A million colorful lights create a celestial river in the city! A lazy guide to 15 free light spots in Tokyo

▲ Roppongi is now covered in a vast sea of lights!

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Every year as the end of the year approaches, cities across Japan are adorned with dazzling and magnificent light displays, transforming the nighttime streets into a uniquely romantic atmosphere. Tokyo, a popular destination for Taiwanese travelers visiting Japan, is now lit up with beautiful seas of lights just by walking down the street. This article compiles 15 must-visit free light spots you shouldn't miss. If you're planning to spend Christmas and New Year's in Tokyo, make sure to clear some space on your phone and camera memory cards — come to these incredibly photogenic light zones and capture those romantic memories to your heart’s content.

▲ The Marunouchi light display creates a magnificent atmosphere.

1. Marunouchi Light Sea
The annually recurring Marunouchi Light Sea has been around for 15 years. It uses a large number of LED lights to decorate roadside trees, forming an ultra-long golden tunnel of lights. This year, the illuminated area includes Marunouchi Naka Dori, Otemachi Naka Dori, and the areas around Tokyo Station. In December, the lighting hours have even been extended until midnight, making it a must-visit spot in Tokyo for Christmas.

Time: From now until February 19, 2017

2. Yurakucho Winter Light Sea
Unlike the golden lights of Marunouchi, the Yurakucho Winter Light Sea goes for a soft forest vibe, using a large number of green LED lights to decorate both sides of the street, making visitors feel as if they've stepped into a forest of light as soon as they enter the Yurakucho area. The lighting period runs from now until February 14 of next year.

▲ Roppongi’s light sea attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year

3. Roppongi Hills Keyaki-zaka Illuminations
Also a must-see annual Tokyo attraction at the end of the year, the Roppongi Hills Keyaki-zaka Illuminations have already begun. This year, 1.2 million LED lights are used to illuminate a 400-meter stretch of street, with blue, white, and red light effects alternating to create a completely different ambiance. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, and the lighting period runs from now until December 25.

▲ The Roppongi Midtown light sea is also a highlight of Tokyo’s year-end scene.

4. Roppongi Midtown Light Sea
Now in its 10th year, the Midtown Light Sea uses a large number of blue LED lights to create a fantastical space that feels like being immersed in the vast ocean. From the floor to the surrounding roadside trees, everything is illuminated by a sea of blue light. This unique space is also a major highlight at the end of each year, with the lighting period running from now until December 25.

▲ The Meguro River Light Sea organizers use pink LED lights to make cherry blossoms bloom at night.

5. Meguro River Light Sea
Want to enjoy cherry blossoms in winter? The Meguro River Light Sea uses 420,000 pink LED lights to decorate the trees along the riverbanks. When the soft pink lights are turned on at night, it looks just like cherry blossoms in full bloom. To see this “sea of glowing cherry blossoms that only bloom at night,” you must come here. The lighting period runs from now until January 9, 2017.

▲ The Shinjuku Blue Cave makes a comeback in Shibuya after two years.

6. Shibuya – The Blue Cave
The Blue Cave Light Sea, which was held in Nakameguro in 2014, makes a return after two years in a new location. It extends from Shibuya Park Street all the way to Yoyogi Park, using 550,000 navy blue LED lights to decorate the trees on both sides of the road, creating a 750-meter-long blue sea of light. It runs from November 22 to January 9, 2017.

▲ The incredibly dreamy Omotesando Light Sea.

7. Omotesando Light Sea
Compared to other light sea areas, the Omotesando Light Sea appears only in December, making it somewhat of a December-only event. Starting from the Meiji Shrine intersection and the entrance to the Omotesando Harajuku 2-chome shopping street, 500,000 LED lights are used to illuminate the entire Omotesando area. The warm-toned light tunnel quickly maxes out everyone’s camera storage. The lighting period runs from now until December 25.

▲ The Nakameguro Light Sea shines like jewelry.

8. Nakameguro Light Sea
After a two-year hiatus, Nakameguro joins the light sea scene this year. Using 300,000 LED lights, a roughly one-kilometer stretch from Hakuraku Bridge near Nakameguro Station to Asahi Bridge is decorated with a profusion of lights, creating a sparkling jewel-like glow. The display runs from December 16 to December 25.

▲ Caretta Shiodome, a highlight of the year’s light viewing.

9. Caretta Shiodome
The Caretta Shiodome light sea, which attracts over 500,000 visitors every year, is naturally a highlight for winter illumination this year too. This year’s theme is the Blue Elves Forest, where under the chime of the Elf Bell, the giant Christmas tree and surrounding light displays are lit up together, creating a mesmerizing world of silver and blue. Runs from now until February 14th next year.

▲Tokyo Tower’s 3D projection show. (Photo / from the official Tokyo Tower website)

10. Tokyo Tower
From now until December 25th, in combination with the lighting effects on the outside of the tower, the entire row of glass windows and floors in the Main Observatory will use 3D projection to allow visitors to enjoy the beautiful Tokyo nightscape from different perspectives. Runs from now until April 23rd, 2017.

11. Ebisu Garden Place
The giant Christmas tree and European-style castle architecture make Ebisu Garden Place a dreamy spot where you can take photos as if you were strolling through the streets of Europe. The area is also surrounded by a vast light sea decorated with 100,000 LED lights. Runs from now until January 9th, 2017.

12. Shinjuku Terrace City
Shinjuku Terrace City, which is known for using a large amount of LED lights to create a spectacular light display each year, this year again takes cherry blossoms as its theme, adorning the Shinjuku area with a massive number of pink LEDs to create a super dreamy and romantic atmosphere. Runs from now until February 14th, 2017.

13. Nishi-Shinjuku Light Sea Museum
Using ten facilities across Nishi-Shinjuku as venues, a brand-new type of light sea museum has been created. It has already opened, allowing the public to walk through commercial buildings, department stores, and hotels while admiring the stunning light sea woven from various colored LED lights. Runs from now until December 25th.

▲The 12-meter-high Christmas tree is located at Tokyo Opera City. (Photo / from the official Tokyo Opera City website)

14. Shinjuku - Fantasy Illumination in TOKYO OPERA CITY
If you’re tired of light seas, then come see the Christmas tree instead. The 12-meter-high Christmas tree that is erected in Shinjuku every year is now illuminated in the garden atrium inside OPERA CITY. In addition, from December 21st to 25th, there will also be a limited-time performance featuring both 3D projections and lighting effects, ensuring visitors have a joyful Christmas.

▲Omotesando Hills’ Christmas lights this year are incredibly gorgeous. (Photo / from Fashionpress)

15. Omotesando Hills
Omotesando Hills, whose annual lighting displays are always highly praised, this year uses a vast array of lights to surround the entire Omotesando area. Even the shops are adorned with twinkling decorative lights that resemble starlight. From now until December 25th, there is also a 10-meter-tall Star Christmas Tree to admire. A perfect blend of shopping and light viewing—don’t miss out on this fashion hotspot.