Kansai Christmas Pilgrimage Spots ! It's time to book your flight abroad for Christmas!
Once a year, Christmas comes around — come to Japan and immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere. Here we recommend the must-visit Christmas pilgrimage spots in Kansai. Start planning your perfect Christmas trip now!
Read more>>>>【Christmas Selection in Asian Cities】Spend Christmas Abroad ! The “World’s Tallest Light Christmas Tree” Will Shine for the Last Time This Year!
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- Photo / Osaka 0? Light no Shuen Executive Committee Facebook
01| Light no Shuen 2016
Launched in 2013, Light no Shuen features the Midosuji Illuminations as its centerpiece, using lights to create a Christmas mood. Each district showcases its own unique character. "Light no Shuen" has become one of the most popular winter destinations for travelers from around the world. Where tourists go, the Osaka Castle lights shine — an absolutely breathtaking sight.
Date: November 20, 2016 – January 9, 2017
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- Photo / Osaka 0? Light no Shuen Executive Committee Facebook
02| Hankyu Umeda Station
A subway station symbolizes time, and clocks represent the hurried steps of travelers. Amid the bustle between stations, Umeda Station decorates this year’s Christmas theme with a “Clock Corridor,” offering a distinctly British flair.
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- Photo / Osaka 0? Light no Shuen Executive Committee Facebook
03| JR Osaka Station 5F
A favorite among photographers every year, this year’s Christmas event at JR Osaka Station is themed “Twilight Fantasy.” White little snowmen dot the red floor, adding a cute warmth to the space. The youthful and joyful vibe of the station makes it feel as innocent and happy as a child.
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- Photo / Osaka 0? Light no Shuen Executive Committee Facebook
04| Grand Front Osaka
The most elegant Christmas tree of 2016 belongs to Grand Front Osaka. Standing 8 meters tall, the tree is mainly decorated with white flowers. The blooming blossoms symbolize an eternal, unbreakable future, hence named “Eternal Flower.” From 17:00 to 23:00 daily, the mall puts on a light show every 15 minutes here, making the “Eternal Flower” shine even more brilliantly.
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- Photo / Deutschland 0?? Lineup Facebook
05| Umeda Christmas Market
The “Christmas Market,” which has traveled all the way from its birthplace in Germany, is Osaka’s largest winter event. Even while in Osaka, you can enjoy authentic German delicacies. The event will feature the world’s largest Christmas tree, decorated with over 100,000 lights, creating a starry glow that illuminates the entire venue. Along the streets, wooden booths offer a variety of unique handmade crafts, along with local specialties such as steaming German wine and grilled sausages — everything you could wish for.
Date: November 18, 2016 – December 25, 2016
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- Photo / Abeno Harukas Facebook
06| Abeno Harukas
As Osaka’s tallest building, Abeno Harukas features a giant 9-meter mascot balloon named AbenobeA in its Sky Garden on the 58th floor. Additionally, a 5-meter-tall AbenobeA Christmas tree is set up on the 16th floor for visitors to take photos with.
The night view from Abeno Harukas is also currently the highest and most beautiful spot in Osaka. Aside from enjoying panoramic views of Osaka Castle, this is also where you pick up the VIP wristband for Universal Studios Japan. With thousands of visitors from around the globe coming to Universal Studios every day, to avoid long queues, KLOOK also sells VIP wristbands for early park entry — giving you first access to the hottest rides. Don’t forget this essential tip!
Date: November 4, 2016 – January 31, 2017
Book now>>>> Abeno Observatory Ticket + Osaka Metro One-Day Pass
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- Photo / Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatoro Official Website
07| Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatoro 2016
The "Path of Lantern Flowers," stretching from Arashiyama all the way to the bamboo grove, is one of Kyoto’s most spectacular Christmas highlights each year. A dazzling array of lights is arranged along a path about 5 kilometers long, reflecting off the mountain mist and creating an enchanting scene that captivates visitors. In particular, the Kyoto Flower Arrangement Association uses large floral displays along the Path of Lantern Flowers to showcase the diverse and beautiful scenery of Arashiyama. Meanwhile, the area around Togetsukyo Bridge is illuminated to highlight the majestic beauty of the nighttime natural landscape, and the bamboo grove pathway, glowing with vibrant colors, leaves tourists in awe of its grandeur.
Dates: December 9, 2016 – December 18, 2016; March 3, 2017 – March 12, 2017
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- Photo / Kyoto Ruri Kei Onsen POTE POTE PARK Official Website
08| Kyoto Ruri Kei Onsen POTE POTE PARK Aurora Exhibition
Entering its fifth year, the Kyoto Snow and Light Festival is held in the mountains southwest of Sonobe Town, Yamanashi County, Kyoto Prefecture. Ruri Kei Onsen POTE POTE PARK boasts beautiful natural surroundings. Light symbolizes hope, and beautiful scenery can heal the soul—this place serves as a source of rejuvenation. Visitors can find spiritual healing through the scenery and hot springs, and the "Forest in the Sky" is a must-visit spot for tourists.
Dates: October 29, 2016 – April 9, 2017
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- Photo / Shutterstock 2016 Light Festival Images
09| Kobe Luminarie 2017
As one of Japan’s three major winter festivals, the Kobe Luminarie is an annual event held in December in Kobe City, Japan, starting from 1995 in the wake of the Great Hanshin Earthquake on January 17 of that year. The festival aims to mourn the victims of the earthquake, pray for the city’s recovery, and help revive tourism in Kobe.
It has now become one of the most important winter events in Kobe. Through its breathtaking light displays, the festival not only uplifts local residents from their suffering but also represents hope and rebirth. It has also grown into a major attraction for tourists, drawing over a million visitors each year.
Dates: December 2, 2016 – December 11, 2016
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- Christmas pilgrimage spots Photo / Illuminage in Kobe Fruit & Flower Park Official Website
10| Kobe Illuminage in Kobe Fruit & Flower Park
Featuring four LED-lit thematic light displays, it takes both adults and children into a Christmas fairy-tale world, reminiscent of a Nordic realm. However, please note that the Fruit & Flower Park is located in the suburbs of Kobe, making transportation a bit less convenient. Visitors who wish to witness this spectacle should pay close attention to transport information and travel times.
Dates: November 1, 2016 – February 12, 2017