Children love the Fresa Yoshimi Night Illumination

Information for the 2022 Fresa Yoshimi Illumination. In 2020 the event didn’t go ahead due to the pandemic, but in 2021 it went ahead exactly because of the Coronavirus! As their website says, “we thought that it was necessary to have the light up event, in order to brighten the town and lighten the hearts of everyone ….” during this difficult period. The illumination will be on in 2022 too.

Fresa Yoshimi Illumination

The illumination in Fresa Yoshimi is a particularly child friendly winter lights display. Furthermore, it is lovingly made by locals, by recycling common household goods. Moreover, this illumination is one of Saitama’s longest running – it started in 2003. It is on normally annually from December 1st to 25th. However, in 2022 it won’t start until December 3rd. Likewise, the official hours are normally 5 to 9 pm, but this year (like last) it will end at 8 pm. However, on the first night, December 3rd, the lights don’t get switched on until 6 pm, after a small switch on ceremony.

Fresa Yoshimi

Fresa Yoshimi is the town’s community hall. It has an observation tower, a theatre, a cafe and a large hall. It often hosts music events. Fresa is beside the town’s library, the summer outdoor pool and one of the town’s parks; the Yoshimi town friendship athletic ground.The park has two small playgrounds. 

Illumination for kids

What makes this display particularly child friendly, and different to most other displays, is that it is made up of several mini displays that also serve as photo props. Moreover, they normally have displays with characters children know such as Thomas the Tank Engine and Anpanman. Last year they had a Pikachu display too. Furthermore, the displays are made out of recycled goods such as pet bottles.

The above Santa photo prop was sponsored by Natural Cafe Sora, an “Oyako” cafe in Yoshimi town. Oyako means parent and child and an oyako cafe or restaurant is a child friendly restaurant. Natural Cafe Sora is the most child friendly restaurant (that isn’t a play center restaurant) I personally know of. It has a swing, slide, bikes and push alongs for children to use outside and inside it has lots of toys for kids to play with. Furthermore, they have a lovely and healthy child’s menu. You can read more about Natural Cafe Sora in this article:

The event is usually advertised from early November, but they only put it up on the the official website in December last year. It maybe the same in 2022, but I found a flyer with the 2022 information on it. Although, a relatively small display, it is quite interactive.