Winter Illumination : 冬の風物詩（fuyu no fuubutsushi, Special Attractions of Winter) 7

Winter Illumination

Nabana no Sato 2011

 Winter illuminations around Christmas have become a popular attraction in cities across Japan, which is equivalent to fireworks displays carried out throughout Japan in summer. They are both a wonderful way to enjoy nights despite negative aspects of the Japanese weather.

 Many illumination displays are free and easily accessible by public transportation, on the other hand, there are some amusement parks and theme parks which provide people breathtaking and fantastic scenes of illumination after sunset.

Here are top 10 sites.

★Huis Ten Bosch "The Kingdom of Light"   
Oct.31 - Apr.13, 2015 : Sasebo City, Nagasaki

 The number of bulbs has exceeded more than 11 million to brighten one of the world's largest illuminations. The Kingdom of Light has continued evolving since the creation in 2010, and a new scene has been created this year. "The Canal of Light and Fountain" is the first display in Japan. Whenever a ship goes through the canal, the water shines in rainbow colors while the fountain is playing. It is like a fantastic "Dream Land".

★Kobe Luminarie
Dec.4 - Dec.15 : Kobe Chuo-ward, Hyogo  (free)

 This event started as the requiem for the victims of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. It has become the main winter attraction in Kobe. The theme changes every year, and about 200,000 lights brighten the street in accordance with music.






★Yomiuri Land Jewllumination
Nov.7 -Mar.15, 2015 : Inagi City, Tokyo

 This started in 2010 being designed by Mikiko Ishii who is a famous lighting designer. The number of light balls has been scaled up from 2 million last year to 3 million. She produced the illumination newly by using  "forest jewelry colors", "aqua jewelry colors" and "lovely jewelry colors"in addition to the world's first 7 kinds of jewelry colors.

★Seibuen Amusement Park
Nov.14 - Jan.4, 2015 : Tokorozawa City, Saitama

  It has been five years since Seibuen amusement park started the illumination display, which is one of the largest illuminations in the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan area. A lot of people visit including people from outside of the prefecture. The number of LED lights this year significantly increased from last year's 2.2 million to 3 million balls and the area called "Illumi Stage".  where people can enjoy the lights and music show, has been expanded. Furthermore, "Stairs Candle Illumination" using 2,000 candles has made its debut.

★OSAKA Light Renaissance 2014
Dec.14-25  Kita-Ward, Osaka    (free)

  Brilliant lights in every corner of Osaka are integrated into the "Osaka Light Festival 2014" which is held in the Nakanoshima area as a core program.    There is "Miotsukushi Promenade" with a romantic landscape in the south of Osaka City Hall garden, and "the Opera of Lights 2014" at the historic Osaka Central Public Hall which is covered with lights, images and music is the highlight of the show, as well. There is also a dining zone called "Hikari no Marche ; Marche of Lights", where people can enjoy European gourmet food.

★Pageant of Lights 2014
Dec.12 - 25  Sendai City, Miyagi   (free)

 This is the 29th winter attraction in Sendai. The zelkova trees along Jozenji street shine like stars with several hundred thousand lights balls, under the slogan of "the stage of joy and inspiration"



★Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination
Oct.25 - Mar.31, 2015   Kuwana City, Mie

 This theme park of food, flowers, greens and spas was established with the idea of a small village with the dreamlike waterside scenery of Riv. Nagaragawa. It is one of the largest scaled illuminations in Japan, including the garden around a pond being lit up. Three kinds of locally brewed beer are sold at the Nagashima brewery inside of the park.

★Ashikaga Flower Park "the Garden of Lights and Flowers"
Oct.25 - Feb.1, 2015    Ashikaga City, Tochigi

  "Light of the Flower Garden" which has increased in volume from last year's 2.1 million balls to 2.5 million balls was designated a Japanese Night View heritage, and it is one of the biggest in the three sites in Kanto area. This year "Miracle Oofuji(big wisteria flowers)" is attracting people as if they were like real wisteria in full bloom, wavering in the spring wind.


★Winter Vista Illumination 2014
Dec.6 - Dec.25  Tachikawa City, Tokyo

The area from the Tachikawaguchi gateway to the open area for meetings in the Tokyo oasis, National Showa Memorial Park has been covered with tender lights. This year, a fantastic Water Laser Show appears in the water beside the 5-merter high Candle Tower. People can enjoy the collaboration of fireworks and lights on Dec.23rd and 24th.

★Tokyo German Village, Winter Illumination 2014-2015
Nov.8 - Mar.31, 2015  Sodegaura City, Chiba

The Illumination in the Tokyo German Village is one of Kanto's three largest illuminations. People can enjoy the illumination with the theme which changes every year. The two million LED light bulbs produce a beautiful world with fresh excitement and a fantastic atmosphere.