Winter illuminations around Christmas and New Year have become a popular attraction in cities across Japan. Illuminations are typically displayed between November and December, but some run longer, starting as early as October and running until Valentine's Day or even into spring. Among Japan's first and most spectacular light shows is Kobe's Luminarie, an Italian designed light festival which was first held as a memorial to the victims of the disastrous Kobe earthquake in 1995. Below are some of Japan's popular seasonal illumination spots:
(Photos are from previous years)
Tokyo
Tokyo Midtown
Tokyo Midtown's "Midtown Christmas" involves multiple illumination areas around the Midtown complex. The "Starlight Garden" is a particularly popular and attractive display located in the park behind the main tower.
More illumination displays in Tokyo...
Kanagawa
Sagamiko Illumillion
The Sagamiko Illumillion in Lake Sagami Resort Pleasure Forest is one of the largest seasonal illuminations in the
Kanto Region. Visitors to the illumination event can see about five million LED lights covering the hillsides in color, an animated lightshow and dancing water fountain set to music, light tunnels, a chair lift up the hillside and amusement park rides including a Ferris wheel.
Sendai
Sendai Pageant of Starlight
This illumination event in
Sendai is located along Jozenji-dori Street with about 160 keyaki (zelkova) trees, which are decorated with over half a million LED lights that bathe the area in a warm glow. Other attractions include a small ice skating rink, a large Christmas tree and a light tunnel over at Kotodai Park.
Tochigi
Ashikaga Flower Fantasy
The Ashikaga Flower Fantasy in
Ashikaga Flower Park is one of the
Kanto Region's top three largest seasonal illumination events with over 2.5 million LED lights covering most of the park. Attractions include hanging lights that are meant to resemble seasonal flowers and music-synchronized light shows.
Nagoya
Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination
With about 8.5 million LED lights illuminating the
flower park,
Nabana no Sato is one of the largest illumination events in Japan. There are various attractions including a huge field transformed into a sea of lights below an animated light show, light tunnels and an observation deck that lifts visitors high above the park where they can get a bird's eye view of the lights.
Osaka
Osaka Hikari Renaissance
Nakanoshima Island hosts the Osaka Hikari Renaissance illumination event, stretching from Osaka City Hall to the eastern tip of Nakanoshima Park. Several of the historic buildings on the island are lit up with creative displays, and the light tunnels, art installations and food vendors around create a festive atmosphere.
Midosuji Illumination
The Midosuji Illumination stretches almost the entire length of the three kilometer long Midosuji Street through central Osaka, making it one of the world's longest illuminated streets. Hundreds of ginkgo trees as well as several shops and historic buildings that line the street are decked out in colorful lights and decorations, making it a pleasant place for a night stroll.
Kobe
Kobe Luminarie
The Kobe Luminarie is one of Japan's oldest winter illumination events, having started in 1995 in the wake of the
Great Hanshin Earthquake. The vibrant light displays were designed by Japanese and Italian artists and meant as a memorial to the victims and to inspire hope in recovery. They draw more than three million visitors every year.
Nagasaki
Kingdom of Light
The illumination at
Huis Ten Bosch is found all across the
theme park, utilizing about 13 million lights. They include a tall LED waterfall, a light and fountain canal cruise and collaborations of light with flowers and music.
