[2026–2027] Illuminations and Light Events in the Tokai Region: Nabana no Sato, LAGUNA TEN BOSCH, Shirakawa-go and More

In the four prefectures of Aichi, Gifu, Mie and Shizuoka, events using illuminations, light-ups and projection mapping continue from November 2026 into spring 2027. Nabana no Sato in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, began its illumination on Saturday, October 17, and continues it until Monday, May 31, 2027. Nagoya’s Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens illuminates the autumn leaves of its botanical garden on seven days between Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, December 6, and “Izu Kogen Gran Illumi” at Izu Granpal Park (Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture) begins its 12th season on Friday, November 6. From January to February 2027, light-ups of gassho-zukuri farmhouses follow at Shirakawa-go and at Hida Folk Village in Takayama. Based on official announcements by organizers, facilities, local governments and tourism organizations, this article sorts out the dates, times, admission, organizers and content of 17 events, plus things to note before you go.

Winter light events in the Tokai region fall into resort and theme park illuminations running from autumn to spring or summer, illuminations with which local governments and shopping districts decorate station plazas and streets, and light-ups and night events held for limited periods. Nabana no Sato’s illumination began in fiscal 2004, Tokinosumika’s illumination is in its 25th edition this season, Izu Kogen Gran Illumi in its 12th season, and the Shirakawa-go Light-Up reaches its 41st edition in 2027. Meanwhile, for central Nagoya’s winter illuminations and others, the official websites our editorial team checked as of October 26 had no details for 2026–27. This article distinguishes information for 2026–27 from information about past editions. Major illuminations nationwide are covered in our roundup of illuminations for winter 2026–2027.

Schedule: From events already under way to spring 2027

Dates officially announced as of October 26 are listed in order of start date. Events already under way are marked “under way.” For Winter Light Story, only an approximate start has been announced.

• Monday, September 14 – Sunday, November 15: NAKED Moon Viewing in the Sky 2026 (Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER, Nagoya; under way)

• Friday, October 9 – Sunday, March 7, 2027: Tokinosumika Illumination 2026–2027 “Hikari no Sumika” (Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture; under way)

• Saturday, October 10 – Wednesday, March 31, 2027: Niji no Sato Illumi the Night 2026 (Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture; under way)

• Weekends and holidays from Saturday, October 10 to Sunday, November 8; Saturday, December 19 – Friday, December 25; Saturday, January 9 – Sunday, February 28, 2027: Hida Folk Village Light-Up (Takayama, Gifu Prefecture; three editions for autumn leaves, Christmas and winter)

• Saturday, October 17 – Monday, May 31, 2027: Nabana no Sato Illumination (Kuwana, Mie Prefecture; under way)

• Saturday, October 31 – Sunday, January 31, 2027: Kariya Street Illumination 2026 (Kariya, Aichi Prefecture)

• Saturday, October 31 – Sunday, January 24, 2027: Mie Akame Taki Akari (Nabari, Mie Prefecture; weekends and holidays only from December)

• Friday, November 6 – Tuesday, August 31, 2027: Izu Kogen Gran Illumi: 12th Season (Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture)

• Sunday, November 8 – Sunday, April 4, 2027: Laguna Illumination “Carnival of Light and Water” (Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture; period as listed on Aichi Prefecture’s tourism website)

• Wednesday, November 11 – Sunday, February 21, 2027: YOKKAICHI WINTER ILLUMINATION (Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture)

• From mid-November (planned): Winter Light Story (Kaizu, Gifu Prefecture; details not yet announced)

• Friday, November 20 – Sunday, January 31, 2027: Shimada Station Illumination “Shimada LUMI LINK” (Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture)

• Saturday, November 21 – Sunday, December 13: Sobun no Tsukiakari 2026: Garden of Art (Tsu)

• Saturday, November 21 – Friday, December 25: Shima Spain Village “Sparkling Christmas” (Shima, Mie Prefecture)

• Saturday, November 21, Sunday 22, Monday 23 (national holiday), Saturday 28 and Sunday 29, and Saturday, December 5 and Sunday 6: Autumn Leaves Light-Up at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens (Nagoya)

• Monday, January 11 (national holiday), Sunday 17, Sunday 24 and Sunday 31, 2027: Shirakawa-go Light-Up (Shirakawa Village, Gifu Prefecture)

Aichi: Nagoya’s tower and botanical garden, Kariya Station and LAGUNA in Gamagori

In central Nagoya, illuminations were held in winter 2025–26 along Meieki-dori, in Sakae Minami and Osu, at Hisaya-odori Park and elsewhere (according to a feature on Aichi Prefecture’s tourism website “Aichi Now,” updated January 16, 2026). As of October 26, details for 2026–27 had not appeared on the facilities’ official websites or that site as checked by our editorial team. Seto City plans to hold a production based on projection mapping for about 15 minutes from around 17:30 on Saturday, January 9, 2027, on the wall of the city hall’s north building (about 40.4 m wide and 18.75 m high), as an event marking 1,000 days before the 100th anniversary of the city’s founding (according to the city’s contract specifications).

NAKED Moon Viewing in the Sky 2026 (Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER, Nagoya)

This autumn event at the Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER in Naka Ward, Nagoya, projects mapping across the entire windows of the “Sky Deck” observation deck, 90 m above ground. It depicts blue trees turning into golden ginkgoes and a field of pampas grass under a full moon, with images appearing on the window surfaces after sunset. Planning and direction are by NAKED, INC. The observation deck cannot be entered between the end of daytime operations and the start of evening operations. Since September 23, 2025, the tower has used a new light-up, “Tower Jewels,” adding 98 of the latest LED lights. Every day at 19:00, 20:00 and 21:00, for three minutes from the top of the hour, the “Stardust Flash” envelops the entire tower in light like twinkling stars. In winter 2025–26, the observation deck hosted “NAKED STAR ILLUMINATION in the Sky” (December 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026), but as of October 26 no event had been announced for winter 2026–27.

Dates: Monday, September 14 – Sunday, November 15, 2026
Hours: 17:00–21:00 from Sunday, November 1 to Sunday, November 15 (closes at 21:40 on Saturdays; from 17:30 until Saturday, October 31)
Venue: “Sky Deck” observation deck, 90 m above ground, Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER (3-6-15 Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya)
Admission: Adults (high school students and older) ¥1,800; children (elementary and junior high school students) ¥800; free for children under elementary school age
Organizer: Not listed in the official information (planning and direction: NAKED, INC.)
Official website: https://www.nagoya-tv-tower.co.jp/event/autumn2026/

Kariya Street Illumination 2026 (around Kariya Station, Kariya, Aichi Prefecture)

Organized by Kariya City, this illumination lets visitors enjoy light art while strolling around the streets near Kariya Station. This year’s theme is “Trails of Light,” expressing the emotion and dynamism generated by sports. Venues are the north–south passageway of Kariya Station, the Kitakuru and Minakuru plazas, Karimachi Street and the north and south exit station plazas. On the first day, Saturday, October 31, an opening event will be held at Kitakuru Plaza and Karimachi Street from 15:00 to 19:00, with a lighting ceremony at around 17:30. During the period, a street piano (Monday, November 2 – Sunday, January 31, 2027), a Christmas market on Saturday, December 19 (time to be determined) and a photo contest until Friday, February 5, 2027, are also planned.

Dates: Saturday, October 31, 2026 – Sunday, January 31, 2027
Hours: 17:00–23:00
Venue: Kariya Station area (Kariya Station north–south passageway, Kitakuru and Minakuru plazas, Karimachi Street, and the station plazas at the north and south exits of Kariya Station; Kariya, Aichi Prefecture)
Admission: Not listed in the official information
Organizer: Kariya City (co-organizers: Kariya City Tourism Association and Kariya Station Area Platform)
Official website: https://www.city.kariya.lg.jp/shisei/machizukuri/info_machizukuri/streetillumi.html (Kariya City)

Laguna Illumination “Carnival of Light and Water” (LAGUNA TEN BOSCH, Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture)

This winter event at LAGUNA TEN BOSCH in Gamagori uses locations throughout the Lagunasia park. This season, a new area features the “Mystical Shining Arch,” a champagne-gold arch evoking a temple risen from the seabed, with shows linking music and light. Beyond the arch are “Sea of Clouds × Illumination,” which periodically releases a sea of clouds around a giant “Tree of Light,” and the “Blue Palace,” a palace entirely in marine blue. At Zephyros Plaza, the 360° 3D mapping show “Neige” is performed in a “10th Anniversary Special ver.” until Sunday, January 3, 2027, and there is also “Larousse,” a 360° 3D mapping show on the theme of “light.” There will be nine days of fireworks this winter; the “Fireworks Spectacular” on December 24 (Thu) to 26 (Sat), 29 (Tue) and 30 (Wed) combines fireworks with images on a giant screen, fountains and other effects, and performances by show cast members, starting at 20:15 each day.

Dates: Sunday, November 8, 2026 – Sunday, April 4, 2027 (as listed on Aichi Prefecture’s tourism website “Aichi Now”; the official website gives the period for the Christmas tree and Christmas market as Sunday, November 8 – Sunday, February 28, 2027)
Hours: Sunset to closing (lighting times vary by day and season)
Venue: Locations throughout Lagunasia, LAGUNA TEN BOSCH (2-3 Kaiyocho, Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture)
Admission: Free to view (a park admission ticket is required separately)
Organizer: Not listed in the official information (inquiries: LAGUNA TEN BOSCH)
Official website: https://www.lagunatenbosch.co.jp/event/winter/index.html

Autumn Leaves Light-Up at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens (Nagoya)

During its “Maple Viewing” period from Saturday, November 14 to Sunday, December 6, the botanical garden of Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens illuminates its autumn leaves on seven days and keeps part of the botanical garden area open until 20:30 (last entry 20:00). The botanical garden has more than 500 trees with autumn foliage, and the press release includes photos of maples reflected in Okuike Pond at night, the five-color maples along the Gassho path and the Conservatory Front Building. The light-up takes place in part of the botanical garden area, and visitors cannot go outside it. The zoo area closes at 16:50, and the special page says the conservatory cannot be viewed at night.

Dates: Seven days: Saturday, November 21, Sunday 22, Monday 23 (national holiday), Saturday 28 and Sunday 29, and Saturday, December 5 and Sunday 6, 2026
Hours: Part of the botanical garden area stays open until 20:30 (last entry 20:00)
Venue: Part of the botanical garden area, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens (Nagoya)
Admission: Entry with a regular admission ticket (admission fees revised on October 1, 2026)
Organizer: Not listed in the official information (announced by Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens)
Official website: https://www.higashiyama.city.nagoya.jp/koyo_momiji/

Gifu: Gassho-zukuri farmhouses at Hida Folk Village and Shirakawa-go, and Kaizu

Hida Folk Village Light-Up (Takayama, Gifu Prefecture)

At the Hida Folk Village “Hida no Sato” in Takayama, gassho-zukuri farmhouses are illuminated each season. According to the official website, in 2026–27 the autumn leaves light-up is held on weekends and holidays until Sunday, November 8, the Christmas light-up from Saturday, December 19 to Friday, December 25, and the winter light-up from Saturday, January 9 to Sunday, February 28, 2027. Hours are 17:30–20:30 for all, and parking is free during light-up hours. During the previous winter light-up (January 10 – February 28, 2026), the snow-covered gassho-zukuri houses were lit in pure white light, and four farmhouses were open during light-up hours so visitors could see inside.

Dates: Autumn leaves light-up: weekends and holidays until Sunday, November 8, 2026 / Christmas light-up: Saturday, December 19 – Friday, December 25 / Winter light-up: Saturday, January 9 – Sunday, February 28, 2027
Hours: 17:30–20:30
Venue: Hida Folk Village (1-590 Kamiokamotomachi, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture)
Admission: Adults ¥300, children ¥100 (parking free during light-up hours)
Organizer: Not listed in the official information (inquiries: Hida Folk Village “Hida no Sato”)
Official website: https://hidanosato.com/news/lightup2026

Winter Light Story (Kiso Sansen Park Center, Kaizu, Gifu Prefecture)

This winter illumination is held at the Kiso Sansen Park Center in Kiso Sansen National Government Park. The park’s official website says the fiscal 2026 edition is scheduled to open from mid-November. As of October 26, the dates, hours and content had not been announced. In fiscal 2025 it was held from November 23 to December 25, 2025, with lights on from 16:30 to 21:00. It featured a main illumination at the Great Flower Bed, the “Path of Light” at Sansen Pond with more walking paths, and a Christmas market and fir trees in the South Zone. The center’s Water and Greenery Pavilion and Observation Tower are unavailable until November 25, 2027 (scheduled), due to construction of a new exhibition facility.

Dates: From mid-November in fiscal 2026 (planned; details not announced as of October 26)
Hours: Not announced as of October 26 (16:30–21:00 in fiscal 2025)
Venue: Kiso Sansen Park Center (255-3 Aburajima, Kaizucho, Kaizu, Gifu Prefecture)
Admission: Not listed in the official information
Organizer: Not listed in the official information
Official website: https://www.kisosansenkoen.jp/~center/mkisosansenevent.html

Shirakawa-go Light-Up (Shirakawa Village, Gifu Prefecture)

This light-up event is held in winter in Ogimachi, Shirakawa-go, in Shirakawa Village. According to the Shirakawa-go Tourist Association, the 41st edition in 2027 will take place on four days: Monday, January 11 (national holiday), Sunday 17, Sunday 24 and Sunday 31. Parking for standard vehicles requires a reservation; the first round of sales, which began on September 10, sold out, and the second round will be accepted from 13:00 on Tuesday, December 1, only through online sales on the tourist association’s website (credit card payment). Accommodation handled by the tourist association is allocated by lottery rather than first come, first served. Participation is entirely by advance reservation, through lodging in the village, a reserved designated parking space or a bus tour, and there are no same-day ticket sales. The light-up runs from 17:30 to 19:30 each day. For details, see our article on the Shirakawa-go Light-Up 2027.

Dates: Monday, January 11 (national holiday), Sunday 17, Sunday 24 and Sunday 31, 2027
Hours: 17:30–19:30 each day
Venue: Ogimachi district, Shirakawa-go (Shirakawa Village, Ono District, Gifu Prefecture)
Admission: Designated parking (second round of sales) ¥7,000 per vehicle (1–5 people) or ¥10,000 (6–10 people). Check with each provider for lodging and bus tours
Organizer: Not listed in the official information (inquiries: Shirakawa-go Light-Up Committee, within the Shirakawa-go Tourist Association)
Official website: https://shirakawa-go.gr.jp/events/441/ (Shirakawa-go Tourist Association)

Mie: Nabana no Sato, the Akame waterfalls, evenings in Yokkaichi and Tsu, and Shima

Nabana no Sato Illumination (Kuwana, Mie Prefecture)

This illumination at Nagashima Resort’s “Nabana no Sato” began in fiscal 2004. The 2026–27 edition began on Saturday, October 17 and continues until Monday, May 31, 2027. The theme area page on the official website gives the theme as “Paradise of the Wild,” depicting the birth and evolution of life from the ancient Earth of 230 million years ago through the savanna and the undersea world to a waterfall modeled on Victoria Falls and a night of blooming jacarandas. The fiscal 2025 theme was “ZIPANGU.” There are also the waterborne illumination “River of Light,” the 200-meter tunnel of light “Flower Corridor” and the “Twin Trees,” which light up at the sound of the chapel bell. From Saturday, November 21 to Tuesday, December 22, special sound and light effects are staged in the Begonia Garden after the lights come on. For details, see our article on the Nabana no Sato Illumination 2026–2027.

Dates: Saturday, October 17, 2026 – Monday, May 31, 2027 (closed Wednesday, January 6 and Thursday, January 7)
Hours: Opening hours vary by day (in November, 10:00–21:00, until 22:00 on weekends and holidays; admission until 30 minutes before closing). Special hours of 15:00–22:00 on Wednesday, December 23 and 15:00–23:00 on Thursday 24 and Friday 25. Lighting time not listed in the official information
Venue: Nabana no Sato (Kuwana, Mie Prefecture)
Admission: Entry fees are ¥2,500 at convenience stores or ¥2,700 at the on-site counter from October 17 to November 20; ¥3,000 at convenience stores or ¥3,200 at the on-site counter from November 21 to December 22 and from December 26 to February 28; and ¥2,500 from March 1 to May 31, each including a ¥1,000 voucher and admission to the Begonia Garden. From December 23 to 25, a date-specific advance ticket is required (¥5,500, including a ¥2,000 voucher). Free for children under elementary school age
Organizer: Not listed in the official information
Official website: https://www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp/nabana/illumination/

Mie Akame Taki Akari (Akame 48 Waterfalls, Nabari, Mie Prefecture)

This light-up illuminates the gorge of the Akame 48 Waterfalls in Nabari from autumn into winter. Renewing the “Yugen Bamboo Lights” held until last year, this year’s production, as the name suggests, makes the “waterfalls” themselves the stars. It illuminates the gorge area from the Akame Waterfall Aquarium to Fudo Falls, and, as last year, a small rest spot selling hot cocoa, “Mori no Cocomi-chan,” opens in the gorge. From December it is held only on weekends and holidays, with special Christmas openings from Tuesday, December 22 to Friday, December 25.

Dates: Saturday, October 31 – Monday, November 30, 2026, and Saturday, December 5, 2026 – Sunday, January 24, 2027 (weekends and holidays only from December; special Christmas openings from Tuesday, December 22 to Friday, December 25; closed Monday, December 28 – Saturday, January 2, 2027)
Hours: 17:00–20:00 until Monday, November 30; 17:00–19:30 from Saturday, December 5
Venue: Akame 48 Waterfalls gorge (Akame Waterfall Aquarium to Fudo Falls; 861-1 Nagasaka, Akamecho, Nabari, Mie Prefecture)
Admission: Adults ¥700, children ¥400 (re-entry permitted on the same day)
Organizer: Not listed in the official information (inquiries: Eco-Tour Desk, Akame 48 Waterfalls Gorge Preservation Society, NPO)
Official website: https://www.akame48taki.com/activity_post/%e4%b8%89%e9%87%8d%e8%b5%a4%e7%9b%ae%e3%83%a9%e3%82%a4%e3%83%88%e3%82%a2%e3%83%83%e3%83%97/

YOKKAICHI WINTER ILLUMINATION (in front of Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station, Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture)

This illumination decorates the shopping streets in front of Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station and Suwa Park. According to “Kanko Mie,” the tourism website of the Mie Prefecture Tourism Federation, the 2026–27 edition runs from the lighting ceremony on Wednesday, November 11 to Sunday, February 21, 2027. The Suwa Sakaemachi Arcade (Minami-odori and Koen-dori), Nibangai and Niji no Machi are decorated with illuminations, and a “heart object” photo spot is also installed. Illuminations at the Suwa Park Community Hall and Suwa Park are also lit. According to October information on the same tourism website, the Yokkaichi Asunarou Railway is running illuminated trains with decorations on the windows and floors from Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, February 28, 2027. Only two trainsets are decorated, and they run in regular service after 17:00. They can be ridden for the regular fare.

Dates: Wednesday, November 11, 2026 – Sunday, February 21, 2027 (lighting ceremony on November 11)
Hours: Not listed in the official information
Venue: Shopping streets in front of Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station and Suwa Park (Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture)
Admission: Free
Organizer: Not listed in the official information
Official website: https://www.kankomie.or.jp/event/38427 (Kanko Mie)

Sobun no Tsukiakari 2026: Garden of Art (Mie Center for the Arts, Tsu)

This night event at the Japanese garden, tea room and other spaces of the Mie Center for the Arts lets visitors see autumn leaves and art under moonlight. Works on display include “Fruits of Light” by artist Kyota Takahashi; “Fairy Labyrinth” by the art unit Picasso Switch and wood carver Tomoko Fukuyama; “Shadow Art Made by Light and Objects: Shadows Floating in the Tea Room” by shadow artist Emi Sato; and “Animal Sculptures” by sculptor Fuga Yamada. On Saturday, November 21 there will be a talk by Emi Sato (free), and on Monday, November 23 (national holiday), workshops led by Kyota Takahashi (planned) and by Picasso Switch (the former free, the latter ¥1,000). The event goes ahead in the rain.

Dates: Saturday, November 21 – Sunday, December 13, 2026 (closed Tuesday, November 24, Monday, November 30 and Monday, December 7)
Hours: 17:00–20:00
Venue: Japanese garden, tea room and other areas, Mie Center for the Arts (1234 Isshinden Kozubeta, Tsu)
Admission: Free (as listed on Kanko Mie)
Organizer: General Affairs Department, Mie Center for the Arts
Official website: https://www.center-mie.or.jp/event/detail/60006

Shima Spain Village “Sparkling Christmas” (Shima, Mie Prefecture)

For Christmas at Shima Spain Village (Parque España) in Shima, the illumination show “Espectáculo de Gran Árbol ‘Feliz Navidad 2026’” is staged on Calle de España. Combining a tree with Christmas songs and projecting images onto the tree, the show is performed once a day for about six minutes. The winter special discount passport (e-ticket only) costs ¥5,500 for adults (regularly ¥5,900) for use from Monday, December 14 to Monday, January 11, 2027 (national holiday).

Dates: Saturday, November 21 – Friday, December 25, 2026
Hours: Once a day, about six minutes (show time not listed in the official information)
Venue: Calle de España, Parque España, Shima Spain Village (Shima, Mie Prefecture)
Admission: No show price listed in the official information (winter special discount passport ¥5,500 for adults)
Organizer: Not listed in the official information
Official website: https://www.parque-net.com/special/winter2026.html

Shizuoka: Tokinosumika in Gotemba, Shuzenji and Izu Kogen, and Shimada Station

Tokinosumika Illumination 2026–2027 “Hikari no Sumika” (Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture)

This winter illumination at Tokinosumika in Gotemba is in its 25th edition this season. Its theme is “DREAM LIGHTS SYMPHONY: The Forest of Light I Once Saw in a Dream.” There is a “Tunnel of Light” stretching about 300 m and a 20-meter symbol tree surrounded by lanterns, and there is also a free area. Among the paid venues, “Mori no Sumika” is a renovated church, and at “Palace Hill” there is a fountain laser show whose maximum height the official website gives as 150 m. The official website calls it “the large-scale illumination closest to Mount Fuji in Japan.”

Dates: Friday, October 9, 2026 – Sunday, March 7, 2027
Hours: 16:30–22:00 from November 1 to January 11, 2027; 17:00–21:30 from January 12 to March 7 (17:00–22:00 until October 31)
Venue: Tokinosumika (Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture)
Admission: Free area available. Paid venues: “Palace Hill,” adults (junior high school students and older) ¥1,300, elementary school students ¥700; “Mori no Sumika,” adults ¥700, elementary school students ¥400; combined ticket for both, adults ¥1,800, elementary school students ¥1,000 (free for preschool children)
Organizer: Not listed in the official information
Official website: https://www.tokinosumika.com/9964/

Niji no Sato Illumi the Night 2026 (Shuzenji Niji no Sato, Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture)

This nighttime illumination at Shuzenji Niji no Sato in Izu is billed on the official website as “one of the largest in Izu City.” It features projection mapping on the Western-style houses of the English Village; the “Fairy Garden,” an area where touching a button makes a seven-colored “Rainbow River” and countless “Butterflies of Light” appear; and the Romney Railway with an illuminated steam locomotive. This season there is a new area, “Rainbow Falls,” with a waterfall glowing in seven colors, and “Butterflies of Light” fluttering over a sea of glowing blue have been added to “Meteor Hill.” From Saturday, November 7 to Sunday, December 13, a maple light-up is held at the same time, and fireworks will be launched on Saturday, November 14, Sunday, November 22 and Saturday, November 28. The night session is separate from the day session, and the park closes between 16:00 and 17:00.

Dates: Saturday, October 10, 2026 – Wednesday, March 31, 2027 (opening days shown on the calendar on the official website; they differ from the day session’s opening days)
Hours: 17:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30); 18:00–21:00 from March 1 to 31
Venue: Shuzenji Niji no Sato (Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture)
Admission: Admission tickets are ¥1,700 or ¥1,800 for adults (junior high school students and older) and ¥1,000 for children (ages 4 and up) (the official website lists two prices without explaining the distinction). During the maple light-up, only combination tickets are sold, at ¥2,600 for adults and ¥1,500 for children, and on fireworks days ¥3,300 for adults and ¥2,200 for children. Free for ages 3 and under
Organizer: Not listed in the official information (inquiries: Niji no Sato)
Official website: https://nijinosato-illumination.com/

Izu Kogen Gran Illumi: 12th Season (Izu Granpal Park, Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture)

This interactive illumination is held in a special area inside Izu Granpal Park in Ito and is in its 12th season this year. According to a September 17 announcement by Izu Shaboten Park Co., this season adds a new “Otohime Photo Spot” in front of a giant screen, and an “Undersea Volcano Area” appears. The company says it won first place for Outstanding Technology in the Illumination Event category of the “International Illumination Award 2025,” announced on November 11, 2025. The event runs until Tuesday, August 31, 2027, the longest of the events covered in this article.

Dates: Friday, November 6, 2026 – Tuesday, August 31, 2027
Hours: Not listed in the organizer’s announcement (September 17)
Venue: Special area inside Izu Granpal Park (1090 Futo, Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture)
Admission: Not listed in the organizer’s announcement (September 17)
Organizer: Izu Granpal Park (announced by Izu Shaboten Park Co.)
Official announcement: Izu Shaboten Park Co. press release (September 17)

Shimada Station Illumination “Shimada LUMI LINK” (north exit of Shimada Station, Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture)

This winter illumination is held around the station plaza at the north exit of JR Shimada Station. According to Shimada City, a giant object, the “LUMI CUBE,” will be placed in the station plaza and projection mapping shown on “Obi-Ria,” along with a mystery-solving event and a photo contest. On the first day, Friday, November 20, a lighting ceremony will be held at the north exit plaza of Shimada Station from 17:00 to 20:00, with a music event and a small market. The city invited proposals from businesses to plan and operate the event through a public proposal process (with a proposal ceiling of ¥9,500,000 including tax) and, after evaluation, selected Liberty Co. as the prospective contractor.

Dates: Friday, November 20, 2026 – Sunday, January 31, 2027
Hours: 17:00–22:00
Venue: Around the station plaza at the north exit of Shimada Station (Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture)
Admission: Not listed in the official information
Organizer: Not listed in the official information (inquiries: Commerce and Industry Division, Industry and Economy Department, Shimada City)
Official website: https://www.city.shimada.shizuoka.jp/kanko-docs/878241324.html (Shimada City)

Before you go: Reservations, transportation and photography

Here are points to check before you go, compiled from the official websites of each event and information from local governments and tourism organizations.

• Reservations: The Shirakawa-go Light-Up is entirely by advance reservation with no same-day tickets, and parking for standard vehicles also requires a reservation, with the second round of sales starting at 13:00 on Tuesday, December 1. Accommodation handled by the tourist association is allocated by lottery. Nabana no Sato requires date-specific advance tickets for its special opening on December 23–25 and limits the number of tickets sold.

• Cars and parking: Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens recommends public transportation because surrounding roads and parking lots get congested, and only two gates, Hoshigaoka Gate and the Botanical Garden Gate, can be used after 16:30. The Akame 48 Waterfalls has no dedicated parking; use the free parking lots nearby. Kanko Mie says there is no parking for the Yokkaichi illumination.

• Getting home: The last bus from Shuzenji Niji no Sato to Shuzenji Station leaves at 17:42, and visitors to the night session are advised to use taxis or other means to get back.

• Photography and streaming: Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens asks visitors to refrain from using tripods and selfie sticks when crowded, and Tokinosumika asks visitors to refrain from live streaming anywhere on the grounds (including the free area). Re-entry is not permitted at Tokinosumika.

• Weather: The Autumn Leaves Light-Up at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Sobun no Tsukiakari and Niji no Sato go ahead in the rain.

• Facilities: The Water and Greenery Pavilion and Observation Tower at the Kiso Sansen Park Center are unavailable from May 7, 2026 to November 25, 2027 (scheduled), due to construction of a new exhibition facility.

Editor’s perspective

This season’s light events in the Tokai region fall into three groups by duration. Nabana no Sato (until Monday, May 31, 2027), Izu Kogen Gran Illumi (until Tuesday, August 31), Niji no Sato (until Wednesday, March 31), Tokinosumika (until Sunday, March 7) and LAGUNA (until Sunday, April 4, according to Aichi Prefecture’s tourism website) are resort and theme park events that start in autumn and continue into spring or summer. The illuminations around Kariya Station, in front of Shimada Station and in Yokkaichi’s station-front shopping streets light up between late October and November and decorate station plazas and streets until January or February 2027. Kariya’s is organized by the city, and in Shimada a business selected by the city through a public call handles planning and operation. The Autumn Leaves Light-Up at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens (seven days), Sobun no Tsukiakari (Saturday, November 21 – Sunday, December 13) and the Shirakawa-go Light-Up (four days in January) are held for limited periods.

In terms of staging, several of the events in this article feature projected images such as projection mapping in their official information. LAGUNA incorporates 360° 3D mapping, Niji no Sato projections onto the Western-style houses of the English Village, Shimada projections onto “Obi-Ria” and Shima Spain Village images projected onto a tree, while the Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER projects images across the observation deck’s windows (planning and direction by NAKED, INC.). LAGUNA also stages a sea-of-clouds effect. Meanwhile, the Akame 48 Waterfalls has changed its production to illuminate the waterfalls themselves, and Sobun no Tsukiakari places works by artist Kyota Takahashi and others in a Japanese garden and tea room. As for how creators are chosen, Shimada City selected a planning and operating company through a public proposal process, and Seto City also set out, in contract specifications, conditions for the projection mapping to be held on the wall of its city hall on Saturday, January 9, 2027.

On the other hand, for central Nagoya’s illuminations, the Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER’s winter event, and the illuminations at Kariya Highway Oasis, Noritake Garden and around Toyohashi Station, the official websites our editorial team checked as of October 26 had no details for 2026–27. Suzuka Circuit’s winter event page makes no mention of an illumination, and Winter Light Story is shown only as planned from mid-November. Itineraries should be built around the event dates, and times and prices need to be checked on each official website before setting out.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Nabana no Sato illumination run in 2026–2027?

From Saturday, October 17, 2026 to Monday, May 31, 2027, closed on Wednesday, January 6 and Thursday, January 7. Depending on the period, the entry fee is ¥2,500 or ¥3,000 at convenience stores (¥2,500–¥3,200 at the on-site counter) and includes a ¥1,000 voucher and admission to the Begonia Garden. From December 23 to 25, a date-specific advance ticket (¥5,500) is required.

What are the dates of the Shirakawa-go Light-Up 2027, and what should I know if going by car?

It takes place on four days: Monday, January 11 (national holiday), Sunday 17, Sunday 24 and Sunday 31, 2027. Parking for standard vehicles requires a reservation; the first round of sales sold out, and the second round goes on sale on the Shirakawa-go Tourist Association’s website from 13:00 on Tuesday, December 1. Accommodation handled by the tourist association is allocated by lottery. Participation is entirely by advance reservation, and there are no same-day ticket sales.

Which winter events in the Tokai region feature projection mapping?

LAGUNA TEN BOSCH performs the 360° 3D mapping shows “Neige” and “Larousse,” Shuzenji Niji no Sato projects images onto the Western-style houses of the English Village, and the Shimada Station illumination onto “Obi-Ria.” The Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER is projecting autumn images onto its observation deck windows until Sunday, November 15.

Light events in the Kansai region are summarized in our roundup of illuminations and light events in Kansai, and winter light and snow events in the Hokuriku and Koshinetsu regions, including Niigata and Nagano, in our roundup of illuminations and light events in Hokuriku and Koshinetsu.

*Information as of October 26, 2026. Please check the official websites for the latest information.

*Top image: The tunnel of light at Nabana no Sato (photographed in 2011; Photo: panoramiokobax, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on official announcements by each event’s organizers and facilities and by local governments (Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens of Nagoya City, Kariya City, Shimada City and Seto City), and materials published by the Shirakawa-go Tourist Association and tourism websites (the Mie Prefecture Tourism Federation’s “Kanko Mie,” the Gifu Prefecture Tourism Federation’s “Gifu Travel Guide” and Aichi Prefecture’s “Aichi Now”) (as of October 26, 2026).

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team

A note from the publisher

*Disclosure: Of the events featured in this article, “Gifu Light Story 2027” is produced by HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE (About us).

Gifu Light Story 2027 (Gifu Park and Shoho-ji Temple, Gifu)

This winter night event at Gifu Park and Shoho-ji Temple has the theme “A Thousand Years of Light, Unfolding at Night.” In addition to light-ups using the light of Gifu wagasa umbrellas and Gifu lanterns, projection mapping is shown on the rock face of the garden at the Site of Lord Nobunaga’s Residence and elsewhere, and a sea-of-clouds effect is also staged. For details, see our article on Gifu Light Story 2027.

Dates: Saturday, January 30 – Sunday, February 28, 2027
Hours: 17:30–21:00 (last entry 20:30)
Venue: Gifu Park (1 Omiyacho, Gifu) and Shoho-ji Temple (8 Daibutsucho, Gifu)
Admission: Adults (18 and over): weekdays ¥1,100 advance and ¥1,200 same-day; weekends and holidays ¥1,300 advance and ¥1,400 same-day. Junior high and high school students: weekdays ¥800 advance and ¥900 same-day; weekends and holidays ¥1,000 advance and ¥1,100 same-day. Free for elementary school students and younger and for people with disabilities and one caregiver
Organizer: GIFU Night View Project Executive Committee
Official website: https://gifulightstory.com/

The latest information on events produced by HITOHATA, INC. is available at HITOHATA, INC.’s event information. Inquiries about planning projection mapping on cultural properties, government buildings and other urban buildings are accepted through the company’s contact form.