One of Tokyo’s winter traditions is the lighting up and illumination of the city with gentle lights. There are many illumination spots in Chiyoda Ward around Tokyo Station, making it fun to go on a winter stroll. Dress warmly and relish Tokyo’s lights and illuminations to the fullest!

Marunouchi Area: Marunouchi-Naka-Dori Street – A Tunnel of Gently Twinkling Lights

More than 360 trees line Marunouchi-Naka-Dori Street, the main street stretching 1.2 km from Yurakucho Station to Otemachi Station. These trees and other streets in the Marunouchi area light up in the afternoon in a champagne-gold color. This magic is created by approximately 1.2 million LED bulbs. Furthermore, for 28 days from November 28 (Tuesday) to December 25 (Monday) this year, a section of Gyoko-Dori Street, connecting the outer gardens of the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station, will also be aglow with lights.

All energy used in the Marunouchi Illumination is green power generated from natural sources such as solar and wind power, making it the most environmentally friendly winter illumination in Tokyo. Thanks in part to this initiative, the Marunouchi Illumination has been recognized as a “NIGHT VIEW HERITAGE OF JAPAN” event.

Marunouchi Illumination 2023

https://www.marunouchi.com/event/detail/37086/
Period: Thursday, November 16, 2023 – Sunday, February 18, 2024
Lighting hours: 16:00 – 23:00
*16:00 – 24:00 (scheduled) from December 1 (Fri.) – December 31 (Sun.)
Location: Marunouchi Naka-dori Avenue, Tokyo Station area, TOKYO TORCH Park, etc.
Nearest stations: Tokyo Station, Otemachi Station, Mitsukoshimae Station, Nijubashimae Station, Nihonbashi Station, Yurakucho Station

Marunouchi Area: ＫＩＴＴＥ – Come and See the 13-Meters High Tree and Lighting Show!

The “ＷＨＩＴＥ　ＫＩＴＴＥ” Christmas event held annually at ＫＩＴＴＥ is a highly popular event. This year is the 10th anniversary of the opening, and the 13-meter-long “White Layer Tree,” the main tree made of real fir trees, will shine and fascinate visitors with its various light variations. In addition, visitors can enjoy a sound and light show that changes from day to day, synchronized with music, in which the “White Layer Tree” glitters in vivid colors.

ＷＨＩＴＥ　ＫＩＴＴＥ

Period: November 22 (Wed) – December 25 (Mon), 2023
Christmas tree lighting hours: 6:00 – 24:30
*For the schedule of the sound and light show, please refer to the following link:
https://marunouchi.jp-kitte.jp/shop/
Location: KITTE Marunouchi, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/LaQfHTA5CgtDagKn9

Marunouchi Area: The Marunouchi turns into the world of Disney’s “Dreams” and “Wishes”!

Titled “Marunouchi Bright Christmas 2023: Disney DREAMS & WISHES,” this year’s Christmas promotion is themed around Disney animations in celebration of Disney’s 100th anniversary. The event features light-ups and installations inspired by the new “Wish” movie, “Frozen,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and other films, creating a dream world cherished by both children and adults worldwide.

Marunouchi Bright Christmas 2023: Disney DREAMS & WISHES

Website: https://www.marunouchi.com/lp/brightchristmas2023/
Period: November 16 (Thursday) – December 25 (Monday), 2023
Locations: Marunouchi Building 1F Marucube, Shin-Marunouchi Building 3F Atrium, Marunouchi Oazo OO-Hiroba, Marunouchi Brick Square 1F Ichigokan Plaza, International Building, etc.

Hibiya Area: Tokyo Midtown Hibiya – Special Full-Color LED Display with “Wishes”

HIBIYA Magic Time Illumination, themed around “magical moments,” embellishes the entire town of Hibiya during winter, drawing approximately 4.2 million visitors last year. This year’s theme is “BEST WISHES.” The illumination expresses the wish for a brighter future in our daily lives amid this uncertain world.

HIBIYA Magic Time Illumination 2023

Website: https://www.hibiya.tokyo-midtown.com/xmas/
Period: November 16, 2023 (Thu) – February 14, 2024 (Wed)
Lighting hours: 17:00-23:00
Locations: Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, Hibiya Step Plaza (1st floor), Park View Garden (6th floor), Hibiya Nakadori Avenue
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6GUp9Y72L21poh2C7
Access: Hibiya Station, Yurakucho Station, Ginza Station, Uchisaiwaicho Station
(The event period varies by area.)

Nagatacho Area: Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho – Let’s take an illumination stroll in a fairy tale-like light show!

“KIOI WINTER ’23/’24” is ongoing at Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho. Until December 25, the Christmas season, an elegantly sparkling 10-meter-high real fir tree will be set up for visitors. Moreover, around 400,000 champagne gold-colored LED lights will illuminate the entire Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho area until the end of February.

Both the Christmas tree and the illumination are environmentally friendly. The Christmas tree will be returned to its original place alive, and for the illumination, 100% renewable energy is used.

KIOI WINTER ’23/’24

Website: https://www.tgt-kioicho.jp/
Period: November 17, 2023 (Friday) – February 29, 2024 (Thursday)
Locations: Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho 1F Flower Plaza, Terrace Path (along Benkei Moat), 4F Water Plaza, etc.
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YBdFp1q55CR7tTdz7
Access: Nagatacho Station, Akasaka-mitsuke Station, Kojimachi Station, Hanzomon Station, Yotsuya Station
(The event period varies depending on the area.)

Other Areas: Tokyo’s Beautiful Night Scenes

There are also a “year-round illuminations” that you can enjoy while walking around the winter ones, including the illumination of Tokyo Station and former Edo Castle, both boasting more than 100 years of history. Make sure to explore the hidden spots around the winter illumination areas!