5 Must-See Tokyo Illumination Events for Winter 2024~2025
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These fantastic light shows and glittering displays are the best illuminations in the Tokyo area, and they're all on for 2024~2025!
CONTENTS
Illuminations in 2024~2025
Every winter, Japan’s gardens, theme parks, and city streets transform from their everyday appearances into magical dreamlands of glittering lights, covered in thousands or millions of tiny bulbs, or brought to life after dark with rainbows of projected light shows. These “illuminations,” as they’re called in Japan, are sometimes associated with Christmas or New Year’s, but usually they’re not celebrating anything in particular – the events bring a little festive fun to cold nights from mid-Autumn throughout the winter, when the chilly air is said to make the lights sparkle extra bright. Every year, illumination events can be found all across Japan, lighting up the country from top to bottom, but plenty of the country’s most spectacular illuminations are in Tokyo (or within easy reach). Here are a few of Tokyo’s best illuminations!
① Tokyo Mega Illumination
Consistently ranked among Japan’s top light-up events, Tokyo Mega Illumination has multiple areas covering the Oi Racecourse, with different lighting themes, shows, and a cute horse-racing theme to boot. Big draws include their fountain-centered light shows, a 100-meter tunnel of little glittering cherry blossom lights, tunnels of funky interactive projection-mapped lighting, and photo-ops with some of the miniature horses and ponies that live at the racecourse!
Tokyo Mega Illumination (東京メガイルミ)
Oi Racecourse, 2-1-2 Katsushima, Shinagawa City, Tokyo
2024~2025 Dates: Nov. 2, 2024 ~ Jan. 12, 2025
*Closed for public holidays.
Official Website (jp/en) | ▷ See more details on the Japankuru event page!
② Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Illumination
For those with a casual interest in Japanese illuminations, this low-key light display is unbeatable when it comes to convenience and affordability. Head over to Roppongi Hills during their Roppongi Hills Christmas event for the shopping, museums, and great views of Tokyo, plus a German-style Christmas Market. As the sun begins to set, you’ll see the lights of the Keyakizaka Illumination stretching out along Keyakizaka Hill, like brilliant ice crystals piled on the thin tree branches. This particular “Snow & Blue” themed illumination doesn’t have quite the same majesty as some other bigger light display events, but it is totally free to enjoy, and the view of Tokyo Tower in the distance makes it extra special!
Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Illumination (六本木ヒルズ けやき坂イルミネーション)
6-10-2 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo
2024~2025 Dates: Nov. 7, 2024 ~ Dec. 25, 2024
Official Website (jp) | ▷ See more details on the Japankuru event page!
③ Yomiuriland Jewellumination
Go for the rides, stay for the lights! Yomiuriland is Tokyo’s biggest amusement park, with almost 50 rides and attractions to enjoy throughout the daytime hours, and an entire park’s worth of glittering lights to marvel at after the sun goes down during the colder months of the year. Yomiuriland’s “Jewellumination” illumination event has 12 different zones and huge swathes of tiny fairy lights in just about every part of the park. There are quite literally millions of bulbs, and the colorful gem-like points of light arch over paths, reflect in the water of Yomiuriland’s waterpark pools, and hang gracefully from the rides like glittering jewels.
Yomiuriland Jewellumination (よみうりランドジュエルミネーション)
4015-1 Yanokuchi, Inagi, Tokyo
2024~2025 Dates: Oct. 24, 2024 ~ Apr. 6, 2025
Official Website (jp) | ▷ See more details on the Japankuru event page!
④ Hana-Biyori x Take Akari: Hana-Akari Illumination
Hana-Biyori opened in 2020 as a botanical garden with daily indoor projection-mapped light shows, and while many of Tokyo’s tourists have been kept away from the new facility due to the COVID pandemic, it has nonetheless become a popular place for those in the Tokyo area to spend time among the flowers and enjoy light shows throughout the year. There are always colorful flowers on display in the indoor area, and the gardens are in bloom throughout the seasons, but when most plants are hibernating through the winter, fantastic bamboo lanterns and magical light displays take over to light the paths like a scene out of a romantic Japanese drama.
Hana-Biyori x Take Akari: Hana-Akari (HANAあかり～HANA・BIYORI×竹あかり～)
4015-1 Yanokuchi, Inagi, Tokyo
2024~2025 Dates: TBD (last year: Oct. 28 2023 ~ Feb. 25, 2024)
Official Website (jp) | ▷ See more details on the Japankuru event page!
⑤ Ashikaga Flower Park Garden of Illuminated Flowers
Ashikaga Flower Park isn’t actually in Tokyo, but it’s worth venturing out of the city and taking the train a little way north to Tochigi Prefecture for this spectacular illumination event, frequently ranked #1 in Japan. Each autumn and winter, lights of all shapes and sizes take the place of flowers at this huge botanical garden, becoming Ashikaga’s Garden of Illuminated Flowers. Lights sway as shining roses, float in glowing pyramids on the water, and hang from the trees in place of spring wisteria flowers (which anime fans often compare to scenes from the popular Demon Slayer). For a whole night of illumination fun, Ashikaga Flower Park is a little out of the way, but it’s pretty spectacular.
Ashikaga Flower Park Garden (あしかがフラワーパーク 光の花の庭)
607 Hasamacho, Ashikaga, Tochigi
2024~2025 Dates: Oct. 18 2024 ~ Feb. 16, 2025
Official Website (en) | ▷ See more details on the Japankuru event page!
Join in on Tokyo’s Winter Festivities in 2024~2025!
When the cool weather of fall and winter starts to make the lights around the city sparkle after dark, it almost feels like all of Tokyo comes alight, with twinkling lights gracing trees and buildings across the urban landscape. But the Tokyo area is home to some truly fabulous illumination events, and the light displays found around the city can be breathtaking. This year, use the Japankuru team’s list of the best Tokyo illuminations to your advantage, and don’t miss the city’s most spectacular light shows and light-ups!
For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don’t forget to follow us on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook!
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NAME:Tokyo Illuminations (東京のイルミネーション)
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What are your plans for cherry blossom season this year? Have you seen all of our favorite cherry blossom destinations yet? 
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NARA
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OSAKA
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CHUGOKU
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SHIKOKU
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KAGAWA
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KYUSHU
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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These Tokyo light shows are stunning! Tokyo Mega Illumination looks especially magical with its cherry blossom lights and interactive projections. Can’t wait to check them out this winter!