Best Winter Illuminations in Japan : Japan Illumination Map 2022-2023
Best Winter Illumination Spots in Japan
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It’s all about illuminations during winter in Japan. The whole country gets bright and turns into 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 large cities in Japan.
In case you are wondering which illumination events you should visit or are available nearby, check out our list of Japan’s top winter illuminations in 2022-2023 winter with the Japan Illumination Map to find your favourite illumination this season!
-Hokkaido&Tohoku Region-
Sapporo White Illumination 2022-2023
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.
Access: short walk from Odori Station
Date: 12 Nov 2022 to 14 March 2023 (partially ends on earlier dates)
Hours: 16:30～20:00
Website: https://white-illumination.jp/
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 37th year in 2022. Approx 420,000 LED lights illuminate over 100 Zelkova trees lined on 700 m long Jozenji Street.
Access: short walk from Kotodai Koen Station
Date: 9 to 25 December 2022
Hours: 19:00~22:00 (18:00~ on Weekends)
Website: http://www.sendaihikape.jp/ (Japanese)
-Kanto Region-
Tokyo Winter Illuminations 2022-2023
↓ Click here to check more info↓
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.
Access: 20 mins walk from Enoshima Station or Katase Enoshima Station
Date: 23 November 2022 to 28 February 2023
Hours: 9:00~20:00
Fee: 500 yen (+500 yen for observation tower)
Website: https://enoshima-seacandle.com/event/shonannohoseki/
Ashikaga Flower Park: Flower Fantasy 2022-2023
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.
Access: 13 mins walk from Tomita Station
Date: 15 October 2022 to 14 February 2023
Hours: 16:30~21:00 (~21:30 pm on weekends and holidays)
Closed: 31 December
Fee: 1,200 yen
Website: https://www.ashikaga.co.jp/flowerfantasy_special2020/en/index.html
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.
Access: bus from Sodegaura Station then walk for 15 mins
Date: 28 October 2022 to 19 March 2023
Hours: 9:30～20:00 (illumination starts from sunset)
Fee: 3,000 yen
Website: http://t-doitsumura.co.jp/special_event/ (Japanese only)
Tobu Zoo Winter Illumination 2022-2023
Tobu Zoo (東武動物公園) is a leisure park consists of a zoo, amusement facilities and a vast park. Their illumination event brightens up the spacey park by over 3 million colourful LED lights, and features a light show with music.
Access: 10 mins walk from Tobu Dobutsu Koen Station West Exit
Date: 29 October 2022 to 12 February 2023 (illumination is held only on weekends and holidays in Nov, Jan and Feb)
Hours:17:00〜20:00
Fee: 1,200 yen (illumination pass), 3,200 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.
Access: Bus from Sagamiko station (JR Chuo line)
Date: 12 November 2022 to 2 April 2023
Hours: 16:00~21:00
Admission: From 1,800 to 4,500 yen
Website: http://www.sagamiko-resort.jp/illumillion/
-Tokai&Chubu Region-
Toki no Sumika Winter Illumination 2022-2023
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.
Access: Free shuttle bus available from Gotenba, Mishima and Susono Stations
Date: 8 October 2022 to 12 March 2023
Hours: 16:30～22:00
Fee: Free (some areas charge a fee)
Website: http://gotembakogenresort.com/
Izu Granpal Amusement Park: GRAN ILLUMI 2022-2023
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.
Access: Bus from Izu Kogen Station (20 mins) or Taxi (10 mins)
Date: 11 November 2022 to late August 2023
Hours: 17:00～21:30 (depends of the day)
fee: 1,500 yen
Website: http://granillumi.com/#top (illumination), http://granpal.com/lang/index.html (park)
Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination 2022-2023
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.
Access: Bus from Kintetsu Nagashima Station (10 mins)
Date: 22 October 2022 to 31 May 2023
Hours: 10:00~21:00 (the illumination start from sunset)
Fee: 2,500 yen (includes 1,000 yen coupon which can be used in the park)
Shiroyone Senmaida Light Up 2022-2023
Shiroyone Senmaida (白米千枚田)’s light-up is quite different from other illumination events in Japan since it takes place at rice paddies in Wajima City on Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture. The rice paddies by the ocean are lightened up with 21,000 pink LED lights and twinkle at night.
Date: 22 October 2022 to 12 March 2023
Hours: 16:55~(Dec,)17:15~(Jan), 17:50~(Feb), 18:15~(Mar)
Official Website: https://wajima-senmaida.jp/event/aze-no-kirameki/ (Japanese only)
-Kansai&Chugoku Region-
Festival of the Lights in Osaka 2022
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”.
▶ More illuminations in Osaka: Best Winter Illumination Spots in Osaka 2022-2023
Date: 3 November to 31 December 2022
Hours: 17:00～23:00
Website: http://www.hikari-kyoen.com/ (Japanese)
KYOTO ILLUMINATION SYNESTHESIA HILLS
The popular winter illumination “Kyoto Illumiere” was held at Rurikei Onsen during winter annually, but from last year, the illumination is back as a new 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 is available through the year. The colourful lights collaborate with music and digital arts offering visitors a whole new illumination experience.
Access: Free shuttle bus services available from JR Sonobe Station OR Nose Dentetsu Nissei Line Nissei Station
Hours: Sunset to 22:00
Fee: 1,000 yen (weekdays)/1,200 yen (weekends)/1,800 (holiday season)
Website: http://www.synesthesia-hills.jp/ (Japanese)
Kobe Luminarie 2022
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.
Access: Short walk from Motomachi Station
Date: 9 December to 18 December 2022
Hours: 18:00～21:30 (Mon-Thu), 18:00～22:00 (Fri), 17:00～22:00 (Sat), 17:00～21:30 (Sun)
Website: http://kobe-luminarie.jp/ (Japanese)
Hiroshima Dreamination 2022
Hiroshima Dreamination (ひろしまドリミネーション) is a light-up event held in city center of Hiroshima. The event take place at several locations with different themes. The illumination might be rustic comparing to others, yet it’s good enough to feel the Christmassy atmosphere, and worth visiting if you are around Hiroshima City.
Date: 17 November 2022 to 3 January 2023
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 >>
Access: Huis Ten Bosch Station
Hours: 9:00～ 21:00 (the illumination starts from sunset)
Please check ticket prices via the link → http://english.huistenbosch.co.jp/about/?mode=about&Type=2
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
How did you like the list? Which illumination would you like to see most?? For more information about winter attractions in Japan, please check out these articles below, too!
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▼ Editor’s Picks ▼
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