Osaka: 15 Enchanting Winter Illuminations in 2024-2025

Each year, dazzling lights spread across Osaka, adorning famous landmarks in the city. Visitors can enjoy Christmas illuminations while visiting historical and art spots, as well as places full of nature.

In this article, we introduce 15 locations with winter illuminations in Osaka - from enchanting gardens to shopping centers and award-winning displays. Osaka's famous illuminations are sure to make your heart soar with excitement!

15 Dazzling Illuminations in Osaka 2024-2025

1. Osaka Midosuji Winter Illumination
2. Osaka Castle Illuminage 2024
3. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
4. Wonder Night Hill 2024 - Sakai Green Museum Harvest Hill
5. Hirakata Park- Flowering Illumination
6. Illumination Expo 2024 × EXPOCITY
7. Osaka Hikari Renaissance
8. Namba Hikari Tabi Namba Parks
9. Christmas Market in Osaka
10. Hankyu Umeda Main Store Christmas Market
11. Osaka GRAND WISH CHRISTMAS 2024 Infinity Lights
12. Umeda Sky Building Rumi Sky Walk
13. Universal Studios Japan: No Limit! Christmas
14. Diamor Holy Fantasy 2024
15. Osaka Station Twilight Fantasy: Forest of light that brings happiness

1. Osaka Midosuji Winter Illumination

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The Midosuji Osaka Illumination is one of Osaka's top winter events. The wide-spanning illumination, stretching on Midosuji Avenue from the Hanshin-mae intersection to the Namba west exit intersection, has captivated people's hearts.

In fact, it even won a world record in 2015 for having the most illuminated trees on a single street!

Photo by Pixta

This impressive illumination is held each year alongside Osaka Hikari-Renaissance, creating the main highlights of the Festival of Lights in Osaka. Taking place in Osaka's Midosuji Avenue and Nakanoshima, the path is paved with beautiful multicolored lights. We are certain that visitors to the award-winning Midosuji Avenue will be star-struck!

Osaka Midosuji Winter Illumination

Period: November 3 - December 31, 2024
Hours: 17:00 - 23:00
Venue: Midosuji Avenue (Hanshin-mae intersection - Namba west exit intersection)

2. Osaka Castle Illuminage 2024

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Osaka Castle Park and Nishinomaru Garden have been transformed into a neon paradise. This event merges futuristic art with historical tales, displaying fascinating neon installations scattered across the garden's grounds.

Guests can enjoy learning about Osaka's ancient history and its warlords dating back to Japan's civil war age (15th - 16th century).

Visitors can walk among vibrant electronic landmarks while viewing the brilliant Osaka Castle lit up in all its glory. The event offers photo spots around every corner, including a neon play area for both adults and children to enjoy.

Photo by Pixta

Osaka Castle Illuminage 2024 - 2025

Period: November 15, 2024 - February 16, 2025
Hours: 17:00 - 22:00
Regular admission ticket: Adults - 2,000 yen, Children - 1,000 yen
Priority Admission Tickets: Adults - 2,500 yen, Children - 1,500 yen
Venue: Osaka Castle Nishinomaru Garden
Official website: Osaka Castle Illuminage

3. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

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An aquarium with festive illuminations and sculptures? That's right! At the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, visitors can enjoy a display of ocean-themed lights combined with Christmas.

The area boasts a large tree with a globe at its feet, surrounded by colorful light installations that share Christmas and ocean motifs. These include jellyfish lanterns and swirling sculptures resembling ribbons and ocean waves.

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In the past, the aquarium has showcased a gigantic whale shark illumination swimming up the building. The centerpiece of the aquarium, the jellyfish tree, has changed multiple times, featuring a variety of sea creatures such as dolphins, whales, and penguins.

In a recent update, the installment now showcases aquatic creatures like dolphins and killer whales swimming around the gigantic globe centerpiece under a Christmas tree.

Osaka Kaiyukan Illumination

Period: Mid-November 2024 - late January 2025
Hours: After sunset - 21:00 (scheduled)
Venue: The area around Kaiyukan's entrance

4. Wonder Night Hill 2024 - Sakai Green Museum Harvest Hill

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Located in a peaceful spot of Osaka, surrounded by greenery and nature, Wonder Night Hill 2023 promises to captivate your heart with magical illuminations and sculptures at Sakai Green Museum Harvest Hill.

Visitors have the opportunity to explore five different enchanting areas within the 350,000 square meter interactive agricultural park, each offering a unique experience and a different world.

One of the areas, the Ice Age of Light, showcases shining diamond blue fields with elegant rainbow deer, creating a mesmerizing display. Nearby, brilliant displays of animals such as penguins and polar bears are surrounded by light.

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The venue's sparkling play area features 20-meter-tall sequoia trees adorned with different lights that create a rainbow pathway. Guests can enjoy beautiful sounds in this area while seated on playfully designed moon-shaped chairs. It is the perfect spot for fun selfies and photography.

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Other charming attractions include Candy Road, where cute candy illuminations cover the park trees and light up the pathways.

Also, the exhibition "A World of Glittering Insects" offers a unique and amusing experience as gigantic robot insects move within a rainbow-lit field. Ladybugs, praying mantises, beetles, and butterflies come to life with anatomic movements and illuminations, providing a delightful experience for insect lovers and children.

Wonder Night Hill 2024

Period: November 1, 2024 - January 26, 2025
Hours: 17:45 - 21:00 (last entry 20:30)
Admission: Adults 1,500 yen, Children (4 years old and above) 800 yen, Dogs 500 yen
Location: Osaka Prefecture, Sakai City, Minami ward, Hachigamineji, Sakai Green Museum Harvest Hill

5. Hirakata Park: Flowering Illumination

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Experience the enchantment of Hirakata Park's annual event, an amusement park of light that will transport you into a fairytale. This year, the park's theme is Flowering Illumination, combining dazzling illuminations with natural flowers, fairy sculptures, and more!

The main highlight is the magnificent flower fairy tree, standing tall at 13 meters. At night, the tree blossoms into a beautiful flower symbol, surrounded by a glistening and enchanting fairytale-like garden. This captivating display is a result of the park's dedicated gardening staff and skilled illumination professionals, competing to create the most fascinating spectacle using real and illuminated flowers.

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To celebrate the park's 10th year of annual illuminations, the area for art displays has been expanded to feature seven illuminated areas for the first time. Each area offers scheduled light performances throughout the day and interactive elements.

Guests can indulge in magical attractions such as a flower fortune-telling fountain, a lantern square adorned with 500 floating lanterns, doors, and flowers of light glowing in seven colors, a Butterfly Garden (perfect for memorable photos), and the famous Hikari no Hana Tunnel embellished with lights!

Picture courtesy of atpress

In addition, the park offers serene areas filled with soft illuminations. One such example is the Classic Light Garden, where warm illuminations cast a golden glow on a rose garden. Guests can also enjoy smaller illuminated areas like Tree Road and Crystal Road, both featuring pathways embedded with illuminations in the trees and gardens.

For those seeking relaxation, the Garden Toy Box is a delightful attraction. Here, visitors can float on water and traverse through illuminations on charmingly designed floats while resting their feet.

Hirakata Park Flowering Illumination

Period: Novmber 2, 2024 - April 6, 2025
Hours: 17:00 ~ (November to January), 17:30 ~ (February), 18:00~ (March to April)
Admission Tickets: Adults - 1,800 yen, Children - 1,000 yen
Venue: Hirakata Park
Official website: https://www.hirakatapark.co.jp/illumination/

6. Illumination Expo 2024 × EXPOCITY

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After a three-year hiatus, the Winter Illumination Expo makes its highly anticipated comeback. Already having showcased a special summer illumination, the Expo'70 Commemorative Park is set to dazzle visitors with its winter illuminations.

The park features multiple facilities spread across five different areas. During the daytime, visitors can explore Japanese gardens, museums, flowers, and forests.

As night falls, the park's famous Tower of the Sun comes to life, with its 70-meter-tall structure illuminating the surroundings. Created by Japanese artist Taro Okamoto, this iconic tower has captivated millions of visitors. This year's enchanting winter illuminations, featuring colorful projection mapping, are sure to entice even more visitors to experience the magic of this magnificent landmark.

Illumination Expo 2024 × EXPOCITY

Tower of the Sun Illumination Period in 2024: November 29 - December 22 and December 28 - 30 (15 days in total)
Illumination Hours: 17:00 - 19:00 (last entry at 18:30)
Venue: Expo’70 Commemorative Park Natural and Cultural Garden

7. Osaka Hikari Renaissance (14 - 25 December 2024)

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Osaka Hikari Renaissance illuminates the bustling Nakanoshima district in a stunning display of vibrant colors. As one of the main attractions of the Festival of the Lights in Osaka, this event surprises visitors with its bold and captivating illuminations. In previous years, the renowned artist group NAKED, Inc. showcased mesmerizing projection mapping, adding to the spectacle.

Located near the picturesque riverscape of the aquatic capital, OSAKA Hikari Renaissance 2023 aims to highlight Osaka as a city connected by water, paying tribute to its residents and the waterfront connections that define it.

The event has previously utilized the magnificent Osaka Central Public Hall, a historic building that symbolizes culture and art history. With over a century of history, it has served as a gathering place for people and provided a serene environment for learning. The venue is the perfect setting to bring everyone together to enjoy the beauty of illuminations.

OSAKA Hikari Renaissance 2024

Period: November 29 - December 1, 6 - 8, 13 - 15, 20 - 22, 28 - 30, 2024
Hours: 17:00 - 21:00
Venue: Nakanoshima Park from around Osaka City Hall

8. Namba Hikari Tabi Namba Parks

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Namba Parks is an ideal destination to unwind after a long day. This high-rise shopping center, situated in Namba-Naka Nichome, offers breathtaking views of the city from its cleverly designed multilayered rooftop garden. With a variety of delicious restaurants and fashionable clothing stores to choose from, Namba Parks is a central hub for shopping and dining.

The rooftop garden resembles a sky-high forest, boasting approximately 10,000 trees. Visitors can immerse themselves in nature as they explore various spots, including flowing water features, fountains, and seating areas.

Photo by Pixta
The garden is home to over 500 plant species, which coexist beautifully with the enchanting winter illuminations. During this time, the garden comes to life with illuminated tunnels, rivers, fountains, hedges, and multi-colored trees.

Namba Parks is a perfect destination for relaxation, whether you're visiting with friends and family, or on a romantic date to admire the illuminations. Additionally, it serves as an excellent starting point for exploring other light-up events in the area. Consider embarking on a walking tour of Minami ward's seven unique illuminations, starting from Namba Square.

Namba Hikari Tabi Namba Parks

Period: November 8, 2024 - Feburary 16, 2025
Hours: 17:00 - 24:00
Venue: Namba Hikari Tabi (Light Falls) Namba Parks
Additional illumination areas:
- Rooftop Sky Illumination - Takashimaya Osaka store
- Center Gate of Light - Namba Center Gai
- Lucky Charms Illumination - Ebisubashisuji
- Shopping Street Shinsaibashi - Daimaru Shinsaibashi store
- Dotonbori Light Object (scheduled)
- Wonderland of Light and Water - Tombori River Walk
- Minami Area

9. Christmas Market in Osaka 2024

Picture courtesy of PR Times
Ten-shiba (Tennoji Park) is being transformed into a charming German winter wonderland, filled with the joy of Christmas. From November 31 to December 25, the park will host a 24-stall German-style Christmas market, offering guests a delightful opportunity to immerse themselves in the festive season.

Visitors can indulge in a unique shopping experience, browsing through authentic German goods, including nutcrackers and ornaments directly imported from Seiffen, Germany's renowned toy village.

For those with a sweet tooth, Christmas-themed sugar cookies will also be available. Additionally, workshops featuring candles and snowglobes will take place, providing a chance for people of all ages to participate and create cherished memories.

As you enter the magical event at Ten-shiba, you'll be greeted by a wonderful Christmas photo spot. Christmas trees adorn the garden areas, beautifully framing the iconic Osaka sign, with the backdrop of Abeno Harukas, Japan's tallest skyscraper.

Picture courtesy of PR Times
The Christmas market will also offer a range of delicious treats, such as spiced mulled wine served in a mug, hot cocoa, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic German beer. Visitors can savor various German dishes, including meat dishes and soups. Iced cookies can be purchased as souvenirs or presents, providing a tasty reminder of this festive experience.

Christmas Market in Osaka 2024

Period: November 29 - December 25, 2024
Hours: 11:00 - 21:00 (LO 20:30) *It may be canceled on days with rain or strong gales
Admission fee: Free
Venue: Tennoji Park TENSHIBA, TENSHIBA i:na

10. Hankyu Umeda Main Store Christmas Market

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The Hankyu Umeda Store Christmas Market, situated near Umeda Station, welcomes visitors to a charming and delightful sweet spot that will transport them into a magical miniature Christmas village.

This enchanting event features small stores, popped-up archways, and tall shimmering trees, creating a whimsical atmosphere. As visitors embark on their shopping splurge, they can also indulge in Christmas-themed goods available at this adorable miniature market.

Hankyu Umeda Store Christmas Market

Period: November 20 - December 25, 2024

11. Osaka GRAND WISH CHRISTMAS 2024 Infinity Lights

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For two months, Grand Front Osaka will shine with the enchanting GRAND WISH CHRISTMAS 2024 Infinity Lights celebration.

Conveniently located opposite Osaka Station, this joyful winter event features a breathtaking 10-meter-tall Christmas tree, the “Infinity Wish Tree,” in the Knowledge Plaza. Surrounded by stunning mirror materials, its radiant glow transforms with every angle, inviting visitors into a magical atmosphere.

Guests can also enjoy a captivating lighting show, showcasing vibrant colors like blue, red, and gold, with spinning disco balls that reflect the diverse wishes of the crowd. The nearby trees will be adorned with champagne gold lights, enhancing the plaza’s whimsy.

Additionally, the event features a collaboration with the beloved “Challenge Mickey!” picture book series. From November 30 to December 25, oversized photo panels will invite guests to participate in a fun “search-and-find” quiz rally. Join us at Grand Front Osaka to create unforgettable holiday memories!

GRAND WISH CHRISTMAS 2024 Infinity Lights

Period: November 7 - December 25, 2024
Joyful-Go-Round Tree Hours: Weekdays 16:00 - 24:00, Weekends and holidays 15:00 - 24:00
Venue: Grand Front Osaka, North Building, South Building, Umekita Plaza, and various other areas. Infinity Wish Tree Location: North Building 1F Knowledge Plaza

12. Umeda Sky Building Rumi Sky Walk

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Experience the sensation of floating among the clouds and strolling across the stars at the newly renovated Rumi Skywalk. As part of Umeda Sky Building's Floating Garden Observation Deck, this starry promenade has undergone a makeover in honor of the observation deck's 30th anniversary. Delicate 5mm phosphorescent stones now create a realistic sky, allowing guests to feel as though they are walking through a dazzling starry expanse with remarkable depth.

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Located 170 meters above the ground, the Rumi Skywalk offers breathtaking views of Osaka's captivating cityscape. The illuminations on the deck can be enjoyed year-round, ensuring that visitors can partake in this incredible experience whenever they visit. The observation deck's starry path showcases a diverse array of space motifs, with planets suspended within the starry sky, alongside nebulas and shooting meteors.

Umeda Sky Building Rumi Sky Walk

Venue: Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observation Deck
Hours: 9:30 - 22:30 (last entry 22:00)
Admission: 1,500 yen for adults, 700 yen for elementary school students 4 years and older

13. Universal Studios Japan: NO LIMIT! Christmas

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The NO LIMIT! Christmas 2024 event at Universal Studios Japan promises an unforgettable celebration filled with thrilling attractions and heartwarming moments. Running from November 20 to January 5, this spectacular event features Frosty’s Electric Snow Party, a vibrant live show that captivates audiences with energizing performances and dazzling visuals.

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At the heart of the festivities is the magnificent NO LIMIT! Party Tree, soaring over 30 meters high, adorned with stunning decorations that sparkle in the winter sun. As night falls, the tree lights up in a kaleidoscope of colors, synchronized with joyful Christmas music, creating a magical experience for all guests.

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This year, DJ Frosty takes center stage, spinning electrifying sets alongside talented dancers, while beloved characters like Elmo, Snoopy, and Hello Kitty join in the celebration, dressed in festive attire and spreading holiday cheer.

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A special highlight of this year’s event is the 10th anniversary celebration of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The area will be transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with enchanting decorations and festive attractions.

Guests will also have opportunities to meet their favorite characters, all while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the party tree, which embodies the excitement of the season. The NO LIMIT! Christmas event is set to create lasting memories at Universal Studios Japan.

NO LIMIT! Christmas 2024

Period: November 20, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Location: Osaka, Konohana, Sakurajima, Universal Studios Japan
Official Website: https://www.usj.co.jp/web/en/us

14. Diamor Holy Fantasy 2024

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Every year, snowflakes twinkle and dance above the halls of Diamor Osaka fashion street, creating a magical pathway leading to an enormous champagne-colored Christmas tree.

This splendid sight is part of the Diamor Holy Fantasy, an enchanting illumination event held beneath the bustling streets of Umeda. The underground shopping mall is designed to resemble a charming European street corner, adding to the allure of the experience.

Guests can leisurely shop to the cheerful melodies of Christmas music for two months, immersing themselves in the festive atmosphere. Throughout the day, sparkling illuminations cast a mesmerizing glow, creating a captivating ambiance within the mall. The majestic tree serves as an ideal photo spot, offering visitors the opportunity to capture the beauty of the illuminations even during daylight.

Diamor Holy Fantasy 2024

Period: November 9 - December 25, 2024
Illumination Hours: 9:00 - 23:00
Location: Diamor Osaka
Official Website: https://www.diamor.jp/ (Japanese)

15. Osaka Station Twilight Fantasy - Forest of light that brings happiness

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Get ready to celebrate the moment you arrive at Osaka Station, where the popular Twilight Fantasy event fills the air with festive cheer. The station is adorned with vibrant trees, brilliant archways shaped like red gift boxes, and golden light pathways guiding guests through the station. It's as if you've stepped into a scene from a heartwarming Christmas movie.

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Following the yearly theme of nature, the city of Osaka seamlessly combines the station's attractions and infrastructure with enchanting lights and lush greenery. The result is a captivating ambiance that spreads throughout the station and surrounding facilities.

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The main venue, Toki no Hiroba Plaza, is a beloved tourist spot adorned with two magnificent gold and silver clocks. These iconic clocks serve as meeting points for friends, families, and couples, and are beautifully enhanced with ornaments and greenery to create the ultimate Christmas tree.

As visitors arrive, they can immediately immerse themselves in the festive spirit, exploring the mesmerizing Christmas illuminations that abound at this remarkable glowing station.

Osaka Station Twilight Fantasy: Forest of light that brings happiness

Period: November 22 - 25, 2024
Venue: JR Osaka Station, Osaka Station City 5F Toki no Hiroba Plaza
Official Website: https://www.hikari-kyoen.com/area/program02/

Enjoy the Winter Lights in Osaka

Osaka is an exciting destination at any time of the year but the winter illuminations add even more charm to this vibrant city. We hope that the events featured above serve as an incentive for you to enjoy the hospitality of this city in winter.

Main image by Pixta