Are you ready once again to have holiday lights spoiled for-e-ver by the insanely great Tokyo Illuminations? This year, the old favorites do not disappoint, but there are a couple of new contenders amid the light-up extravaganzas going on right now in Tokyo! Feast your eyes on…
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TOKYO DOME CITY
The Tokyo Dome City amusement park puts on a lights and fountains extravaganza every year, and you don’t even have to pay for any rides to enjoy it!
November 10 – February 14
17:00 – 25:00
Admission: Free
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And, of course, the perennial favorites, spiffed up for a new year:
TOKYO MIDTOWN
I didn’t think it was possible to outdo last year’s show, but the 2015 show has a planet theme that looks spectacular. Once again, this mesmerizing field of lights is choreographed to an ethereal wintry soundtrack.
November 12 – December 25
17:00 – 23:00
Admission: Free
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SHIODOME
This year’s illumination at Shiodome Caretta is a new version of the “Canyon D’Azur.” Once again, the landscape of rolling hills and trees is animated and set to music. There’s more than one variation of the show, and they happen every 20 minutes, starting at 18:00. In between, you can line up to get your picture taken in front of that central tree.
November 19 – February 14 (closed 1/1-1/2)
18:00 – 23:00
Admission: Free
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ROPPONGI HILLS
Over at Roppongi Hills, Keyakizaka-dori’s avenue of lights is always beautiful. The best place to see the promenade (and get a view of Tokyo Tower) is from the bridge over the street by the Louis Vuitton store.
November 4 – December 25
17:00 – 23:00
Admission: Free
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SHINJUKU
Once again, the trees lining the promenade between Shinjuku South-East Exit and Times Square are strung with lights, and Mosaic Street (the walk that goes through MyLord) is festooned with stars and planets.
November 12 – February 25
17:00 – 24:00
Admission: Free
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VENUSFORT
While you’re out ogling the Gundam robot in Odaiba, stop by the VenusFort mall (that eerie Caesar’s Palace lookalike!) to see the cascades of blue rain and the stars ‘n planets projection mapping show.
November 7 – March 13
Noon – Close (projection mapping shows start every half hour at :00 and :30)
Admission: Free
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EBISU GARDEN PLACE
This display doesn’t change from year to year, but if you haven’t been there, the view from the red carpet that leads from the Christmas tree to the gigantic Baccarat chandelier is worth seeing once.
November 7 – January 11
16:00 – 24:00
Admission: Free
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GUNDAM PROJECTION MAPPING
Holiday lights don’t get any more only-in-Japan than this – the five-story tall Gundam robot in Odaiba has been custom projection mapped with a brand new holiday show (with music!) The Japan Times put up a video, that you can check out for even more wow.
December 1 – February 14
18:00-21:00 – The projection sequence starts again every half hour at :00 and :30
Admission: Free
Sadly, they decided not to illuminate the Meguro River in Nakameguro this year, so we’ll have to hope they do it again next time. And this Gundam is being replaced by a new one, which I hope they’ll also map with a great show, come December.
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The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Only In Japan 
I might have to go light sightseeing (lightseeing?)… And dome city ends at 25:00?
Yeah, I know. Guess they thought it seemed too weird to say it went from 17:00 – 1:00. I was there tonight, BTW, and it did not disappoint!
Seriously? I kept telling myself all day to find something to do in Tokyo, but I ended up playing video games and watching made-for-internet TV instead.
Arg, sorry, I got crazy busy and forgot to say that you definitely owe it to yourself to come into town and make the rounds of the illuminations before they go away! You can plot out a pilgrimage route by train, and see them all in one fell swoop!