Press release -
A selection of five special winter illumination spots that can be covered with a day trip or an overnight trip from Tokyo
In the areas along the Tobu Railway lines that cut across Tokyo and four neighboring prefectures, special illumination events that are limited to the winter season will be held starting in late October to March next year.
The illumination events include “Ashikaga Flower Park Flower Fantasy – A Light Flower Garden” which is recognized as a Japan night view heritage site and one of the “Three Great Kanto Illuminations,” “Tobu World Square Illumination” which presents a simultaneous light-up of world-famous buildings and World Heritage Sites that have been reproduced on a scale of 1/25, “Tobu Zoo Winter Illumination 2016-2017” in Saitama where the entire park is decorated with lights and parades by animals will be held, and “TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN Dream Christmas 2016” in Tokyo where TOKYO SKYTREE- the world’s tallest tower in the Guinness World RecordsTM - will be lighted up for a limited time only.
Furthermore, there is the “2016 SENDAI PAGEANT OF STARLIGHT” which will be held near “Sendai Kokusai Hotel” in Sendai City, Miyagi which is operated by the Tobu Group. This is one of the prominent illumination events in Japan where rows of zelkova trees in Sendai - the City of Trees - are completely covered in lights.
“Ashikaga Flower Park Flower Fantasy – A Light Flower Garden” - Biggest illumination event in Kanto area with 3.5 million lights. Recognized as a Japan night view heritage site and one of the “Three Great Kanto Illuminations”
At the “Flower Fantasy – A Light Flower Garden,” the entire park is decorated with colorful lights and visitors can enjoy various types of illumination. The “Miraculous Great Wisteria” – a reproduction of an enchanted wisteria trellis using illumination – presents an impressive sight that looks like a real wisteria trellis swaying in the wind. Furthermore, in addition to the “Light Rose which has 5,000 roses” and the “Light Wisteria” that befits the concept of a garden of light flower Garden, a “Light Water Lily” has been added this year. An aurora created using lights will also appear in the sky above the “Snow World” showing an image of the perennial children’s favorite, Santa Claus, flying across the sky.
Event dates
Oct 22, 2016 (Sat) - Feb 5, 2017 (Sun); 16:30 - 21:00 (opens until 21:30 on weekends and holidays)
* Closed on Dec 31 (Sat)
Location
Ashikaga City, Tochigi
・About 30 mins by shuttle bus from Tobu Isesaki Line “Ashikaga Station” (about 70 mins from sakusa Station)
* The shuttle bus operates only on weekends and holidays from Nov 19, 2016 (Sat) to Jan 9, 2017(Mon).
Admission fees
Adult 800 yenChild 400 yen
“Tobu World Square Illumination” – Simultaneous light-up of 102 world-famous buildings including 46 World Heritage Sites!
At the “Tobu World Square” in which 102 world-famous buildings from 21 countries are skillfully reproduced on a 1/25 scale, including 46 buildings that have been registered in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each building will be decorated by illumination. Landmarks such as the world’s tallest tower TOKYO SKYTREE, the supertall skyscraper “TAIPEI 101” in Taiwan which was added to the collection last year, the Eiffel Tower, the Duomo in Milan and the pyramids of Egypt among many others will be lighted up simultaneously, creating a dream-like, fantastical setting.
Furthermore, the “Tobu World Square” is located near Kinugawa Hot Spring, which is known as one of the prominent hot springs in Kanto. Visitors are highly recommended to combine the illumination event with a relaxing stay in one of the hot spring inns in the magnificent Kinugawa Valley where they can enjoy warm soothing baths.
Event dates
Daily from Nov 5, 2016 (Sat) - Mar 5, 2017 (Sun), Mar 11 (Sat) - 12 (Sun), Mar 18 (Sat) - 20 (Mon), and Mar 25 (Sat) - 26 (Sun); 16:30 - 19:30
* There may be changes on some days.
Location
Nikko City, Tochigi
・About 5 mins by bus from Tobu Kinugawa Line “Tobu Kinugawa Onsen Station” (about 2 hrs from Asakusa Station)
Admission fees
Adult 2,500 yen (junior high & above); child 1,200 yen (age 4 & over)
* Starting from Dec 1 (Thurs), the admission fees will be: Adult 2,800 yen (junior high & above); child 1,400 yen (age 4 & over).
* For park entry after 16:30, the admission fees are: Adult 1,500 yen (junior high & above); child 1,000 yen (age 4 & over) (each ticket comes with a 500-yen coupon that can be used within the park).
“Kinugawa Plaza Hotel” offers accommodation plans that include admission tickets to Tobu World Square.
Visitors can take slow relaxing hot spring baths and enjoy exquisite cuisine prepared using fresh ingredients in this hotel located amid the magnificent landscape of Kinugawa Valley. The hotel can be accessed in 15 mins by car from Tobu World Square, and offers accommodation plans that include admission tickets to the theme park.
Rates for 1-night accommodation start from 12,960 yen (Dec 1, 2016 (Thurs) - Mar 31, 2017 (Fri)).
[Special deals]
We have three convenient DISCOUNT PASSes that will help visitors save on transportation cost when travelling around in this area.
・The “ALL NIKKO PASS” (adult 4,520 yen) is a 4-day pass that offers unlimited travel on trains and buses within the Nikko/Kinugawa area and savings of 1,600 yen.
・The “2 DAY NIKKO PASS” (adult 2,670 yen) is a 2-day pass that offers unlimited travel on trains and buses within the Nikko/Kinugawa area and savings of 550 yen.
・The “KINUGAWA THEME PARK PASS” (adult 7,380 yen) is a 2-day pass that offers unlimited travel on trains in the Nikko/Kinugawa area and a circular bus service that covers Tobu World Square and Edo Wonderland (Nikko Edomura). The pass includes admission to the theme parks and provides savings of 3,830 yen.
DISCOUNT PASSURL: http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/en/pass/
“Tobu Zoo Winter Illumination 2016-2017” - An infinite number of lights are scattered across an expansive park filled with the wonders of nature. A parade by real animals will also be held!
Now in its 8th year, the “Tobu Zoo Winter Illumination” will see the park decorated by about 2 million LED lights. Furthermore, the gigantic LED screen that first appeared last year has been increased in size to more than 20 meters in length, and there will be a “Rhythmination” show of lights in which LED light bulbs spread all over an open plaza will light up simultaneously in rhythm to the dynamic CG images displayed on the LED screen. Furthermore, a “Light Sakura” created by illumination will bloom on the cherry blossom trees that surround the Swan Pond at the East Gate end of the park, and the amusement park area will also be lighted up in bright and glamorous colors. A “Starlight ZOO Parade” in which animals move around the park together with illumination cars and a “Reindeer Event” in the Christmas season will also be held.
Duration
Nov 12, 2016 (Sat) - Feb 12, 2017 (Sun) 17:00 - 20:00
* The park will be closed on some days during this period. As the dates when this event is held are irregular, please check the website for details.
Tobu Zoo URL：http://www.tobuzoo.com/global/english/
Location
Minami Saitama-gun, Saitama
・About 10 mins walk from Tobu Skytree Line “Tobu Dobutsu Koen Station” (about 35 mins from Asakusa Station)
Admission fees
Night admission: Adult (junior high & above) 1,000 yen; child (age 3 to primary school) 500 yen
Illumination pass (park admission + unlimited rides): Adult 2,500 yen/child 1,800 yen
Night ride pass (available for purchase inside the park, unlimited rides): Adult 1,500 yen/child 1,300 yen
* Tickets will be available for purchase after 15:00.
“2016 SENDAI PAGEANT OF STARLIGHT” – Rows of Zelkova trees in Sendai, the City of Trees, are covered in the illumination of 600,000 LED lights.
The “SENDAIPAGEANT OF STARLIGHT” which started out as a project of local volunteer is now in its 31st year. The event is known throughout Japan as a winter tradition of Sendai and attracts a lot of attention as one of the prominent illumination events. Last year, the event attracted about 2.8 million visitors. The illumination event is held at Jozenji-dori, a road lined with zelkova trees that are a symbol of Sendai - the City of Trees. 600,000 LED lights are used to decorate the 160 zelkova trees, and the rows of trees stretching for 800 meters will be totally wrapped in light. A pedestrian walkway runs through the center section of Jozenji-dori so that visitors can enjoy walking right under the illuminated trees. During the illumination event, a re-lighting event called “Starlight Winkle” will be carried out 3 times a day so that visitors will have more opportunity to enjoy the wondrous moment when the lights come on. The warm and soothing lights that decorate the City of Trees in a beautiful way help to create a romantic atmosphere during the Christmas season.
Event
datesDec 9 (Fri) - Dec 31 (Sat)
Sun - Thurs 17:30 - 22:00, Fri/Sat/Dec 22 (Thurs) 17:30 - 23:00,Dec 31 (Sat) 17:30 - 24:00
Location
Jozenji-dori, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi
・JR “Sendai Station” → Sendai Subway Nanboku Line “Koutoudai Park Station” (about 1 hr 35 mins from Tokyo Station) 0-min walk after alighting.
[Recommended hotel information]
During the illumination event, a guidance map of “SENDAIPAGEANT OF STARLIGHT” (available in English, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, and Thai) will be distributed at Sendai Kokusai Hotel, which has also prepared an accommodation plan that comes with a gift of an original blend of tea called “Scent of Trees” which was created based on the image of Sendai and the “SENDAIPAGEANT OF STARLIGHT.” Please use the conveniently located Sendai Kokusai Hotel which can be accessed in a 15-min walk from “SENDAIPAGEANT OF STARLIGHT” or about a 10-min walk if the subway is used.
Sendai Kokusai HotelPageant of Starlight Special Plan URL: http://hotel.travel.rakuten.co.jp/PLAN/912/3849606
“TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN Dream Christmas 2016” – The world’s tallest tower will be turned into the world’s tallest Christmas tree! A powerful projection mapping show will also be held.
In addition to special lighting to make TOKYO SKYTREElook like the world’s tallest Christmas tree, various spots in TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN will also be decorated with about 400,000 candle color lights.
For the annual projection mapping show, the lower section of the TOKYO SKYTREE tower will be used as the main screen for the first time this year, and visitors can enjoy a powerful visual display that takes advantage of the structure of the tower body.
Duration
Nov 10 (Thurs) - Dec 25 (Sun)
* Projection mapping will start from Dec 10 (Sat).
Location
Sumida-ku, Tokyo
・Immediately after alighting from Tobu Skytree Line “Tokyo Skytree Station” (about 3 mins from Asakusa Station) and “Oshiage (SKYTREE) Station” on various lines.
