Tokyo Top Winter Illumination Locations 2017/2018

The holiday season brings more excitement and more lights to the already high energy city of Tokyo.
If you are looking to see the best holiday season light shows in Tokyo during your visit to the city here is a great list (as of Dec 2017).  But first check out the above video from December 2015 which offers some great visuals of illuminations around Tokyo and which includes all of the locations listed below.

Here they are, five of the best …

1. Omotesando

Always a popular place for a weekend stroll and people watching, the Omotesando area comes even more alive during the holiday season with the addition of the winter illumination and makes it one of the best places each winter to enjoy holiday lights.  Just walk up and down the street and take in the holiday atmosphere.  Scheduled to run from November 30 to December 25, 2017, the trees and shrubs along the street adorned with lights make for a spectacular holiday sight.  While you are there you also might want to step into the Omotesando Hills shopping plaza to view the fabulous Christmas display which features a 7m white tree in the center of the main staircase accompanied by around 1,500 mini trees in the surrounding space.

Tokyo Omotesando Winter Illumination
Image: Ari Helminen under CreativeCommons

Tokyo Christmas Lights Omotesando Hills
Image: Courtesy of Omotesando Hills

2. Roppongi

Roppongi, known for its nightlife and packed with clubs popular with both local and foreigners, adds an additional element of energy during the holiday season.   The Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown are two popular spots to enjoy winter illumination.

a. Roppongi Hills

The Roppongi Hills area has several illuminations, including the stunning lighted trees along Keyakizaka street, which runs down a gentle slope on the Azabu side of Roppongi Hills. The display of around 1.2 million LED lights, shines in two theme color combinations, depending on the time.  White and blue “SNOW&BLUE” and amber and yellow “CANDLE & AMBER.”
Event period: Early November to Christmas

Roppongi Hills guide website

Tokyo Roppongi Winter Illumination
Image: Ari Helminen under CreativeCommons

Tokyo Roppongi Hills Winter Lights
Image: Ari Helminen under CreativeCommons

b. Tokyo Midtown

This is one of the most popular light displays in Tokyo.  Celebrating ten years, Tokyo Midtown’s “Midtown Christmas 2017” is comprised of 510,000 lights.  Located on the Grass Square, the “Starlight Garden” is the centerpiece illumination.
Event period: Mid November to Christmas

Midtown Christmas website

Tokyo Christmas Lights Midtown
Image: Midtown Christmas

Tokyo Midtown Holiday Lights
Image: Guilhem Vellut under CreativeCommons

3. Tokyo Station Marunouchi Area

The business area around Tokyo station of Marunouchi provides a classy offering to winter illumination.  Talk a night stroll down the street and enjoy.  From Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau, “this year’s (2017) Marunouchi Illumination, which marks the 16th year of the event, will feature approximately 930,000 LED bulbs in its original shade of “champagne gold,” coloring over 200 trees along about 1.2 kilometers of Naka-dori Street to create a gorgeous cityscape.”
Event period: mid November to mid February

Marunouchi Area Guide website

Tokyo Marunouchi Winter Illumination
Image: OiMax under CreativeCommons

4. Yebisu Garden Place

Yebisu Garden Place, located next to Ebisu Station and just south of Shibuya Station, is a location that is tremendous popularity with the younger crowd.  Its winter illumination, entitled the Baccarat Eternal Lights, is a beautiful display with its centerpiece majestic Baccarat chandelier, one of the world’s largest chandeliers, which is 5 meters high, 3 meters wide, and includes 8,472 pieces of crystal and 250 lights. Along with the Christmas tree at the Clock Plaza and the other light displays, the night visit during the holiday season should be on your to-do list.
Event period: Early November – Early January

Yebisu Garden Place website and Winter Illumination 2017 website

Yebisu Garden Place holiday lights
Image: 淳平 筈井 under CreativeCommons

Yebisu Garden Place winter illumination
Image: kobakou under CreativeCommons

5. Caretta Shiodome

Caretta Shiodome Illumination continues every year to amaze people with a world of magnificent blue lights and 3D projection of beautiful images on the buildings coordinated to the sound of music. Caretta Shiodome is a commercial complex close to JR Shinbashi station that includes restaurants, shops, and theaters.  As well as restaurants on the 46th to the 47th floors that offer delicious meals and fantastic views of Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, the Rainbow Bridge and Ginza, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Tokyo Bay from about 200m above ground from Sky View on the 46th floor.  Come to see the winter illumination and stay a little longer and enjoy the view of Tokyo from above.
Event period: Mid November  – Mid February

Caretta Shiodome website

Tokyo Shiodome winter illumination
Image: Wei-Te Wong under CreativeCommons

Tokyo Shiodome holidays lights
Image: Andy Yeo under CreativeCommons

Above list as of December 2017.  Check back for yearly updates.

Featured Image: Manish Prabhune under CreativeCommons
Modified:Text added