It’s all about illuminations during winter in Japan. The whole country gets brighter and turns into a magical winter wonderland with colourful illuminations! More and more light-up events are held across the country every year, and you can enjoy beautiful illuminations at most of the large cities in Japan.

In case you are wondering which illumination events you should visit in your area, check out our list of Japan’s top winter illuminations in 2024-2025 winter with the Japan Illumination Map! Let’s find your favourite illumination in Japan this season!

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-Hokkaido and Tohoku Region

Sapporo White Illumination 2024-2025

Sapporo White Illumination (さっぽろホワイトイルミネーション) is a traditional illumination event held at the great northern land, Sapporo City in Hokkaido. Amazing light-ups with approx 730,000 LED lights shine brightly in the city covered in white snow. The event features several spectacular illuminations which take at various locations around Odori Street and the Park.

Map: https://goo.gl/HfKkD3

Access: short walk from Odori Station

Date: 22 November 2024 to 14 March 2025 (ends on earlier dates at some sites)

Website: https://white-illumination.jp/

More info ▶ Sapporo White Illumination

More illuminations in Hokkaido ▶ Best Winter Illuminations in Hokkaido

SENDAI Pageant of Starlight

SENDAI Pageant of Starlight (SENDAI光のページェント) is a classic light-up event held at Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, which marks 38th year in 2023. Approx 500,000 LED lights illuminate over 100 Zelkova trees lined on 700 m long Jozenji Street.

Map: https://goo.gl/LQVntm

Access: short walk from Kotodai Koen Station

Date: 6 to 25 December 2024

Hours: 19:00~22:00 (18:00~ on Weekends)

Website: http://www.sendaihikape.jp/ (Japanese)

-Kanto Region

Tokyo Winter Illuminations 2024-2025

Numbers of winter illumination events are held across Tokyo during winter, including Shibuya Blue Cave, Roppongi Hills, Yebisu Garden Place and Tokyo Midtown. Check the link below as we introduce the best winter illuminations in Tokyo this year:

Enoshima Illumination: the Jewel of Shonan

The Jewel of Shonan is a winter illumination event held annually at Enoshima Island (江の島), the popular touristy island off the coast of Shonan area. The Jewel of Shonan is considered as one of the three greatest illuminations in Kanto area along with Ashikaga Flower Park and Country Farm Tokyo German Village.

Map: http://bit.ly/2WmaLzD

Access: 20 mins walk from Enoshima Station or Katase Enoshima Station

Date: 23 November 2024 to 28 February 2025

Admission Fee: 500 yen

Website: https://enoshima-seacandle.com/event/shonannohoseki/

More info ▶ Enoshima Winter Ilumination: Jewel of Shonan

Ashikaga Flower Park: Flower Fantasy 2024-2025

Ashikaga Flower Park (足利フラワーパーク) is best known for its gorgeous wisteria festival which is held every spring, but also attracts visitors in winter time by one of largest winter illuminations in the country. Over 5 million LED lights cover the vast space of 100,000 square meters and represent lights of charming flowers colourfully.

<< Join a day trip tour to Ashikaga Flower Park from Tokyo! >>

Map: https://goo.gl/zEqaXc

Access: 13 mins walk from Tomita Station

Date: 18 October 2024 to 16 February 2025

Hours: 15:30~20:30 (~21:00 pm on weekends and holidays)

Closed: 31 December

Admission Fee: 1,400 yen

Website: https://www.ashikaga.co.jp/flowerfantasy_special2024/jp/index.html

More info ▶ Ashikaga Flower Park Illumination

Country Farm Tokyo German Village Winter Illumination

Country Farm Tokyo German Village (東京ドイツ村) is a nature theme park located in Sodegaura, Chiba Prefecture. The park’s illumination event is held annually from early November until April following year with 3 million LED lights, creating a colourful fairy tale world. The 70 m long tunnel of lights is the best highlight of the event.

Map: https://goo.gl/f3s6rN

Access: bus from Sodegaura Station then walk for 15 mins

Date: 1 November 2024~

Admission Fee: 800 yen~

Website: https://t-doitsumura.co.jp/illumination/

Tobu Zoo Winter Illumination 2024-2025

Tobu Zoo (東武動物公園) is a leisure park consists of a zoo, amusement facilities and a vast park. It’s home to about 1,200 animals in 120 species including white tiger. Their illumination event brightens up the spacious park with over 3 million colourful LED lights, and features a light show with music.

Map: https://goo.gl/t4SnrM

Access: 10 mins walk from Tobu Dobutsu Koen Station West Exit

Date: 2 November 2024 to 24 February 2025 (illumination is held only on weekends and holidays in Nov, Jan and Feb except for 14 Nov, 2-5 Jan)

Hours: 17:00〜20:00

Admission Fee: 1,400 yen (illumination pass), 3,900 yen (illumination and night ride pass after 3 pm)

Website: https://www.tobuzoo.com/winter_illuminations/

Sagamiko Illumillion

One of Japan’s biggest winter illumination events, Sagamiko Illumilion (相模湖イルミリオン) is held at Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest, Kanagawa Prefecture. Over 6 million colouful LED lights covers the vast park in various themes and shapes. This long-run event is available till early April when cherry blossoms can be seen with light-ups.

Map: https://goo.gl/sZaLJT

Access: Bus from Sagamiko station (JR Chuo line)

Date: 16 November 2024 to 11 May 2025

Hours: 16:00~21:00

Admission: From 1,800 to 4,500 yen

Website: http://www.sagamiko-resort.jp/illumillion/

-Tokai and Chubu Region

Toki no Sumika Winter Illumination

Toki no Sumika (時之栖) is a leisure resort with a hotel and many facilities surrounded by nature. It’s located in Gotemba City, which is at the base of Mt. Fuji and not very far from the popular Onsen town, Hakone. The site hosts an annual illumination event “Hikari no Sumika” featuring over 5.5 million LED lights displayed in various themes, such as the Tunnel of Lights and the light show of fountain.

Map: https://goo.gl/dgKtMS

Access: Free shuttle bus available from Gotenba, Mishima and Susono Stations

Date: 11 October 2024 to 9 March 2025

Hours: 16:30～22:00

Admission Fee: 500 ~ 1,500 yen (some areas are free)

Website: https://www.tokinosumika.com/

Izu Granpal Amusement Park: GRAN ILLUMI

Izu Granpal Amusement Park (伊豆ぐらんぱる公園) is a massive leisure park located in Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture. The park offers numbers of rides, attractions and entertainment facilities for kids to adults. The park’s gorgeous winter illumination features over 6 million LED lights which stretches through the 8ha vast space, and can be enjoyed with their special attractions at night.

Map: https://goo.gl/g8VMCi

Access: Bus from Izu Kogen Station (20 mins) or Taxi (10 mins)

Date: 9 November 2024 to 31 August 2025

Hours: 17:00～21:30 (varies each month)

Admission Fee: 1,800 yen

Website: http://granillumi.com/#top (illumination), http://granpal.com/lang/index.html (park)

Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination 2024-2025

Nabana no Sato (なばなの里) is a theme park dedicated to flowers, greens and hot spring in Mie Prefecture. The park attracts most visitors during winter by one of Japan’s biggest illumination events featuring about 8 million LED lights turning the entire park into a magical winter wonderland.

Map: https://goo.gl/ang6vt

Access: Bus from Kintetsu Nagashima Station (10 mins)

Date: 19 October 2024 to 1 June 2025

Hours: 10:00~21:00 (the illumination start from sunset)

Admission Fee: 2,500 yen (includes 1,000 yen coupon which can be used in the park)

More info ▶ Nabana no Sato: Spectacular Winter Illumination

Shiroyone Senmaida Light Up

Shiroyone Senmaida (白米千枚田) is a scenic rice terrace located in Wajima City on Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture. “Aze no Kirameki” is an unique winter illumination event set on rice paddies, which is held from mid October until spring next year. The event features 21,000 LED lights lightening up the rice paddies by the ocean and changing its colours with pink, green, gold and blue.

Map: https://goo.gl/7UiD4j

Date: TBA (21 October 2023 to 10 March 2024)

Hours: 17:20 (Oct), 16:15~(Nov), 16:10~(Dec), 17:00~(Jan), 17:35~(Feb), 18:00~(Mar)

Official Website: https://wajima-senmaida.jp/event/aze-no-kirameki/ (Japanese only)

-Kansai and Chugoku Region

Festival of the Lights in Osaka 2024

Festival of the Lights in Osaka is one of most spectacular city illuminations in Japan, which invited over 10 million visitors during the season in the past years. The event is composed of several small and large light-ups in central Osaka, and the two main illuminations are “Mido-suji Illumination” and “OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance”.

Map: https://goo.gl/7nVy4T

Date: 3 November 2024 to 31 December 2025

Hours: 17:00～23:00

Website: http://www.hikari-kyoen.com/ (Japanese)

▶ More illuminations in Osaka: Best Winter Illumination Spots in Osaka

KYOTO ILLUMINATION SYNESTHESIA HILLS

The popular winter illumination “Kyoto Illumiere” was held annually at Rurikei Onsen during winter , but now it’s open as a new entertainment facility, KYOTO ILLUMINATION SYNESTHESIA HILLS (シナスタジアヒルズ 京都イルミネーション) that can be enjoyed through the year. The colourful lights collaborate with music and digital arts offering visitors a whole new illumination experience.

Map: https://goo.gl/5JkXez

Access: Free shuttle bus services available from JR Sonobe Station OR Nose Dentetsu Nissei Line Nissei Station

Hours: Sunset to 22:00

Admission Fee: 1,000 yen (weekdays)/1,200 yen (weekends)/1,800 (holiday season)

Website: http://www.synesthesia-hills.jp/ (Japanese)

Kobe Luminarie 2025

Kobe Luminarie (神戸ルミナリエ) is an illumination event held annually in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture in December. The event originally started in 1995 to commemorate the Great Hanshin Earthquake. The colourful and gorgeous light installations which are designed by Japanese and Italian artists are displayed at multiple locations within the city. The event invites a few million visitors every year.

Map: http://bit.ly/35855wP

Access: Short walk from Motomachi Station

Date: 24 January to 2 February 2025

Website: http://kobe-luminarie.jp/(Japanese)

Hiroshima Dreamination

Hiroshima Dreamination (ひろしまドリミネーション) is a light-up event that has been held in city center of Hiroshima since 2002. The event takes place at several locations with the theme of fairyland, featuring approx 1.4 million LED lights and installations.

Map: https://goo.gl/Z4SokG

Date: 15 November 2024 to 3 January 2025

Hours: 17:30~22:30

Website: http://www.dreamination.com/ (Japanese)

-Kyushu Region

Huis Ten Bosch Kingdom of Lights

Huis Ten Bosch (ハウステンボス), the Dutch town themed park in Nagasaki Prefecture holds the world’s biggest illumination event through the year. The Kingdom of Lights features impressive 13 millions of LED lights which decorate the entire park and collaborate park’s attractions and music. It’s arguably the most gorgeous and dynamic illumination event today. The seasonal illuminations are also available with different themes such as spring, summer Halloween and Christmas.

<< Click HERE to book e-tickets to Huis Ten Bosch >>

Map: https://goo.gl/pqvRst

Access: Huis Ten Bosch Station

Hours: 9:00～ 21:00 (the illumination starts from sunset)

Official Website: http://english.huistenbosch.co.jp

More info ▶ Huis Ten Bosch Kingdom of Lights

Nakasu Hikari no Advent

Nakasu Hikari no Advent (ナカス ヒカリノ アドベント) is a light-up even, featuring the gorgeous illuminations in Nakasu area, the biggest entertainment district of the city. It’s held as a part of Christmas Advent, a citywide Christmas event in Fukuoka. The event offers various Christmas-related contents such as Christmas markets, illuminations and Christmas merchandise and food joined by approx 150 shops.

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nmL4P6BayxRvwGP6A

Date: 1 November 2024 to 6 January 2025

Official Website: https://christmas-advent.jp/

More info ▶ Fukuoka Christmas Advent

Okinawa Southeast Botanical Gardens Illumination

Okinawa Tropical Illumination (沖縄南国イルミネーション) is an illumination event held at Chura Yashi Park Okinawa Southeast Botanical Gardens. This spectacular light-up event was ranked in the third place of the nationwide illumination award for two years in a row and also chosen as one of three best night views in Okinawa. It features approx 4 million colourful LED lights, illuminating the garden with the botanical garden motifs such as lotus flower, palm tree, hibiscus and jade vines. Enjoy the tropical Okinawan vibe during winter!

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/87AkWnqZJv27HxA58

Date: 25 October 2024 to 25 May 2025

Official website: https://www.southeast-botanical.jp/

More info ▶ Okinawa Southeast Botanical Gardens Illumination

More illuminations in Western Japan ▶ Best Winter Illuminations in Western Japan

How did you like the list? Which illumination would you like to see most?? Feel free to use our Illumination Map to check locations of listed events and nearby attractions! Enjoy magical winter wonderlands with colourful lights:-)

More winter illumination info:
▶5 Best Winter Illuminations in Japan
▶10 Winter Illuminations in Japan You Can still Enjoy after New Year
▶Tokyo Winter Illumination Guide
▶5 Must-See Winter Illuminations near Tokyo 
▶ Best Winter Illuminations in Yokohama

For more information about winter attractions in Japan, please check out these articles below, too!

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