Right outside Tokyo Station, the trees along Marunouchi Naka-dori (丸の内仲通り) glow champagne gold again this winter. The Marunouchi Illumination returns for its 25th year, running from November 12, 2026 to February 14, 2027.
It is one of central Tokyo's easiest winter displays to reach. This season it also comes with a twist: a Harry Potter collaboration called MARUNOUCHI BRIGHT HOLIDAY, headlined by a "HOGWARTS SNOW TREE" inside the Marunouchi Building (丸ビル).
Here is the one thing most visitors miss: the Harry Potter displays and the champagne-gold lights end on different days. Which one you're after decides when to go.
✦ The Harry Potter display (MARUNOUCHI BRIGHT HOLIDAY) runs through December 25. The champagne-gold illumination runs through February 14. If you visit on December 26 or later, the snow tree will already be gone.
Dates for the 2026-2027 season
The organizers announced the core dates on September 17, 2026. Here is what is confirmed so far.
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Event | Marunouchi Illumination 2026 (25th edition) |
Lit period | November 12, 2026 – February 14, 2027 |
Harry Potter display | November 12 – December 25, 2026 (MARUNOUCHI BRIGHT HOLIDAY) |
Area | Marunouchi Naka-dori (about 1.2 km) and nearby |
Color | Champagne gold |
Admission | Free (public street) |
The official site is expected to announce the lighting hours, bulb counts, and other details in late October. I will update this article once they are out.
The highlight: Harry Potter at the Marunouchi Building
MARUNOUCHI BRIGHT HOLIDAY is the Christmas-season program that runs alongside the illumination from November 12 to December 25, 2026. The 2026 theme is the Harry Potter films, and the program is presented in collaboration with Warner Bros.
The centerpiece is the "HOGWARTS SNOW TREE" on the first floor of the Marunouchi Building. A lighting show set to music from the films makes "magic snow" sparkle around the tree.
A Harry Potter pop-up shop is also planned. Both the show times and the shop's location are still to be announced.
Because it sits indoors, the snow tree is an easy stop on a cold or rainy evening, unlike the open-air avenue outside.
From December 26 through February 14, the champagne-gold lights will continue, but the snow tree and the Christmas decorations will have ended for the season.
Hours and admission
Last season (2025-2026), the lights ran from about 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., and until midnight in December. This season's hours haven't been announced as of early October, so treat those as a guide and check the official site in late October for the exact times.
There is no admission fee. Marunouchi Naka-dori is a public street, so anyone can walk through free of charge.
Where to find the lights
The heart of the display is Marunouchi Naka-dori, the avenue that runs from the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station toward Yurakucho. Champagne-gold light wraps the street trees for about 1.2 kilometers.
You will also find decorations around the Marunouchi Building, Shin-Marunouchi Building, Marunouchi Oazo, and Marunouchi Brick Square. The classic walk is to start at Tokyo Station and follow the avenue toward Yurakucho.
Getting there
The display is right outside Tokyo Station and is easy to reach from several stations.
Station | Notes |
|---|---|
JR Tokyo Station (Marunouchi South Exit) | About 1 min on foot to the avenue |
Nijubashimae (Marunouchi) Station | Connected underground to the Marunouchi Building |
JR Yurakucho Station | Near the south end of the avenue |
Otemachi Station | Near the north end of the avenue |
Tokyo evenings in December and February often drop into the 30s to 40s Fahrenheit (around 0–8°C), so bring a warm coat, gloves, and a scarf for the kilometer-long walk outdoors.
This article was translated from the original Japanese with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. The Japanese version is authoritative.