The 6 Best Places to See Winter Illuminations in Osaka 2022

Osaka Festival of the Lights 2022 is one of Osaka’s top annual winter light festivals. It hosts festivities around the City of Osaka and other locations across Osaka Prefecture and, in its 9th year, has become a staple of Osaka’s winter scenes.
Each year, one of the festival’s two core programs, Midosuji Illumination, turns Osaka’s main street into a festive decoration of magical colors. Extending 4 km through the city between Osaka Metro’sUmeda and Namba Stations, Midosuji Illumination is grand in scale and perfect for Instagram.

[Dates] November 3 (Thursday/Holiday) – December 31 (Saturday), 2022
[Light Up] Around 5 pm – 11 pm (until 1am the next day on Saturday, December 31)
Click here for event details!
Midosuji Illumination

Osaka Hikari Renaissance is the other core program of the Osaka Festival of the Lights 2022. It is an illumination art event in Nakanoshima’s waterfront in a city known as an Aquapolis—city of water. This year, the projection mapped onto the exterior brick walls of the Osaka City Central Public Hall will be back. Here’re a few highlights of the event.

●Nakanoshima Illumination Street

Japanese zelkova trees lining the Miotsukushi Promenade (about 150 meters long) will be illuminated in blue and white, creating a dreamy space perfect for the holidays.

[Dates] November 3 (Thursday/Holiday) – December 31 (Saturday), 2022
[Light Up] 5 pm – 11 pm (until 1am the next day on Saturday, December 31)
Click here for event details!
Nakanoshima Illumination Street

●Osaka City Central Public Hall Wall Projection Mapping

With its 100+ years of proud history as a center of culture, arts, and science, Osaka City Central Public Hall is the symbol of Osaka’s Nakanoshima area. This year, as part of the festival’s projection mapping art, the eastern wall of the Hall will be lit up with a stunning light display using modern technologies. The beautiful art of light represents the ever-evolving Aquapolis of Osaka.

[Dates] December 14 (Wednesday) – 25 (Sunday), 2022
[Light Shows] Part I: 5 pm – 9 pm, Part II: 9:10 pm – 9:30 pm
※Free admission　※Rain or shine
Click here for event details!
Osaka Central Public Hall Wall Projection Mapping

●Marche of Light – The Market of Light and Food

Marche of Light returns to Nakanoshima after 3 long years! Enjoy unique gourmet foods from 20+ food trucks and tents as you enjoy the magnificent light shows♪

[Dates] December 14 (Wednesday) – 25 (Sunday), 2022
[Hours] 4 pm – 10 pm
Click here for event details!
Marche of Light – The Market of Light and Food

At Umeda Sky Building, a giant Christmas tree will stand tall with the backdrop of Island Garden Forest, a four-season green oasis in the middle of Osaka’s business district. This 7-meter tall tree is a real fir, and the refined selection of ornaments brilliantly matches the urban oasis to create a fine, extraordinary, dream-like space.
Combine with the visits to the Floating Garden Observatory and it’d be a perfect, romantic date.
※The German Christmas Market has been cancelled for 2022.

[Dates] December 23 (Wednesday/Holiday) – 25 (Sunday), 2022
[Hours] 5 pm – 10 pm

Waterfall of Light at Namba Parks expands over the 9th floor down to the 2nd floor of this large shopping mall. The 18 meter long waterfall art sparkles in blue impressively and the view of it from nearby hotels and buildings is one of a kind!
This year, light shows at Namba Parks and around the Minami area is offering a unique experience that combines winter illumination with fortune telling.

[Dates] November 11 (Friday), 2022 – February 19 (Sunday), 2023
Click here for event details!
Namba Parks “Waterfall of Light”

Come experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Grandfront Osaka!
A Wizarding World themed Christmas Tree stands 13 meter tall in the mall’s Knowledge Plaza (1st floor, North Building). During the light and sound shows held every day during the event duration, a fantasy story unfolds and invites us into the Wizarding World where a magical tree floats in mid-air♪
In addition, about 330,000 LED lights illuminate the surrounding square in champaign gold and visitors can go find Harry Potter inspired ornaments hidden in the 16 trees among the illuminated trees.

●Main Christmas Tree “Floating Magic Tree”

[Dates] November 10 (Thursday) – December 25 (Sunday), 2022
[Shows] Weekdays 5 pm – midnight, Saturdays/Sundays/Holidays 4 pm – midnight
Show begins every 20 minutes starting on the hour.
Click here for event details!
Main Christmas Tree “Floating Magic Tree”

●“Champagne Gold Illumination”

[Dates] November 11 (Thursday), 2022 – February 28 (Tuesday), 2023
[Light Up] 5 pm – midnight
※ Harry Potter themed illumination will end on December 25 (Sunday).
Click here for event details!
“Champagne Gold Illumination”

Ten-shiba (Tennoji Park entrance area) is enveloped in beautiful lights again this year. Trees and buildings in the area are all decorated with bright illuminations, creating an area great for families. It’s quite a treat to relax at one of the restaurants and cafés in the surrounding area as you enjoy the sparkling illuminations.

[Dates] November 3 (Thursday/Holiday), 2022 – January 31 (Tuesday), 2023
[Light Up] 5 pm – 10 pm
Click here for related events
Welcoming Abeno/Tennoji Winter Present 2022