This winter, the popular Sagano Romantic Train, running between Sagano in Arashiyama and Kameoka, returns with its special illumination event from October 25 to December 29, 2025 (excluding December 17). During this period, the train transforms into the Illuminated Fantasy Train, lighting up the Hozugawa Gorge with about 1,000 lights along the route, creating a dreamlike panorama visible only after dark.



To meet growing demand, special evening trains will run on select nights between October 25 and December 29, 2025, including additional services on late-November and early-December weekends.


In late December (dates TBD; see official website for updates), a special train, the Christmas Romantic Train, will operate on a unique schedule. Unlike the regular route, this train will run a special round-trip service to Torokko Hozukyo Station, allowing passengers to enjoy not only the festive decorations along the tracks but also the enchanting illuminations at this secluded station.



Details on the annual Christmas Romantic Train will be announced separately, promising another festive highlight to close out the year; please check official website for the latest updates and information. Advance reservations are required, so if you’re looking for a magical Christmas experience with one-of-a-kind illuminations, be sure to book your spot!

The Osaka Castle Illuminage transforms the Nishinomaru Garden into a dazzling celebration of Osaka and Kansai’s history. This year’s theme, Toyotomi’s Legacy: A Dream to Unite Japan, highlights legacy of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his dream of unifying Japan, brought to life through brilliant light displays and creative new installations.




This year’s features include interactive attractions like the Light Seesaw, the shimmering Gold Tunnel, and a frosty Ice Tunnel. Don’t miss the chance to capture breathtaking photos of the illuminated Osaka Castle keep alongside these spectacular light displays, a perfect blend of tradition and modern artistry.

From October 31 to December 7, Nijo-jo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will host NAKED Meets Nijo-jo Castle 2025 Moon Viewing. This nighttime event, produced by the creative company NAKED, INC., reimagines this traditional castle, a beloved place for moon viewing during the Edo Period, with enchanting displays of light and art.

Highlights include projection mapping and immersive light displays throughout the castle grounds, enhanced with aspects of traditional Japanese culture like Noh, ikebana, and music. The intricate carvings of the Karamon Gate come to life with projection mapping, while mesmerizing illuminations enchant the paths and gardens, such as the Pathway of the Luminous Moon in the Ninomaru Garden.

Visitors can also try their luck and predict their fortune for the new year with NAKED's popular omikuji experience (500 yen), reimagined for this event as colorful flower motifs. You can also try some seasonal sweets and teas from their special menu, including Kangetsu-cha (Moon-viewing Tea) and Sweet Potato Desserts.

The Osaka Festival of Lights 2025 is transforming the city into a glowing wonderland for its 13th annual edition. Quickly becoming a must-see attraction, the event lights up Osaka’s iconic streets, including Midosuji Boulevard, Nakanoshima, and other key areas throughout the prefecture.

One of the main attractions, the Midosuji Illumination, stretches approximately 4 kilometers from Umeda to Namba. Running from November 3 to January 31, this year’s display features a vibrant seven-color palette. Each section showcases a unique hue, such as vivid blue, inspired by the Dojima River, near Hanshin-mae to Umeda Shindo, and purple, symbolizing the lively urban vibe between Umeda Shindo and Oebashi Kitazume.

In the Nakanoshima area, the Osaka Hikari Renaissance adds a festive glow to the riverside with projection mapping, illuminated trees, and art installations, scheduled for mid-December 2025. Throughout the festival, various other locations across Osaka Prefecture will also feature unique and colorful light displays, adding to the festive atmosphere.

The illumination event Festa Luce – A Place to Experience the True Spirit of Christmas will light up Wakayama Marina City from November 1, 2025, to February 23, 2026. Designed to evoke the atmosphere of a European Christmas, this event promises a magical and festive experience.

The 2025 edition of Festa Luce, now in its 89h year, will feature the theme Winter Light Magic. At the heart of the event, a stunning 18-meter-tall Christmas tree (2 meters taller than last year!) will glow in vibrant colors, creating a magical centerpiece. Visitors can also enjoy castle projection mapping, a light-filled amusement park popular with children, and a festive Christmas market.

The sparkling lights throughout the venue set the stage for a festive atmosphere, featuring musical performances and street entertainers that bring the Christmas spirit to life. The Festa Luce Lantern Festival will be held three times throughout the event. In addition, the drone show from 2023, "WAKAYAMA LIGHTS in FeStA LuCe,” returns as the largest drone show in Wakayama with nearly 500 drones! You’ll feel the excitement of the countdown to Christmas and the pure joy of the holiday itself.



With photo spots and castle projection mapping, strolling through the event feels like stepping into a storybook Christmas world, creating magical moments at every turn.

From November 6 to December 25, 2025, the GRAND WISH CHRISTMAS 2025 – Infinity Lights event will light up Osaka. Themed Infinity Lights, the event symbolizes the wishes of the diverse people gathering in the Umeda area, expressed through an infinite cascade of dazzling lights. At its heart stands a magnificent 11-meter Christmas tree, adding to the festive magic.

This year’s theme is “Winter Prism,” with stunning displays of flickering trees and veils of lights based on the enchanting beauty of the aurora borealis.

In addition, the area around Umeda’s Grand Front Osaka will sparkle with the Champagne Gold Illumination in Umekita, lighting up JR Osaka Station’s Umekita Plaza and the surrounding zelkova trees in elegant champagne gold hues from nearly 480,000 LED lights! These linked events add even more holiday charm to the festivities!

The highlight of the event is the Infinity Wish Tree, a stunning 10-meter-tall Christmas tree located at Knowledge Plaza on the 1st floor of the North Building. Each day, the tree comes to life with a mesmerizing lighting show, making you feel as though you've stepped into a kaleidoscope. The tree’s brilliance shifts infinitely depending on your viewing angle, whether you admire it from the front or gaze down from the upper floors.

The Wonder Night Hill 2025 illumination event will light up the expansive Harvest Hill, an interactive agricultural park in Sakai, Osaka. Set in a lush natural environment, this event offers visitors a chance to enjoy stunning illuminations in harmony with the beauty of the autumn and winter seasons.

Now in its 4th year, the event has scaled up in size, spanning the entire "Town Area" of Harvest Hill, featuring even more unique illumination spots. Highlights include towering 20-meter sequoia trees adorned with dazzling lights, a "Play Plaza" with glowing seesaws and sound-activated light paths perfect for families, and "Light Photo Spot Objects," such as round illuminated chairs and heart-shaped installations for memorable photos.



At the "Great Tree Plaza," a massive yamamomo tree becomes the centerpiece, glowing brilliantly with stunning illuminations, creating a magical atmosphere for all to enjoy.

From October 31, 2025, to February 28, 2026, Abeno Harukas, one of Osaka’s iconic landmarks, will glow with its annual Sky Illuminations 2025. This year’s event brings fresh new designs to the 2nd-floor perimeter deck and the 16th-floor lobby, with dazzling displays across the building, including the outdoor garden and Harukas 300 Observatory.

The 16th-floor outdoor garden has also gotten an upgrade, with photo spots and new illuminations themed “Fantasia in the Sky,” featuring bright golden displays, including the giant Digital Illumination Ball that moves in time to the music, and Interactive Flowers that bloom in time to your movements.

On the 2nd-floor perimeter deck, a 120-meter-long ceiling installation creates a sparkling winter night sky with golden lights and shimmering snowflake-shaped ornaments in pearl white and silver. Meanwhile, the 16th floor features a 4-meter-tall illuminated tower with lights dancing to music for a truly magical experience.

Don’t miss the outdoor garden and other illuminated spots throughout the building, both inside and out, for a glittering way to brighten up your winter!

rom October 24, 2005 to February 1, 2026, the Kobe Illuminage 2025 will transform the roadside station Kobe Fruit & Flower Park Osawa into a magical, starlit wonderland in celebration of the event’s 15th anniversary. This year’s theme, Garden Dream, features stunning displays with around 600,000 LED lights, creating a whimsical floral-inspired atmosphere.

Highlights include the elegant Ice Palace, the romantic Love Tunnel, and the Kids Illuminage, where children’s original drawings are brought to life through light. And you can still behold the magical Arabian Palace from last year’s run.

The event also features a playful Monkey Show and a limited-time Message Drone performance (November 1–30), filling the night sky with luminous messages. With nightly laser shows, festive music, and an exciting New Year’s countdown, it’s one of Kobe’s most magical winter experiences!

Across Kansai’s iconic landmarks, dazzling illumination events light up the season. These annual spectacles grow more creative and impressive each year, becoming a beloved tradition for many. From glowing natural landscapes to radiant cityscapes, these enchanting displays are a must-see, offering unforgettable moments of beauty.

(Note: Information is current as of November 2025. Event dates, times, and details are subject to change or cancellation. Please check official websites for the latest updates before planning your visit. Images are for reference only and may differ from the actual displays.)