Tokyo Everyday Finds

Marunouchi Illumination 2026: Tokyo Station’s Free Winter Lights (Dates & Tips)

Marunouchi Illumination 2026 near Tokyo Station: dates and tips

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Every winter, the streets around Tokyo Station glow champagne gold. Marunouchi Illumination is one of Tokyo’s longest-running light displays — 2026 is its 25th year — and it is free, central, and a few minutes’ walk from the Shinkansen. Here is what is confirmed for 2026, based on the official Marunouchi.com announcement (checked October 14, 2026), plus tips from someone who lives in Tokyo. The photos are my own, from previous winters.

Gyoko-dori avenue near Tokyo Station at dusk in winter, with illuminated trees between office towers — Gyoko-dori at dusk in a previous winter, looking from Tokyo Station toward the Imperial Palace

The short answer

Dates: November 12, 2026 – February 14, 2027.
Where: about 1.2 km of street trees along Marunouchi Naka-dori, a short walk from the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station.
Cost: free — it is on public streets.
Lighting hours: not announced yet; the organizers say details come in late October. In the 2025–26 season, the lights were on from 4 pm to 11 pm (until midnight in December). I will update this guide when the 2026 hours are out.

What’s new in 2026: a Harry Potter holiday

From 2026, Marunouchi groups its winter events under one name, MARUNOUCHI BRIGHT HOLIDAY, covering the illumination, a Christmas market, and decorations across the area. From November 12 to December 25, 2026, the theme is a collaboration with “Harry Potter”.

The centerpiece is the HOGWARTS SNOW TREE on the 1st floor of the Marunouchi Building (Marubiru), with a light show of “magic snow” set to music from the films. More decorations, experiences, and limited-edition goods across the area will be announced in late October.

A simple walking route from Tokyo Station

Leave Tokyo Station by the Marunouchi Central Exit and look back at the lit-up red-brick building.
Walk a few steps onto Gyoko-dori, the wide avenue toward the Imperial Palace.
Turn onto Naka-dori, the tree-lined street where the main illumination runs, and follow it toward Yurakucho.
Stop at the Marunouchi Building for the Harry Potter tree (until December 25).

Walking the full 1.2 km at an easy pace, with photo stops, takes about 30–45 minutes.

Street trees covered in warm white lights in front of office towers in Marunouchi at dusk — Trees lit up near Tokyo Station during a previous winter — expect crowds in the week before Christmas

Tips from a Tokyo local

Go on a weekday if you can. Weekend evenings and the days just before Christmas are by far the busiest.
Arrive just before dusk. You get the blue sky between the towers and the lights coming on, which is when the photos look best.
See the station from above. The free KITTE rooftop garden has the classic view of the lit-up station — see my Tokyo Station guide.
Dress warmly. Tokyo winter evenings are cold and dry, and you will be standing outside.

The red-brick Tokyo Station Marunouchi building lit up at night with flower images projected on its towers — Tokyo Station at night. The flower projection was a special event in a past year, so check what is on during your visit

Make a night of it

Marunouchi is calm and elegant; if you want to see the other side of Tokyo at night afterward, Shibuya is about 25 minutes away on the JR Yamanote Line. A guided Shibuya Sky sunset or night view walking tour on GetYourGuide combines the rooftop view with the famous crossing.

Getting there

Tokyo Station (JR lines and the Marunouchi subway line) is the easiest stop; Nijubashimae and Yurakucho stations are also close to the southern end of Naka-dori. Flying in? See how to get from Haneda Airport to Tokyo.

Sources

Marunouchi.com (Mitsubishi Estate): MARUNOUCHI BRIGHT HOLIDAY and Marunouchi Illumination 2026 (Japanese, checked October 14, 2026)