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Shibuya Blue Cave 2024 Illumination: Highlights, Food, Access, and Tips
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Shibuya Blue Cave is an annual winter illumination event in Tokyo held on Shibuya's Park Street and Yoyogi Park featuring a dazzling tunnel of blue light. Read on to learn the highlights of the event, street food to enjoy, venues, how to get there, and other tips.
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This is the official account of MATCHA's editorial department. Our articles feature useful travel information for visitors to Japan, from how-to guides to recommended places to visit.
Shibuya Blue Cave: Winter Lights in Shibuya
Picture courtesy of PR Times
Shibuya Blue Cave, or Aonodokutsu SHIBUYA, is an illumination event held in Tokyo's Shibuya district, usually from December 1st to the 25th every year.
Approximately 800 meters of Shibuya Park Street and the Zelkova tree-lined avenue in Yoyogi Park are adorned with enchanting lighting reminiscent of the Blue Cave in Capri.
In this article, we will introduce the highlights of Shibuya Blue Cave, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, along with access information and tips.
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Highlights of Shibuya Blue Cave
First, let's look at three key points that make Shibuya Blue Cave special.
1. A Fantastic Tunnel of Blue Light
Picture courtesy of PR Times
The Blue Cave event began in 2014 in Nakameguro. The enchanting illumination, inspired by the Blue Cave in Capri, Italy, has captivated many.
It has been hosted in Shibuya since 2016. The venue features approximately 500 meters of Shibuya Park Street and around 300 meters of the Zelkova tree-lined avenue in Yoyogi Park, creating a total of 800 meters enveloped in fantastic blue light.
The number of illumination bulbs has increased year by year, and in 2023, approximately 770,000 LED lights were used throughout the entire venue!
In particular, the main venue, the Zelkova tree-lined avenue in Yoyogi Park (Keyaki-dori), resembles a tunnel of blue light, inviting visitors into a magical space.
2. Free Admission
Shibuya Blue Cave does not charge any admission fees since it illuminates public roads. You can enjoy it for free at any time during the lighting hours.
Every year, many people visit to see the enchanting illumination, with over 3.2 million attendees in 2019 alone. Since the event moved to Shibuya, the total number of visitors has exceeded 10 million, making it a hugely popular event.
Whether you go with someone to enjoy it together or stop by casually after work since it's free, it's a great experience!
3. Delicious Festival Food to Try
Picture courtesy of PR Times
In 2023, the first Christmas market was also held simultaneously, featuring collaboration menus with dessert shops in Shibuya Center Street and food trucks, allowing visitors to enjoy a variety of tasty treats.
Additionally, there are many dining establishments surrounding the venue. Below, we introduce three dining spots that you’ll want to visit along with the event.
Blue Bottle Coffee Shibuya Cafe
image courtesy PRTIMES
Blue Bottle Coffee Shibuya Cafe is a café located in Kitaya Park, close to Shibuya Park Street, where Shibuya the Blue Cave event takes place.
Founded in San Francisco, USA, Blue Bottle Coffee values the preparation of coffee made fresh for each individual order. Enjoy the illuminated sights with a freshly brewed warm coffee in hand.
Blue Bottle Coffee Shibuya Cafe
Address: 1-7-3 Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo
Business Hours: 8:00 - 20:00
FUGLEN TOKYO
FUGLEN TOKYO is a café originating from Oslo, Norway, that operates as a coffee shop during the day and transitions into a cocktail bar at night. Here, you can enjoy flavor-rich coffee brewed using a roasting method known as Nordic Roast, which maximizes the fruitiness.
The nighttime menu offers a range of classic drinks like highballs, as well as unique coffee cocktails. It’s also recommended to stop by to warm up and escape the chill after a date enjoying the illumination!
FUGLEN TOKYO
Address: 1-16-11 Tomigaya, Shibuya, Tokyo
Business Hours:
Monday - Tuesday: 7:00 - 22:00
Wednesday - Sunday: 7:00 - 1:00 AM
SHE WOLF DINER
SHE WOLF DINER is an American cuisine diner located within the Tobu Hotel Shibuya. Here, you can enjoy hearty, authentic American burgers and steaks. The terrace also features a beer garden for added enjoyment!
SHE WOLF DINER
Address: 3-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya, Tokyo, 1F Tobu Hotel Shibuya
Business Hours:
Monday - Friday: 11:00 - 12:00 AM
Saturday, Sunday, Holidays: 9:00 - 12:00 AM
Shibuya Blue Cave 2024: Schedule and Dates
The schedule for Shibuya Blue Cave 2023 was from December 1 to December 25. The schedule for 2024 has not yet been announced as of October 28.
For the latest information, please check the Shibuya Blue Cave official website.
Event Location: Nearest Station and Access Methods
The usual event location is Shibuya Park Street and the Zelkova tree-lined avenue in Yoyogi Park.
The main venue, the Zelkova tree-lined avenue in Yoyogi Park, is located along the main road between NHK Hall and the National Yoyogi Stadium Second Gymnasium.
Shibuya Park Street extends straight across from the intersection in front of the Labor Welfare Hall, where the illumination takes place along these two streets.
Access by Train
If you are traveling by train, the nearest station is Shibuya Station.
Cross the Shibuya Scramble Crossing in front of the station, head north, turn left at the Jinnan 1-chome intersection, and proceed straight along Park Street to arrive at the venue for Shibuya Blue Cave. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from Shibuya Station to the venue.
You can also reach the venue from JR Harajuku Station or Meiji-Jingu-Mae Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line).
When you exit Harajuku Station or Meiji-Jingu-Mae Station, head southwest along Yoyogi Park Avenue.
Once you arrive at Yoyogi Park, continue south through the park to reach the Zelkova tree-lined avenue where the venue is located.
It takes about 10 minutes to walk from Harajuku Station or Meiji-Jingu-Mae Station to the venue.
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Access by Car: Parking Information
There are no designated parking lots when driving, so please use nearby parking facilities. Below is information on recommended parking lots near the Shibuya Blue Cave venue.
Parking Lot 1: Yoyogi Park Parking Lot
This parking lot is located within Yoyogi Park and can accommodate 65 vehicles.
The fee is 600 yen for the first hour, and thereafter, it costs 300 yen for every additional 30 minutes, with a maximum charge of 2,400 yen for up to 12 hours. It takes about 18 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the venue.
Address: 2-1 Yoyogi Kamizono-cho
Business Hours: Open 24 hours
Website: https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/format/access039.html
Parking Lot 2: Shibuya City Hall Public Underground Parking
This is a large underground parking facility with a capacity of 650 vehicles.
The fee is 350 yen for every 30 minutes, with a maximum charge of 3,300 yen for up to 12 hours. It takes about 1 minute to walk from the parking lot to the venue.
Address: 1-1 Udagawacho
Business Hours: Open 24 hours
Website: https://shibuya-parking.jp/
Parking Lot 3: Shibuya PARCO Parking
This parking lot is located at the commercial facility Shibuya PARCO, near Shibuya Park Street.
It can accommodate 136 vehicles, with a fee of 320 yen for every 30 minutes on weekdays and 400 yen for every 30 minutes on holidays (for regular vehicles).
There are discount services available for those who use the facility. It takes about 4 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the venue.
Address: 15-1 Udagawacho
Business Hours: 7:00 - 12:00 AM
Website:https://shibuya.parco.jp/info/access/
Lighting Hours and Busy Times for Shibuya Blue Cave
Picture courtesy of PR Times
In 2023, the lighting hours for Shibuya Blue Cave were from 17:00 to 22:00.
As a representative illumination event of winter in Tokyo, it attracts many visitors each year, especially on weekends and around Christmas, when it can be particularly crowded.
To avoid the crowds, aim for early hours on weekdays, except Fridays. The time right after the lighting begins at around 17:00 is relatively less busy, allowing you to enjoy it at a more leisurely pace.
The Christmas market on the Zelkova tree-lined avenue in Yoyogi Park operates before the lighting starts, so it’s nice to pass the time shopping and sampling food while you wait for the lights to come on.
The dates for the 2024 event have not yet been announced, but detailed schedules will be provided on the official website once they are determined. For the latest information, please check the Shibuya Blue Cave official website.
Enjoy the Winter Lights at Shibuya Blue Cave
Shibuya Blue Cave is an illumination event where you can experience the extraordinary in the fantastically lit streets of Shibuya.
Since it is free and easily accessible, why not visit to create some winter memories?
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Written by Cakutama editorial team
Main image courtesy of PR Times
This is the official account of MATCHA's editorial department. Our articles feature useful travel information for visitors to Japan, from how-to guides to recommended places to visit.
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