Chasing Winter Lights

I have been fond of city lights and lights per se for heaven knows how long. That's why I couldn't help but feel giddy whenever December comes for it means lots of winter illuminations in and around Tokyo! Ahhhh definitely one of the reasons why I don't mind the winter cold!

This year, I challenged myself to visit more illuminations than my usual one per year haha talk about being lazy and I'm just glad I was able to visit five! Yes, five! Hence, this post! :)) 
So without further ado, here are some photos I took as I chase them winter lights! 

Enjoooy! ♡

 1. Tokyo Midtown Starlight Garden

Before transforming into an outdoor ice skating rink, Tokyo Midtown Garden houses an enormous Christmas illumination. This year's theme Midtown Cruise, boasted of approximately 280,000 LED lights, a vision dome, and scheduled audiovisual mini shows. This illumination made me feel like I'm an intergalactic queen even for just a few minutes! :)) 

So blueeee~

Here's a clip I managed to record when we went there. It's a little shaky though. >_<

Access
Toei Oedo Line, Roppongi Station Exit 8 (direct link)
JR Chiyoda Line, Nogizaka Station Exit 3 (3 minutes)
Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, Roppongi-itchome Station (10 minutes)

2. Meguro-gawa Minna No Illumi

I went here with a few workmates on a weekday so the time I spent here was relatively short. This illumination stretches from Gotanda Station to Osaki Station, lighting up the Meguro River in shades of pink mimicking cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms in winter? Awesome!

You can opt to get off at Gotanda Station and eat some legit curry and nan at Thali-ya, a few minutes walk from the station before heading to see the illumination. They have gorgonzola naan which goes perfectly well with butter chicken curry! Then you can just walk until the end of the illumination, which will bring you to Osaki Station. We did just that!

3. Tokyo Dome City Illumination

Get off at Korakuen Station, cross the street towards Tokyo Dome (it's too huge for you to miss) and voila, you got yourself into a wonderland of lights and sounds! With towering Christmas trees and colourful lights, plus a water symphony show, going here would surely boost your Christmas spirits up!

LaQua Water Symphony

This tunnel plays Exile's Kiminimuchu on loop! My friends and I crazied our way through the tunnel dancing to it haha!

Ultramaaaaan~

And look who came to town! Santaaaa~

Access
Tokyo Metro Namboku Line /  Marunouchi Line, Korakuen Station
Mita Line, Suidobashi Station

4. Showa Kinen Koen Winter Vista Illumination

I have been to Showa Kinen a couple of times before but this is the first time that I went here on Christmas Day. And it was a good decision that I did! Not only did I witness the beautiful parade of lights but also a good five-minute fireworks display! It also had a themed light display entitled "Attaka-Warmth" in and around the field! Merry Christmas, indeed! ♡

A Christmas tree made of champagne glasses

Access
Akebono Gate: JR Chuo Line, Tachikawa Station (10 minutes) / JR Tama Urban Monorail, Tachikawa Kita Station (8 minutes)
Nishitachikawa Gate: JR Ome Line, Nishi-Tachikawa Station (2 minutes)

Fees
Adult (over 15 years) - 400 yen / Child (6 to 14 years)  - 80 yen / Over 65 - 210 yen

5. Tokyo Tower Winter Fantasy Orange Illumination

Whenever I'm in Roppongi, I always see Tokyo Tower from afar and it has always been magnificent in my eyes. Yesterday was not an exception, especially when it's strikingly orange and everything around it were adorned with lights! The main observatory was also lit up with blue and pink LED lights to match the official event ambassadors, Sanrio characters Kiki and Lala! What a sight to behold! ♡

Oraaaange~

Tokyo Tower replica

Chiizu~

Access

Metropolitan Subway Oedo Line, Akabanebashi Station  (5 minutes walk to Akabanebashi Gate)

Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Kamiyacho Station Exit 1 ( 7 minutes)

I hope your December was as shiny, shimmery, and splendid just like the lights I've chased! 
Happy  winter! 
Happy New Year, too! ♡

Tokyo Tour: Tokyo Tower

Since my childhood friend is also in Japan, we agreed to tour Tokyo and do some tourist-yyy stuff. We met up at Tachikawa Station since it's the only place I think I know how to go to from our house in Wakaba Cho. So from Tachikawa Station, we rode the rapid train to Shinjuku Station, which is by the way, a huge one. My friend said she once got lost in that station for an hour! Haha! I don't know what kind of planning the Japanese did regarding train stations; subway trains, monorails, rapid trains, and the normal trains fit in one! Amazing, ain't it? :B 

Shinjuku Station map.

So from Shinjuku Station, we rode a subway train to Akabanebashi. Tokyo Tower is a few minutes walk from the subway station. In fact, the tower can be seen right away when you step out of the station. And yes, you can imagine me giggling just at the sight of it! Hihi! :>

First stop, Tokyo Tower. It is a replica of the Eiffel Tower in Paris but is said to be taller. :)

The view from the subway station. 

Getting closer. :>

At the tower's foot.

Koi balloons, I think? Heheee. Took this while waiting for my turn at the ticket line.

We decided to just go at the Main Observatory which is 150m above. The Special Observatory's got a separate fee. And yes, it's a couple of meters higher. 

When the elevator which brought us from the ground floor to the Main Observatory opened, I saw this immediately. What a lovely version of Tokyo Tower! <3

 

I don't know what this is called but I heard it's like the lock thing in Korea wherein visitors may fasten two locks for a happy relationship. Here, instead of locks, are wood carvings in hearts and towers. Tokyo Tower's tag line is Love Power Spot (I saw this written on the shelf where the Tokyo Tower version above is placed), after all! :)

My brother before throwing a coin and making his wish.

Overlooking Tokyo. The roads look like a star to me. :)

Another view from the Main Observatory.

My childhood friend, Aira.

The tower has lookdown windows for a view all the way down. Here's my brother, Masato. :)

The view from the lookdown window.

Tokyo Tower post cards sold for about 200 Yen each at the Main Observatory's souvenir shop . There's a coffee shop and a club named Club 333 in the first floor of the Main Observatory, too. Brilliant idea is brilliant! :))

After roaming around the the first and second floors of the Main Observatory, we went down the ground floor cos the three of us were really hungry. Good thing there's a handful of restaurants and fastfood there. And there's a little amusement park for children, too. Kawaiii! :)

Bye, Tokyo Tower. Til we meet again! :)

Next stop: Zojoji Temple