©Photo by Jun Sato

Tokyo’s Best Winter Illuminations 2021-2022

Savvy's Guide To A City Of Light

By The Savvy Team
December 1, 2021
Lifestyle

The holiday season in Tokyo is an illuminating experience.

It’s that time of the year again when the whole of Tokyo is covered by stunning illuminations in all shapes and forms. One of the highlights of the winter season, these free festivals of light provide a welcome chance to get out in the evenings as the temperature dips and rejuvenate the spirits during the cold, dark winter months — not to mention take a few selfies. Whether alone, with a partner or with family and friends, these lights will make your holiday a little more special, joyful and warm. Here are our top picks for this year.

Yebisu Garden Place’s Baccarat Eternal Lights

Tokyo's Best Winter Illuminations 2021-2022© Photo by Jun Sato

The light-up event at the historic Yebisu Garden Place is called Baccarat Eternal Lights and features an 8-meter spectacular chandelier and beautifully decorated trees amongst its numerous illuminations. The perfect spot for a romantic outing for adults.  

Access: Ebisu Station
Date: Now through Mon, Jan. 10, 2022

Tokyo Midtown’s Midtown Christmas 2021

Tokyo Midtown's Midtown Christmas 2021© Photo by Tokyo Midtown

The areas around the popular shopping complex Tokyo Midtown will light up each night along with an illumined light walkway in the park behind the main tower. Must-see spots include the “Snow Light Globe,” combined with bubble lights unleashed into the garden, as well as a special “present tree” said to be a mysterious Christmas tree that bears gifts. The perfect place to make a wish upon a star while shopping and dining.

Access: Roppongi Station 
Date: Now through Sat, Dec. 25, 2021

Akasaka White Sacas’ Sound Terrace

Every year Akasaka Sacas, the small “city-within-a-city” and home to Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), lights up the area outside the shopping center. Visit for an interactive, sparkling and bubbly night along with friends.

Access: Akasaka Station.
Date: Now through Sun, Feb. 20, 2022

Roppongi Hills Christmas Illumination

The area around Roppongi Hills is festooned with light, including the parade of trees down Keyakizaka-dori, the beautifully lit-up Mohri Garden and the giant Christmas tree at Roku-Roku Plaza, the doorway of the complex.

Access: Roppongi Station.
Date: Now through Sat, Dec. 25, 2021

Shinjuku Southern Terrace’s Twinkle Color Christmas

Shinjuku Southern Terrace's Twinkle Color Christmas© Photo by Shinjuku Southern Terrace

Business town by day, as soon as dawn hits, Shinjuku the area changes into a stage of multiple illumination displays that will take your breath away. The main attraction Southern Terrace, south of JR Shinjuku station, will be illuminated in pop baby pink and blue colors in-line with this year’s “Little Twin Star” theme.

Access: Shinjuku Station.
Date: Now through Sat, Dec. 25, 2021

Omotesando Illumination 2021

Omotesando Christmas 2021© Photo by Omotesando Official

Commonly referred to as Tokyo’s “Champs-Elysees,” Omotesando — the broad, tree-lined avenue and one of the symbols of Tokyo’s high fashion and style — is lit up magnificently this year as well with some 500,000 LED lights in champagne gold colors. The stylish Omotesando Hills complex runs its own spectacular illumination as well — a giant 10-meter high Christmas tree decorated and illuminated in gorgeous LED lights and topped with a sparking 10-pointed star to mark the complex’s 10th anniversary.

Access: Harajuku Station, Omotesando Station or Meijijingumae Station
Date: Now through Sat, Dec. 25, 2021

Odaiba Yakei Illumination 2021

Odaiba Yakei Illumination 2021© Photo by Odaiba Decks

With Rainbow bridge, the giant Daiba Wheel and endless harbor lights, Odaiba is in itself a year-round unique and breath-taking illumination location, but don’t miss on the “Yakei” Illumination at Decks, one of Odaiba’s largest commercial facilities. The must-see spots include the 20-meters high “Daiba Memorial Tree,”  the “Odaiba” word statue, which allows you to take a rare triple-shot of Tokyo’s city lights, Rainbow bridge and the Daiba Memorial Tree, and the “Illusion Dome”.

Access: Odaiba Kaihin-koen
Date: Now through Sat, Dec. 25, 2021

Tokyo Dome Illuminations 2021

Tokyo Dome Illuminations© Photo by Tokyo Dome

One of the largest illumination sites in Tokyo, the Tokyo Dome Illuminations are spread throughout the entire dome area, including magnificent milky way themed tunnels of lights, decorated Christmas trees and a mini-Tokyo Dome right in front of La Qua shopping center.

Access: Suidobashi Station and Korakuen Station
Date: Now through Wed, Jan. 19, 2022

Meguro River’s Minna No Illumi

A spectacular cherry blossom site in spring, the Meguro River brights up the area equally gorgeously in winter too, using over 300,000 orange-gold LED lights used in the display around the river. The river-side walk makes up for one of the most romantic experiences this season.

Access: Nakameguro Station
Date: Now through Sun, Feb. 6, 2022

Marunouchi Illuminations 2021

Marunouchi Naka-Dori is one of the most popular illumination sites in Tokyo. This year, you can admire the glittery trees covered in light-emitting bulbs while walking around the stylish street full of small shops and cafes. A classy display of light, this one can even make you a bit nostalgic. 

Access: Tokyo Station
Date: Now through Sun, Feb. 20, 2022

Share your best illumination photos from this season with us for a chance to be featured on our social media sites. Send them via Facebook @SavvyTokyo, #SavvyTokyo on Instagram or @savvytokyo on Twitter. 


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