CATCH THE ILLUMINATIONS

SHIROI KOIBITO PARK ILLUMINATION (HOKKAIDO): Until Mar 14; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; The indoor of park buildings will be beautifully illuminated; 7-minute walk from Miyanosawa Station; exit Sapporo Nishi I.C. free parking; 011-666-1481; www.shiroikoibitopark.jp/en/

MISAWA PHANTASIA(AOMORI): Until Jan. 9; 4 p.m.-midnight; featuring a 16-meter tall ‘big tree’ with 10,000 LED lights and dozens of suspended balls illuminated in various colors in the Nakayoshi Park; 5-minute walk from Misawa AB main gate; 0176-53-2175; https://misawa-phantasia.jimdofree.com/

ARTS TOWADA WINTER ILLUMINATION 2022 (AOMORI): Dec. 16 -Feb. 14, 4:30-9 p.m.; blue 300,000 LED lights decorate with the snow covered in front of Towada Modern Arts Museum; 35-minute bus ride from JR Shichinohe Towada Station; 0176-51-6772; https://www.city.towada.lg.jp/kanko/event/arts-towada-winter-illumination.html

KOIWAI WINTER LIGHTS (IWATE): Until Jan. 9, 4 - 8 p.m.; close on Dec. 31; featuring illumination decorates with 1 mil. LED lights themed with “Galaxy Farm Night”; 1,000 yen for 12 or older; 15-minute drive from Morioka I.C. on Tohoku Express; 019 692-4321; https://www.koiwai.co.jp/makiba/illumination/

TOKYO SKYTREE DREAM CHRISTMAS 2022 (TOKYO): Until Dec. 25; enjoy over 500,000 lights around the Skytree Town. Collaborates with TV Tokyo event “TV Tokyo winter park in Tokyo Skytree Town” to provide special event and gourmet foods; Oshiage or Tokyo Skytree Station. 0570-55-0634; https://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/event/info/xmas2022

MARUNOUCHI ILLUMINATION 2022 (TOKYO): Until Feb. 19; 3 - 11 p.m. (Dec. 1 – 31, 3-midnight); Over 220 street trees can be decorated with 1 mil. Champagne gold LED lights around Otemachi and Yurakcho; JR Tokyo Station; 03-5218-5100; https://www.marunouchi.com/event/detail/33119/

OMOTESANDO HILLS CHRISTMAS 2022 (TOKYO): Until Dec. 25; 11 a.m.- 11 p.m.; Omotesando Hills Christmas illumination with the theme of “Aurora emerging in the city,” decorated on a 23-ft tree with the LED lights on the center of open space at the venue along with “light curtain’ consisting of 6,000 icicle appears on the upper part of stairway. JR Harajuku or Omote Sando Station; 03-3497-0310; https://www.omotesandohills.com/events/event/2022/008020.html

SHIBUYA BLUE GROTT 2022 (TOKYO): Until Dec. 25; 5-10 p.m.; illumination of 600,000 LED lights with the theme of “Blue Grotto” through Shibuya Koen Street and Yoyogi Park; walking distance from Shibuya and Harajyuku Station; http://shibuya-aonodokutsu.jp/

CHRISTMAS MARKET IN YOKOHAMA RED BRICK WAREHOUSE (KANAGAWA): Until Dec. 25; 4 – 10 p.m.; 32 ft. Christmas tree at the entrance and illumination roof is lighting up for the 13th event. Ice skate rink is also available.15-minute walk from Sakuragicho or Kanai Station. 045-2272002; https://www.yokohama-akarenga.jp/christmas/

SAGAMI LAKE ILLUMILLION (KANAGAWA): Until Apr. 2; about 6 mil. LED lights are decorated around the Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forrest. Amusement Park, Hot Spring, Camping and BBQ area is also available. 1,800 yen for adults, 1,200 yen under 12.10-minute bus ride from JR Sagamiko or Hashimoto Station; 7-minute drive from Sagamiko Higashi I.C on Chuo Express. 0570-037-353; www.sagamiko-resort.jp/illumillion/

MOTHER FARM ILLUMINATION (CHIBA): Until Jan. 6 and Weekend only on Jan.11- Mar. 5; 4-7:30 p.m. annual theme is flower garden of light that is featuring the lighting flower garden, princess flower dress and rainbow tunnel; 800 yen for over 15, 400 yen for under 12. Shuttle bus service is available from Kimitsu Station. 0439-37-3211; https://www.motherfarm.co.jp.e.apt.hp.transer.com/information/illumination2022/

KOBE LUMINARIE (HYOGO): Until Dec. 18, sunset - 9 p.m. Held since Dec 1995, entrusted with the requisition of the victims of the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake and the reconstruction and regeneration of the city. 7 minute walk from JR Motomachi Station. 078-230-1001. https://kobe-luminarie.jp/index.html

BIHOKU PARK ILLUMINATION (HIROSHIMA): Until Jan. 9; 5:30 - 9 p.m.; close on Dec. 31 and Jan.1; various illumination decorated with over 700,000 LED lights throughout the park, live performance and fireworks are scheduled on the weekends.450 yen for over 15, 210 yen for over 65; 0824-72-7000; https://www.bihokupark.jp/special/winter

KIRAKIRA FESTIVAL IN SASEBO (NAGASAKI): Festival opens until Dec.25 (Illumination opens until Jan. 13); 5-11 p.m.; Decorate around the shopping street in Sasebo city and the illumination selected by annual Sasebo news on the Shimanose Art Center wall is remarkable; Live performance and dance battle are scheduled through the event; 15-minute walk from JR Sasebo Station; 0956-21-4411; https://www.facebook.com/sasebokirafes

SOUTHEAST BOTANICAL GARDEN ILLUMINATION (OKINAWA): Until May. 28, 5-10 p.m.; decorates the light tunnels, tree house and light carpets with 1.8 mil. LED lights to illuminate trees and the promenade fantastically. 1,980 yen for adult, 1,200 yen for ages 13 - 17; 680 yen for ages 4 - 12; 5-minute drive from Okinawa Kita I.C; 098-939-2555; http://www.southeast-botanical.jp/en/

CHRISTMAS MARKET TIME!

TOKYO CHRISTMAS MARKET: Until Dec. 25; 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Hibiya Park; https://tokyochristmas.net/

YOKOHAMA RED BRICK WAREHOUSE CHRISTMAS MARKET: Until Dec. 25; 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. until Dec. 9; 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Dec. 10 – Dec. 25; free. Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse near Bashamichi Station (Minatomirai line); https://www.yokohama-akarenga.jp/christmas/

TAMAARI TOWN CHRISTMAS MARKET: Until Dec. 25; noon – 9 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. weekends & holidays; free. Tamaari Town Keyaki Hiroba 2F; https://tamaari-xmas.com/

ROPPONGI HILLS CHRISTMAS MARKET 2022: Until Dec. 25; 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. everyday; free. Roppongi Hills; https://www.roppongihills.com/sp/christmas/2022/illumination-event/market.html