From late November to mid-late January you can find numerous illumination displays around Japan. There are quite a few illumination displays in Hyogo too, mainly in Kobe City but there are a few in other cities too! Check out the list below!
The 24th Kobe Luminarie.
An annual illumination display in Kobe area which is held in memory of the victims of the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995
Time : 7th of December – 16th of December , 6pm to 9:30pm (Monday to Thursday) 6pm to 10pm (Friday) 5pm to 10pm (Saturday) 5pm- 9:30pm (Sunday)
Area : Kobe Foreign Settlement }
Closest stations : Sannomiya, Motomachi
Price : Free
Kobe Illuminage
Discover the this year upgraded, the first in Japan, circle illumination labyrinth! Like every year, we will hold the largest illumination event in Kansai – “Kobe Illuminage” – and you can expect the scale similar to the previous year, with the world surrounded by the lighting walls that looks like from a different reality. Come with your family and friends and enjoy the uncertainty of the labyrinth while looking for the goal! [x]
Time: November 3 – 11 February ; 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Area: Roadside Station Kobe Fruit Flower Park Ozo
Closest Station : Sannomiya Station, Oka station (both you need to take a bus or taxi)
Price: 1,200 yen
Kobe Sanda Premium Outlet
The Premium Outlet will be hosting various illuminations
Time: November 2 to February 20
Area : Kobe Sanda Premium Outlet
Closest Station: Mita Station
Cost : Free
Himeji Castle of Light
Event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of being a World Heritage listed site. On the grounds on Himeji Castle you can see a special cube display and there is also an event within the castle where you can walk through Nishinomaru Garden and around Nishinomaru Hyakkanrouka (100 interval corridor) with a lantern (entry to the inner Castle event costs 500yen)
Time: November 16th – December 2nd ; 6pm to 9:30pm
Area: Himeji Castle
Closest Station : Himeji Station
Cost : Castle grounds (free) Inside castle : 500 yen
Himeji Exciting Christmas
From late November to late December the rooftop of Piole will have illuminations. Also on weekends if you spend 1500yen in Piole you can pick up “lit-up” fairyfloss/cotton candy at the rooftop . There will be a Christmas market held from 21-25 of December featuring food& drinks from popular bakery and delis in Himeji such as E.A.T Store& Cafe, and AR Bakery & Cafe
Time: November 25 to December 25 ; 5pm to 8pm
Area : Himeji Piole Rooftop
Closest Station: Himeji Station
Cost : free
Awaji Christmas Flower Show + Outdoor Illumination
There are two parts to the illumination. The first part is an indoor illumination located in the Botanical Museum at Awaji Yumebutai . Every year there is a different theme and this year’s theme is Swedish Christmas!
The second part is outside and throughout the Yumebutai building, various Tadao Ando’s artworks are lit up/have light projected at them . There are also various other light up displays.
Time: Flower Show – November 17th to January 20th 10am to 6pm ; Outdoor illumination – November 17th to February 17th
Area: Awaji Yumebutai
Closest Station : Maiko/ Sannomiya (you have to get a bus to access Awaji Island)
Cost : Botanical Museum area : 600yen
Hyogo Prefectural Flower Center
During the month of December the Hyogo Prefectural Flower center opens its’ doors at night (on Saturdays and Sundays only) for visitors to experience the illumination displays. There are approx 100,000 light bulbs on display.
Time: December 1st – December 24th , Late Night openings only on weekends/public holidays : Light up time – 5pm to 8pm , Last entrance 7:30pm
Area : Hyogo Prefectural Flower Center (Kasai)
Closest Station : Hojomachi Station
Cost : 500yen
Suma Aquarium Christmas Illumination
Suma Aquarium will be having special limited illumination display for Christmas, there will be also other special events at the aquarium during this period.
Time: December 22 – December 24, light up time sunset to 9:30pm
Area : Suma Aquarium
Closest Station: Suma Seaside Park
Price: 1,300yen
Nesta Resort Illumination
This event will be renewed, and many new events will be held this year. Each area is created based on a different story and the light tunnel “Wonder Tunnel” will be renewed using one million LED light bulbs. A wall colored in rainbow colors called “DANCING WALL” will be set up at the entrance of the resort from the 20th of December (Wed.), “MAPPING THEATRE” which projects the adventure tale of penguins and the first complex rendition spectacle show in Japan called “Iguazu no Densetsu” using mega vision and water screen projection will be added. [x]
Time: November 20th – January 31st ; 5pm to 10pm
Area: Nesta Resort (Miki)
Closest Station: Sannonmiya Station (you have to take a bus from it, bus info here
Cost: 3000yen