Shinjuku Neon Walk: Winter Lights and Interactive Art

Tokyo’s Nishi-Shinjuku comes alive this winter with large-scale illuminated art as Shinjuku Neon Walk transforms the district from late November through early January. The citywide experiential light festival energizes Chuo-dori with four themed zones featuring cutting-edge new-media works, interactive installations, and reimagined traditional motifs. Visitors can wander through reflective, art-driven moments, enjoy family-friendly highlights, and discover strikingly photogenic scenes that brighten Tokyo’s winter nights.

Shinjuku Neon Walk

Transformirror (TOKYO NIGHTTIME PROJECT ver.)

An AI‑driven mirror installation that transforms live images of participants into layered, imaginative visual variants. Developed by Daito Manabe (Rhizomatiks) with artist Kyle McDonald, Transformirror analyzes posture, motion and color in real time to generate evolving overlays, from subtle textural shifts to dramatic metamorphoses, inviting playful solo and group interaction and producing striking neon‑toned portraits.

Period: Thursday, November 27, 2025 – Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Light Seeds

A street-tree installation transforms the walkway as glowing light fruits cast soft illumination while aurora-like lasers evoke the feeling of strolling beneath a star-splashed sky. The ambient and reactive soundscape, composed by Yuuka Kitamura (known for works on Elden Ring and Darling in the Franxx) layers cinematic textures that synchronize with the pulsing lights, creating a meditative atmosphere and an immersive, wide-angle photo moment.

Period: November 27, 2025 – January 7, 2026

EDO GATE — The Door That Lights Time

A luminous gateway fuses Edo-period aesthetics with contemporary design, featuring hanging lanterns adorned with traditional Edo lettering by Unokichi Tachibana. Sensor-driven color shifts animate the structure, creating a ritual-like passage that symbolically bridges past and present. (Related outer-perimeter illumination for this installation remains on view through Saturday, February 28, 2026.)

Period: Thursday, November 27, 2025 – Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Lucky Neon Art

Neon typographic installations transform auspicious New Year phrases (kotodama) into vibrant, photo-friendly landmarks. Designed for interaction, several pieces respond to proximity or touch, revealing hidden messages as visitors engage with them. Lucky Neon Art blends traditional well-wishing with contemporary neon design, inviting guests to explore, play, and share their discoveries.

Period: Part of the Shinjuku Neon Walk program (Nov 27, 2025 – January 7, 2026)

Echo Trees

A pair of illuminated trees speak to one another through light and sound. Each tree emits its own distinct light language; as one’s glow recedes, the other replies, forming a gentle call-and-response that symbolizes the passage from year’s end to new beginnings. Composer Natsuki Idei’s intimate audio motifs weave through the shifting light textures, creating a reflective, poetic moment perfect for quiet contemplation. 

Period: Part of the Shinjuku Neon Walk program (November 27, 2025 – January 7, 2026)

Laser Gateway

A sculptural corridor composed of angled laser planes and suspended prisms refracts light into shifting fields of color. The installation plays deliberately with perspective, appearing as translucent bands from some viewpoints and as seemingly solid walls of light from others, making it an ideal setting for long-exposure shots and experimental photography.

Period: Part of the Shinjuku Neon Walk program (November 27, 2025 – January 7, 2026)

TOKYO KAWAII DOME by “Momoclo‑chan to!”

A photogenic neon dome created in collaboration with the TV Asahi program Momoclo-chan to! and members of the idol group Momoiro Clover Z. The members contributed original Tokyo & Kawaii illustrations, which were reimagined as neon artworks and arranged throughout a transparent hemispherical dome. Blending hand-drawn charm with radiant neon lines, the installation invites fans and families to step inside and capture its colorful, immersive interior, an accessible pop-culture centerpiece that connects local fandom with the broader artistic spirit of Shinjuku Neon Walk.

Period: November 27, 2025 – (part of Shinjuku Neon Walk; check official site for exact end date)

Shinjuku Plaza Street — Plaza Street Illumination

Street-level illuminations along Plaza Street extend the winter lighting program into February, offering long-running displays that complement the Chuo-dori installations and brighten nearby shopping corridors.

Period: Monday, December 1, 2025 – Saturday, February 28, 2026

Shinjuku Minami Lumi

Shinjuku Minami Lumi lights up the southern Shinjuku area with themed installations and seasonal programming, extending the Neon Walk experience into neighboring districts and broadening the event’s winter glow.
Period: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 – Sunday, February 15, 2026

Shinjuku Sumitomo Building — Snow Flow

Snow Flow showcases winter-themed tree lighting and seasonal motifs within the building’s plaza. Offering a serene, elegant counterpoint to the more experimental Neon Walk installations, it’s ideal for family visits and leisurely exploration.

Period: Monday, November 10, 2025 – Thursday, December 25, 2025

Hyatt Regency Tokyo — Christmas at the Hyatt Regency Tokyo

The Hyatt’s holiday display features hospitality-focused illuminations and seasonal décor near the Neon Walk. Visitors can also enjoy limited-time menus at the hotel’s restaurants and lounges, along with stamp-rally partner discounts.

Period: Saturday, November 29, 2025 – Monday, January 5, 2026

Shinjuku Central Park — TWINKLE PARK

TWINKLE PARK is a park-based illumination area providing open space for families and a calmer viewing experience away from the main thoroughfare. Featuring ground-level lightworks and kid-friendly installations, it offers a charming interlude along a route through bustling Shinjuku.

Period: Saturday, November 29, 2025 – Monday, January 12, 2026

Keio Plaza Hotel — Christmas at Keio Plaza Hotel

The hotel’s seasonal decorations and façade lighting complement the Neon Walk route, offering warm indoor respite and photo opportunities. Visitors can combine an evening stroll with a stop at the hotel’s lounges and restaurants, some of which participate in the event’s coupon program.

Period: Saturday, November 8, 2025 – Thursday, December 25, 2025

Shinjuku Mitsui Building — 55HIROBA’s Glowing Object

A luminous sculptural centerpiece at 55HIROBA, serving as a steady nocturnal landmark within the Shinjuku skyline. Its enduring presence complements the temporary Neon Walk installations and makes for a popular photo opportunity.
Period: Ongoing (permanent feature)

SHUKNOVA — SHUKNOVA Winter Illumination

SHUKNOVA hosts an extended winter illumination with large-scale installations remaining lit through late February. The site broadens the Neon Walk experience, offering additional interactive elements and photo-friendly zones.

Period: Saturday, November 29, 2025 – Saturday, February 28, 2026

Shinjuku NS Building — Shinjuku NS Building Christmas Tree

The NS Building features a focal tree installation and a decorated plaza, offering a traditional seasonal centerpiece and an inviting spot for photos or brief pauses.

Period: Tuesday, November 25, 2025 – Thursday, December 25, 2025

Neo Neon Food Stall (Food Trucks)

Curated food trucks will line the route, complementing the visual world of the illuminations with Edo-inspired gourmet offerings, such as hand-rolled sushi, alongside local Shinjuku and Tokyo specialties. Vendors will operate on the following dates and times (hours are subject to change; see the official site for details):

December 12–14 (Fri–Sun): 17:00–22:00
December 19–21 (Fri–Sun): 17:00–22:00
December 24–28 (Wed–Sun): 17:00–22:00
December 31 (Wed): 17:00–25:00

(See the special website for full store listings, menus and any schedule updates.)

Stamp rally

The Shinjuku Illumination Digital Map, exclusive to the event, highlights local tourist spots with original illustrations inspired by the Neon Walk. Designed for easy navigation and discovery, it also features a ten-stop digital stamp rally for added interactive fun.

Stamp rally period: Thursday, November 27, 2025 – Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Spots: All 10 illumination sites across the Shinjuku area
Participation: Register via smartphone (no app installation required); use GPS check‑ins to collect digital stamps
Rewards: Collect a set number of stamps to unlock benefits and enter prize draws — details to be announced on the special site
(Full stamp rally rules, prize lists and timing will be published on the official event website.)

Shinjuku Neon Walk

Shinjuku Neon Walk: November 27, 2025 – January 7, 2026
Daily hours: 16:30–22:00
Extended hours on December 31: until 25:00 (1:00 a.m. on Jan 1)
Location: Chuo‑dori pedestrian area (Shinjuku subcenter Route 4), Nishi‑Shinjuku
Special site and digital map: https://tokyo-nighttime-project.jp/neonwalk/
Information and picture source: PR TIMES