{"id":5075,"date":"2026-11-02T07:38:58","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T07:38:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/?p=5075"},"modified":"2026-11-02T07:39:15","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T07:39:15","slug":"marunouchi-illumination-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/ja\/marunouchi-illumination-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Marunouchi Illumination 2026 Harry Potter: Best Dates & Map"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marunouchi Illumination 2026 lights about 1.2 km of Naka-dori street trees in champagne gold from Thursday 12 November 2026 to Sunday 14 February 2027, 16:00\u201323:00 (until midnight in December). Until Christmas Day it doubles as MARUNOUCHI BRIGHT HOLIDAY, a free Harry Potter takeover with nine \u201cmagical snow\u201d photo spots, a Hogwarts tree with a light show every 15 minutes, and a Christmas market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the 2026 version, not last year’s listing. Below: the Harry Potter spot-by-spot hours (several close at 20:00 or 21:00, long before the street lights), which Tokyo Station exit to use, a north-to-south route along Naka-dori, when to beat the crowds, what to eat at the market and nearby, and how to pair it with the Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo<\/a>. Everything was checked on 2 November 2026 against the official MARUNOUCHI BRIGHT HOLIDAY page<\/a> run by Mitsubishi Estate.<\/p>\n\n\n

12 Nov\u201314 Feb<\/p>

Illumination 2026\u201327<\/p><\/div>

12 Nov\u201325 Dec<\/p>

Harry Potter spots<\/p><\/div>

16:00\u201323:00<\/p>

Street lights (to 24:00 in Dec)<\/p><\/div>

\u7121\u6599<\/p>

No admission listed<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

\"Marunouchi
Naka-dori’s street trees lit champagne gold for Marunouchi Bright Holiday. Photo: \u308a\u3093\u3061\u3083\u3093\u3055\u3093<\/a> \/ photo-AC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When is Marunouchi Illumination 2026, and when do the Harry Potter displays run?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are two overlapping events, and their dates differ. The street-tree illumination is the long-running one: this is its 25th winter. The Harry Potter layer, MARUNOUCHI BRIGHT HOLIDAY, is Christmas-only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u5185\u5bb9<\/th>2026\u201327 dates<\/th>\u62dd\u89b3\u6642\u9593<\/th>\u5834\u6240<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Marunouchi Illumination 2026 (champagne-gold street trees)<\/td>Thu 12 Nov 2026 \u2013 Sun 14 Feb 2027<\/td>16:00\u201323:00; until 24:00 through December<\/td>Marunouchi Naka-dori and around Tokyo Station<\/td><\/tr>
Opening night lighting ceremony<\/td>Thu 12 Nov<\/td>Start time differs on the night; exact time not yet published<\/td>Marunouchi Naka-dori<\/td><\/tr>
MARUNOUCHI BRIGHT HOLIDAY (Harry Potter)<\/td>Thu 12 Nov \u2013 Fri 25 Dec<\/td>Varies by spot (table below)<\/td>Otemachi, Marunouchi, Yurakucho<\/td><\/tr>
Gyoko-dori illumination and HOGWARTS WINTER WALK tree<\/td>Fri 27 Nov \u2013 Fri 25 Dec<\/td>11:00\u201323:00 (27\u201330 Nov); 11:00\u201324:00 (1\u201325 Dec)<\/td>Gyoko-dori, between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace<\/td><\/tr>
Marunouchi Street Park Christmas Market<\/td>Naka-dori from 12 Nov; Gyoko-dori 27 Nov \u2013 25 Dec<\/td>11:00\u201322:00<\/td>Naka-dori and Gyoko-dori<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sunset in Tokyo is 16:37 on 12 November and 16:28 by the end of the month, according to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. So the trees are properly glowing from about 16:45. The organisers note that content may change, so check the official page on wet or windy days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u672a\u767a\u8868\uff1a<\/strong> the time of the 12 November lighting ceremony, and any separate Tokyo Station-front illumination details. We’ll add them once they appear on the \u516c\u5f0f\u30da\u30fc\u30b8<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the 9 Marunouchi Illumination 2026 Harry Potter spots?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mitsubishi Estate runs the event with Warner Bros. Japan, and the nine spots are spread along Naka-dori and its side plazas, from Otemachi down to Yurakucho. Names and locations below come from the official event map (PDF)<\/a>; hours are from the event page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#<\/th>\u30b9\u30dd\u30c3\u30c8<\/th>\u5834\u6240<\/th>Hours (12 Nov \u2013 25 Dec)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
1<\/td>HOGWARTS SNOW TREE (four-house tree, light show)<\/td>Marunouchi Building (Marubiru) 1F, Marucube<\/td>Viewing 6:00\u201324:30; show 17:00\u201321:00, every 15 min<\/td><\/tr>
2<\/td>HOGWARTS WINTER WALK (tree hung with Hogwarts letters)<\/td>Gyoko-dori<\/td>From 27 Nov; 11:00\u201323:00, 11:00\u201324:00 in Dec<\/td><\/tr>
3<\/td>HOGWARTS COMMON ROOM (Gryffindor common room) + pop-up store<\/td>Shin-Marunouchi Building 3F Atrium<\/td>11:00\u201321:00 (Sun & hols to 20:00)<\/td><\/tr>
4<\/td>WEASLEYS’ WIZARD WHEEZES (gift-box photo spot)<\/td>Marunouchi Naka-dori (north)<\/td>11:00\u201322:00<\/td><\/tr>
5<\/td>HOGWARTS DANCE PARTY (house crests lit on the ground)<\/td>Otemachi Naka-dori<\/td>11:00\u201324:00; lights after sunset<\/td><\/tr>
6<\/td>PATRONUS FOREST (snowy forest, Patronus appears)<\/td>Marunouchi OAZO, OO Plaza<\/td>11:00\u201321:00 (Sun & hols to 20:00)<\/td><\/tr>
7<\/td>GOLDEN SNITCH TREE<\/td>Marunouchi Brick Square, Mitsubishi Ichigokan Plaza<\/td>11:00\u201321:00 (Sun & hols to 20:00)<\/td><\/tr>
8<\/td>HONEYDUKES CHRISTMAS (giant sweet-packet photo spot)<\/td>Marunouchi Naka-dori (south)<\/td>11:00\u201322:00<\/td><\/tr>
9<\/td>HOGWARTS LETTER PARK (floating letters, collab drinks)<\/td>Slit Park Yurakucho<\/td>11:00\u201320:00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Hogwarts Snow Tree light show at Marunouchi Illumination 2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The centrepiece is inside Marubiru’s ground-floor atrium. A Christmas tree is surrounded by snow and the four house elements, and a \u201cmagic snow\u201d light show runs to music from the films daily 17:00\u201321:00, every 15 minutes, about 3 minutes each time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because it’s indoors, it’s the one spot that works in rain. Arrive a few minutes before the quarter-hour, and stand back from the tree rather than at its base: the effect is the falling light, and you need the height in frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marunouchi Illumination 2026 spots that close early<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is what most listings miss. The Common Room, Patronus Forest and Golden Snitch Tree close at 21:00, or 20:00 on Sundays and public holidays. Hogwarts Letter Park closes at 20:00 every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The street lights stay on until 23:00 (midnight in December), so a late walk still looks great. But if you want all nine spots, start by 18:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan Pro\u306e\u30d2\u30f3\u30c8\uff1a<\/strong> Flash on for the Common Room. The organisers say photographing the painting above the fireplace with flash makes magic snow appear in your shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you get to Marunouchi Illumination 2026 from Tokyo Station?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Use the Marunouchi side of JR Tokyo Station (not Yaesu). The Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s GO TOKYO page<\/a> puts Naka-dori about a 3-minute walk from the Marunouchi exits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start here<\/th>\u51fa\u53e3<\/th>\u304a\u3059\u3059\u3081<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
JR Tokyo Station<\/td>Marunouchi North Exit (\u4e38\u306e\u5185\u5317\u53e3)<\/td>Shin-Marunouchi Building (about 2 min, underground passage connects), OAZO and the Otemachi end<\/td><\/tr>
JR Tokyo Station<\/td>Marunouchi Central Exit (\u4e38\u306e\u5185\u4e2d\u592e\u53e3)<\/td>Gyoko-dori: the Winter Walk tree and Christmas market huts start right in front of the station<\/td><\/tr>
JR Tokyo Station<\/td>Marunouchi South Exit (\u4e38\u306e\u5185\u5357\u53e3)<\/td>Marunouchi Building and the Snow Tree (Marubiru is directly connected to JR Tokyo Station)<\/td><\/tr>
Toei Mita Line Otemachi Station<\/td>Underground via the Tokio Marine Building<\/td>Direct to Shin-Marunouchi Building<\/td><\/tr>
JR \/ Metro Yurakucho Station<\/td>Marunouchi side, then walk north<\/td>Starting at the south end: Slit Park Yurakucho, Brick Square, then walk north<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In cold or wet weather, the underground links from Tokyo Station to Marubiru and Shin-Maru let you hop between the indoor spots without going outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tokyo
Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi side: the Naka-dori lights start a few minutes’ walk away. Photo: \u81ea\u7136<\/a> \/ photo-AC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Marunouchi Illumination 2026: the best route along Naka-dori<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Marunouchi Illumination 2026 is free and needs no ticket: just walk Naka-dori from either end. The Marunouchi Illumination 2026 street lights stay on until 23:00 (24:00 in December), so a walk after dinner still works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walk north to south. You end near Yurakucho and Ginza for dinner, and you hit the early-closing indoor spots first. Allow 90 minutes to two hours with photos and a market stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. 17:00 Otemachi Naka-dori<\/strong> for the Hogwarts Dance Party crests on the pavement, already lit once the sun is down.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. 17:15 OAZO OO Plaza<\/strong> for the Patronus Forest (closes 21:00).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. 17:30 Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes<\/strong> on north Naka-dori, then into Shin-Marunouchi 3F<\/strong> for the Common Room and pop-up store (closes 21:00).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. 18:00 Gyoko-dori<\/strong> (from 27 November): the Winter Walk tree, with Tokyo Station’s red-brick facade behind, and the market huts. Grab a hot drink.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. 18:15 Marubiru 1F<\/strong> for the Snow Tree light show on the quarter-hour.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. 18:45 South Naka-dori<\/strong>: Honeydukes Christmas, then the Golden Snitch Tree in Brick Square’s Ichigokan Plaza (closes 21:00).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. 19:15 Slit Park Yurakucho<\/strong> for Hogwarts Letter Park and a house drink (closes 20:00). Yurakucho Station and Ginza are steps away.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Want more lights? Hibiya is a 10\u201315 minute walk south: see our Hibiya Magic Time Illumination 2026<\/a> guide. For the whole city, our \u6771\u4eac\u30a4\u30eb\u30df\u30cd\u30fc\u30b7\u30e7\u30f32026<\/a> round-up compares every big display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When is Marunouchi Illumination 2026 least crowded?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Marunouchi is an office district, so it behaves differently from \u6e0b\u8c37<\/a> or Roppongi. On weekdays the street fills with workers leaving offices in the early evening, and the big crowds come at weekends and in the run-up to Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n