Shirakawago Light Up Event

Shirakawago has a special place in my heart with its beautiful scenery and traditional old farmhouses. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Gifu Prefecture’s must-see travel destinations and is famous for its collection of thatched roof houses built in the gassho-zukuri style.

The historic village is home to 112 of these gassho-style houses with the traditional thatched roofs resembling the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer. Some of these historic houses are more than 250 years old with the unique architectural style developed over generations to withstand the heavy snow fall during winter of this remote region of Japan.

The small village is home to only about 1,700 people but around 1,700,000 visitors come every year, especially around the time of the beautiful light-up event in January and February. This magical illumination event turns the village into a winter wonderland straight out of a fairy tale.

The Shirakawago Tourist Association has partnered with Japankuru Funding, a crowdfunding service to create a community made guidebook for the Shirakawago Light Up Event, which runs every weekend from January 19th, 2019 to February 17th, 2019.

The guidebook will help people attending the event have a better time and enjoy the experience further by providing tourists with key information such as where to eat, what to see, what to do and how to best enjoy Shirakawago.

If you are interested in helping the project, visit the Shirakawago Light Up Event Guidebook page and help the community create this useful resource.

Image from the Shirakawago Tourist Association

Winter Illuminations in Japan 2014

One of the highlights of winter in Japan for me is the spectacular winter illuminations that decorate the Christmas period. Around this time of year, a lot of places put on spectacular night time illuminations. The illuminations usually start in late Autumn and finish around the end of December, but some last until early February. Most are FREE and definitely worth checking out as they are a highlight of winter in Japan.

Some of the most popular and spectacular Winter Illuminations for 2014 include:

Kobe Luminaire 

Kobe Luminaire in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture is a light festival, which is the original and most famous in Japan. The illuminations run for twelve days in December and are turned on for a few hours each evening. They are truly spectacular with each light individually hand painted. Kobe Luminaire started after the Kobe Earthquake in 1995 with the hope to give courage and inspire the people of Kobe. It was such a success that it has continued as an annual event. This year’s theme is “Kobe, City of Dreams and Light”. Kobe Luminaire will run from December 4-15.

When: December 4-15 
Times: Monday to Thursday (6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.)
             Friday (6 p.m. – 10 p.m.)
             Saturday (5 p.m. – 10 p.m.)
             Sunday (5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.)

Official Website

Image Source

Kobe Luminaire

Nabana no Sato 

Nabana no Sato is a theme park dedicated to flowers located in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture. It has one of Japan’s finest winter illuminations that run for about 5 months from late October to late March. The park is covered in more than 8 million LED lights with the highlight, the spectacular light tunnel. This year’s theme is “Niagara Falls”, with a huge scale illumination of Niagara Falls, which is stunning at about 20 meters in height and 120 meters in width.

When: October 25 2014 – March 31 2015
Times: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Admission: Standard ¥1,500 Winter ¥2,000

Official Website

Nabana no Sato

Shirakawa-go 

Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its gassho zukkuri farmhouses. This place has been famous for years due to its thatched roof farmhouses, but the beauty is raised to an even higher level when the houses are lit up in the snow. Spotlights illuminate the snow covered thatched roofs which makes this place look like Santa’s village in the North Pole. It is truly spectacular. This year it will run from mid January to mid February.

When: January 17, 24, 25, 31 February 1, 7, 14
Times: 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Official Website

Shirakawa-go

Sapporo Snow Festival 

The Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo, Hokkaido, is an annual snow festival which is a winter favourite. It is one of the largest winter events in Japan, and is also known as the “Sapporo Yuki Matsuri”. The festival is held each year in early February with dozens of large and amazingly elaborate ice and snow sculptures. The event will be held from February 5-11 in 2015 with the amazing ice sculptures lit at night creating a winter wonderland.

When: February 5-11
Times: Odori Site ~ lit daily until 10 p.m.
             Susukino Site ~ lit daily until 11 p.m.

Official Website

Sapporo Snow Festival

Some spectacular spots around the Tokai Area (Gifu/Aichi/Mie) of Japan are:

Kiso Sansen Park 

Kiso Sansen Park located in Kaizu City, Gifu Prefecture, is a popular urban city park. The park first opened in 1987 and is the largest urban park in Japan. Every winter from early to late December they have a spectacular winter illumination consisting of about 500,000 lights that decorate the park. This year’s theme is ‘Winter Lights Story’.

138 Tower Park

138 Tower Park located in Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture, is one of the best public parks in Japan. It features a spectacular 138 meter high observation tower with dual arches. From mid-November to late-December the park is decorated with around 500,000 lights creating a spectacular winter illumination. This year’s theme is “Merry Christmas”.

138 Tower Park

 
Tokyo has quite a few seasonal illuminations spots including:

• Shinjuku Southern Terrace, south of JR Shinjuku Station – November 12, 2014 to February 25, 2015 from 5 p.m. – 12 a.m.

• Ginza, Christmas trees along Chuo Street and store illuminations – November 15, 2014, to December 25, 2014 from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

• Roppongi Hills, Christmas Illumination Event – November 4, 2014 to December 25, 2014 from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.

• Tokyo Midtown, Midtown Christmas featuring the “Starlight Garden” – November 13, 2014 to December 25, 2014 from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.

• Odaiba, has the “Daiba Memorial Tree" in Odaiba Kaihin Park – November 13, 2014 to March 15, 2015 from 5 p.m. – 12 a.m.

• Tokyo Dome City, 'Promenade of Light' one of Tokyo’s best with over 2.2 million lights– November 6, 2014 to February 15, 2015 from 5 p.m. – 1 a.m.

• Marunouchi, the entire district lights up with champagne lights along Naka-dori Street – November 13, 2014 to February 15, 2015 from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Most places in Japan will have some kind of winter illuminations, so wherever you are in Japan, you will be able to enjoy this winter tradition.

Winter Illuminations at Nabana no Sato

Christmas in Japan 2013

Christmas is just around the corner, so I thought I’d talk a little about Christmas here in Japan. Christmas is not a national holiday like it is back home in Australia, but is just a regular working day. It is a romantic time for couples, kind of like a second Valentine’s Day, rather than a time to spend with your family. Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day is the special day in Japan. It is a time for couples to go out on a romantic dinner date and exchange gifts. Restaurants and hotels are usually fully booked out during this time. Christmas Eve is celebrated with a fancy Christmas cake. The cake is not a rich fruit cake like we have in the west, but a sponge cake covered in whipped cream and topped with strawberries.

Christmas food in Japan includes traditional KFC Christmas Chicken Dinner. Kentucky Fried Chicken has become synonymous with Christmas in Japan since they launched their advertising campaign in the 1970s. You will usually see the Colonel dressed up in Santa gear around this time. There are long lines at KFC on Christmas Day and many people pre-order their Christmas feast well in advance to avoid missing out. It is estimated that 1 in 3 Japanese adults will eat fried chicken this Christmas!

KFC Japan Website

The Colonel dressed as Santa Claus for Christmas 

The retail stores and shopping malls scattered all around Japan have been the most enthusiastic about Christmas, with large Christmas trees, Santa Clauses and seasonal decorations out in force several weeks or months in advance. This year the decorations came out the day after Halloween!

Christmas decorations in Japan

Christmas Tree in Shopping Mall

Christmas was first celebrated in Japan during the Sengoku Period, also known as the Warring States Period, in the 16th Century. It was during this time that a missionary, Francis Xavier introduced Christianity to Japan. The modern celebration of Christmas in Japan first started around 1900 during the Meiji Restoration when Japan opened up to the West after a long period of isolation. Japanese Christmas Cake first hit the streets in the 1920s at department stores in Ginza, Tokyo. As mention above, KFC started their Christmas Fried Chicken marketing campaign in the 1970s and the rest is history.

Over the last few years, more and more people are starting to celebrate Christmas like we do in the west. They are taking up traditions such as decorating their home, exchanging gifts and having a nice Christmas dinner. The Winter Illuminations have become a big deal during this time with magical displays put on by several places. They are popular with couples out on a romantic date as well as families.

Winter Illuminations at Nabana no Sato

How to spend a Festive Christmas in Japan like back home 

There are several places in Gifu/Nagoya, my home in Japan that have the goodies you need to make a Festive Christmas just like at home.

Kaldi Coffee Farm located in most of the big malls in Gifu such as Morela, Masa21, Aeon Mall Kakamigahara and Aeon Mall Kisogawa. They have a lot of different imported food such as chocolate, candy, shortbread and snacks for those Christmas stockings.

Plant6 in Ogaki has a range of cheeses, party foods, snacks, cookies and meats.

Amika in Akenabe-cho and Masaki in Gifu has a large range of frozen meats including whole chickens. 

FrancFranc in Morela, Gifu & Nagoya Parco has lots of different Christmas decorations as well as Tokyu Hands in Takashimiya Nagoya.

Loft in Gifu City and Sakae Nagoya also has lots of Christmas decorations, Christmas trees & lights and stationary like Christmas cards.

Meidi-ya in Sakae, Nagoya specialises in foreign food and has a range of Christmas goodies.

Seijyo-ishi in Meieki, Nagoya is a foreign food supermarket with a good selection of foreign food.

Kaldi Coffee Farm

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Japan have also released a range of Christmas themed doughnuts to light up the festive season. They include Snowman Chocolate, Pistachio Wreath and Stollen Ring. You can pick up a Santa Claus Dozen that features the above doughnuts as well as a special Santa Cheesecake Doughnut for 2000 yen.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Japan

Krispy Kreme Santa Claus Dozen

Wherever you are in the World, the team here at Japan Australia would like to wish you a Merry Christmas!

Tokyo Christmas Illuminations

Tokyo continues to be one of the best places in the world for Christmas illuminations. There’s all sorts, from rather tacky, but cute to super stylish. Here are some of my favourites:

Tama Center 

Tama Center (多摩センター) is home to Sanrio Puroland, Hello Kitty’s theme park. It seems like this was created as a new city centre outside central Tokyo, and the size of the Christmas illuminations reflect this. The long shopping promenade was lined with illuminations as early as mid November!

Tokyo Midtown 

For some really posh Christmas illuminations, head to Tokyo Midtown (東京ミッドタウン) in Roppongi (六本木). These super stylish illuminations can be found at the garden in the back of this high class shopping centre.

Ginza 

Another Christmas illuminations highlight in Tokyo is Ginza (銀座), a famous shopping street with all the top luxury brands. There seems to be a little competition going on between some brands as to who has the best Christmas illuminations on their store building.

Today's guest post is from Tokyo Blogger Matthew Baxter.

Matthew is a blogger, game developer and writer living in Tokyo, Japan. He has lived cheaply in Japan for over 5 years, and writes for Cheapo Japan, a travel guide dedicated to budget travel in Japan. You can read more of his work at www.cheapojapan.com

Winter Illuminations in Japan 2013

One of the highlights of winter in Japan for me is the spectacular winter illuminations that decorate the Christmas period. Around this time of year a lot of parks and town districts put on spectacular night time illuminations. The illuminations usually start late autumn and finish around the end of December, but some last until early February. Most are FREE and definitely worth checking out as they are a highlight of winter in Japan.

Some of the most popular and spectacular Winter Illuminations for 2013 include:

Kobe Luminaire

Kobe Luminaire in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. It is a light festival, which is the original and most famous in Japan. The illuminations run for twelve days in December and are turned on for a few hours each evening. They are truly spectacular with each light individually hand painted. Kobe Luminaire started after the Kobe Earthquake in 1995 with the hope to give courage and inspire the people of Kobe. It was such a success that it has continued as an annual event. This year’s theme is “A Memory of Light”, Kobe Luminaire will run from December 5-16.

Kobe Luminaire image source

Nabana no Sato

Nabana no Sato, located in Kuwana City in Mie Prefecture, it is a theme park dedicated to flowers. They have one of Japan’s finest winter illuminations that runs for about 4 months from mid-November to mid-March. The park is covered in more than 8 million LED lights with the highlight, the spectacular light tunnel. This year’s theme is “Nature”, and the park will celebrate the recent addition of Mt. Fuji as a UNESCO World Heritage Site by a giant illuminated model of the famous mountain. The model will change to represent the different seasons and times of day. Nabana no Sato Winter Illuminations will run from October 25 2013 to March 31 2014.

More on Nabana no Sato

The Light Tunnel at Nabana no Sato

Sirakawa-go

Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its gassho zukkuri farmhouses. This place has been famous for years due to its thatched roof farmhouses, but the beauty is raised to an even higher level when the houses are lit up in the snow. Spotlights illuminate the snow covered thatched roofs which makes this place look like Santa’s village in the North Pole. It is truly spectacular. This year it will run from the end of January to February.
Dates: January 18,25,26 and February 1,2,9,15

Winter Illuminations at Shirakawa-go image source

Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido, this annual snow festival also called the Sapporo Yuki Matsuri is a winter favourite. It is held each year in early February with dozens of large and amazingly elaborate ice and snow sculptures. The event will be held from February 5-11 in 2014 and the amazing ice sculptures are lit at night creating a winter wonderland.

Sapporo Snow Festival image source

Some spectacular spots around the Tokai Area of Japan are:

Kiso Sansen Park

Kiso Sansen Park, located in Kaizu City in Gifu Prefecture, is an urban city park. The park first opened in 1987 and is the largest urban park in Japan. Every winter from early to late December they have a spectacular winter illumination consisting of about 500,000 lights that decorate the park.

More on Kiso Sansen Park

138 Tower Park

138 Tower Park, located in Ichinomiya City in Aichi Prefecture, it is one of the best public parks in Japan. It features a spectacular 138 meter high observation tower with dual arches. From mid-November to late-December the park is decorated with around 500,000 lights creating a spectacular winter illumination. This year’s theme is “Galaxy Fantasy” with the illuminations set up so that when viewed from the tower above they actually look like a galaxy of stars.

More on 138 Tower Park

138 Tower Park Galaxy Fantasy

Tokyo has quite a few seasonal illuminations spots including:

• Shinjuku Southern Terrace, south of JR Shinjuku Station – November 13, 2013 to February 16, 2014
• Ginza, Christmas trees along Chuo Street and store illuminations – November 16, 2013, to December 25, 2013
• Roppongi Hills, 10th Anniversary Christmas Illumination Event – November 5, 2013 to December 25, 2013
• Tokyo Midtown, Midtown Christmas featuring the “Starlight Garden” – November 14, 2013 to December 25, 2013
• Odaiba, has the “Daiba Memorial Tree" in Odaiba Kaihin Park – November 16, 2013 to March 16, 2014
• Tokyo Dome City, has an impressive collection of illuminations and displays – November 7, 2013 to February 16, 2014
• Marunouchi, the entire district lights up with Nakadori Street, especially beautiful – October 1, 2013 to February 16, 2014

Most places in Japan will have some kind of winter illuminations, so wherever you are in Japan, you will be able to enjoy this winter tradition.

Winter Illuminations at Nabana no Sato in Mie Prefecture

Christmas in Japan 2012

Christmas in Japan is celebrated a little different than from home in Australia. For a start the seasons are different, Winter vs Summer. Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan, and is just a regular working day if it falls on a week day. In Australia, it is a time to spend with family, while in Japan it is a romantic time for couples, kind of like a second Valentine’s Day.

Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day is the special day in Japan. It is usually a time for couples to go out on a romantic dinner date and restaurants and hotels are usually fully booked out during this time. Christmas Eve is celebrated with a fancy Christmas cake. The cake usually consists of a sponge cake covered in whipped cream and topped with strawberries.

Christmas food in Japan includes traditional KFC fried chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken has become synonymous with Christmas in Japan since they launched their advertising campaign in the 1970s. You will usually see the Colonel dressed up in Santa gear around this time. There are long lines at KFC on Christmas Day and many people pre-order their Christmas feast well in advance to avoid missing out.

The retail stores and shopping malls scattered all around Japan have been the most enthusiastic about Christmas, with large Christmas trees, Santa Clauses and seasonal decorations out in force several weeks or months in advance.

Over the last few years, more and more people are starting to celebrate Christmas like we do in the west. They are taking up traditions such as decorating their home, exchanging gifts and having a nice Christmas dinner. The Winter Illuminations have become a big deal during this time with magical displays put on by several places. My favourite has to be the Winter Illuminations at Nabana no Sato in Mie Prefecture.

How to spend a Festive Christmas in Japan like back home 

There are several places in Gifu/Nagoya, my home in Japan that have the goodies you need to make a Festive Christmas just like at home.

Plant6 in Ogaki has a range of cheeses, party foods, snacks, cookies and meats.

Amika in Akenabe-cho and Masaki has a large range of frozen meats including whole chickens.

FrancFranc in Nagoya Parco has lots of different Christmas decorations as well as Tokyu Hands in Takashimiya Nagoya.

Loft in Gifu City and Sakae Nagoya also has lots of Christmas decorations and stationary like Christmas cards.

Kaldi in Diamond City and Masa21, has lots of different imported food such as chocolate, candy and snacks for those Christmas stockings.

In the Tokyo area, check out places like

Precce for a variety of cheeses, party foods and speciality items for Christmas.

Nissin World Delicatessen for whole turkeys and fixings for stuffing.

Kinokuniya has several traditional style Christmas decorations.

Seijoishi import grocery store has lots of different imported candy and cookies.

Ikea last year was selling real Christmas trees for ¥1990 and also have a good range of Christmas decorations.

FrancFranc and Tokyu Hands have loads of Christmas tree decorations.

Loft also has lots of Christmas decorations and stationary like Christmas cards.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas

Light Tunnel at Nabana no Sato

Winter Illuminations in Japan

During the colder months in Japan a lot of places put on spectacular night time illuminations. The illuminations usually start late autumn and last until early February. Most are FREE and definitely worth checking out as they are a highlight of winter in Japan.

Some of the most popular and spectacular are:

Kobe Luminaire in Kobe, a light festival, this is the original and most famous. The illuminations run for two weeks in December and are turned on for a few hours each evening. They are truly spectacular with each light individually hand painted. Kobe Luminaire is dedicated to the memory and recovery of the Kobe Earthquake in 1995.

Nabana no Sato located in Kuwana City in Mie Prefecture, it is a theme park dedicated to flowers. They have one of Japan’s finest winter illuminations that runs for about 4 months from mid-November to mid-March. The highlight is the spectacular light tunnel.

Nabana no Sato 

Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its gassho zukkuri farmhouses. This place has been famous for years due to its thatched roof farmhouses, but the beauty is raised to an even higher level when the houses are lit up in the snow. Spotlights illuminate the snow covered thatched roofs and runs from mid-January to mid-February.

Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido, this annual snow festival also called the Sapporo Yuki Matsuri is a winter favourite. It is held each year in early February with dozens of large and amazingly elaborate ice and snow sculptures. The event will be held from February 5-11 in 2013 and the amazing ice sculptures are lit at night creating a winter fairyland.

Tokyo has quite a few seasonal illuminations spots including:

• Shinjuku Southern Terrace, south of JR Shinjuku Station
• Ginza, Christmas trees along Chuo Street and store illuminations
• Odaiba, has the “Daiba Memorial Tree" in Odaiba Kaihin Park
• Tokyo Dome City, has an impressive collection of illuminations
• Maranouchi, the Nakadori Street is lit up with illuminations

Most places in Japan will have some kind of winter illuminations, so wherever you are in Japan, you will be able to enjoy this winter tradition.

Light Tunnel at Nabana no Sato

Nabana no Sato Mie, Japan

Nabana no Sato (なばなの里) located in Kuwana City in Mie Prefecture, Japan is a must see place if you are ever in the Mie area. Nabana no Sato is a theme park focused on flowers and is part of the Nagashima Onsen (長島温泉) resort area.