As part of a project to vitalise and develop the town of Hakata in Fukuoka and promote its wonderful culture to the people of the world, the Blue Grotto FUKUOKA Executive Committee is set to hold a special illumination event titled Blue Grotto FUKUOKA at Nakasu Bridge from September 16 to October 6.
This illumination event first began in Nakameguro, Tokyo back in 2014 where it enjoyed great success. The location was then moved in 2016 to Shibuya where over 2.8 million people attended. It was then held outside the Tokyo area for the first time in Sapporo in February 2018 and then in Osaka in September of the same year. This enabled it to become widespread across the country and has consequentially made it become one of the main illumination events of Japan.
Blue Grotto will now make its way to Kyushu for the first time with Blue Grotto FUKUOKA. Boats will be prepared for the romantic and magical cruise which will take passengers from Nakasu Bridge to Canal City Hakata and Hakata Bay.
As well as the breathtaking lights, passengers can look forward to a specially-prepared pasta meal made by Nisshin Foods using Blue Grotto brand products.
Information
Blue Grotto FUKUOKA
Running: September 16, 2019 – October 6, 2019
Location: Nakasu Bridge (中洲懸橋), Fukuoka
Illumination Times: 18:30-22:00 (subject to change)
Access: 6-minutes on foot fromNakasu-Kawabata Station / 7-minutes on foot from Tenjin-Minami Station
Official Website: http://shibuya-aonodokutsu.jp/
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Blue Grotto is an illumination event that first appeared in Nakameguro in winter 2014. It made a return in winter 2016 in Shibuya and again in December 2017 which almost 2.7 million people turned up to. The event made its Hokkaido debut in Sapporo this year in February where people from inside and outside Japan attended.
Now the event is being taken to Osaka where it is collaborating with the Redhorse Osaka Wheel, the tallest Ferris wheel in Japan. Enjoy illuminations, special decorations and a specially prepared pasta menu by Nisshin Foods served inside the wheel. ■Information Blue Grotto Osaka Location: Redhorse Osaka Wheel (EXPOCITY, 2-1 Senribanpakukoen, Suita-shi, Osaka) Running: September 11, 2018 - September 30, 2018Time: 6:30pm-11:00pm (Reception Open Until 10:40pm) *Time subject to changeAccess: 2-minutes on foot from Bampaku-kinen-koen StationOsaka Wheel: http://osaka-wheel.com/ Blue Grotto Club: https://aodo.jp/ -
“Ao no Dokutsu SHIBUYA” will be held in the area between Shibuya Park Street to Yoyogi Park Zelkova Street from the 22nd of November 2017 (Wed.) to the 31st of December 2017 (Sun.)
This event started in the winter season of 2014 with the name, “Nakamguro Ao no Dokutsu” and has been gaining much popularity. The event was renewed last year and the venue of the event was changed to Shibuya.
The number of the visitors to “Ao no Dokutstu SHIBUYA” exceeded one million within three weeks and more than 2.4 million visitors in total visited the event. The event is gaining popularity from both Japanese and foreign visitors as one of the most popular winter illumination spots.
“Ao no Dokutsu” which is becoming more famous every year will be held in 2017. The event will turn all of Shibuya into a blue color.
The illumination can be viewed until late December so why not check out this venue when you visit Shibuya.
■Information
Ao no Dokutsu SHIBUYA
Venue: The street (800m long) between Shibuya Park Street and Yoyogi Park Zelkova StreetAccess: 2 minutes on foot from Shibuya Station (JR/Tokyo Metro/ Kyoo Inogashira Line/Each line of Tokyu)
You can get off at JR Harajuku Station, Tokyo Metro Meiji Jingukyu Mae Station/Yoyogi Park Station/Odakyu Line Yoyogi Hachiman Station to get to the venue.
Light-up time: 17:00 to 22:00 ※Please note that the time might be changed.
Light-up period: 2017,11,22 (Wed.) to 2017,12,31 (Sun.)
Number of light bulbs: about 600 thousand.
URL：http://shibuya-aonodokutsu.jp ※Information will be released subsequently
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Japanese amusement park Yomiuri Land is set to hold its first ever Yozakura Jewel Illumination event from March 21 to April 7. It will combine evening-time cherry blossoms with gorgeous illuminations. The event will give bloom to various attractions, such as "Jewel Aurora ~Nighttime Ferris Wheel" designed by internationally-active Japanese lighting artist Motoko Ishii. The park's 180-meter long strip of cherry trees will combine the vivid cherry blossoms with bright pink lights.
Sakura Promenade: 180-meters of magical cherry trees Using the light pink cherry blossoms as the base, the Sakura Promenade will be lined with bright lights in the evening, creating a memorable and must-see display. Jewel Aurora ~Nighttime Ferris Wheel: Illuminated in Cherry Blossom Pink The huge Ferris wheel will be lit up with colourful lights in the image of cherry blossoms. Bandit: The fastest ever hanami experience at 110km! Enjoy a fast hanami flower-viewing of the cherry blossoms at high speed on Bandit, the park's most popular roller coaster. Gondola Sky Shuttle: Hanami from above Enjoy gazing at the cherry blossoms up high over the trees aboard the gondola. It will be like gliding over a pink carpet. Cherry Blossom Tunnel Walk through the 180-meter long cherry blossom tunnel and enjoy the sights whether strolling or kicking back on the benches. Yomiuri Land Oka no Yu: Hanami from the open-air baths For a separate fee, sit under the cherry trees inside the open air baths for a relaxing experience. Enjoy a different kind of hanami this year at Yomiuri Land with their many cherry blossom events. Information
Yozakura Jewel Illuminations
Running: March 21, 2019 – APril 7, 2019
Time: 16:00-20:00
Price: General Night Pass: ¥2,400 / 3-12 Year Olds & Seniors (65+): ¥1,600
Night Entry: General: ¥1,400 / Junior High School Students: & Seniors (65+) ¥600 / Elementary School Students: ¥300
*Free for those below elementary school age.
*Guests are not allowed to take cans, bottles or alcohol into the park. They can however take bento boxes.
Yomiuri Land
Address: 4015-1 Yanokuchi, Inagi, Tokyo
Website: http://www.yomiuriland.com/jewellumination/
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Starting March 4, the permanent museum teamLab Forest Fukuoka will transform its artwork into a stunning spring theme. Guests will be able to enjoy gorgeous cherry blossoms for a limited time, and starting March 24, the Catching and Collecting Forest will also be transformed in the same way.
TeamLab’s works are created in real time by procedural generation, meaning that they are always changing and evolving. Each work changes depending on the season.
▼Starting March 4
Both Shifting Valley, Living Creatures of Flowers, Symbiotic Lives – A Whole Year per Year and Animals of Flowers, Symbiotic Lives II – A Whole Year per Year are only available to see during spring. Come and see animals made entirely of cherry blossoms as they roam through the museum!
The work titled Soft Terrain in Granular Topography shows multicolored grains of light pouring from the sky, while Flutter of Butterflies, Ephemeral Life surrounds visitors with brightly colored butterflies
▼Starting March 24
In the Catching and Collecting Forest, visitors can explore with their smartphones and catch various animals made entirely of cherry blossoms.
Information
teamLab Forest Fukuoka – SBI SECURITIES Co., Ltd.
Venue: BOSS E･ZO FUKUOKA 5F, Next to Fukuoka PayPal Dome
Address: 2-2-6 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka
Official Site: http://forest.teamlab.art -
From November 11, 2022 until August 2023, Izu Granpal Park in Shizuoka Prefecture will host the 8th Izu Kogen Grand Illumination event! The Izu Kogen Grand Illumination was ranked #1 in the Walker+National Illumination Ranking for six consecutive years and is beloved by visitors of all ages. This isn’t just a collection of pretty lights–the Grand Illumination also includes a number of hands-on experiences for everyone to enjoy. In 2021, the event won first place in the Ninth Illumination Awards for the second year in a row. Known as Japan’s first ‘hands-on illumination experience,’ the park has continued to evolve year after year, adding more attractions and finding its unique style. These attractions include a zip line through the lights, Dinosaur Go-Karts, and more.
This year, the Flower Lantern Area and Sweets Lantern Area have been completely redesigned and upgraded to be even more three-dimensional and colorful. Come enjoy this incredible world of lights and have some fun with the whole family! Information
Izu Kogen Grand Illumination ~8th Season~ (Hands-on)
Venue: Izu Granpal Park
Running: November 11, 2022 – August 2023
Official Site: https://granillumi.com
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From November 17 until December 25, Tokyo Midtown will hold the popular Midtown Christmas event for 2022! Adults and children are sure to love this massive Christmas event. Each year, a massive Christmas tree appears in Tokyo Midtown, but this year’s festivities will also throw some more unique pieces of art into the mix. This year, visitors will see golden lights on the city's trees, as well as a pop-up Christmas tree inspired by party poppers. Lights and music will join together to make guests feel as though they’ve walked into an outdoor theater, and the popular ice skating rink will once again be open for everyone to enjoy. Why not enjoy the Christmas season in Tokyo’s shimmering midtown?
Bubbles Fill the Air for a Limited Time at the Christmas Story Lights
A Massive Dome Filled with 300 Lights Invites Visitors to Celebrate the Season
Hands-on Experiences at the Party Popper Tree
Information
Midtown Winter Lights
Running: November 17 – December 25, 2022
Venue: Midtown Garden, Plaza 1F
Light Hours: 17:00-23:00
*Some event times and details are subject to change.
Admission: Free
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From November 11 until December 25, 2022, Roppongi Hills Christmas will cover Tokyo in glittering lights once again. The Keyakizaka Lights, one of Tokyo’s most popular winter attractions, will also take place in 2022, with the 400-meter-long Keyakizaka street covered in over 800,000 blue and white LED lights. For the first time in three years, the Mohri Garden will be covered in lights as well. The annual Christmas market will invite guests to experience an authentic German Christmas, and Christmas cakes and gourmet food unique to Roppongi Hills will be for sale. The Roppongi Hills Christmas event utilizes LED lights and has done so since the first event was held in 2003. Clean power will be used again this year, and the lights will be switched on from 5 PM until 11 PM each night.
Information
Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Lights
Running: November 10 – December 25, 2022 *Daily from 5:00 – 11:00 PM
*Lights may begin at a different time on November 10 only.
Location: Roppongi Keyakizaka Street
Official Site: https://www.roppongihills.com
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Starting September 23, teamLab Forest Fukuoka will be transformed for the autumn season! The interactive digital art installation will feature animals made entirely of fall foliage, and guests can enjoy red and orange leaves fluttering through the one-of-a-kind 3D world. teamLab’s prolific works are known for changing with the seasons. This autumn version of the popular exhibition will only be on display for a limited time, and visitors can use their smartphones in the Catching and Collecting Forest to catch and collect the animals on display! The forest and ocean scenery will change as you explore, and starting on September 23, the trees will begin to show off beautiful autumn colors.
In the Forest of Movement, guests can enter the ‘Shifting Valley, Living Creatures of Flowers, Symbiotic Lives’ exhibit, where creatures made of autumn flowers exist in a three-dimensional space. The space is meant to make guests think about the cycle of death and rebirth, as flowers blossom and die each and every year. The ‘Soft Terrain and Granular Topography’ will display tons of colorful grains raining down on visitors, while the ‘Flutter of Butterflies, Ephemeral Life’ will change the usual butterflies to have autumn colors as they fly around guests. This is a kind of autumn scenery you can’t see anywhere else, so be sure to come to Fukuoka during this beautiful season! Information
teamLab Forest Fukuoka – SBI Securities Co., Ltd.
Venue: BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA 5F (Next to Fukuoka PayPay Dome)
Address: 2 Chome-2-6 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka
Official Site: https://www.teamlab.art/jp/e/forest/
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Japanese creative company NAKED will hold a Night Walk event at Zuiganji Temple in Matsushima, located near one of the top three most scenic spots in Japan. The event will run from October 29 until November 23, 2022. The NAKED Night Walk was created to revitalize hot spring resorts and other tourist spots during the pandemic. This special event will bring the illuminated experience to Zuiganji Temple, one of the Tohoku Region’s most famous Zen temples. Guests will be invited to carry beautiful lanterns around the grounds, maintaining social distancing while enjoying the cool evening weather. These lanterns will cast one of three unique designs onto the ground below–a starry sky, a camellia flower, or a lotus.
Guests can also enjoy NAKED’s Flower Fortune Telling, pulling unique paper flowers from a massive wall, with each holding a personalized fortune. These flowers can then be tied to a nearby tree to further spread NAKED’s art. You can also take home your flower as a souvenir! The event will only run for a limited time. For more information including admission fees and hours, see the official website! Information
NAKED Night Walk – Matsushima, Zuiganji Temple (National Treasure)
Address: Zuiganji Temple (Chonai-91 Matsushima, Miyagi District, Miyagi Prefecture)
Running: October 29 – November 23, 2022
Hours: Weekdays 17:00-20:00 / Fridays, Weekends, Holidays 17:00-21:00
Official Site: https://zuiganji.or.jp/