During Christmas, Japan truly shines through in its spectacular winter illuminations, captivating both locals and tourists worldwide. Here are the top Tokyo Illumination Spots to experience the magic while you’re there.
As autumn ends and winter rolls around, Tokyo (along with the rest of Japan) becomes adorned with spectacular displays of magical lights to celebrate the festive period. Despite the chilly weather, December nights are the best time to wander through Tokyo’s city streets and immerse yourself in the Christmas light-up events, featuring countless LED lights, projection mapping, impressive installations, and much more.
We’ll introduce the 12 winter illumination spots you must visit during your time in Tokyo!
Table of Contents
Tokyo Midtown
Located in the lively, opulent entertainment district of Roppongi, the illuminations around Tokyo Midtown are one of the most popular attractions in the city. The Midtown complex, utilized for offices, also features a shopping mall where you can pick up some Christmas presents. Throughout the mall, festive ornaments and decorations light up the walkways and shop exteriors. On the first floor, there is a sustainable Christmas tree made from branches taken from pruning ginkgo, cherry, and zelkova trees, fixed onto a recyclable stainless steel base frame.
While the mall is decorated with festive ornaments, the main illumination takes place outside. The surrounding streets are lined with gold LED-lit trees, providing a dazzling view that you can appreciate from the adjoining bridge.
Next to the mall, on the opposite side of the street, you can roam the Midtown Garden Plaza. Each year, different installations are designed to attract visitors and promote the festive period. If you’re feeling active, try on some skates and have a go on the ice rink!
Date: November 16th to December 25th
Keyakizaka Illumination
Close to Tokyo Midtown, in the heart of Roppongi, is Keyakizaka Street. Next to the office and shopping complex, Roppongi Hills, the 400-meter-long Keyakizaka Street is spectacularly illuminated with 800,000 blue and white LED lights. Head to the pedestrian bridge near the Roppongi Hills Arena, and you’ll be able to overlook all the illuminations along the street, leading toward the iconic Tokyo Tower.
Along the street, you can find luxury retail brands and various cafes and restaurants to warm up from the cold winter weather.
Date: November 6th to December 25th
Marunouchi Illumination
Along Marunouchi Naka-Dori Street in the uptown business area of Marunochi, 360 trees are adorned with 1.2 million energy-saving LED lights. The impressive illumination display stretches 1.2 km from the Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan building in front of Yurakucho Station to Otemachi Naka-Dori Street.
The street is lined with office buildings and retail shops for some Christmas shopping, or you can head inside the Shin-Marunochi building for a warmer view. On the 7th floor, head to the Marunochi House terrace, where you can enjoy the illuminations as well as a limited-time hot menu with heaters provided.
Date: November 16th to February 18th
Tokyo Skytree
The world-famous Tokyo Skytree has been an iconic structure in Tokyo’s skyline since its opening in 2012. The structure itself is regularly lit up during the evening throughout the year. During the Christmas season, they take it up a notch by transforming the surrounding area into a winter wonderland, complete with a Christmas market, endless illuminations, and popular characters charmingly lit up. The area around Tokyo SkyTree becomes the perfect place to spend a winter’s evening. Of course, you can also ascend the 634-meter tall structure and enjoy a breathtaking night view over the mega city.
Date: November 9th to December 25th
Harajuku and Omotesando
The colorful fashion town of Harajuku becomes even more extravagant and lively the moment the winter season arrives. The streets are lined with gold LED-lit trees and cute Christmas ornaments, with one of the hot spots being Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku, a luxury department store perfect for all shopping lovers. The rooftop garden features a free terrace filled with festive installations and views of Harajuku.
Connecting Harajuku and the luxury shopping district, Omotesando is a one-kilometer Zelkova tree-lined avenue, which is spectacularly lit in typical Christmas fashion. The avenue is lined with luxury retail brands, making it perfect for some Christmas shopping!
Date: December 1st to December 28th
Tokyo Dome City
The winter illuminations at Tokyo Dome are one of the most unique and enjoyable experiences. The multi-layered complex showcases an amusement park and various distinctive LED installations.
The first is Theater Illumi by Chocolate Planet’s Osada, presenting dozens of illuminating spheres with faces on them, all facing an elevated stage you can step onto.
Next is Experience Illumi, a giant illuminated half-moon where you can stand in front and create your own shadow puppets.
If you head over to Laqua Garden, you’ll find a group of trees lit up by golden LED lights, and oddly enough, wash tubs hanging above you!
There is also a Comedy Silhouette Road filled with the silhouettes of illuminated popular characters and TV personalities.
Date: November 21st to February 29th
Shibuya Blue Cave
Shibuya Ao no Dokutsu, or Shibuya Blue Cave, first started along Meguro River in 2014. Its huge popularity led to a change in location to Shibuya, where the 800 meters along Koen-Dori is covered in 770,000 dazzling blue LED lights. The center of the avenue is beautifully reflected on the ground, creating the sensation of being completely immersed in the festive blue glow.
At the end of the avenue, next to Yoyogi Park, is a Christmas market with around 20 stalls selling locally crafted goods, food, and drinks to keep you warm during the cold winter weather.
Date: December 1st to December 25th
Yomiuriland Jewellumination
If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Tokyo’s city center, then Yomiuriland Jewellumination is the perfect getaway. Yomiuriland is an amusement park located on the southwest side of Tokyo, featuring undoubtedly the most impressive illumination as it glows in the winter night from millions of jewel-like lights.
The park is divided into 10 different areas, with the highlights being the Passage of Love (a tunnel with the word “love” illuminated in various languages) and the Jewelry Tower (a 25-meter tall tower of light).
Additionally, there is a water fountain show equipped with flames, lasers, and lights that plays every 15 minutes from 5 pm daily.
The 2023 theme was “Light & Love,” but it changes every year, so be sure to check their website to stay up to date!
Date: November 16th to December 25th
Admission fee: Adults: 1,800 yen, Children (Age 12-17): 1,500 yen, Children (6-11) & Citizens (65+) & Infants: 1,000 yen
Tokyo Mega Illumination
Located in the center of Oi Racecourse—also known as Tokyo City Keiba—is a delightful display of various light installations. To enter the area, you must pass through Twinkle Road, illuminated by blue lights and artistic projections.
Once you’re in the main area, you can explore various installations such as the Edo Cherry Blossom Tunnel, with each bulb shaped like a famous flower.
There is also a depiction of a classic Japanese countryside scenery formed with thousands of LED lights. The blue-lit river flows through the rice fields with the sound of Japanese music subtly in the background.
You can enjoy a colorful water fountain show synchronized to different songs. You’ll also find the Edo Cherry Blossom Tunnel, with each bulb shaped like the famous flower and many more attractions that will keep you entertained all night!
Date: November 11th to January 8th
Admission fees vary in price depending on the day and month. You can find more on their website.
Meguro River
The Meguro River Minna no Illumi stretches 2.2 kilometers along the Meguro River near Gotanda and Osaki stations. While the river is most famous for its cherry blossoms in April, during winter, it replicates the ephemeral pink flower with beautiful pink LED lights.
An innovative approach to powering the illumination is employed, utilizing biodiesel electricity generated from waste oil collected from local homes and restaurants.
Date: November 16th to December 25th
Odaiba Illumination “YAKEI”
Odaiba is a popular shopping and entertainment district located across Tokyo Bay. Taking center stage at the Decks Tokyo Beach shopping mall is a 20-meter-tall Christmas tree, the largest in all of Tokyo. You can relax in one of the many illuminated huts or take a stroll along the bayside park, enjoying the Tokyo skyline and Rainbow Bridge.
If you happen to be in Tokyo on December 23rd, be sure to check out the Odaiba Rainbow Fireworks at 7 pm.
Date: November 15th to February 14th
Yebisu Garden Place
Just one train stop on the Yamanote Line away from Shibuya is Ebisu. Yebisu Garden Place is a small complex housing various restaurants, shops, and the Museum of Yebisu Beer.
Illuminations feature a 10-meter-tall Christmas Tree and Baccarat’s Chandelier, constructed in 1994. The five-meter-tall chandelier is decorated with 8,500 crystal pieces and 250 golden lights, making it one of the largest in the world.
The surrounding area of Yebisu Garden Place is a fantastic spot to relax on a winter’s night as there is a wide array of things to eat, do, and see.
Date: November 11th to January 8th
So, those are our top 12 Tokyo illuminations! Each place has a unique characteristic, and they are all as beautiful as the next. If we have one complaint, it’s that they all finish too early! If you’re in Tokyo during the winter season, be sure to check out these spots!
My daughter and I have been to Japan twice, both in late November-early December. The illuminations are truly astonishingly beautiful! Thank you for this list. There are some here I have not seen, so I guess we have to go back to Tokyo again!
P.S. Osaka and Kyoto are also beautifully decorated.
Hi Patricia, we also love the holiday lights in Tokyo and look forward to them during our trip.
If you can only attend one and would like to also visit a Christmas market, is there one you would recommend over others?
Tokyo Midtown is one of the most memorable for us