1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Japan Travel

Great Holiday Illuminations in Japan

By Shizuko Mishima, About.com

Are you visiting Japan in winter? Colorful holiday illuminations and Christmas decorations can be seen around the country. Check out some of Japan's beautiful holiday illuminations listed below.

Christmas in Japan
Tokyo Holiday Illuminations
Best Christmas Trees in Tokyo

Osaka Hikari Renaissance 2009

The Nakanoshima area in Osaka is surrounded by rivers, and there are lots of cultural facilities, such as Osaka City Hall, Osaka Nakanoshima Library, museumns, and more. Those buildings are beautifully illuminated at night.
Place: Kita-ku, Osaka City
Access: Keihandendetsu Train Yodoyabashi Station
Period: December 1-25, 2009 / December 12-25, 2009 (main performance)
Time: 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Osaka Travel Guide

Sapporo White Illumination

More than 370,000 white lights are decorated in the Odori Park and Sapporo Ekimae-dori street. The light-up continues until mid-February.
Place: Sapporo-city, Hokkaido
Access: Subway Oodori Station
Period: Nov. 27, 2009 - Jan. 3, 2010 (Odori Park)
Nov. 27, 2009 - Feb. 11, 2010 (Ekimae-dori and Ichijo-dori streets)
Sapporo Travel Guide

Sendai Pageant of Starlight

More than 600,000 lights are decorated on the keyaki trees along the Jouzenji-dori, Aoba-dori, and more streets in the city. Sendai is a great place to visit for sightseeing.
Place: Aoba-ku Sendai-city, Miyagi
Access: Subway Koutoudai Koen Station
Period: Dec. 12 - Dec. 31, 2009

Hiroshima Dreamination

Hiroshima-city is filled with holiday lights, which image fairy tales. The main area is the Heiwa Odori street.
Place: Naka-ku, Hiroshima City
Access: Hiroshima Streetcar Hachobori Stop
Period: Nov. 6, 2009 - Jan. 3, 2010
Time: 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.
Hiroshima Travel Guide

Kobe Canal Garden Winter Decoration 2009

Canal Garden is an entertainment complex in Kobe Harborland. The main attraction here is a 21.5m high Christmas tree.
Place: Chuo-ku, Kobe-city
Access: 5 minute walk from JR Kobe Station or Subway Harborland Station
Peiod: October 31, 2009 -
Kobe Guide

Fukuoka Tower Momochi Blue Light Christmas

The Fukuoka Tower and the surrounding area are decorated with 100,000 blue lights.
Place: 2-3-26 Momochihama Sawaraku Fukuoka-city
Access: Nishitetsu Bus Fukuoka Tower Minamiguchi Stop
Period: November 20 - December 25, 2009
Time: 9:30a.m. - 10 p.m. / 5:30 p.m. - 11 p.m. (illumination hours)

Gotenba Tokinosumika Winter Illlumination

Tokinosumika is a large resort with hotels, hot springs, sports facilities, and so on. The main feature of the winter illumination here is the 430m tunnel of lights.
Place: 719 Kouyama Gotenba-city, Shizuoka
Access: 40 minutes by shuttle bus from JR Mishima Station to Tokinosumika / 20 minutes by shuttle bus from JR Gotenba Station / 5 minutes by shuttle bus from JR Iwanami Station
Period: November 13, 1009 - March 7, 2010
Time: 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m. (Nov.13, 2009 - Jan.5, 2010)/ 5 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. (Jan. 6 - March 7, 2010)

Nagoya JR Central Towers Towers Lights

JR Central Towers are located on top of the Nagoya Station. Inside and outside of JR Central Towers are decorated with beautiful Christmas lights. Also, lots of Christmas concerts are held.
Place: Nagoya-city, Aichi
Access: JR Nagoya Station
Period: November 7, 2009 - January 12, 2010
Nagoya Travel Guide

Queen's Square Yokohama Christmas

The main attraction here is a large Christmas tree called "the singing tree". Music shows which illuminations on the Christmas tree change with music are held in the evening.
Place: Nishi-ku Yokohama-city, Kanagawa
Access: Minato Mirai Line Minato Mirai Station
Period: November 13 - December 25, 2009
Time: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Yokohama Travel Guide

Saitama Shintoshin Keyaki Hiroba Brilliant Fantasy

Keyaki trees in the Saitama Shintoshin Keyaki Hiroba are decorated with more than 100,000 lights. Visit Saitama Super Arena to see the lluminations.
Place: Chuo-ku Saitama-city
Access: JR Saitama Shintoshin Station
Period: October 24, 2009 - February 14, 2010
Explore Japan Travel
About.com Special Features

Find travel inspiration and get the best tips and reviews for your next getaway. More >

The best times to visit East and Southern Africa. More >

  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Japan Travel
  4. Japanese History & Culture
  5. Japanese Culture
  6. Japanese Holidays
  7. Christmas in Japan
  8. Christmas lights and decorations in Japan - Christmas illuminations in Japan>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.