*Certain facilities and attractions, such as the arcade and the rest area, will be closed from February 28th to March 13th, 2020 to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Winter is just around the corner, and yes, it’s that time of year again when ‘illuminations’ can be seen around the city, lighting up the night. Being from the southern hemisphere it’s possibly something I’ll never really get used to; I mean, at least Down Under, it’s not cold at night and you can walk around at night time in comfort. But having said that, in Japan, there is something special about rugging up, venturing into the night and taking in the hundreds of thousands of lights in all colours and sizes that light up the buildings and streets.
The bulk of the illuminations do seem to be more concentrated around central Tokyo, but here at The Tokyo Life, we have all of our Kanto friends in mind, so this is one that’s a little more convenient for those living in Chiba.
And what a one it is! With its whopping 3 million lights, the 東京ドイツ村ウィンターイルミネーション (Tokyo German Village Winter Illumination), is ranked as one of the best night light displays in Japan with its light and sound show, rainbow light tunnel, and field covering light carpets arranged into spectacular murals.
It runs this year from November 1st until April 5th 2020, so there’s plenty of time to experience it. ‘Light up’ begins at around 4:30 pm and they flicker off at around 8:00 pm. Just a word of warning; weekends and holidays from November 23rd to the end of December (including the entire last week of December) can get very crowded so be sure to arrive early enough to avoid the throngs at the entrance.
Getting There:
It’s possible to drive in and park, but parking will set you back ¥3,000. Directions are, of course, available on Doitsumura’s website.
There are a few options for buses but be careful. You don’t want to be left on the side of the road if the last bus fills up with people on their way home.
*Please check the Chiba Chuo Bus website for buses leaving from Chiba station.
Bus Stop 21 is not far from the East or Central Exits of Chiba Station, and the last bus that will take you directly to the village leaves at 3:25 pm and arrives at 4:09 pm.
It costs ¥950 for adults, and ¥480 for children.
Getting back on this same bus requires a roughly 10 minute walk to Hiraokashōmae Bus Stop (平岡小前バス停), and around double the fare. The last bus leaves at 9:18 pm and arrives back at Chiba Station at 10:07 pm.
It costs ¥1,880 for adults, and ¥940 for children.
The access map on the Doitsumura website also has a walking route to 平岡小前 at the very bottom of the page.
- During the illumination season, there is one extra bus (denoted by yellow stars) running from Sodegaura Station (袖ヶ浦駅) directly to the village that departs at 4:30 pm and takes about 35 minutes. There is an earlier bus departing at 3:20 pm that only runs on weekends and holidays. The last bus from the village back to Sodegaura Station departs at 8:10 pm, but be careful; this bus can be quite crowded.
What did you think of our ドイツ村ウィンターイルミネーション article? We’re always thankful for your contributions! Let us know what you think in the comments section below or join the conversation by adding your own helpful tips!
Photos by Takayuki Nishino.
