Tokyo's Minato-ku Special 2020 Celebration of Light - come appreciate this artistic and sophisticated urban light display
This grand display of lights in Tokyo's Minato-ku features lights of all sizes across a range of dazzling colors that announce the coming of winter to the city. This year, the organizers are taking measures to adjust the event to avoid crowding as per the requirements of the current situation, though these adjustments have actually stimulated the emergence of new ideas. In 2020, the best way to enjoy a lighting display is with small numbers of people kept a sensible distance apart. This eventful and sometimes trying year will soon be over, so why not round it off with some wonderful memories of beautiful scenes woven together by particles of light?
ANOTHER WORLD - come discover and enjoy the various sights and delights of Tokyo Midtown
Entitled MIDTOWN WINTER MOMENTS, three events, including the light display, enliven Tokyo Midtown in winter. This year, the concept is ANOTHER WORLD, with productions set to transport your imagination beyond this earthly realm.
The MIDTOWN WINTER LIGHTS light display to be held in Midtown Garden will feature the annually popular illuminated trees arranged in the new style of a pedestrian esplanade. Light bulbs this year will possess a wider range of light than ever before, releasing a glittering shower of luminescence that enhances the brilliance of the gilded landscape. Make no mistake, you will really feel like you are in another world!
STEP LIGHT, an interactive lighting display, is set up near the pedestrian esplanade. When you step on one of the disk shaped lights, it will change color beneath your foot. It might be said that this unique interactive display is suited to the prevention of infectious diseases as it can be enjoyed merely by stepping on it with your shoes rather than touching it with your hands.
Another highlight is a huge white dome known as the SNOW LIGHT GLOBE. Measuring approximately 3 meters high and 4.5 meters in diameter, the interior of the dome features beautiful illuminated projections of winter scenery such as the aurora borealis and ice prisms. Snow is represented by light reflected via a mirror ball so that the visitor can step into another world where snowflakes are falling from the sky.
MIDTOWN ICE RINK, an outdoor skating surface in the middle of a grass field available starting in January each year, will be open once more in 2021, so you can enjoy plenty of skating under the Roppongi sky. At night, the ice is illuminated so that it can play its part in the brilliant light display that surrounds it. There are even cute little sleds available to rent so that even those unable to skate can enjoy the rink with confidence.
Unique Christmas trees will appear both indoors and outdoors up until Christmas. Midtown Garden will feature a Gift Tree, a mysterious construction in the shape of the kanji character for "tree" on which 25 gifts from Santa will appear. Starting in December, one gift will transform from green to red each day as a countdown to Christmas Day.
Inside, on the first floor of the Galleria, will be the Santa Tree on which you can find nearly 1800 Santa Claus ornaments. Each Santa is graced with its own unique facial expression, making it fun wander around and around the tree checking them all out. Come to Tokyo Midtown to enjoy this journey into another world as you enjoy yourself searching for your favorite Santa Claus.
Event Dates:
MIDTOWN WINTER LIGHTS: Thursday, November 19, 2020 - Sunday, February 28, 2021 17:00-23:00 ※ Plaza area until 24:00
MIDTOWN ICE RINK: Thursday November 19, 2020 - Sunday, February 28, 2021 11:00-21:00（Reception open until 20:00）
Midtown Christmas Trees: Thursday November 19 - Friday, December 25
Event Dates:
MIDTOWN WINTER LIGHTS: Thursday, November 19, 2020 - Sunday, February 28, 2021 17:00-23:00 ※ Plaza area until 24:00
MIDTOWN ICE RINK: Thursday November 19, 2020 - Sunday, February 28, 2021 11:00-21:00（Reception open until 20:00）
Midtown Christmas Trees: Thursday November 19 - Friday, December 25
SNOW&BLUE Light Display Gives a Sophistication to Christmas in Roppongi Hills
For Roppongi Hills Christmas 2020, the building will be hosting a variety of events from mid-November to December 25. The Keyakizaka Light Display, one of the main attractions this year, features nearly 700,000 LEDS illuminating a 400 meter row of keyaki trees where you can see the lights playing off against one another in a way unique to the urban feel of Minato-ku.
SNOW&BLUE is the theme of the Keyakizaka Light Display, using clean blue and white lighting to cast a romantic scene onto the city that you will surely want to experience with someone you love. The power supply to these LEDS is generated entirely in-house (including the use of green energy sources) making this an art installation with an environmentally friendly conscience.
The tree lined avenue is lit up on both sides, making it a beautiful photo spot no matter where you stop to click as you amble up and down the slope. To capture the entire spectacle in one shot, the best spots can be found at the bottom of the hill in front of of Giorgio Armani and TV Asahi at the Roppongi Keyakizaka-dori intersection.
Along with the light displays, you can also enjoy a number of Christmas themed events. A horse drawn carriage with "Happy holidays to you! from JRA" appears on the Keyakizaka connecting bridge during times of illumination, the perfect photo opp for a photo that will get lots of attention on social media whether as a couple or a group of girlfriends posing together like princesses.
The unique Christmas tree featured on the West Walk is a hot topic each year, and 2020 features a 6.5 meter live tree erected under the creative direction of H.P FRANCE. Decorated with ornaments made of Polish velour, this tree brings the comforting feelings of nature from its Hokkaido homeland in the north of Japan into the middle of Roppongi.
Along with Christmas 2020 in the Sky, which will be held at Roppongi Hills Tokyo City View, Oyane Plaza will once again host the annual traditional Christmas market. This event, sponsored by the Germany Embassy, is a tribute to the world's largest Christmas market in Stuttgart and will contain a total of seven stalls selling miscellaneous goods, food, and drink.
Another wonderful way to make memories is "wish a wish" (letters to delivered in one year's time). This involves writing messages on Christmas cards that can be purchased in several places at the venue and addressing them to be placed into a special postbox after which the letters will arrive on Christmas in the following year. Why not send a little piece of your 2020 self to your loved ones next year?
Event Dates:
Keyakizaka Light Display - Friday, November 13 - Friday, December 25 17:00-23:00
Happy holidays to you! from JRA - Friday, November 13 - Friday, December 25 17:00-23:00
West Walk Decoration - Friday, November 20 - Friday, December 25
Christmas in the Sky - Saturday, November 28 - Friday, December 25 Rooftop Sky Deck 13:00-22:00 (last entry 21:30)
Christmas Market - Saturday, November 28 - Friday, December 25 11:00-21:00
wish a wish (letters to delivered in one year's time) Friday, November 20 - Friday, December 25
Event Dates:
Keyakizaka Light Display - Friday, November 13 - Friday, December 25 17:00-23:00
Happy holidays to you! from JRA - Friday, November 13 - Friday, December 25 17:00-23:00
West Walk Decoration - Friday, November 20 - Friday, December 25
Christmas in the Sky - Saturday, November 28 - Friday, December 25 Rooftop Sky Deck 13:00-22:00 (last entry 21:30)
Christmas Market - Saturday, November 28 - Friday, December 25 11:00-21:00
wish a wish (letters to delivered in one year's time) Friday, November 20 - Friday, December 25
Akasaka Sacas - Tokyo Mini Tower's Light and Sound Display is a Must-See
Along Naka-dori near the Akasaka Biz Tower, the big stars are light and sound in the beautiful "Sound x Terrace 2020-2021" light display of Akasaka Sacas. The art team from TBS TV was in charge of design, resulting in incredible color transitions that use LEDs to express nearly 16.7 million colors through light.
This year marks the first collaboration with Tokyo Tower, another symbolic Minato-ku landmark. The response from the Noppon brothers, official mascots of the Tokyo Tower and Minato-ku tourism ambassadors, "We want to add some spark to the lights of Akasaka Biz Tower too!" Seems like the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
The main element of the display is a 3.33 meter replica of the Tokyo Tower, about 1/100 the size of the real thing. This cute little Tokyo Mini Tower contains a mechanism that causes it to change colors in a manner that imitates transitions between the four seasons. You can marvel as the lights shift through color gradations as the seasons change from summer to autumn and autumn to winter. All it takes to change the colors is a switch on the ground that you press with your shoe.
Sound and light spring to life every 30 minutes (9 times per day) between 17:00 to 21:00 daily. The colors of the light display dance along with music that suits the season. One area featuring a heart motif, back by popular demand from last year, is the perfect spot for taking photos.
It comes with a stand for taking selfies, so you can all take photos together. This year, there is a feature specific to the needs of 2020 that allows you peace of mind when turning on the face light for the photo. No hands are needed; just step on the button with your shoe to turn the light on and off.
Up until Christmas, Akasaka Biz Tower will feature gift box-shaped photo spots and Christmas tree, so there are plenty of opportunities to capture some memories with your camera.
Event Period: Wednesday, November 4, 2020 - Sunday, February 14, 2021
Event Period: Wednesday, November 4, 2020 - Sunday, February 14, 2021
Shimbashi Light Display - The symbol of Shimbashi, its SL locomotive, is transformed by bright lights
Shimbashi SL Square outside the west exit of JR Shimbashi Station is a standard spot for light displays in Minato-ku. The dynamically preserved steam locomotive (SL) is decorated with a different theme each year along with the five shopping streets adjacent to the New Shimbashi Building. This year's theme is "Shimbashi SL locomotive delivers good cheer" and the light display uses a blue base to convey a sense of gratitude and support to medical professionals working on the frontlines of medical treatment during the coronavirus epidemic.
The C11 locomotive, installed in 1972 to commemorate the 100th anniversary since the opening of the railways, gives the impression that it too is dressed for winter as it is wreathed in brilliant light. The whole of Shimbashi seems alive with gorgeous light as the colors dance along with the original music and the timing changes the theme color blue every 5 minutes.
Due to the necessity of avoiding crowding as much as possible due to the current situation, the organizers of the event held careful discussions with local merchants along the shopping streets, resulting in the conclusion that the event should go ahead because "it is time to give everyone some time for fun, something that will cheer them up." The head organizer warned, however, "I hope everyone will enjoy themselves while keeping appropriate distances from one another as there is plenty of space in the Square.
The original music was composed with 5 images in mind: love theme, loving oneself, loving our friends, loving the next generation, a world full of love. Aong with such themes the bright sounds of this music will energize all who listen.
During the light show, you'll be amazed by the way the steam puffs out of the locomotive. Santa Claus can be seen in the driver's seat. This fusion of a classic steam locomotive with a modern light display will be a special moment for railroad enthusiasts. As we watch the beautiful blue lights, let's send our thoughts and appreciation to those who have done so much for Japan.
Event Dates: Thursday, November 12, 2020 - Saturday, January 9, 2021
Event Dates: Thursday, November 12, 2020 - Saturday, January 9, 2021