VIDEO| Holiday season illuminates Yokohama Minatomirai District

Holiday season in Japan is synonymous with amazing illuminations throughout the country.

I love the beauty of this winter tradition, and the warm and brilliant lights feel like an appropriate way to end another year. While strolling in the bright streets at night, I can’t help but reminisce about the people and places I encountered over the year.

Yokohama is an elegant, romantic port city where colorful illuminations really stand out.

The Yokohama Milight Illumination project wraps the center bay area of Yokohama City with a nearly one-mile-long colorful illumination that connects JR Yokohama Station and Minatomirai Station. The illuminations light up the Yokohama Minatomirai area with the backdrop of majestic Landmark Tower, Bay Bridge and Marine Tower.

While strolling through the lights, you may want to drop by Dockyard Garden behind the Landmark Tower. On the bottom of the dry dock, you can see a large ship-shaped blue illumination made up of 100,000 LEDs while cheerful Christmas music is played.

Another must-see is a colorfully decorated, 7-meter tall, 9,000-LEDs “Good Memory Crystal Tree” that stands on the first floor of MARK IS shopping mall.

A walk through Yokohama Bay this time of year is truly gorgeous, and is an easy trip for those at Yokosuka, Zama and Atsugi.

Yokohama Milight

Period: Nov. 11 – Feb. 13
Hours: 4 - 11 p.m.
Location: From JR Yokohama Station (East Exit) to Dockyard Garden (Landmark Tower)
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