For years, the illumination display in Seibuen, an amusement park on the cusp of Tokyo, was Saitama’s largest illumination display. Furthermore, it was one of the largest in all of Kanto, aka the Greater Tokyo area. It came back last year, but for a shorter period than before the pandemic / the parks extended closure for renovations. This year it will be ‘back to normal’ and on for 124 days.
Seibuen Illumination Winter 2023 – 2024
For years, the illumination in Seibuen was called “White lantasia”. In recent years they give it a new name every year. The winter of 2019 to 2020, it was “Shining Forest”. In 2022/23 it was “Memories of Light”. In the winter of 2023/24 they are calling it “Sunset Street Light Illumination”. Between 2020 and 2022 there was no illumination due to renovations and the pandemic.
Sunset Street Light Illumination
Last year, Seibuen claimed that their illumination was ‘like nothing we’ve ever seen before’! It was an ambitious interactive illumination display, but it was very successful. In 2023, they make no such claim and in one way it seems they are going back to basics. They are using old fashioned amber filament light bulbs along the main street to create a romantic, nostalgic atmosphere. However, they will also have more modern illumination that combines the use of lasers and smoke bubbles. Every 20 minutes they complement the illumination with a blast of music. Currently, we do not know how many lights they are using in this year’s display. In the past they used about 3.5 million!
Information
Event: Sunset Street Lights Illumination 夕日の街灯りイルミネーション
Date: from Friday October 20th to Sunday April 7th 2024. Between January 9th and March 15th the illumination is only on weekends.
Times: the base hours of the amusement park are from 10 am to 5 pm. The park opens late for the illumination. On weekdays it is generally open until 7 pm and until 8 pm on weekends. The lights are switched on from 4 pm and the night time illumination entry starts at 4 pm too. Park schedule here.
Cost: The illumination itself is free, but you have to pay to enter the amusement park. This year they have brought the price right down, thankfully! Last year an ‘illumination ticket’ cost 4400 yen for an adult, 3300 yen for children. But this year (2023 – 2024) it costs 2900 yen for adults, 2100 yen for children. Tickets go on sale from Thursday October 12th. Official website.
Venue: Seibuen Amusement Park, 2964 Yamaguchi, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-1145. View on Google maps.
Access
Train: Seibuen is Minutes walk from Seibu Yuuenchi station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line. Car: Approximately 10 kilometers / 20 minutes drive, from the Iruma Interchange of the Ken-o highway. Parking costs 1800 yen for the day.