The Spectacular Ice Christmas Winter Festival at Lake Haruna Opens Romantically

As the year draws to a close, dreamy neon lights illuminate various parts of Japan, transforming winter nights into a wonderland of colorful decorations. At Lake Haruna in Gunma Prefecture, nestled at the foot of Mount Haruna, a winter festival centered around the Haruna Lake Rest Area lights up over 500,000 bulbs annually, alongside laser shows and fireworks over the lake. The normally tranquil Lake Haruna transforms into a dazzling fantasy world on winter evenings.

This year’s Lake Haruna Winter Festival will run for 20 days from December 6 to December 25, 2013. During the festival, a Christmas tree and large light displays will be set up in the center of the lake. A spectacular blend of lasers and lights invites you into a world of fantasy, and lucky visitors might even meet Santa Claus. The best place to enjoy this dazzling display is from the top of Mount Haruna, where you can take in heart-shaped lights on the lake bridge, pyramids, peace domes, and underwater trees—all visible in one sweeping view. Visitors can take the cable car up the mountain, which will extend its operating hours until 9:00 PM during the festival (weather permitting).

The lights are turned on daily at 5:00 PM. Just as night begins to fall—before even the moon rises—the pitch-dark venue instantly illuminates 500,000 bulbs, welcoming visitors to a radiant winter night festival. Then, starting at 5:30 PM, there will be hourly laser shows, and visitors can also submit laser message requests—for wishes, confessions, or marriage proposals—at a cost of 2,000 yen per message. Additionally, don’t miss the large-scale fireworks during the festival, scheduled for 5:30 PM on December 6, 9, 12, and 9:00 PM on December 16 and 25—five shows in total.