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Showing posts with label 138 Tower Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 138 Tower Park. Show all posts

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Winter Illuminations in Japan 2014

Nabana no Sato Winter Illuminations
One of the highlights of winter in Japan for me is the spectacular winter illuminations that decorate the Christmas period. Around this time of year, a lot of places put on spectacular night time illuminations. The illuminations usually start in late Autumn and finish around the end of December, but some last until early February. Most are FREE and definitely worth checking out as they are a highlight of winter in Japan.

Some of the most popular and spectacular Winter Illuminations for 2014 include:

Kobe Luminaire 


Kobe Luminaire in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture is a light festival, which is the original and most famous in Japan. The illuminations run for twelve days in December and are turned on for a few hours each evening. They are truly spectacular with each light individually hand painted. Kobe Luminaire started after the Kobe Earthquake in 1995 with the hope to give courage and inspire the people of Kobe. It was such a success that it has continued as an annual event. This year’s theme is “Kobe, City of Dreams and Light”. Kobe Luminaire will run from December 4-15.

When: December 4-15 
Times: Monday to Thursday (6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.)
             Friday (6 p.m. – 10 p.m.)
             Saturday (5 p.m. – 10 p.m.)
             Sunday (5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.)

Official Website

Image Source

Kobe Luminaire
Kobe Luminaire


Nabana no Sato 


Nabana no Sato is a theme park dedicated to flowers located in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture. It has one of Japan’s finest winter illuminations that run for about 5 months from late October to late March. The park is covered in more than 8 million LED lights with the highlight, the spectacular light tunnel. This year’s theme is “Niagara Falls”, with a huge scale illumination of Niagara Falls, which is stunning at about 20 meters in height and 120 meters in width.

When: October 25 2014 – March 31 2015
Times: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Admission: Standard ¥1,500 Winter ¥2,000

Official Website

Nabana no Sato Winter Illuminations
Nabana no Sato


Shirakawa-go 


Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its gassho zukkuri farmhouses. This place has been famous for years due to its thatched roof farmhouses, but the beauty is raised to an even higher level when the houses are lit up in the snow. Spotlights illuminate the snow covered thatched roofs which makes this place look like Santa’s village in the North Pole. It is truly spectacular. This year it will run from mid January to mid February.

When: January 17, 24, 25, 31 February 1, 7, 14
Times: 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Official Website

Shirakawa-go Winter Illuminations
Shirakawa-go


Sapporo Snow Festival 


The Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo, Hokkaido, is an annual snow festival which is a winter favourite. It is one of the largest winter events in Japan, and is also known as the “Sapporo Yuki Matsuri”. The festival is held each year in early February with dozens of large and amazingly elaborate ice and snow sculptures. The event will be held from February 5-11 in 2015 with the amazing ice sculptures lit at night creating a winter wonderland.

When: February 5-11
Times: Odori Site ~ lit daily until 10 p.m.
             Susukino Site ~ lit daily until 11 p.m.

Official Website

Sapporo Snow Festival
Sapporo Snow Festival


Some spectacular spots around the Tokai Area (Gifu/Aichi/Mie) of Japan are:

Kiso Sansen Park 

Kiso Sansen Park located in Kaizu City, Gifu Prefecture, is a popular urban city park. The park first opened in 1987 and is the largest urban park in Japan. Every winter from early to late December they have a spectacular winter illumination consisting of about 500,000 lights that decorate the park. This year’s theme is ‘Winter Lights Story’.

138 Tower Park

138 Tower Park located in Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture, is one of the best public parks in Japan. It features a spectacular 138 meter high observation tower with dual arches. From mid-November to late-December the park is decorated with around 500,000 lights creating a spectacular winter illumination. This year’s theme is “Merry Christmas”.

138 Tower Park Winter Illuminations
138 Tower Park
 
Tokyo has quite a few seasonal illuminations spots including:

Shinjuku Southern Terrace, south of JR Shinjuku Station – November 12, 2014 to February 25, 2015 from 5 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Ginza, Christmas trees along Chuo Street and store illuminations – November 15, 2014, to December 25, 2014 from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Roppongi Hills, Christmas Illumination Event – November 4, 2014 to December 25, 2014 from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Tokyo Midtown, Midtown Christmas featuring the “Starlight Garden” – November 13, 2014 to December 25, 2014 from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Odaiba, has the “Daiba Memorial Tree" in Odaiba Kaihin Park – November 13, 2014 to March 15, 2015 from 5 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Tokyo Dome City, 'Promenade of Light' one of Tokyo’s best with over 2.2 million lights– November 6, 2014 to February 15, 2015 from 5 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Marunouchi, the entire district lights up with champagne lights along Naka-dori Street – November 13, 2014 to February 15, 2015 from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Most places in Japan will have some kind of winter illuminations, so wherever you are in Japan, you will be able to enjoy this winter tradition.

Winter Illuminations at Nabana no Sato
Winter Illuminations at Nabana no Sato

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Winter Illuminations in Japan 2013

One of the highlights of winter in Japan for me is the spectacular winter illuminations that decorate the Christmas period. Around this time of year a lot of parks and town districts put on spectacular night time illuminations. The illuminations usually start late autumn and finish around the end of December, but some last until early February. Most are FREE and definitely worth checking out as they are a highlight of winter in Japan.

Some of the most popular and spectacular Winter Illuminations for 2013 include:

Kobe Luminaire

Kobe Luminaire in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. It is a light festival, which is the original and most famous in Japan. The illuminations run for twelve days in December and are turned on for a few hours each evening. They are truly spectacular with each light individually hand painted. Kobe Luminaire started after the Kobe Earthquake in 1995 with the hope to give courage and inspire the people of Kobe. It was such a success that it has continued as an annual event. This year’s theme is “A Memory of Light”, Kobe Luminaire will run from December 5-16.

Kobe Luminaire image source

Nabana no Sato

Nabana no Sato, located in Kuwana City in Mie Prefecture, it is a theme park dedicated to flowers. They have one of Japan’s finest winter illuminations that runs for about 4 months from mid-November to mid-March. The park is covered in more than 8 million LED lights with the highlight, the spectacular light tunnel. This year’s theme is “Nature”, and the park will celebrate the recent addition of Mt. Fuji as a UNESCO World Heritage Site by a giant illuminated model of the famous mountain. The model will change to represent the different seasons and times of day. Nabana no Sato Winter Illuminations will run from October 25 2013 to March 31 2014.

More on Nabana no Sato

The Light Tunnel at Nabana no Sato

Sirakawa-go

Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its gassho zukkuri farmhouses. This place has been famous for years due to its thatched roof farmhouses, but the beauty is raised to an even higher level when the houses are lit up in the snow. Spotlights illuminate the snow covered thatched roofs which makes this place look like Santa’s village in the North Pole. It is truly spectacular. This year it will run from the end of January to February.
Dates: January 18,25,26 and February 1,2,9,15

Winter Illuminations at Shirakawa-go image source

Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido, this annual snow festival also called the Sapporo Yuki Matsuri is a winter favourite. It is held each year in early February with dozens of large and amazingly elaborate ice and snow sculptures. The event will be held from February 5-11 in 2014 and the amazing ice sculptures are lit at night creating a winter wonderland.

Sapporo Snow Festival image source

Some spectacular spots around the Tokai Area of Japan are:

Kiso Sansen Park

Kiso Sansen Park, located in Kaizu City in Gifu Prefecture, is an urban city park. The park first opened in 1987 and is the largest urban park in Japan. Every winter from early to late December they have a spectacular winter illumination consisting of about 500,000 lights that decorate the park.

More on Kiso Sansen Park

138 Tower Park

138 Tower Park, located in Ichinomiya City in Aichi Prefecture, it is one of the best public parks in Japan. It features a spectacular 138 meter high observation tower with dual arches. From mid-November to late-December the park is decorated with around 500,000 lights creating a spectacular winter illumination. This year’s theme is “Galaxy Fantasy” with the illuminations set up so that when viewed from the tower above they actually look like a galaxy of stars.

More on 138 Tower Park

138 Tower Park Galaxy Fantasy

Tokyo has quite a few seasonal illuminations spots including:

Shinjuku Southern Terrace, south of JR Shinjuku Station – November 13, 2013 to February 16, 2014
Ginza, Christmas trees along Chuo Street and store illuminations – November 16, 2013, to December 25, 2013
Roppongi Hills, 10th Anniversary Christmas Illumination Event – November 5, 2013 to December 25, 2013
Tokyo Midtown, Midtown Christmas featuring the “Starlight Garden” – November 14, 2013 to December 25, 2013
Odaiba, has the “Daiba Memorial Tree" in Odaiba Kaihin Park – November 16, 2013 to March 16, 2014
Tokyo Dome City, has an impressive collection of illuminations and displays – November 7, 2013 to February 16, 2014
Marunouchi, the entire district lights up with Nakadori Street, especially beautiful – October 1, 2013 to February 16, 2014

Most places in Japan will have some kind of winter illuminations, so wherever you are in Japan, you will be able to enjoy this winter tradition.

Winter Illuminations at Nabana no Sato in Mie Prefecture

Sunday, October 27, 2013

138 Tower Park Ichinomiya

138 Tower Park in Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture is short trip down the road for us here in Gifu City. It is an amazing park, one of the best public parks in Japan with lots to do and see for the whole family.

The must see attractions include the spectacular 138 meter high observation tower with dual arches, which gives the park its name. A rose garden with around 4000 perpetual roses, and a beautiful garden that features seasonal flowers such as cosmos. It is also one of the best places in Aichi Prefecture to see the beautiful cherry blossoms in spring.

There is also a lot for families including Japan’s first plant made maze “Pisani’s Maze”, large grass field, large wooden playground, fuwa fuwa dome, rock climbing and lots more.

138 Tower Park Observation Tower

Observation Tower 


The Twin Arch 138 Observation Tower at 138 meters tall was built in honour of Ichinomiya City. In fact, 138 can be read in Japanese as ichi-(no)-mi-ya and hence the name. It is the tallest arch style tower in Asia and contains an observation deck 100 meters above the ground. The view from the observation deck is spectacular with an awesome view of the surrounding area including the Japan Alps, Nobi Plain and Nagoya.

Observation Tower during Autumn

Cosmos


There are various kinds of cosmos flowers at the park ranging in colour from pink, purple and white. The best time to see them is typically late September to mid-November.

A field of Cosmos

Cosmos at 138 Tower Park

Kochia


The park also has a small collection of kochia, also known as summer cypress. It is a type of large herb that grows in bushes about 90 centimeters tall. During Autumn they take on a brilliant red colour lending the name "Burning Bush".

Kochia at 138 Tower Park during September

Kochia at 138 Tower Park during October

Seasonal Events at 138 Tower Park 


Cherry Blossom Festival – Late March to early-April, come and enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms with a “hanami” under the flowering trees.

Spring Festa – mid-April to early-May and features colour flowers such as tulips, hyacinths and poppies.

Rose Festa – mid-May to early-June, 9 varieties of 4000 roses can be enjoyed at their peak during this time of the year.

Summer Festa – mid-July to late August, splash around in the “Pond of Comfort” and enjoy events such as Bon-Odori and an open-air movie theatre.

Autumn Festa – mid-September to early-November, experience the beautiful cosmos at their peak.

Winter Illuminations – mid-November to late-December, the park is decorated with around 500,000 light creating a spectacular winter illumination.

Details 

Address: 21-3 Urasaki, Komyoji, Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture 491-0135
Admission: FREE
Hours: Weekdays 9:30 am to 17:00 pm / Weekends 9:30 am to 21:00 pm
Closed: Every 2nd Monday of the month (following day if public holiday)
Parking: FREE

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