Illumination Events in Japan

Kyoto Candlelight Concert: Best of Joe Hisaishi (Studio Ghibli)

Warm up a chilly night with candlelight and your favorite songs from Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi.

Kōbe Candlelight Concert: Best of Joe Hisaishi (Studio Ghibli)

Warm up a chilly night with candlelight and your favorite songs from Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi.

Nara Daimonji Okuribi

Pray for peace and the souls of the fallen at this sombre festival.

Nara Tokae

See Nara's deer in a new light, literally. Made out of candles, this festival is about enormous pieces of art.

Kyoto Nippon Festival 2027

Stunning plum gardens, illuminations, music, and more await at this top spring event.

Kōdai-ji Temple Spring Illuminations

Kyoto's Kōdai-ji Temple features one of the city's most stunning springtime illuminations, complete with projection mapping and Zen vibes.

Hiokayama Cherry Blossom Illuminations

Over 300 lanterns softly light a tunnel of blooming cherry trees at Hiokayama Park.

Naked Flower Tower

This is a whole new, high tech way to enjoy spring's many blossoms.

Hikone Castle Cherry Blossom Festival 2027

This nighttime event lights up the thousands of cherry blossoms at Hikone Castle near Lake Biwa.

Fuji-Kawaguchiko Cherry Blossom Festival 2027

Take this chance to visit Kawaguchiko during cherry blossom season and be rewarded with an incredible view of Mount Fuji.

teamLab Nemophila Illumination

An outdoor night museum, with nemophila in the spotlight. This seasonal installation by international art collective teamLab is worth checking out.

Osaka Castle Cherry Blossom Illumination

With extended evening hours, food stalls, and a rare chance to see Osaka’s iconic castle framed by illuminated cherry blossoms, this is nighttime sakura viewing at its most enchanting.

Kyoto Toji Temple Cherry Blossom Illuminations

Kyoto is no stranger to spectacular sakura views, but Toji Temple's nighttime atmosphere is something else entirely.

Maruyama Park Weeping Cherry Tree Illumination

The light-up event of the weeping cherry tree at Maruyama Park in Kyoto is a must-see annual tradition.

Kiyomizu-dera Spring Illuminations 2027

To celebrate the change to spring, Kiyomizu-dera will hold a night event to brighten up the foliage.

Gion Shirakawa Evening Cherry Blossom Illuminations

For just a short window in late March and early April, the sakura in Gion's Shirakawa area are illuminated.

Illuminations at Hirakata Amusement Park in Osaka

Hirakata Park’s illuminations return with a new 17-meter castle of light, lantern shows and 20-plus night rides, all included with admission.

Laguna Ten Bosch Illuminations

These illuminations are award-winning.

Shuzenji Niji-no-Sato Winter Illuminations

Shuzenji Niji-no-Sato's winter illuminations return. This time, there's fireworks, too.

“Light of Versailles” Winter Illumination

A winter illumination event involving fountains, water, and lots of lights.

Sapporo White Illumination

See the snowy streets of Sapporo lit up with illuminations

Tsunan Snow Festival

Sky lanterns light up the night, snowboarders take on epic jumps, and local food stalls bring Niigata’s snow country to life at the Tsunan Snow Festival.

Osaka Aquarium Illuminations

Bathe in a sea of light.

Umekita Champagne Gold Illumination

Half a million champagne-gold LEDs by Osaka Station, and it's free to see.