2023 Naha Marathon
If you get all the way down to sunny Okinawa in December and feel like you still haven’t achieved enough, check out the Naha Marathon, a “Festival of Sun, Ocean and Joggers” …
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Himeji Castle Light-up
Himeji Castle has several illumination events throughout the year. For 2022, the winter illumination event will have the title “Castle History” as 2023 will be the 30th anniversary of …
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Kobe Luminarie 2023
Update: For 2022, the illuminations will once again be postponed, but an alternative event will take place. See below for details. Kobe Luminarie is an annual winter light-up held in memory of …
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Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri
This festival in Nara prefecture traces its origin back to the 12th century. The name comes from the Wakamiya Shrine – a shrine within the ground of the larger Kasuga Taisha Shrine. This …
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Huis Ten Bosch Christmas Town
Christmas really does come early in Nagasaki. Even if only 2% of Japanese are Christians, they do the season so well that this is really worth checking out. As soon as Halloween ends, the whole …
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Glover Garden Night Illumination
Nagasaki is a city so soaked in the history of Japan and the West that you can hardly turn a corner without stepping into a significant space. The Glover Garden is one such place. In 1863, Thomas …
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Fukuoka Christmas Market and Illuminations
Fukuoka Christmas Market is considered one of the biggest Christmas markets in Japan. There are a number of venues, so technically there is more than one market. In its 10th year, the miniature …
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Illumi Eeru Iwaki
Formerly known as Iwaki Hikari no Sakura (Light Cherry Blossoms), this illumination event has been rebranded with a difficult to translate name. “Eeru” is an encouraging chant used in …
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Sendai Pageant of Starlight
In its 37th year, the event’s official Japanese title is “Sendai Hikari no Pajento” which doesn’t mention anything about starlight. If it’s not obvious from the …
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Ramen Expo 2023
The Ramen Expo in Expo Commemoration Park (more commonly known as Banpakukoen) takes place this year over five consecutive weekends (including some Fridays) in December. When is it? The dates for …
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Huis Ten Bosch New Year Countdown
Huis Ten Bosch sure knows how to conduct a party, and the theme park especially shines (literally) when it comes to their New Year Countdown. There will be more than 8,000 fireworks shot into the …
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Okera Mairi: Old Year’s Eve at Yasaka-jinja Shrine
Want to ensure peace and prosperity for 2023? Head to Kyoto’s Yasaka Shrine on the 31st of December for the Okera Mairi ceremony, which is supposed to ensure just that. What happens? Okera …
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Saga Light Fantasy
Spreading out from the south entrance of Saga Station, Saga Light Fantasy is a winter illumination featuring more than 1.8 million colored LED bulbs. There will be an incredible opening night on …
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Nankinmachi Lantern Fair
The already beautiful and bustling streets of Kobe’s China Town will be decorated with hundreds of red lanterns until January 9. The magical surroundings are perfect for an evening stroll …
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Festival of Lights Osaka
Osaka’s winter illuminations are split into two main events under the “Festival of Lights” umbrella: Midosuji Illumination and Osaka Hikari Renaissance. But there are also quite …
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Osaka Illuminage
Illuminage will happen at five venues this year throughout Osaka and Kobe (and even one in Fukuoka) — that’s a lot of lights. For more of Osaka’s best winter illuminations, …
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Sapporo White Illumination
This winter light-up takes place at five different locations including Odori Park, Sapporo Eki-mae Dori and Minami 1-Jo Dori. All locations switch on the lights on November 22nd, but while Odori …
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