The Olympic flame returns to Tokyo after 56 years as Japan hosts a spectacular light show

▲ With Tokyo’s successful Olympic bid, the Skytree will also feature a unique special effects light show (Photo / from YAHOO JAPAN Skytree Special Feature website)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

After 56 years, the Olympic flame will once again ignite in Tokyo in 2020. The news that Tokyo successfully secured the bid to host the 2020 Olympics filled the nation with joy, with many people hugging and even crying tears of happiness. In celebration, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government organized dazzling light shows at major tourist attractions across the city. HowToTrip has compiled the schedules for these light shows across Tokyo for readers. Those planning to visit Japan soon may want to include them in their itinerary to celebrate Tokyo’s successful 2020 Olympic bid with the locals.

Tokyo Skytree – Special Light Effects Show
Dates: September 8 (Sunday) to 16 (Monday), 2013
Lighting Times:
Theme “Countdown to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics”: 6:15 PM to 7:00 PM
Theme “Special Olympic Bid Light Show”: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM (with alternating light displays every 60 minutes until 11:00 PM)
Content:
“Countdown to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics”: A design selected from submissions by elementary school students in Sumida Ward, themed around the “Imagination of Bidding for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.”
“Special Olympic Bid Light Show”: Uses the Olympic bid logo’s main colors—blue, yellow, Edo purple, green, and red—to create a multi-layered, fantastical lighting effect on the Skytree.

▲ Following Tokyo’s successful 2020 Olympic bid, spectacular light shows are being displayed at major attractions across the city. Left image: Tokyo Tower; right image: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building First Building (Photo / from the official Tokyo Metropolitan Government website)

Tokyo Tower Light Show

Duration: September 8 (Sunday) to 14 (Saturday), 2013
Lighting Times: On September 8, from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM
From September 9 to 14, from sunset to 10:00 PM
Content: The tower is adorned with blue, green, red, and yellow lights resembling diamonds covering its entire structure, while the observation deck with blacked-out windows adds a fifth color to showcase Tokyo Tower’s captivating charm.

Special Light Art Display at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building First Building

Duration: September 8 (Sunday) to 20 (Friday), 2013
Lighting Times: 6:00 PM to midnight
Content: A light show featuring blue, yellow, red, and green is displayed from the 8th floor upwards and from the 43rd floor upwards (twin tower sections) of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building First Building.

Rainbow Bridge Special Light Show

Duration: September 8 (Sunday) to 16 (Monday), 2013
Lighting Times: From sunset to midnight
Content: The two bridge towers are illuminated with pinkish-red lights, and for the first time, white and pink alternating neon bulbs are placed along the suspension cables, decorating the entire Rainbow Bridge.

Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line Bridge – Special Light Effects for Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Bid

Implementation period: September 8 (Sunday) to 15 (Sunday), 2013
Lighting time: From sunset to midnight
Content: LED neon lights in five colors—light blue, white gold, bellflower purple, green, and crimson—are arranged along the sides of the bridge with an Olympic theme, creating a uniquely brilliant glow in the night.

▲The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has installed colorful neon lights on both the Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line bridge, where the radiant lights shine as brilliantly as the joyful hearts of the Japanese people at night. (Photo / Courtesy of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government official website)