Spectacular！Osaka Castle Light City, Light Pond & Light Garden – A Weekend of Light Festivities

▲ The “Osaka Castle 3D Projection Light Show” will be held at Osaka Castle from December 14 to February 16, 2014. (Photo／Fromthe Osaka Fan Page “I Love Playing in Osaka”))

Travel Center／Comprehensive Report

In December, nighttime Osaka Castle will offer an unprecedented light feast！From Nishinomaru Garden, the serene night sky will frame the silently standing keep of Osaka Castle, which will be transformed into a giant canvas. Layered 3D projections will appear as if breaking free from the castle’s confines, unfolding one after another on the exterior walls under the winter night sky. The “Osaka Castle 3D Projection Light Show”, starting this Saturday (the 14th), along with the “Light Pond” and “Light Garden” inside the castle, will dazzle visitors’ vision and immerse them in this “light spectacle”.

Created in collaboration between Huis Ten Bosch — renowned in recent years for its stunning light designs — and the Osaka Tourism Bureau, this marks the first time the “Number One Castle Under Heaven” becomes a grand stage for light art from this Saturday (the 14th) through February 16, 2014. The main attraction, the “Osaka Castle 3D Projection,” is a kaleidoscopic display where various geometric patterns dance across the castle walls before being engulfed by roaring flames; sharp swords are unsheathed, symbolizing the spirit of Japan’s traditional samurai, only to be replaced in an instant by seemingly real, colorful butterflies fluttering across the walls... All these scenes will be presented on the western exterior wall of the keep using 3D projection technology.

▲ The “Light Art Cube,” pioneered by Huis Ten Bosch, will be showcased at the Light Pond. (Photo／Screenshot fromthe “Osaka Castle 3D Projection Light Show” official website))

Aside from viewing the ever-changing keep, visitors can also stroll among the vast Light Pond adorned with tens of thousands of blue LEDs, admiring the “rippling water” effect. At the center of the Light Pond stands the towering “Light Art Cube,” where multicolored LED lights freely dance inside — another innovation by Huis Ten Bosch.

On the other side, in front of Osaka Guest House lies a 3,500-square-meter Baroque-style garden illuminated by intertwined white and gold LEDs, creating a magnificent yellow-toned space. There’s even a creatively designed “Light Fountain” that sprays water in the garden’s center. At scheduled times, the garden also hosts a synchronized light and music show, drawing visitors to stop and admire.

%Just like the “Jewel Illumination” at other famous sites. (Photo／Screenshot from YouTube)

Tickets for the “Osaka Castle 3D Projection Light Show” are divided into “Regular Tickets” and limited “Platinum Tickets,” and are further categorized into general open days and special event days. Among them, “Platinum Tickets” offer priority entry. Unlike regular tickets, which only allow viewing from Nishinomaru Garden, Platinum Ticket holders are granted access to a closer area for the “Keep 3D Projection.” Additionally, a special New Year’s Eve ticket package will be sold on December 31st, with more 3D projection shows scheduled.

【Osaka Castle 3D Projection Light Show】

Dates：December 14, 2013 to February 16, 2014

Venue：Nishinomaru Garden, Osaka Castle

Ticket Prices：

Regular Ticket (Special Event Days)：2,000 JPY (junior high school students and above); 1,200 JPY (ages 4 to elementary school)

Regular Ticket (Regular Open Days)：1,600 JPY (junior high school students and above); 950 JPY (ages 4 to elementary school)

Platinum Package (Special Event Days)：3,500 JPY (junior high school students and above); 2,100 JPY (ages 4 to elementary school)

Platinum Package (Regular Open Days)：3,000 JPY (junior high school students and above); 1,800 JPY (ages 4 to elementary school)

New Year’s Eve (December 31) Ticket Prices：

Regular Ticket：4,000 JPY (junior high school students and above); 2,400 JPY (ages 4 to elementary school)

Platinum Package：7,000 JPY (junior high school students and above); 4,200 JPY (ages 4 to elementary school)

【Keep 3D Projection】Show Schedule：Every day at 6:45 PM, 8:15 PM, and 9:45 PM, each show lasting about 10 minutes　※Additional shows may be added depending on circumstances.

【Light Garden Jewel Illumination】Show Schedule：Every evening at 7:15, 8:45, and 10:15

For details and ticket purchasing methods, please visitthe official website of the 【Osaka Castle 3D Projection Mapping Light Show】for inquiries