In winter, Hokkaido transforms into a vast canvas of white snow, setting the stage for romantic illumination and light-up events across the island. Perfect for family outings, dates, sightseeing, or a festive Christmas season adventure, here are 20 of our top recommended illumination and light-up events!

This is one of the iconic events of Sapporo's winter. The area stretching from Sapporo Station to Odori Park and Susukino is adorned with colorful illuminations. In Odori Park, the event is held concurrently with the "Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo," creating an even more romantic atmosphere. Furthermore, at the Sapporo Station South Exit Plaza and Sapporo Kita 3-jo Plaza (Akapla) venues, you can enjoy not just the decorations but also sound and light shows.

The "Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo" began as part of a sister city partnership with Munich, Germany. You'll find a variety of foods to get you in the Christmas spirit, including authentic German Christmas dishes, Glühwein (mulled wine), pretzels, and roasted almonds. Various Christmas items are also for sale, making it a perfect place to create Christmas memories or find seasonal souvenirs.

A giant Christmas tree appears in the atrium of Sapporo Factory, a commercial complex where you can enjoy restaurants, a movie theater, and shopping. The Sakhalin fir used for the tree is a massive, 15-meter-tall tree brought from Hiroo, the town of Santaland, and is decorated with ornaments and colorful lights. One of its charms is that you can enjoy it along with dining and shopping.

An event where illuminations color the foot of Mount Hakodate. The trees along Kaiko Dori street, which connects Hakodate Station and the Bay Area, are decorated, as is the Hachimanzaka slope, a popular Hakodate tourist spot. The Hachimanzaka slope is a particularly noteworthy spot, offering a direct view down to the lit-up Mashu Maru ship in the harbor. Many other events are held concurrently within walking distance, so why not visit them together?

A major winter event in Hakodate featuring a large Christmas tree floating on the sea. Every day at 6:00 PM, fireworks are launched along with the tree's illumination, further livening up the venue. The "Premium Red Tree," where the tree turns red for a limited time, is another can't-miss highlight. Soup bars from popular local restaurants, themed around local production for local consumption, are also set up, allowing you to forget the winter cold and have fun.

Goryokaku, one of Hakodate's most famous tourist spots, is lit up in the shape of a star. The synergy between the reflection on Goryokaku's moat and the light-up is a highlight. How it looks varies with the ambient brightness, so it's recommended to compare the view right after sunset with the view at night. While you can enjoy it by strolling around Goryokaku Park, the view from above at Goryokaku Tower is truly breathtaking.

The Otaru Canal, a famous tourist spot in Otaru, shines blue with illuminations. The best time to visit is during the "blue hour" after sunset when the sky turns a deep blue. The collaboration between the illuminations and the blue sky creates an even more magical atmosphere. You can enjoy it by taking a stroll or from a boat on a canal cruise.

The courtyard of Shiroi Koibito Park, a confectionery theme park, is enveloped in brilliant light. It's an interactive illumination experience with colorful light flowers you can even smell, a tree that changes color when you touch it, and a heart-shaped arch where you can hang a love lock with someone special. Additionally, limited-edition illumination sweets will be on sale during the period.

The annual "Machiakari Illumination" in Asahikawa has been renewed for its 30th anniversary, now named "YUKINOWA ASAHIKAWA ~A City Connected by Snow and Light~." White snow and warm light will envelop areas such as Kaimono Park, 7-jo Ryokudo, Tokiwa Dori, and Showa Dori.

Hiroo is the only Santaland in Japan officially recognized by Norway, the homeland of Santa Claus. Illuminations light up various spots, filling the entire town of Hiroo with a Christmas mood. Daimaruyama Forest Park, the main symbol of Santaland, is also enveloped in about 150,000 lights, with the tunnel of wooden lanterns leading to "Santa's House" being a major highlight.

The area around JR Nopporo Station is lit up for a limited time. In addition to the year-round lit brick object at the station's north exit, about 33,000 LED bulbs will illuminate the north exit's symbol tree, the south exit's brick monument, Hotel Reborn Nopporo, and Hachome Plaza Noppo, creating a magical scene.

This illumination event is held at Lake Toya Onsen, one of Hokkaido's leading hot spring resorts. A tunnel of shining light is temporarily installed in the Nigiwai Hiroba plaza in the center of the hot spring town. Colorful lights illuminate the approximately 70-meter-long tunnel, adding a romantic touch to the onsen town.

The area in front of Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, known for the Shinkansen, is lit up. In addition to LED lights on the street trees, a light tunnel, arches, and lantern-style lighting will also appear. An object of Hokuto City's popular character, "Zushihocky," will also be installed, with its belly shining in cute, colorful lights.

A winter light-up event held at Biei's Blue Pond, famous for its blue-looking water. Various lighting patterns are prepared, creating a magical world for about 10 minutes. After the water surface freezes and snow accumulates, the light-up program changes, allowing you to enjoy different atmospheres depending on the time of year.

An illumination event that bathes the front of Ebetsu Station in a champagne-gold color. Centered on the large plane tree, a symbol of the station front, about 30,000 LEDs create a chic, brilliant, and magical atmosphere.

This illumination features decorations designed by villagers in a prior workshop and set up by the hands of the local community. Large playground equipment in the agricultural park is decorated, and a 50-meter-long tunnel of light is also installed.

Held at the "Nijinohashi" (Rainbow Bridge), a rare two-story bridge in Japan, this illumination features diverse lights that color the night sky, including cone-shaped, Niagara Falls-style, reindeer-shaped, and "Picolo" (Takinoue's town symbol character) shaped illuminations. The central part is lit up to resemble shibazakura (moss phlox), allowing you to enjoy an illumination unique to Takinoue.

The roadside station is romantically decorated with colorful illuminations. Tree-shaped illuminations and gate-shaped lights are also lit up romantically, making it a recommended spot for commemorative photos.

An illumination event that warmly colors Obihiro's winter. The symbol tree "Harunire no Ki" (Japanese Elm) and street trees in the Obihiro Station North Traffic Plaza are decorated with about 43,000 bulbs.

A light-up of the Trappist Monastery Avenue. Held on the approximately 400-meter-long tree-lined road leading to the main gate of the Trappist Monastery, a popular tourist spot in Southern Hokkaido, you can enjoy a magical scene in a quiet space, a different experience from the bustling city illuminations.

*All information is current as of December 2025.
*Event details are subject to change or cancellation. Please check the official websites for the latest information.