When it comes to winter illuminations in Tokyo, one of the most famous is Roppongi. At this time of the year, the area is enveloped in a very strong festival atmosphere, drawing in some 7 million visitors each year.

Festive holiday decorations adorn the roads along Roppongi Hills, while its Christmas Market in previous years has been a fun spot to splurge on gifts.

This year, at Roppongi Midtown a giant display with 190,000 LED bulbs is held. Roppongi celebrates this year’s winter with about 700,000 million tiny LED lights that adorn the 400-meter long tree-lined street called Keyakizaka. This year they are celebrating their 15th anniversary of the illuminations, and have dubbed it the “LIVE Veil.” The elegant silvery white and icy blue will enchant you as you walk past the stunning illumination called SNOW & BLUE.

They also have a number of other illuminations and structures for the season, including the Mohri Garden Illumination and the Roku-Roku Plaza Illumination!

Roppongi Hills Christmas 2019
・Expected Lighting time: November 11 to December 25, 2019
・Lighting location: Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka
・Transportation: Exit 1C of Roppongi Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. 4 minutes walk from Exit 3 of Roppongi Station on the Toei Oedo Line.

Tokyo Midtown (Roppongi)
・Time: November 26, 2019 to December 25, 2019, 17:00 to 23:00
・Location: 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
・Transportation: Take the underground link at the Roppongi Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line.
・Website: https://www.tokyo-midtown.com/jp/event/4731/
・Free entry

The annual Caretta Shiodome Winter Illumination will be held again in 2019. The past few years have seen Disney themes come to light, and this year's breathtaking illumination will be no less spectacular. The theme for 2019 will create a magical atmosphere with themes from the well-known "Aladdin". It is a thorough sensory feast for all Disney fans! In addition, Caretta has an observation space on the 46th floor, from which you can see the twinkling night view of Tokyo!

Caretta Shiodome Disney MovieNEX Arabian Night Illumination 2019
・Lighting ceremony: November 13, 2019, 17:00
・Time: November 14, 2019 - February 14, 2020, 17:00- 23:00
*The event may be closed on January 1 and 2, 2020, and start again from the 3rd
・Location: 1-8-2 B2, Higashi Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
・Transportation: Shiodome Station on the Tokyo Metropolitan Subway Oedo Line.
・Free entry

Inaugurated in 2016 along the Meguro River, this event has since moved to the Yoyogi Park area. It's massively popular with the public, even spawning a sister exhibition in Sapporo. Last year's even boasted a total length of 800 meters, with about 600,000 lights are wrapped along tree branches, presenting a river-like view such that every visitor is placed in the blue tide of light and shadow. It's one of Tokyo's more charming and Instagrammable activities in winter, and we can't wait to see what's in store for this year!

Ao no Dokutsu - Blue Cave Shibuya Illumination 2019
・Expected time: Late November to late December 2019 (Exact dates TBC)
Yoyogi Park and Shibuya Street Side dates may vary.

・Location: Shibuya Park Street to Yoyogi Park.
・Access: JR, Tokyo Metro, Keio Inokashira Line, Tokyu Station, Shibuya Station / JR Harajuku Station. Tokyo Metro "Meijingumae Station", "Yoyogi-koen Station", and Odakyu Line "Yoyogi Hachiman Station".
・Website: http://shibuya-aonodokutsu.jp/

Tokyo Skytree will host a series of special Christmas events from November 7 to December 25, 2019. This year's theme is "Spending Christmas with loved ones", and there are plans for over 500,000 light bulbs to decorate the place with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The festive Christmas market is also held during the event, and you can enjoy the holiday air and even a splash of wine for a night of fun. The Skytree itself will also switch between the festive colors of green and red, so you can enjoy it from whever you are in Tokyo!

Tokyo Skytree 2019
・Time: November 7, 2019 - December 25, 2019, 16:00 - 24:00
・Location: Tokyo Skytree Town
・Transportation: Tobu Skytree Line "Tokyo Skytree Station" or the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, the Toei Asakusa Line, and the Keisei Line to the "Oshiage Station" are within walking distance.

Since the opening of the illuminations at Tokyo Dome in 2005, each year comes to see even more dazzling displays connected in some way to traditional Japan. This year will be no different! With the theme of "wa" or "peace", the venue will be split into 5 main areas, the LaQua area, the attraction area with a wooden matsuri-style tower, the Tokyo Dome City Hall area with a light-up Fuji exhibit, Crystal Avenue and a Hi!EVERYVALLEY area. This is sure to be an exciting year for Tokyo Dome's illuminations!

TOKYO DOME CITY WINTER LIGHTS GARDEN
・Time: November 13, 2019 - February 26, 2020 17:00 - 24:00
・Location: 1-3-61, Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
・Transportation: JR Chuo Main Line, Suidobashi" Station
・Website: https://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/en/tourists/illumination/

Omotesando Hills and the Omotesando area have been combining Christmas decorations with designers since 2017. This year's illumination event sees the creative team "we+" will create a lightscape with absorbent polymers under the theme of "Water and Magic". In it, there will be around 40 water tanks surrounding a 7m tall Christmas tree, truly a sight to behold!

Everything is accompanied by music, and as you move around this masterpiece of light and shadow, you'll find that each angle has a different charm. It is the visual poetry of the snowy season. This winter, come feel the unique artistic Christmas of Omotesando!

OMOTESANDO HILLS CHRISTMAS 2019
・Time: November 13, 2019 to December 25, 2019, 11:00 - 23:00
・Location: 4-12-10, Shrine, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
・Access: JR Yamanote Line, Harajuku Station, Omotesando Exit, 7-minute walk. 2 minutes walk from Exit A2 of Omotesando Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Chiyoda Line, and Hanzomon Line. 3 min. walk from Exit 5 of the Chiyoda Line Meiji Jingumae Station.
・Free entry

The area right around Tokyo Station - including Yurakucho, Otemachi and Nihonbashi - is set aglow each winter season, with the 200+ trees in the area covered with around 1 million champagne gold LED lights which sparkle from November through Christmas past Valentine's Day.

While beautiful, there is also a green side to the display: the popular Marunouchi area, which led the use of 680,000 energy-saving lighting fixtures this year, the same as last year, draws from green energy facilities such as solar or wind power, creating a romantic city - while also paying attention to environmental impact.

Marunouchi Illumination 2019
・Time: November 7, 2019 to February 16, 2020 (scheduled) 17:30 - 23:00
* December 17:00 - 24:00
・Location: Marunouchi-ku, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, around Tokyo Station, Otemachi-cho
・Transportation: Take the Tokyo Metro to Tokyo Station.
・Website: https://www.marunouchi.com/event/detail/21293/
・Free entry

The Yokohama Bay Quarter will turn up the glitter this year with its 8m tall tree, adorned with some with 15,000 champagne lights. Under the Christmas tree, a Santa Claus Village is decorated with lovely European style architecture.

Yokohama Bay Quarter
・Time: November 2, 2019 to December 25, 2019, 16:30 to 24:00 (The lighting time may change on the first day)
・Location: 1-10 Kinkocho, Kanagawa, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture 221-0056
・Transportation: Yokohama Station is 3 minutes on foot from Kitaguchi Exit and 9 minutes on foot from Shin Takashima Station.

The "Yomiuri Paradise" in Kanagawa is the largest and earliest lighting event in Kanto. From October 24, 2019 to May 6, 2020, a series of romantic stories will be launched. The park is to be divided into 12 areas. This year their theme is Greek gods, with the likes of Zeus, Aphrodite and Poseidon, among others, chosen as the inspiration for each of the areas.

Yomiuriland Jewellumination
・Time: October 24, 2019 to May 6, 2020
* Lights start from 17:00, with various performances and shows following
* Closed Days: November 1, January 20-23, February 4-6, March 10
・Location: 4015-1 Yanokuchi, Inagi, Tokyo 206-8725
・Access: From Shinjuku Station, take the Keio Line to Keiyo Yomiuriland Station or the Odakyu Line to Yomiuriland-mae Station.
・Tickets:
- Admission ticket: Adults 1,800 yen, middle and high school students 1,500 yen, children 1,000 yen. (excluding rides)
- Night tickets: Adults 2,500 yen, high school students and below, 1,700 yen. (Admission ticket + rides unlimited ride)
* For night vouchers, park entry is allowed after 16:00.
・Website: http://www.yomiuriland.com.e.ym.hp.transer.com/english/