illumination Archives

20. January 2025 Mia Jaap illumination, minato-ku

Tokyo Blue Garden

Heading to the Tokyo Blue Garden in Happo-en. This is one of the last illumination festivals in the city of Tokyo, ending on January 31.

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2. January 2025 Mia Jaap hibiya, illumination

Hibiya Magic Time Illumination + Disney collaboration

This year the Hibiya Magic Time Illumination was back with a collaboration: Moana 2. The illumination will continue in January.

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7. December 2024 Mia Jaap harajuku, illumination, shibuya

Omotesandō Illumination

You may not be able to afford Omotesandō’s shops, but you can afford this impressive annual show of light, the Omotesandō Illumination festival.

Rikugien Nighttime Illumination Central pond

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2. December 2024 Mia Jaap autumn, illumination

Rikugien Autumn Nighttime Illumination

Autumn colors have finally reached the Tokyo area and with it the special nighttime illuminations at gardens such as Rikugien.

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11. November 2014 Mia Jaap chiba, illumination, winter

Tokyo German Village – Winter Illumination

Tokyo German Village is a park in Chiba, located about two hours from central Tokyo. The park offers facilities for families, flower events, a souvenir shop and German food. It’s not an educational place meant to teach you German – in many ways it’s very much a Japanese park.

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14. July 2012 Mia Jaap chiyoda-ku, illumination

Floating lit lanterns – Chidorigafuchi Toro-nagashi

If you are in Tokyo now, the biggest festival to see is the Mitama Matsuri at Yasukuni Shrine held until

hokkaido lights

14. January 2012 Mia Jaap hakodate, illumination, motomachi, snow

Illumination of Hakodate’s historic Motomachi district

Hakodate was the first port to be opened to foreign trade after Japan was forced to give up its isolation.

hokkaido lights

9. January 2012 Mia Jaap hakodate, hokkaido, illumination, winter

Fort Goryokaku in Hakodate during Winter

Originally, my next stop after Sapporo was supposed to be Aomori, but I switched to Hakodate instead. Hakodate is Hokkaido’s

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25. December 2011 Mia Jaap illumination, sendai

Sendai Pageant of Starlight Illumination festival

Sendai was the biggest Japanese city hit by the tsunami and earthquake, although if you walk in the city centre

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25. December 2011 Mia Jaap illumination, nagoya, night

Nagoya Akari Night Illumination Festival

The Nagoya Akari Night is held around the iconic Nagoya TV Tower, the oldest tv tower in Japan. The tower is illuminated of course, but they also added some additional lights at the bottom for christmas.

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23. December 2011 Mia Jaap illumination

Lightopia Illumination Festival in Tokyo

Unlike most of the other illumination festivals, Lightopia has a very limited run, starting on the 22nd and finishing on