo Mega Illumination photo by Nakashi under CC BY-SA 2.0
Sagamiko Illumination photo by DoD. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.