Xmas Lights

“Twinkling silver with a touch of blue,” a line from Tatsuro Yamashita’s Christmas Eve song, perfectly describes what some Tokyo areas look like during wintertime. Given that Japan is essentially a stronghold of Shintoism and Buddhism, you may find it surprising that Christmas lights are common there. I guess, the Japanese celebrate Christmas just as a fun holiday, pretty much how they treat other Western holidays such as Valentine’s Day or Halloween.

Christmas Lights Galore

One of Tokyo’s most popular installation of Christmas lights is Shibuya Blue Cave. As soon as its hundreds of thousands blue LEDs are switched on, the area is packed with people almost instantly. If you prefer a quieter vibe, the cherry blossom-like installation along Meguro River makes for a nice Christmas stroll. The place is located close to the Yamanote Line between Gotanda and Osaki station, just a few hops from Shibuya.