It’s time again for the best free holiday light show ever! Here are this year’s Tokyo Illuminations offerings, some of them even better than before:
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TOKYO MIDTOWN
This year’s “Starlight Garden” extravaganza is super lavish, with different shows for each night of the week. There’s a four-minute blue and white spin around the galaxy, then each day of the week features a visit to a different planet in our solar system (except Uranus and Neptune, which are skipped in favor of our nearer and more instabae neighbors, the sun and the moon.) Note: this day of the week thing sort of confuses me, because that’s what they say on their website, but I went to see it on the first Wednesday, and it seems like they cycled through all of the planets, so go figure. Anyway, here’s the line-up:
Monday: The Moon • Tuesday: Mars • Wednesday: Mercury • Thursday: Jupiter • Friday: Venus • Saturday: Saturn • Sunday: The Sun
Once again, this mesmerizing field of lights is set to a spacey soundtrack and features fog as well as super-choreographed animation
Until December 25
17:00 – 23:00
Admission: Free
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ROPPONGI HILLS
Over at Roppongi Hills, the display of lights on Keyakizaka-dori is always festive (and definitely instabae). 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.
Here’s the schedule for when it changes colors:
00:00 – 00:10 “Candle & Amber”
00:10 – 00:30 “Snow & Blue”
00:30 – 00:40″Candle & Amber”
00:40 – 01:00 “Snow & Blue”
Here’s a little video of it (although the actual transition from blue to amber is much more abrupt)
Until December 25
17:00 – 23:00
Admission: Free
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NAKAMEGURO JEWEL DOME is back!
Until December 24
17:00 – 22:00
Admission: Free
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YOMIURILAND
Getting to Yomiuriland is always a bit of an undertaking, but trust me, the illuminations are worth it! It takes hours to walk around and inside them all, and the quality does not disappoint. They definitely did not stint on the electrical outlay, and it’s seldom crowded. Even if you don’t go on any of the rides, it’s worth it.
Until February 18
16:00 – 22:00*
Open every day except for these holidays: Jan 1, Jan 16-18, Jan 22-25
*Admission: Check their English web page here for prices and hours, because sometimes they’re open later
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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!
Until February 18
17:00 – 25:00
Admission: Free
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SHIODOME
This year’s illumination at Shiodome Caretta has a “Beauty and the Beast” theme, and if you can get past the blatant Disneyfication, the candelabra/banquet hall motif will be projected around the usual entertaining landscape of animated LEDs and music. In between shows, you can line up to get your picture taken in front of that central tree.
Until February 14 (closed 1/1-1/2)
17:00 – 23:00
Admission: Free
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SHINJUKU SOUTHERN TERRACE
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 decked out in pink “sakura” lights this year.
Until February 22
17:00 – 24:00
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.
Until January 8
17:00 – 24:00
Admission: Free
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ILLUMILLIONS THEME PARK
This place is a bit of a trek from Tokyo (it takes about an hour by train from Shinjuku Station, then a short bus ride), but if you love whole hillsides carpeted with lights, Sagamiko Illumillions is hard to beat. It’s pretty reasonable, too. Tips & tricks for getting there are here.
Until April 8
16:00 – 21:30
Admission: Adults ¥800, Children ¥500, Dogs ¥500
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MINNA NO ILLUMI
This year, the cherry trees are lit up with 423,980 pink lights (hey, it’s Japan, so of course they know exactly how many!) all along the Meguro River from Osaki Station to Gotanda Station, in an event they’re calling “Minna no Illumi.”
Until January 8
17:00 – 22:00
Admission: Free
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
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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 
Dear Jonelle, lovely post and beautifully put together. Took me a while to peel my eyes from those photos. Couldn’t be more timely as a friend is heading to Tokyo this weekend so have shared this. Thank you! Wish I can be there too.
Re the planetary sequence at Midtown, I’m guessing it may be linked to the name of the weekday. Sunday is named after the Sun, Monday after the moon and so on. Each day corresponds to a planet. That could explain why Uranus and Neptune were missed out (because none of the days were named after them).
I think you’ve solved the mystery! I’d better put you on my team of readers for my next book… (And I’m so glad your friend will be able to see the illuminations – I’ll be gnashing my teeth in envy, since I need to be with family in San Francisco through the holidays this year.)
Man, I cannot wait to return to Japan. 😦
You belong here! Seriously, what are your chances of coming back?
It’s a when, not an if. We just heard we might be delayed another couple weeks. 😦
But you’ve got a date? Soon?