Information for the sixth annual winter illumination display at Tokorozawa Sakura Town. This year, like last year, the theme is “Look Back I’ll-rumination”. The illumination starts on Saturday November 29th 2025.
Tokorozawa Sakura Town
Tokorozawa Sakura Town has shops, restaurants, museums, a factory, offices, a public open space, event space, and a shrine. There was an anime hotel too, but unfortunately it went out of business in 2023.
A summary of what’s available:
- Kadokawa Culture Museum including a Grand Gallery, Bookshelf Theater , Anime Museum and smaller galleries and facilities
- Kadokawa Restaurant
- Musashino Jurin Cafe
- Da Vinci Store
Illumination at Tokorozawa Sakura Town
The inaugural night illumination at Tokorozawa Sakura Town was in 2020. The entertainment center only opened (after many delays) in the summer of 2020. The maiden illumination was called “Fuyu Hanami”. Fuyu means winter and hanami means flower viewing, particularly cherry blossom viewing. And of course the “sakura” of sakura town means cherry blossom. Accordingly, the theme of the first winter illumination was cherry blossoms. In 2021~22 the theme was “Hajimari no Hikari”. In 2022 ~ 2023 the theme was Green Circus. Last year it was just called “Winter Light Up”. But since 2024 they’ve given it the very strange title: “Look Back I’llrumination”. But in addition they’ve a sub theme of “oneness”.
2025 – 2026 Look Back I’llrumination
From November 29th the town’s symbolic tree, the 12 meter tall ‘koyamaki’ Japanese umbrella pine Christmas tree, and the area around Kadokawa Musashino Museum will be lit up. For the Christmas period they also light up the area around the lawn, where they display original decorations and objects, mainly by artists with ties to Tokorozawa and Saitama.
Fortune telling illumination!
In addition, the torii of the Cool Japan shrine is usually lit up at night too. They were lit up nightly for about two years in a row, due to popularity. But they just stopped that in autumn. Will they bring it back during the illumination period? When its on, when you walk through the torii the light changes color. The color represents your fortune! For example, white means your financial luck will increase.
Christmas Market and Workshops
What they have already confirmed is that there will be a Christmas Market on December 20th and 21st, with a live DJ. Hours and further details not yet available.
Candle Nights
There were candle nights in 2024, but currently they are not scheduled for 2025.
Keep an eye out for the LED anime manhole covers in Higashitokorozawa park! (Which is beside Sakura Town).
There is seriously so much to do in Tokorozawa / Sayama area that you could spend a week enjoying all it has to offer. Here is just a small sample of things you can do in Tokorozawa / Sayama.
Information
Event: Tokorozawa Sakura Town Winter Light Up Look Back I’llrumination. ところざわサクラタウン 冬のライトアップ2025-2026.
Dates: From Saturday November 29th 2025 to Sunday February 1st 2026. Christmas Market on December 20th and 21st.
Cost: the illumination is free to enjoy.
Venue: Tokorozawa Sakura Town, 〒359-0023 Saitama, Tokorozawa, Higashitokorozawawada, 3 Chome−３１−3. View on Google Maps.
Access
Tokorozawa Sakura Town is about a ten minute walk from JR Musashino Line’s Higashi Tokorozawa Station. Keep an eye out for the anime manhole covers on the way! By car, the entertainment town is about 3.6 kilometers from the Kanetsu expressway. Parking costs 200 yen per half hour. The first half hour is free.
The featured photo at the top of the post is from the official website.
Find even more cool events and news for Saitama check the events category.
20201031. R20221031. Last republish December 12th 2023. Last update December 8th 2025.