While I visited this yearly event in December 2022, the experience and photo tips remain timeless for anyone planning a future trip.
You might know I’m not a fan of Christmas. But it is December, and I am a photographer! So, one night, I decided to drop by Tokyo Midtown as I was in Roppongi. It had its yearly festive winter season light-up event. I was glad I went because I got a few good photos.
The event featured Christmas trees, colorful lights, festive decorations, and music performances. Even on a weekday, it was crowded. Tokyoites love this type of event. It’s perfect for dates and Instagram influencers.
Most people gravitated to the “Christmas Story Lights.” It centered around a big spherical display projecting high-definition images. Three hundred lights surrounded it, and occasionally a mist came up. The mist machines kicked in, catching the blue and purple lights and making them hang in the air like a colorful fog. It gave the area an ethereal glow. Everything worked together to create the perfect outdoor theater.
Others went to the ice rink on Grass Square. It was midweek, so it was relatively empty. It looked fun. Some were complete beginners. They took time to find their legs. One or two went down hard on the slippery surface. I winced in sympathy.
To be blunt, Christmas interests me less and less as I get older. I see it as commercialism. But, it is good as a Tokyo photo opportunity. Actually, I hadn’t visited this event since 2016. At that time, it was crowded. I was glad to walk around without constantly bumping into people.
My favorite photo of the night? One was a double-decker bus. Another was Santa Claus on a motorbike! It would be interesting to visit the ice rink on a more crowded night. Maybe I’ll have time to go again, but we’ll see.
I only took the Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR because I had other places to go that night, so I didn’t want to load myself up with camera gear. A prime seemed the way to go. And it is fantastic for low-light photography.
If you are a Christmas lover, check out Tokyo Midtown’s event. It’s colorful, bright, and family-friendly. And if you’re a photographer like me, maybe you’ll find that even a commercialized holiday offers the perfect excuse to capture some magic. Just make sure to take a camera with you!
Where are your favorite Christmas lights in Tokyo? Share them in the comments below.
Date of photos: December 1, 2022.
Rohan has photographed Tokyo since 2011. He shoots it with his Canon EOS R5. There are no plans to stop.
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