Award Winning Illuminations in Japan: 15 Dazzling Light-up Events

Many think illuminations can only be enjoyed around Christmas time but Japan has a wide variety of mesmerizing and enchanting light displays that can be seen throughout the year!

In the article we introduce dazzling award-winning illuminations across Japan from the north to the south. If you're visiting the various regions, add these events to your itinerary!

15 Award-Winning Illuminations in Japan

1. Sapporo White Illumination (Hokkaido)
2. Sendai Pageant of Light
3. Ashikaga Flower Park Flower Fantasy - Until February 14, 2024
4. Yomiuriland Jewellumination, Tokyo - Until April 7, 2024
5. Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest - Until May 12, 2024
6. Shonan Jewel Enoshima - Until February 29, 2024
7. Izu Kogen Grand Illumination (Shizuoka) - Until August 2024
8. Near Mt. Fuji! Tokinosumika Illumination - Until March 10, 2024
9. Laguna Ten Bosch Laguna Illumination (Aichi) - Until April 7, 2024
10. Kyoto Synesthesia Hills
11. Osaka Festival of Light: OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance
12. Nabana no Sato (Mie) - Until June 2, 2024
13. Sanuki Manno National Park Winter Fantasy (Kagawa)
14. Huis Ten Bosch: Kingdom of Light (Nagasaki)
15. Southeast Botanical Gardens in Okinawa - Until May 26, 2024

1. Sapporo White Illumination

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In the idyllic setting to fully experience Christmas, the Sapporo White Illumination continues to be a standout event each year. The city's Christmas attractions have flourished and expanded since the inception of the illumination event in 1981, now encompassing various spectacles throughout Sapporo's city center for guests from around the world to relish.

Photo by Pixta

Photo by Pixta
Sapporo Station serves as the starting point of the event, where numerous stunning illuminations illuminate the area and extend through the streets to the main venue of the illumination at Odori Park.

At the park, a diverse array of enchanting illuminations awaits. Notable attractions include Dreaming Snow Fantasia, featuring captivating diamond-adorned archways embellished with snowflake motifs and icy mist creating a magical winter ambiance, and Winter Blossoms, the event's grand centerpiece situated in front of the Sapporo TV Tower.

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The large-scale flower, inspired by Hokkaido’s unique wildlife, is adorned with the region's renowned flowers such as roses, lilacs, and lilies of the valley. Transforming the park's atmosphere with five enchanting colors, from lilac purple to rose red, the area provides the perfect photo opportunity with the Sapporo TV Tower serving as the ideal backdrop for the illumination.

Photo by Pixta
Concurrent with the illuminations, the Christmas market adorns the park with 20 lively stores offering seasonal gifts, delightful wine, and delectable fare.

Odori Park is approximately a 15-minute walk from Sapporo Station, and the illuminations can be enjoyed from November to December each year.

Illumination period:
Odori Avenue: November 22 - December 25, 2023
Sapporo Station: November 22, 2023 - February 11, 2024
Minami-ichijo Street, Sapporo Kita 3-Jo Plaza, Sapporo Station South Exit Plaza: November 22, 2023 - March 14, 2024
Official website: https://www.sapporo.travel/white-illumination/ (Japanese)

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2. Sendai Pageant of Light

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Brimming with captivating golden lights every winter, the Sendai Pageant of Light is a must-see when in the region. Its accolades include winning 8th place in Japan’s Illumination Excellent Story Award and being recognized as the largest illumination in the Tohoku region, making it easy to understand its allure during the winter holidays.

Located approximately a 15-minute walk from Sendai Station, this enchanting spectacle features 500,000 magnificent lights that create a pathway of golden stars, adorning the 129 zelkova trees along Jozenji-Dori Avenue.

Guiding mesmerized travelers through Sendai’s streets, the 800-meter-long Jozenji-Dori Avenue illuminations lead to a warm and cheerful Christmas market in Kotodai Park. Here, visitors can indulge in delicious warm drinks and food while perusing around 20 stalls in the area, adding an extra touch of magic to this enchanting winter illumination in Sendai.

Illumination period: December 8 - 25, 2023
Official website: https://sendaihikape.jp/ (Japanese)

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3. Ashikaga Flower Park Flower Fantasy (Tochigi)

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Ashikaga Flower Park, renowned for its stunning wisteria trees in spring, holds the prestigious first place in Japan's national illumination ranking and stands as one of Japan's three major illuminations to visit.

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Brimming with 5 million bulbs, the Flower Fantasy: The Garden of Illuminated Flowers has garnered accolades and international recognition. For seven consecutive years, it has secured the top position in Japan's national ranking and also clinched the top spot in the Illumination category 2023 Excellent Story Award. Notably, the iconic event made its international debut in 2014 as one of CNN’s top 10 destinations in the world.

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Picture courtesy of PR Times
Showcasing a diverse array of art illuminations, projections, and displays, Flower Fantasy takes visitors on a magical journey that integrates the park's beautiful trees and grounds with lights that depict the story of a flower's life cycle.

Visitors can unwind and witness multiple seasonal flowers simultaneously, including illuminated red roses, cherry blossom art murals painting a backdrop in a Japanese zen garden, and enchanting paths of purple lights delicately hanging from grand wisteria trees.

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The park, beloved for its annual Great Wisteria Festival where 150-year-old large wisterias transform the park into a purple and white paradise, attracts approximately 1.5 million visitors annually to behold a variety of blooming flowers.

The Grand illuminations are scheduled to take place until February 14, 2024, and will feature different themed events throughout the months, such as a Christmas theme fantasy in November and December and New Year illuminations. For those not in Japan during this period, there is no need to worry, as the wisteria is also illuminated at night in spring.

Illumination period: October 18, 2023 - February 14, 2024
Official website: https://www.ashikaga.co.jp/flowerfantasy_special2023/jp/

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4. Yomiuriland Jewellumination 2023 Light is Love (Tokyo)

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Yomiuriland is an amusement park with thrilling rides and installations suitable for various age groups. With 45 attractions, award-winning illuminations, and an interactive learning area featuring 17 attractions and five workshops, the park caters to diverse interests. Conveniently located just a 30-minute train ride from Shinjuku, it is easily accessible and an ideal outing in Tokyo.

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From October to April each year, Yomiuriland comes alive with 5.5 million vibrant eco-friendly lights, showcasing 30 sparkling jewel-colored lights in its Jewellumination event.

Achieving 4th place in Japan's International Illumination Committee's ranking and 6th place in the Excellence Entertainment Award, Yomiuriland is certain to impress.

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Embracing the new love-inspired theme, guests can encounter various installations depicting love, including a pink and gold illuminated Ferris wheel, the Lovers' Promenade where cool and warm-toned cherry blossom trees converge in admiration, and a 150-meter-long tunnel filled with charming pink lights called the Passage of Love.

Designed by the esteemed light designer Ms. Motoko Ishii, the park encapsulates the vibrant colors of jewels and gems. In 2023, new lights named Earth Blue Jewelry were installed, illuminating the park with beautiful aquamarine and sapphire lights symbolizing the ocean, emerald green representing the earth's forests, golden sapphire signifying land, diamond lights reflecting the color of clouds, and ruby symbolizing love between people.

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Highly popular in spring, the Night Cherry Blossom Jewellumination captivates visitors with a myriad of 250 brilliantly illuminated cherry blossom trees such as Somei Yoshino, Weeping Cherry, Ryukyu Kanzakura, and Tama Hizakura. Key attractions in the event include a 180-meter-long tunnel of illuminated cherry blossoms, a cherry blossom viewing roller coaster, the park's Ferris wheel surrounded by beautiful blossoming trees, and art performances created by 185 fountains.

Illumination period: October 19, 2023 - April 7, 2024
Illumination hours: 16:00 - 20:30
Official website: https://www.yomiuriland.com/en/jewellumination/

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5. Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest

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Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest is hosting the largest illumination event in eastern Japan. This amusement park is located in Wakayanagi, a town by Lake Sagami known for its beautiful cherry blossoms in spring. The area, a quiet part of Kanagawa’s Sagamihara city, is an ideal destination for families and nature enthusiasts.

Perched atop a hill, the Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest offers a magical retreat from the city, surrounded by stunning views and thriving with entertainment and dazzling illuminations. The park and its enchanting installations are adorned with 6 million vibrant lights, featuring a rainbow lift, a sea of blue glowing lights, and pink cherry blossom lights across its vast 40,000 square meter expanse.

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In addition to the park's permanent features and attractions such as roller coasters, barbecue areas, and hot springs, each year, brand new themes brimming with characters and illuminations fill the park with joy. Beloved characters from series such as Pokemon, Sailor Moon, Sumikkogurashi, and Doraemon have made their debut in the park.

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Picture courtesy of PR Times

The magical illuminations can be experienced from November until May, making the park an ideal destination to enjoy Christmas illuminations or cherry blossoms in spring. Renowned for its enchanting pink forests, the Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest boasts 2,500 cherry blossom trees each spring, adorning the park with beautiful pink illuminations that transform the area into a pink paradise.

Officially recognized as one of the three major illuminations in eastern Japan, the Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest is a must-visit when in Japan.

Illumination period: November 3, 2023 - May 12, 2024
Illumination hours: 16:00 - 21:00
Official website: https://www.sagamiko-resort.jp/

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6. Shonan Jewel Enoshima (Kanagawa)

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The Shonan Jewel Illumination is held on Enoshma Island near Kamakura. The Samuel Cocking Garden, located on the mystical island of Enoshima, features brilliant diamond-like displays from November to February. Radiating with gorgeous jewel colors, the garden transforms into a sea of purple starlight enveloping the island's iconic Enoshima Sea Candle, offering captivating views of Shonan city lights at night.

Recognized as one of the top three illuminations in eastern Japan and securing second place in the Illumination Events Excellent Story Award, the Shonan Jewel Illumination provides a perfect conclusion to an exhilarating day of exploring Enoshima's magnificent attractions.

Enoshima is renowned for its unique mythology, which narrates the tale of a dragon that once wreaked havoc on the people of Shonan but reportedly reformed after falling in love with the goddess. The island is teeming with shrines and landmarks dedicated to the star-crossed lovers, making it an exciting place to explore.

Many visitors come to the region to catch waves and bask in a relaxing environment. Enoshima's proximity to the historical Kamakura makes the island easily accessible and convenient for those visiting Shonan.

Illumination period: November 23, 2023 - February 29, 2024
Illumination hours: 17:00 - 20:00 (*some light-ups can be enjoyed until 21:00; the Iwaya Cave is illuminated 9:00 - 17:00)
Official website: https://enoshima-seacandle.com/event/shonannohoseki/ (Japanese)

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7. Izu Kogen Grand Illumination

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Izu Kogen Grand Illumination, which secured second place in the Excellent Illumination Technology Award, has continued to captivate the hearts of people over the years. Hosted in Izu Granpal Amusement Park, these illuminations offer a stunning array of attractions and experiences, illuminating a vast area of 220,000 square meters.

Visitors can enjoy thrilling amusement rides and wild activities, including 110-meter-long slides, ziplines through the shimmering park, a three-dimensional rainbow pirate ship maze, go catering around dinosaurs, operating fighting robots, rolling in a gigantic bubble across waterscapes, and exploring a romantic glittering shrine, among others.

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The park also features 60-meter-long screens showcasing brilliant digital art, accompanied by light shows enhanced with music and lasers, adding an extra layer of excitement and thrill to the park's illuminations. Situated on the Izu Peninsula near the ocean, the park fittingly offers a pirate restaurant and ocean-themed lights, allowing guests to indulge in delicious and fun meals and take romantic strolls through the enchanting illuminations featuring ocean, nature, and jewel-themed installations.

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The event spans almost the entire year, running for ten months from November to August, providing visitors with an opportunity to relish the magical facilities of the Izu Kogen Grand Illumination. It is conveniently located just over two hours by train from Tokyo Station.

Official website: https://granillumi.com/en/attraction/

8. Toki no Sumika Illumination 2023 in Gotemba, Shizuoka

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Ranked 3rd place in the Excellent Technology Award category, the Toki no Sumika Illumination offers powerful sky-high displays of magnificent creatures portrayed through light and water.

The park's main fountain, Light of Versailles, features a water fountain reaching up to 150 meters high, where mesmerized guests can witness dramatic performances using lasers, lights, music, and water, evoking the image of a colossal dragon gracefully dancing in the water.

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Upon arrival, guests are greeted by carved bamboo archways, casting light across the path leading to the royal palace where the fountains are showcased. The site's story dome projects mesmerizing artwork recounting the mythological tale of Mt. Fuji, one of Japan's most revered power spots, and the mighty dragon gods that reportedly inhabit the mountain and bless the surrounding lakes. This portrayal radiates joyful energy to those who visit.

Guests can watch the story through their phones or opt to purchase VR goggles for a more immersive experience.

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Picture courtesy of PR Times
Toki no Sumika is a holiday resort in Gotemba City with hotels, glamping facilities, restaurants, and spa facilities. The park is ideal for families, couples, and friends, as well as those who enjoy hot springs.

In spring, visitors can witness cherry blossoms in full bloom and, on clear days, behold Mt. Fuji towering over the landscape. The illuminations at Toki no Sumika can be experienced from January to March each year; the facility is conveniently located approximately two hours from Tokyo.

Illumination period: October 6, 2023 - March 10, 2024
Official website: https://www.tokinosumika.com/3332/ (Japanese)

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9. Laguna Ten Bosch Laguna Illumination (Aichi)

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Laguna Ten Bosch, located in Aichi's Gamagori City, offers an illuminated ocean paradise, ranking 3rd in the nationwide Illumination Excellence Entertainment Award. Throughout the year, the theme park hosts a wide variety of events and magical displays.

Notably, its iconic Laguna Illumination features sea creatures and elegant castles until August, while the park comes alive with energetic performances, glowing Christmas markets, and more during the winter season.

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The facility faces Mikawa Bay. Visitors can enjoy beautiful ocean views while partaking in thrilling rides during the daytime and relaxing by the festival market, indulging in refreshing cuisine such as sushi. At night, the park transforms into an underwater paradise, showcasing brilliant ocean-themed installations including clownfish, coral reefs, and shell palaces.

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During winter, visitors are treated to dazzling illuminations and mesmerizing features, such as gigantic deep blue palaces, Japan's best-illuminated rainbow archway featuring one million vibrant lights and 12 columns, colorful fireworks, beautiful water shows, and cozy Christmas markets, among others.

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Laguna Ten Bosch is divided into three areas, each with its own theme, allowing visitors to explore sea facilities and attractions inspired by the sea, sky, and land.

For those seeking a holiday experience, the park offers an amusing itinerary for its guests. Notably, the famous Henna Hotel is operated by animatronic talking dinosaurs who welcome and check in visitors to their stay, making it an ideal destination for families with plenty of activities and areas for both adults and children to enjoy.

Illumination period: November 3, 2023 - April 7, 2024 (Wintertime Laguna Illumination Light of Life)
Official website: https://www.lagunatenbosch.co.jp/index.html

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10. Kyoto Synesthesia Hills

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Located in the tranquil Kyoto countryside city of Nantan, Rurikei Onsen is a highland spa resort that offers a peaceful retreat for relaxation. Home to the award-winning 2023 illumination, Kyoto Synethesia Hills, the resort grounds come alive with stunning illuminations in an ambient atmosphere that can be relished throughout the year.

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Picture courtesy of PR Times

Designed around the concept of synesthesia, the interactive installations synchronize with the garden's weather, climate, and visitors, creating a unique environment filled with light, sound, and color each day. Visitors are guided through the grounds along a path adorned with dazzling lights and attractions, divided into 12 distinct areas.

Notable highlights include the enchanting spiral tunnel of light, a vortex of mesmerizing magical lights and patterns, the serene Five Crystal Lake, a reflective waterscape featuring a beautiful stained glass-like crystal lotus and lights, and the Ten Aurora experience, an area where lasers soar over a field of light, recreating the captivating Northern Lights.

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The grounds close twice a year for a brief period to update the installations, so it's advisable to check the official website's opening hours before planning a trip. Moreover, visitors are allowed to bring their pets to the venue, ensuring that the entire family can enjoy an evening out together.

Illumination period: all year round
Special Christmas Illumination: December 22 - 23, 2023
Official website: https://www.synesthesia-hills.jp/ (Japanese)

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11. Festival of the Light in Osaka: OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance

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The Festival of the Light in Osaka illuminates the city's streets and symbolic buildings with artful and enchanting lights, encompassing two award-winning areas: the Guinness World Record-winning Midosuji Avenue and the OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance lights projected onto the waterscapes of Nakanoshima and the historical Osaka Central Public Hall. The OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance earned the prestigious 3rd place recognition from the Japan Illumination Award Executive Committee.

Celebrating Osaka as an aquatic city and its connection to the ocean through its riverscapes and bay, OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance treats visitors to enchanting illuminations that adorn the waterscapes and enthralling projection mapping.

Each winter, the city comes alive with captivating art, from stained glass colors to planets soaring through space, offering a mesmerizing experience at the heart of the city every December.

Illumination period: December 14 - 25, 2023
*The Osaka City Hall Illumination Facade and Nakanoshima Illumination Street will run until December 31, 2023.

Official website: https://www.hikari-kyoen.com/en/

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12. Nabana no Sato Illumination (Mie)

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The Nabana no Sato Illumination, located in Mie Prefecture's Nagashima Resort, ranked 5th place in the 2023 Excellent Illumination Technology Award.

Surrounded by luxurious hotels with hot springs, exciting parks for children such as Anpanman Land, and thrilling theme parks featuring the world's longest roller coaster, the area is the perfect destination for families and friends to enjoy an adventurous weekend holiday while admiring award-winning illuminations.

Each year, the park showcases a new main centerpiece, which includes a 25-meter-long illumination featuring sparkling lights, 3D projections, and a large sculpture. In the past, the park has featured remarkable displays such as Mt. Fuji with divine gods projected onto the famous mountain, beautiful cherry blossoms with rainbow pathways, and a grand ship sailing through a stunning ocean.

This year, visitors are treated to a rare and unique illumination found nowhere else in Japan—three bright golden pyramids adorning the 135-meter-high pyramids, each featuring thousands of bulbs that transition between three mesmerizing scenes: Prosperity of the Nile, Egyptian mythology, and the Golden Pyramid.

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The park also hosts Japan's largest water illumination, Hikari no Taiga, a river of brilliant light comprising 64 billion lights and colors dancing with music to create a mesmerizing spectacle along the glistening waterscape and quaint chapel. Guests can marvel at the beauty of the four different seasons and the colors displayed in the performance.

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Arguably the most famous among the Nabana no Sato Illuminations, the tunnel of light draws visitors each year with its enchanting display of thousands of warm, glistening flower-shaped bulbs lining a 200-meter corridor.

Other areas to be enjoyed include splendid flowers—a 100-meter tunnel adorned with nemophila and marigold garlands lit in vibrant blue, the Millennium Garden featuring a 1,000-year-old olive tree where the grounds transform into a garden of light shining in deep greens, champagne and golds, and aqua blues, and the twin trees located outside a charming chapel, a popular illumination spot for couples intending to tie the knot.

Official website: https://www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp/nabana/ (Japanese)

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13. Sanuki Manno National Park Winter Fantasy (Kagawa)

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Picture courtesy of PR Times

The Sanuki Manno National Park Winter Fantasy captivates visitors with stunning patterns of light spread over vast grounds measuring 32,000 square meters, resembling rolling fields of starlight.

Earning 5th place in the Excellence Entertainment Award ranking, the park and its intricate designs, crafted using half a million light bulbs, have been enchanting visitors for many years.

Highlights include a captivating illuminated 90-meter tall waterfall, the Shoryu waterfall, an elegant 5-meter tall tower created from 500 stacked champagne glasses, and lantern-lit tunnels. This spectacular event runs from November to January, and the park hosts various events throughout the year showcasing seasonal blooming flowers.

Illumination period: November 25, 2023 - January 8, 2024
Official website: https://sanukimannopark.jp/en/winter-fantasy2023

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14. Huis Ten Bosch: Kingdom of Light (Nagasaki)

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Known as the Kingdom of Light, Huis Ten Bosch has been honored with the prestigious ranking of number one by the Illumination Award Executive Committee and clinched the top spot in the 2023 Excellent Entertainment Award.

As Japan's largest theme park, Huis Ten Bosch offers a diverse range of rides and entertainment for its guests. Visitors can indulge in experiences such as exploring chocolate mansions, sailing peacefully across its European townscape, enjoying thrilling VR rollercoasters, and discovering enchanting rooms filled with digital interactive art and projection mapping.

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The park's magical illuminations can be enjoyed year-round, with several permanent spots dedicated to showcasing the park's beauty, including the Japan-only story carousel-sky Carousel, a 3D Projection Mapping show of Miffy at Nijntje Dance Night, the rainbow colors at the Ferris Wheel of Light, the elegantly lit Maurice Fountain, and the stunning garden lights such as the Jewel Illumination at Baroque Garden.

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Visitors have the option to experience the illuminations on foot, by cycling, via boat ride, or from the elegant hotel and tall Ferris wheel. Each season, the theme park comes to life with bright seasonal displays, light performances, and live music.

Iconic areas and landmarks within the park undergo transformations throughout the year, such as the flower clock at Amsterdam Square and Tower, making it worthwhile to keep an eye on the official website to discover new magical experiences.

Official website: https://english.huistenbosch.co.jp/navi/about/

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15. Southeast Botanical Gardens in Okinawa

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Okinawa's Southeast Botanical Gardens come to life with captivating tropical-themed illuminations at Hikari no Paradise, a spectacle created with 4 million colorful lights.

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Showcasing Okinawa's highlights as a region abundant with tropical flowers, plants, and wildlife, the illuminations feature vibrant depictions of tropical garden motifs replicating summer flowers in winter.

This includes a garden of pink glowing lotus flowers surrounded by vibrant green lilypads. Visitors can also marvel at 50,000 exotic plants and wildlife, including parrots and monkeys, a castle of light, the sea of light illumination featuring tropical fish and coral, and the heart illumination area, offering fascinating night views of the region with pink hearts as a centerpiece surrounded by fields of lights, beautiful butterfly sculptures, and arched bridges crossing over a mesmerizing lit waterscape.

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The park has received multiple awards, including 2nd place in the Illumination Event Category Excellent Story Award in 2023, 3rd place in the Illumination Award for night landscape photographers, and is renowned as one of Okinawa's top three night views.

Illumination period: October 27, 2023 - May 26, 2024
Illumination hours: 17:00 - 22:00
Official website: https://www.southeast-botanical.jp/illumination2023/ (Japanese)

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Enjoy Japan's Illumination Events

Japan's illumination events offer unforgettable light displays that are incredibly detailed and usually have a unique concept design. Many of the events featured above can be enjoyed outside the winter months so do take this opportunity to add them to your itinerary.

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