Romantic! 600,000 Lights Illuminate the Night – Sendai’s “Festival of Light” Opens in Japan

Reported by You T-Ru / Comprehensive Reporting

As Christmas draws near, not only in Taiwan but across Japan, heartwarming winter festivals are kicking off. In Sendai City, the “Festival of Light” is lighting up 600,000 lamps along Jozenji-dori and Aoba-dori from now until December 31st. Walking down the streets surrounded by this vast sea of beautiful lights is an incredibly romantic experience.


▲ Sendai Festival of Light. (Photo / From the Tohoku Tourism Revitalization Fan Page)

Held since 1986, the Festival of Light brings warmth to the cold winter in Sendai City. Every night at exactly 6pm, 7pm, and 8pm, the “Star Light Wink” event causes all 600,000 lights along the street to suddenly go out, plunging the area into pitch darkness and prompting pedestrians to pause. After one minute of darkness, the 600,000 lights come back on, filling the street with cheers and joy while transforming Sendai’s nighttime cityscape.