Winter Illuminations in Japan 2025/2026
Winter illuminations in Japan bring cities to life with glowing art displays that brighten the colder months. Many events appear from November to December, but some sparkle even earlier, beginning in October. These shimmering installations often continue into the new year, with a few lasting until Valentine’s Day or stretching into the early days of spring. Streets, parks, and shopping districts transform into vibrant nighttime scenes filled with color and seasonal charm.
Japan’s modern illumination culture took on new meaning with Kobe Luminarie, one of the country’s earliest and most impressive displays. Created in 1995 as a tribute to the victims of the Kobe earthquake, its Italian-inspired designs set the standard for large-scale light festivals nationwide. Today, cities across the country host their own beloved winter light spots, offering travelers countless places to enjoy the festive atmosphere. Below are some of Japan’s popular seasonal illumination locations.
Winter Illuminations by region
Hokkaido
Destination: Sapporo
Date: December 5 to 28
Time: 19:00 to 22:00 (from 18:00 on weekends; until 21:00 on Sundays)
Admission: free
Sapporo White Illumination lights up Odori Park and the city center with glowing displays, creating a vibrant winter atmosphere from late autumn into early spring.
Destination: Otaru
Date: November 1 to February 18
Time: from sunset until about 22:30
Admission: free
Otaru Snow Story transforms the romantic canal district with warm lights and floating candles, offering one of Hokkaido’s most enchanting winter nighttime scenes.
Destination: Hakodate
Date: November 29 to March 31
Time: From sunset until 22:00
Admission: free
Hakodate Illumination bathes Motomachi and the Bay Area in soft lights, highlighting the city’s historic charm throughout the snowy winter months.
Tohoku
Destination: Sendai
Date: December 5 to 28
Time: 19:00 to 22:00 (from 18:00 on weekends; until 21:00 on Sundays)
Admission: free
Sendai’s Pageant of Starlight features hundreds of illuminated zelkova trees, creating a glowing winter promenade along Jozenji-dori and a festive city atmosphere.
Kanto
Destination: Tokyo
Date: November 13 to December 25
Time: 17:00 to 23:00
Admission: free
Tokyo Midtown brightens winter with its stylish garden illuminations, ice rink, and extended light walkway, making it one of Tokyo’s favorite seasonal light displays.
Destination: Tokyo
Date: November 13 to February 15
Time: 16:00 to 23:00 (until midnight in December)
Admission: free
Marunouchi glows with elegant illuminations along Nakadori Street and surrounding buildings, creating a chic holiday atmosphere in the heart of Tokyo.
Destination: Lake Sagami Pleasure Forest (close to Mount Takao)
Date: November 15 to May 10 (except selected weekdays from January and all weekdays from April)
Time: 16:00 to 20:00 (until 20:30 or 21:00 on selected days)
Admission: 2000 yen
Sagamiko Illumillion showcases millions of lights on lakeside hills with tunnels, fountain shows, rides, and panoramic views at one of Kanto’s biggest illumination events.
Destination: Yomiuri Land (near Tokyo)
Date: October 23 to April 5 (closed on selected days)
Time: 16:00 to 20:30 (until 21:00 on some days)
Admission: 1800 yen
Yomiuriland Jewellumination lights up the entire amusement park with colourful LED designs, offering one of Tokyo’s largest and most immersive winter light experiences.
Destination: Ashikaga Flower Park (near Ashikaga)
Date: October 18 to February 15 (closed on December 31)
Time: 15:30 to 20:30 (until 21:00 or 21:30 on selected days)
Admission: 2400 yen
Ashikaga Flower Fantasy features over five million LEDs, flower-themed displays, and music-synced shows, turning the park into a glowing winter wonderland.
Chubu
Destination: Nagoya
Date: October 18 to May 31 (closed on selected days)
Time: Sunset to 21:00 (until 22:00 on selected days)
Admission: 3000 yen
Nabana no Sato dazzles with vast LED fields, light tunnels, and animated scenes, offering one of Japan’s most iconic and breathtaking illumination attractions.
Kansai
Destination: Osaka
Date: December 14 to 25
Time: 17:00 to 22:00 (hours vary by attraction)
Admission: free
Osaka Hikari Renaissance brings artistic projections and colorful lights to Nakanoshima Island, blending history and creativity in a beloved winter event.
Destination: Osaka
Date: April 9 to December 31
Time: 17:00 to 1:00
Admission: free
Midosuji Illumination lights up Osaka’s main boulevard for kilometers, creating one of the world’s longest illuminated cityscapes from Umeda to Namba.
Destination: Kobe
Date: January 30 to February 8
Time: 17:30 to 21:30
Admission: free
Kobe Luminarie offers heartfelt illuminations across multiple districts, honoring the 1995 earthquake with stunning Italian-inspired light designs that draw visitors yearly.
Kyushu
Destination: Huis Ten Bosch (near Nagasaki)
Date: Around the year
Time: 17:30 to 21:30
Admission: 5600 yen after 3 PM or 7400 yen for a full day passport
Huis Ten Bosch’s Kingdom of Light delivers year-round illumination spectacles with massive LED displays and seasonal themes, making it one of Japan’s brightest attractions.
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