Tokyo Winter Illumination Guide 2022-2023

Best Winter Illuminations in Tokyo: Shibuya Blue Cave, Caretta Shiodome, Roppongi Hills and more

TOKYO WINTER ILLUMINATION GUIDE

Check out the best Tokyo illuminations 2022-2023 winter!

What’s the best thing to do in Japan during winter? Ski, hot spring or eating winter foods?? One thing you shouldn’t definitely miss is winter illumination events which are held across the country during winter! Especially in Tokyo, there are numbers of spots offering gorgeous illuminations brighten up the city.

Today, I have picked the most recommended illumination events held in a central Tokyo in 2022-2023 winter. Most of them are FREE to visit and totally photo-worthy winter wonderlands.


1. Yebisu Garden Place

Yebisu Garden Place Winter Illuminatio
COPYRIGHT(C)SAPPORO REAL ESTATE CO., LTD

The annual winter light-up event at Yebisu Garden Place features over 100,000 LED lights, the 10 m high Christmas tree and “Baccarat ETERNAL LIGHTS” the 5 m large Baccarat chandelier. There is also a Christmas Market with food and drinks, and an ice skate rink at the site. Yebisu Garden Place Winter Illumination offers the most romantic and festive atmosphere in Tokyo!

Map: https://goo.gl/AF5CDu

Access: 5 mins walk from Yebisu Station East Exit

Date: 12 Nov 2022 to 9 Jan 2023

Hours: 11:00~23:00

2. Roppongi Hills Christmas

Roppongi Illumination

Roppongi Hills Christmas features the spectacular illumination at the 400m Keyakizaka Street with approx 700,000 LED lights. Moreover, there are several illuminations display at the site during the season. Don’t miss the gorgeous illumination view with Tokyo Tower on the background.

Map: https://goo.gl/hLvPv7

Access: direct access available from Roppongi Station C1 Exit

Date: 10 Nov to 25 Dec 2022

Hours: 17:00~23:00

3. Marunouchi Illumination 

Marunouchi Illumination 2022

The long-running winter illumination, Marunouchi Illumination is held in front of Tokyo Station. It will be the 21st year in 2022, and the event gets better year by year. The 1.2 km long promenade is lined with over 300 trees decorated by about 1.2 million LED lights in classic champagne gold colour.

Map: https://goo.gl/b73SFH

Access: short walk from Tokyo Station Marunouchi Exit

Date: 10 Nov 2022 to 19 Feb 2023

Hours: 15:00~23:00 (till 24:00 in December)

4. Meguro River Minna no Illumination

Meguro River Minna no Illumination
Copyright © 目黒川みんなのイルミネーション実行委員会

The trees along the Meguro River between Gotanda and Osaki stations (JR Yamanote Line) are decorated by 350,000 pink LED lights to represent cherry blossoms, and it stretches for about 2.2 km.

Map: http://bit.ly/2WinN0U

Access: 6 mins walk from Gotanda Station OR Osaki Station

Date: 11 November 2022 to 8 January 2023

Hours: 17:00~22:00

5. Midtown Christmas

The illumination event is annually held at Tokyo Midtown, featuring gorgeous and festive LED light displays including the illumination at the tree-lined promenade, snow dome and colourful Christmas tree. Besides the illumination, an outdoor ice staking rink will open during winter season as well as the Christmas decorations.

Map: https://goo.gl/AqQZhm

Access: direct access available from Roppongi Station 8 Exit

Date: 17 Nov to 25 Dec 2022

Hours: 17:00~21:00

6. Shinjuku Southern Terrace Winter Illumination

Shinjuku Southern Terrace Winter Illumination

Under the theme of “Let the light carry the joy of reunion” Shinjuku Southern Terrace Winter Illumination will illuminates the entire Shinjuku South Exit area, including Takashimaya Times Square, Shinjuku Southern Terrace, and Suica’s Penguin Square this winter. Approximately 170,000 LED bulbs will be placed and the entire terrace will shine like a jewel in the illumination “Jewels in my Heart”. At the Suica Penguin Plaza snow globe-shaped houses and Suica penguin statues will welcome visitors. It’s also a great spot to pop by along with shopping or dining in Shinjuku area.

Map: https://bit.ly/3n6Ef3v

Access: short walk from JR Shinjuku Station Southern Exit

Date: 14 November to 14 February 2023

Hours: 17:00~24:00

7. Caretta Shiodome Illumination

In the past years, Caretta Shiodome’s illumination was themed with popular Disney movies such as the “Beauty and the Beast”, “Frozen”, “Tangled” and “Aladdin”, and it was the most romantic illumination event ever. The event features be over 250,000 LED lights and the iconic songs from the movies, which make an amazing harmony and a magical light show.

NOTE:
Caretta Illumination 2022 is cancelled

Map: https://goo.gl/ZxAvPq

Access: short walk from Shiodome Station OR 5 mins walk from Shimbashi Station

Date: N/A

Hours: N/A

8. SHIBUYA Blue Cave

The Shibuya Blue Cave is the most popular winter illumination event in Tokyo, inviting over 2 million visitors every year. Approx 600,000 LED lights turn the 800 m avenue into the blue winter wonderland.

Map: https://goo.gl/mWzP54

Access: Shibuya Koen Dori Street ~ Yoyogi Park Keyaki Namiki (approx 800 m)

Date: 8 to 25 December 2022

Hours: 17:00~22:00

9. Omotesando Street

Omotesando Street Illumination

Tokyoite’s favourite winter illumination located in Harajuku and Omotesando area. The shopping street lined with Zelkova trees is lightened up with over 90,000 champagne gold LED lights.

Map: https://goo.gl/4X14cm

Access: short walk from Harajuku Station, Meiji Jingumae Station OR Omotesando Station

Date: 1 to 29 December 2022

Hours: sunset to 22:00

10. TOKYO ILLUMILIA

The event features several avenues between Tokyo and Nihonbashi Stations with 170,000 champagne gold LED lights and lights monuments of traditional art from Edo period “Edo Kiriko”.

Map: https://goo.gl/17C25x

Access: short walk from Tokyo Station or Nihonbashi Station

Date: 4 November 2022 to 14 February 2023

Hours: 16:30~23:30

11. Nihonbashi Illumination

Copyright (C) 2020 Nihonbashi Muromachi Area Management.

A illumination event, KIBO no Hikari Machi is held in Nihonbashi area including the large shopping and dining complex COREDO Muromachi Terrace and Edo-Sakura Street. The event includes the meteor-linking illumination using the latest technology and over 200,000 champagne gold LED lights on historic streets of the neighbourhood.

Map: https://bit.ly/3lNkpqv

Access: Nihonbashi area

Date: TBA (6 November 2020 to 14 February 2021)

Hours: 17:00~24:00

12. Tokyo Skytree Town Dream Christmas

Tokyo Skytree is the tallest building in Japan, standing as a new symbol of  Tokyo and one of the must-visit sightseeing spots among tourists. In 2022, the illumination of Tokyo Skytree Town will be renewed to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its opening. A giant 8-meter-high white tree will appear in the “Sky Arena,” the main spot. And the popular projection mapping show will return for the first time in four years as a collaborative project with the official character Sorakara-chan.. Also the building itself will change its colour to limited “champagne gold” to resemble a Christmas tree.

Map: http://bit.ly/354ns5Z

Access: short walk from Tokyo Skytree Station or Oshiage Station

Date: 10 November to 25 December 2022

Hours: 16:00~24:00

13. Tokyo Midtown Hibiya

The winter illuminations displayed around Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, “Hibiya Magic Time Illumination”will be held from mid November to mid February with the concept of “Magical Moments”. The event features gradation coloured streetlights decorating trees, garden and Christmas trees in Hibiyanaka Street and Tokyo Midtown area.

Map: https://bit.ly/3m7KaEO

Access: Hibiyanaka Street and Tokyo Midtown area

Date: 17 November 2022 to 14 February 2023

Hours: 17:00~23:00

14. Tokyo Dome City

Tokyo Dome City Winter Illumination
Copyright (c) Tokyo Dome Co., Ltd.

Tokyo Dome City is an amusement park/entertainment complex located next to Tokyo Dome baseball stadium in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo. The winter event “Tokyo Dome City Winter Illumination” will be held at several locations in the site from mid November until late February next year, featuring spectacular and photo-worthy illumination displays.

Map: https://bit.ly/3l2YP0N

Access:  5 mins walk from Korakuen Station or Suidobashi Station

Date: 11 November 2022 to 28 February 2023

Hours: 17:00~24:00

15. Odaiba Illumination

Odaiba Winter illumination
©TOKYO RINKAI HOLDINGS, INC.

Odaiba is a man-made island on Tokyo Bay, which is highly popular for shopping and entertainment. Also it’s one of the best areas to enjoy the stunning city view of Tokyo, especially at night. The winter illumination event, Illumination Island Odaiba is held at various different facilities within the area until Christmas including the Odaiba Statue of Liberty, Decks Tokyo Beach, Aqua City and DiverCity.

Location: several facilities at Odaiba area

Date: 25 November to 25 December 2022

16. Tokyo Tower Winter Illumination 

©2015 TOKYO TOWER.

The symbol of the city, Tokyo Tower is celebrating winter with the illuminations held at both inside and outside of the tower. TOKYO TOWER CITY LIGHT FANTASIA -REIWA Lights in TOKYO- is held at the main observatory of Tokyo Tower featuring the spectacular art of lights and projection mapping by NAKED. The outdoor illumination, TOKYO TOWER WINTER FANTASY -orange illumination 2019- is  held at the foot of the tower with warm orange lights and 11 m tall mini Tokyo Tower.

Map: http://bit.ly/2RiyL2M

Access: 5 mins walk from Akabanebashi Station/less than 10 mins walk from Kamiyacho Station, Onarimon Station, Daimon Station

-TOKYO TOWER CITY LIGHT FANTASIA -REIWA Lights in TOKYO-
Date: TBA (16 November 2019 to 11 February 2020)
Hours: 18:00~22:50

-TOKYO TOWER WINTER FANTASY -orange illumination-
Date: TBA (1 November 2019 to 1 January 2020)
Hours: 12:00~23:00

17. Yomiuriland Jewellumination

Yomiuriland Jewel Ilumination
(C)MOTOKO ISHII LIGHTING DESIGN / © YOMIURI LAND

Tokyo’s largest amusement park, Yomiuriland hosts a spectacular winter illumination event “Jewellumination” over the decade, which features approx 6.5 million LED lights decorating the entire park. The fund and thrilling rides and attractions at the park can be enjoyed with colourful lights as well as special light-up show only available this time of the year.

Map: https://bit.ly/3ierQ7T

Access: Keio Yomiuriland Station

Date: 20 Oct 2022 to 9 Apr 2023

Hours: 16:00~20:30

18. Miyashita Christmas Park

Miyashita Christmas Park 

During the “Miyashita Christmas Park 2022” the newly renovated Miyashita Park will hold its first Christmas illumination “DECORTÉ Purple Lightup 2022”. The event will team up with COSME DECORTE to illuminate Miyashita Park with fantastic lights.

Map: https://bit.ly/3FYvF0o

Access: 1 minute walk from Shibuya Station

Date: 12 Nov to 25 Dec 2022

Hours: 17:00~23:00


How many illuminations in Tokyo would you like to visit in 2022-2023 winter season?? Let us known which one is your favourite winter illumination this year!

For more info about things to do in Japan during winter, please check out these articles below!

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