Celebrate Christmas in Tokyo: 10 Magical Winter Illuminations & Christmas Markets to Check Out

It’s the most magical time of the year — and it certainly shows in Tokyo. Come November every year, Tokyo is transformed into a dazzling city of light. Winter illuminations are scattered all around the city, made even better with bustling Christmas Markets to get in the festive mood. Plus, some of these illuminations extend well into February, giving you plenty of time to soak it all in!

#KlookTip: Transportation in Tokyo can be pricey, and it chalks up fast. Snag lots of savings with a Tokyo subway pass that gives you unlimited rides, valid for both the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway. Besides, more money saved on transport means more money to spend on food — which is just the way we like it.

This is our favourite Tokyo winter illumination, hands down! Tokyo Midtown is a gigantic shopping complex that hosts a magnificent Christmas event every year, with amazing light shows across an entire field, one of the city’s biggest ice rinks, and more.

Each year sees something new added to the program: in 2023, expect sustainable Christmas trees made from fallen branches, and a ‘gold trees’ installation complete with smoke and lights.

Whilst you’re there, why not enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the Roppongi Hills Observation Deck too?

Perhaps one of the most iconic shots of Roppongi Hills’ illuminations would be from the bridge that crosses Keyakizaka Street, where you can take a photo with Tokyo Tower in the background.

Pop by Mori Garden to witness an enchanting field of lights surrounding a tranquil pond.

And if you’re after some classic European Christmas market vibes, the 17th edition of Roppongi Hill’s version at O-Yane Plaza ticks all the boxes. Modelled after a German Christmas market, the area offers plenty of stalls selling souvenirs and piping hot food and beverages. A mug of beer and some sausages, anyone? 

Bet you didn’t expect to find a cave made out of trees, huh! Found along an 800-metre stretch that links Shibuya to Yoyogi Park, the Shibuya Blue Cave is made out of around 700,000 LED lights. The Blue Cave area will also host a Christmas Market for the first time in 2023.

#KlookTip: The stretch gets crowded fast; in the past, it was said to welcome around 2 million visitors in December alone. To avoid the crowds, we recommend heading over just before the sky turns dark.

There’s plenty to do in Shibuya too: drive a go-kart, marvel at the view from Shibuya Sky, or discover the hidden local bars in the district.

Usually held at Hibiya Park (which is currently ongoing construction), the 2023 installation of Tokyo Christmas Market will be held at Meiji Jingu Gaien instead. Comprising the city’s largest Christmas Market, this is the place to soak up the most Christmassy of Christmas feels.

Browse the vibrant market stalls, load up on hearty plates of European fare, down mug after mug of mulled wine (the mug is yours to keep!), and simply revel in the festive atmosphere. The star of the show is the 14-metre-high Christmas pyramid installation, on top of live performances throughout the season.

Take a stroll along Marunouchi’s Nakadori Avenue, where around 1.2 million fairy lights are draped all over the trees. There’s so much to do here: a merry-go-round, festive glasshouse market stalls, an ice-skating rink, and more.

If you’re a big Disney fan like us, you’d love the special Bright Christmas 2023 event in celebration of Disney’s 100th anniversary.

Check out a light show based on the new movie Wish at the Marunouchi building, a Beauty and the Beast set-up at Marunouchi Brick Square, a Frozen-inspired Christmas tree at Marunouchi Oazo, a photo wall at Kokusai building, and a nifty Fantasia hat at Shin-Marunouchi building. There will even be specially curated Disney-themed menus at certain local restaurants.

#KlookTip: For some interactive fun, participate in the stamp rally where you can collect 9 different Disney stamps! Make Marunouchi Oazu your first stop, where you can collect an event pamphlet and map, plus your first stamp.

What say you to some retail therapy with a view? The Kitte department store has rolled out a White Kitte Christmas event, with an ethereal winter forest theme. It uses real fir trees — with a towering 12-metre-tall tree in the middle of its atrium.

The trees are surrounded by snowflake ornaments, as well as a snow dome photo opportunity. You’ll definitely love the Forest Orchestra light show, which is played to classic Christmas songs. 

#KlookTip: The Kitte department store is also very near to the Hibiya winter illuminations, so do check that out while you’re in the area!

Shinjuku is one of Tokyo’s busiest hubs — sporting various department stores (arm yourself with this Odakyu department store discount coupon!), find the giant Godzilla statue at the lively Kabukicho district, relieve stress by breaking lots of stuff at REEAST Room, have a local izakaya experience at Omoide Yokocho, and go bar-hopping at Golden Gai. 

At the end of the day, head to the Shinjuku Southern Terrace for a sparkling winter illumination comprising around 170,000 LED bulbs.

Shiodome might not be very centrally located, but trust us when we say that it’s worth the trip. One of Tokyo’s longest-running illuminations, Shiodome’s illuminations for the past years have been Disney-themed. Think: Aladdin, Frozen, Tangled, and Beauty and the Beast. Both enchanting and romantic, the light and music show — held every 15 minutes — is made out of a staggering 250,000 twinkling LED lights.

The details of this year’s illumination have yet to be announced, so stay tuned!

Did you know that the Tokyo Tower is the tallest tower in the world? Standing at a height of 634 metres, the Tokyo Tower plays host to the grand Dream Christmas event every year. It sets the stage with themed decorations, commemorative photo opportunities with the adorable Sorakara-chan mascot, and more.

For the first time in four years, there will also be live musical performances by local artistes — such as Takaya Kawasaki and Hinata Kashiwagi — at the observation deck. 

Tokyo Skytree itself will also be illuminated with special Christmas lights; keep your eyes peeled for a red and white candle tree, as well as a green and gold champagne tree.

This may be a little out of Tokyo but trust us, it’s well worth the journey. Wander through a fabulous Christmas Market, with a 10-metre real fir tree that changes colour depending on the time of day, at Yokohama Christmas Market!

Fill up on warm mugs of mulled wine (for each original mug sold, a portion will be donated to charity!), and stuff yourself with all sorts of Christmas goodies. Don’t miss out on the Illumination Garden (free to enter), which has animal light structures scattered all through the grounds. 

In fact, why not spend the entire day at Yokohama? Visit the Cup Noodles Museum, take wacky photos at the Trick Art Museum, join a tour to eat like a local, unwind at an onsen, and visit the Gundam Factory. P.S. Arm yourself with the Klook Pass Yokohama to get the best bang for your buck.

#KlookTip: Download the official Yokohama Christmas Market app to enjoy a discounted entry fee of 300yen (~S$2.70), plus skip the lines by ordering food via the app.

That’s not all: check out other winter illuminations at Meguro River (where the trees will be decked out in pink LED lights to resemble cherry blossoms!), Omotesando, and Tokyo Dome. To see the best of Tokyo, take advantage of this hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus that’ll take you to all the city’s hotspots.

If you have the time, you might even want to make the trip to Yomiuriland (just under an hour from Tokyo), an amusement park famous for its winter illumination.

This year's light-up, Yomiuri Land Jewellumination, sees the theme park dressed in bedazzling splendour, from colourful lights to spectacular fountain shows, and will be happening until 7 April 2024!