Experiencing traditional and seasonal celebrations is one of the most memorable things to do in Japan. The country has a unique way of blending foreign holidays—like Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and especially Christmas—into everyday life. One of the highlights of the season is the spectacular Tokyo winter illuminations, which brighten the city with sparkling lights every year.
Christmas in Japan unofficially begins on November 1. As soon as Halloween ends, pumpkins and costumes are replaced by Christmas trees, festive decorations, and holiday music. From early November until December 25, visitors can enjoy Japan’s version of the Christmas season, while many winter illuminations continue glowing well into the New Year.
- Shinjuku Minami Lumi Illuminations
- Roppongi Hills Christmas Illuminations
- Tokyo Midtown Christmas Illuminations
- Winter Illuminations at Yebisu Garden Place
- Marunouchi Winter Illuminations
- Shibuya Ao no Dokutsu Illuminations
- Omotesando Winter Illuminations
- Caretta Shiodome Winter Illuminations in Tokyo
- Tokyo Dome Winter Illuminations
Here is a guide to the best winter illuminations in Tokyo for your illumination hunt this Christmas!
Shinjuku Minami Lumi Illuminations
Shinjuku Minami Lumi is located around the enormous Shinjuku Station, near the JR train line’s south exit. Shinjuku Southern Terrace connects to many different areas of Shinjuku and typically there is little foot traffic in this area. It is an excellent place to take a quiet break within the city.
From the beginning of November, the ordinarily green space transforms into an illuminated forest. There’s a wooden path with benches where you can take beautiful pictures of the Docomo Tower in the background (if the foliage of the trees allows it).
This year, in the JR Minami-Shinjuku Building, there is a Christmas tree that will be illuminated until December 25.
Shinjuku Southern Terrace
shopping mall- 2 Chome-2-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-8583, Japan
- ★★★★☆
| Illuminations dates | From November 12, 2025, to February 15, 2026 |
| Hours | 5pm-midnight |
| Closest Station | Shinjuku Station (JR Yamanote Line, JR Chuo Line, Marunouchi Line, Keio Line, Odakyu Line, etc.) |
Roppongi Hills Christmas Illuminations
Roppongi has one of Tokyo’s most iconic illuminations. Four hundred meters of Keyakizaka-Dori, one of the main streets in the area, becomes illuminated with blue and white LEDs. The lights hang from the tree branches and create an incredible and magical illuminated pathway. In addition to all this scenery, we can see Tokyo Tower at the end of the street.
There’s a bridge that crosses over the main street of Keyakizaka-Dori, where you can take photos of the tower and Roppongi Hills illuminations. I recommend having a lot of patience, as it is usually full of photographers jostling to get a shot from this vantage point.
In Roppongi Hills, there is also a Christmas Market in the O-Yane Plaza, one of the oldest Christmas markets in Japan. It will be held for a month, from November 22 to December 25.
- Roppongi Keyakizaka Dori
route - Roppongi Keyakizaka Dori, 6-chōme Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan
- ★★★★☆
| Illuminations dates | From November 4, 2025 to December 25, 2025 |
| Hours | 5pm-11pm |
| Closest Station | Roppongi Station (Hibiya Line or Oedo Line) |
Tokyo Midtown Christmas Illuminations
Near Roppongi Hills is Tokyo Midtown. These sensational illuminations cover 2000 square meters around the building complex, with a different theme each year, and art installations and an ice skating rink.
- MIDTOWN CHRISTMAS
point of interest - 9 Chome-7 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan
- ★★★★☆
| Illuminations dates | From November 13, 2025 to December 25, 2025 |
| Hours | 5pm-11pm |
| Closest Station | Nogizaka Station (Chiyoda Line) or Roppongi Station (Hibiya Line or Oedo Line) |
Winter Illuminations at Yebisu Garden Place
Yebisu Garden Place is a well-known square located in the Ebisu district. And in winter, it is also a point of interest for its illuminations and its small Christmas market (available until December 25).
- Yebisu Garden Place
shopping mall - 4 Chome-20 Ebisu, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0013, Japan
- ★★★★☆
| Illuminations dates | From November 8, 2025, to March 1, 2026 |
| Hours | 4pm-11pm |
| Closest Station | Ebisu Station (JR Yamanote Line, JR Saikyo Line, JR Shonan Shinjuku Line or Hibiya Line) |
Marunouchi Winter Illuminations
The Marunouchi illuminations last over four months of the year, from late autumn to mid-February. Beginning near Tokyo Station along Naka-Dori, this elegant district increases its beauty with the many illuminations covering the trees.
In addition, many of the buildings in the area join forces to make communal decorations annually, with famous themes such as Harry Potter, Disney, Star Wars, and Super Mario. You can even do a stamp rally to get several stamps and win a prize.
- Marunouchi Naka-dori
tourist attraction - 2 Chome Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan
- ★★★★☆
| Illuminations dates | From November 13, 2025, to February 15, 2026 |
| Hours | 4pm-11pm |
| Closest Station | Tokyo Station (JR Yamanote Line, JR Chuo Line, Marunouchi Line, etc.) Mitsukoshimae Station (Hanzomon Line, Ginza Line) Nihombashi Station (Tozai line) |
Shibuya Ao no Dokutsu Illuminations
Near Yoyogi Park, Shibuya Ao no Dokutsu is a large avenue connecting Harajuku to Shibuya that becomes a 250-meter blue cave.
- Gingko Dori
premise - 1-chōme-5-11 Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0041, Japan
- ☆☆☆☆☆
| Illuminations dates | From December 4, 2025 to December 25, 2025 |
| Hours | 5pm-10pm |
| Closest Station | Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line), Meiji-Jingumae Station (Chiyoda Line or Fukutoshin Line) or Shibuya Station (Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line, Keio Line, etc.) |
Omotesando Winter Illuminations
Omotesando is decorated for a month with one kilometer of 90,000 yellow LED lights. You can also find decorations on the Tokyu Plaza shopping mall terrace.
- Omote-Sando Ave
route - Omote-Sando Ave, Tokyo, Japan
- ☆☆☆☆☆
| Illuminations dates | From December 1, 2025 to January 5, 2026 |
| Hours | 5pm-10pm |
| Closest Station | Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line) or Meiji-Jingumae Station (Fukuntoshin Line or Chiyoda Line) or Omotesando Station (Chiyoda Line, Ginza Line or Hanzomon Line) |
Caretta Shiodome Winter Illuminations in Tokyo
There is a magical forest of lights within Caretta Shiodome lasting from mid-November to mid-February. The Shiodome entertainment and shopping complex is a part of the Dentsu Headquarters Building that borders the open courtyard. Each year, Dentsu Corporation hosts an impressive illumination winter scene for visitors to enjoy during the winter season.
- Caretta Shiodome
shopping mall - 1 Chome-8-2 Higashishinbashi, Minato City, Tokyo 105-7090, Japan
- ★★★☆☆
| Illuminations dates | November 2025, February 2025 (not yet confirmed) |
| Hours | Not confirmed for 2025 |
| Closest Station | Shiodome Station (Oedo Line) or Shimbashi Station (JR Yamanote Line, Ginza Line) |
Tokyo Dome Winter Illuminations
The large entertainment area of Tokyo Dome is very popular and has an amusement park, a spa, hotels, a sports indoor area, and much more. For the last few years, Tokyo Dome Winter Illumination has been held at Christmas, where several areas are illuminated and decorated. Each year, the theme changes, as do the illuminated areas.
- Tokyo Dome
stadium - 1 Chome-3-61 Koraku, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112-0004, Japan
- ★★★★☆
| Illuminations dates | From November 17, 2025, to March 3, 2026 |
| Hours | 5pm-midnight |
| Closest Station | Suidobashi Station (Mita Line or JR Chuo Line) or Korakuen Station (Marunouchi Line or Namboku Line) |
We hope you enjoyed our Tokyo winter illuminations guide If you know of any other interesting places illuminated this winter, don’t hesitate to tell us!
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