Illuminations around Japan in 2012Shimmering lights cover the towns!2012.11.

Illuminations lighting up a freezing night are characteristic of the winter season. Visitors will be enthralled and amazed by the changing appearance of the beautiful streets when they are lit up. We would like to introduce some of the particularly noteworthy illumination events from around Japan, alongside a selection of magical photographs.

Tokyo: Midtown Christmas 2012

The photo is for illustrative purposes only. Illumination events with vivid themes will be held across the whole of the Tokyo Midtown area. Highlights include music and moving lights enchanting visitors to the "Starlight Garden", a lawn area bathed in blue light.
 
Location: Tokyo Midtown
Nearest station: Direct access from Roppongi Station (multiple lines)
Dates: 11/15 - 12/25


 

Tokyo: Marunouchi Illumination 2012

Image shows event held in 2011. About one million and ten thousand LED balls in "Champagne Gold", an elegant color peculiar to Marunouchi, will sparkle from the trees along Marunouchi's Naka-dori Street, which links Otemachi with Yuurakucho in central Tokyo.
 
Location: Marunouchi Naka-dori Street
Nearest station: Tokyo Station, etc.
Dates: 10/1 - 2/17
 

Tokyo: Tokyo Michi Terrace 2012

Wondrous lights will cover the Marunouchi area, which was the center of attention for the re-opening of Tokyo Station in October 2012. Projectors in front of the Tokyo Station Marunouchi station building will also transmit “Projection Mapping”.
 
Location: Around Tokyo Station
Nearest station: Tokyo Station (multiple lines), etc.
Dates: 12/21 - 12/28
 

Osaka: OSAKA Hikari Renaissance

This sparkling "Water and Light" area in Nakanoshima is a quintessential part of Aqua Metropolis Osaka. The Midosuji area is one of Japan's longest illumination events, stretching for about 1.9 kilometers.
 
Nakanoshima area
Location: In front of Osaka City Hall, Around Miotsukushi Promenade, Osaka Central Public Hall, Nakanoshima Park
Nearest station: Osaka Municipal Subway/Keihan Railway Kitahama Station etc.
Dates: 12/14 - 25

Midosuji area
Location: Midosuji, Yodoyabashi intersection – Shinbashi Intersection
Nearest station: Osaka Municipal Subway/Keihan Railway Yodoyabashi Station, etc.
Dates: 12/14 - 1/20


 

Hyogo: Kobe Luminarie

Kobe Luminarie began after the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake in 1995. A magical, three-dimensional art space includes the arch-shaped corridor "Galleria" and the wall-mounted lighting of "Spalliera".
 
Location: Former Foreign Settlement, Higashi-yuenchi
Nearest station: 10 minutes walks from JR/Hanshin Railway Motomachi station
Dates: 12/6 - 17


 

Hokkaido: Sapporo White Illumination

Odori Park will be the hub for artistic objects made with up to 420,000 light bulbs. The streets of Sapporo will be lit up under a blanket of snow.
 
Location: Odori Park, Ekimae Street, Minami Ichijo Street
Nearest station: JR Sapporo, etc.
Dates: 11/22 - 2/14 (varies according to venue)


 

Miyagi: 2012 SENDAI Pageant of Starlight

Image provided by SENDAI Pageant of Starlight Organization Committee Zelkova trees in Sendai will be dressed with lights as Tohoku’s largest city is covered in gold light. Numerous events, including music and other performances, will be featured on stage.
 
Location: Jozenji-dori Street (Higashi Nibancho-dori Street－Civic Hall-mae）
Nearest station: JR Sendai station
Date: 12/7 - 12/31


 

Nagasaki: Huis Ten Bosch Kingdom of Light

The “Art Garden of Light” is a must-see, as 6,000㎡ of blue waves radiate simultaneously with music. Other highlights include the flower garden of lights and the light competition, in which 10 million light bulbs are used!
 
Location: Huis Ten Bosch
Nearest station: Direct access from JR Huis Ten Bosch
Dates: 11/23 - 3/10
Entrance fee: 5,700 yen (With daily use toll facilities)


 

Monthly Magazine INDEX