Things to Do in Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi: Enjoy winter illumination tours

Summary

In this issue, I will introduce illuminations in Okayama, Hiroshima, and Yamaguchi in a relay format.It is recommended to visit nearby spots or tour all of them! Please refer to the illumination only during the winter season!

*Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change.

Travel Itinerary

Okayama Station（岡山駅）

In this issue, we introduce illuminations in Okayama, Hiroshima and Yamaguchi! First, we start in Okayama ✨Fun!

Okayama Station is a station of West Japan Railway Company (JR West) located in Kita-ku, Okayama City. It takes only 50 minutes from Osaka by Shinkansen bullet train and less than one hour from Kyoto. You can also take a sightseeing train, SAKUBI-SAKURA, to Tsuyama Station.

Kurashiki Station（倉敷駅）

Approximately 20 minutes from Hiroshima Station by train.

Hiroshima version is a popular illumination spot in Okayama with approximately 160,000 LED lights ✨The area is divided into two parts: the North Area and the South Area!

KURASHIKI YUME NO MICHI Period: 2023/11/3 – 2024/2/14 Venue: Around Kurashiki Station (Kurashiki Mirai Park, Achiterasu Kurashiki) Access: JR Kurashiki Station directly connected https://www.instagram.com/kurashiki_illumination2022/tagged/

Kurashiki Station, located in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, is a station of West Japan Railway Company (JR West). The Bikan Historical Area can be reached on foot in about 15 minutes. You can also take a bus from the airport to Kurashiki. There are many stores such as souvenir shops and cafes around Kurashiki Station.

Kurashiki Mirai Park（倉敷みらい公園）

This park, located about a 5-minute walk from Kurashiki Station, is the North Area of the KURASHIKI YUME NO MICHI. There are blue and red areas to see different atmospheres of illumination✨ The light from the lights is beautiful, of course, but the world that is faintly represented by the leaked light reflected on the trees and leaves is also wonderful✨

Blue Area

This blue light represents the color of happiness (something blue) and the blue of denim!

Red area

Illumination with a warm atmosphere, a complete change from the blue area ✨

Kurashiki Mirai Park, located in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, is a park that can be enjoyed by children of various ages. With its large lawn and greenways, it provides a relaxing urban space.

Achiterasu Kurashiki（あちてらす倉敷）

The South Area of KURASHIKI YUME NO MICHI will be held at Achiterasu Kurashiki, located about a 5-minute walk from the South Exit of Kurashiki Station.

Illumination inspired by wisteria flowers

Lovely purple ✨ They were decorated like wisteria flowers and were very beautiful!

Flower and Bamboo Monument

The light overflowing from the bamboo is warm and inviting!The atmosphere is lovely ✨

Achiterasu Kurashiki is a large-scale commercial complex located in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Located about a 5-minute walk from the south exit of Kurashiki Station, it is a popular place for shopping and dining.

Hiroshima Station（広島駅）

The Hiroshima section will tour two illuminations! Starts at Hiroshima Station.It’ll take me about 30 minutes by bus or train to get to my first destination.

Hiroshima Station, located in Matsubara-cho, Minami-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, is a station of West Japan Railway Company (JR West) and a terminal station where all trains of the Sanyo Shinkansen stop. Many people use the station as the gateway to Hiroshima for sightseeing and business.

Marina Hop

Projection mapping is shown here daily! Marina Hop is scheduled to close in December 2024. Be sure to visit while you can see it!

MARIHO DIGITAL ART ROAD SCHEDUL 10/12- 1th 6:40pm-6:50pm 2th 7:00pm-7:10pm 3th 7:20pm-7:30pm 4th 7:40pm-7:50pm 5th 8:00pm-8:10pm 6th 8:20pm-8:30pm 7th 8:40pm-8:50pm *Last screening

https://www.marinahop.com/news/316/

Mariho Digital Road

Music and various projection mapping ✨It is powerful!

Located in Nishi Ward, Hiroshima City, Marina Hop is one of the largest malls in the Chugoku-Shikoku area. It is well known as a place to enjoy gourmet food and shopping while looking at the sea, and the aquarium, Ferris wheel, and other amusement attractions are also popular. The large, free parking lot is also a nice feature.

Hiroshima Dreamination (ひろしまドリミネーション)

The second illumination in Hiroshima is held around Peace Boulevard. The theme of the illumination is fairyland! It takes about 30 minutes from Marina Hop to Hiroshima Dreamination by train or bus.

Hiroshima Drimination 2023 Duration: November 17, 2023 – January 3, 2024 Location: Peace Boulevard and other areas in the center of Hiroshima City Access: 15 min. by streetcar from Hiroshima Station

Illumination Area

The exhibits are divided into different areas around Peace Street, and can be enjoyed by both children and adults!

Popular area with children

The joyful laughter of children.It’s great for all ages!

The cafe is!

The cafe is perfect for a cold day! I had a hot chocolate.

Blue Castle

It seems that this is the first year that the castle is lit up in blue.

Hiroshima Drimination, located in Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, is a spot known for its illumination events. Held every year from November through January of the following year, visitors can enjoy beautiful illumination mainly around Peace Boulevard. 2023’s theme is “Fairyland,” and a fantastic atmosphere will be created. It takes about 15 minutes from Hiroshima Station by streetcar and about 30 minutes from Marina Hop.

Shin-Yamaguchi Station（新山口駅）

The Yamaguchi section starts from Shin-Yamaguchi Station.It takes about 30 minutes by bus to Tokiwa Park. Looking forward to the illumination in the amusement park!

Shin-Yamaguchi Station, located in Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a station of West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It is also the first station for the SL Yamaguchi sightseeing train on the Yamaguchi Line. 1900 saw the opening of the Sanyo Railway, and the station opened as Ogori Station. 1975 saw the opening of the Sanyo Shinkansen, and the station became a stop on the line. 2003 saw the station renamed Shin-Yamaguchi Station. The station is also used as a Shinkansen stop, and is accessible from Ube Airport in about 30 minutes by limousine bus. There are also many car rental shops where visitors can rent a car and enjoy driving around.

Tokiwa Park（ときわ公園）

The largest scale illumination in the Chugoku region is held at Tokiwa Amusement Park in Tokiwa Park!

TOKIWA Fantasia 2023 Duration: November 26, 2023 – January 8, 2024 　　　　　*Closed on December 31 and January 1. Location：Tokiwa Amusement Park Access: 30 minutes from JR Shin-Yamaguchi Station by express local bus

Map

There are 38 pieces on display in the amusement park ✨

Rainbow Road

Sparkling and otherworldly inside too✨The ones that go back and forth a lot.

illumination that illuminates when lit up

It’s lit up to music! You should definitely see this in real life.

Food stalls…

I’m glad I was hungry!There’s also an eat-in space ✨.

Drawing performance

There is also a performance where they paint pictures on the asphalt! This is… Flander from The Little Mermaid.

Tokiwa Park, located in Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a comprehensive park that stretches over an expansive site about 40 times the size of the Tokyo Dome. Within the park grounds, 3,500 cherry trees, 80,000 gingko trees, azaleas, hydrangeas, and other flowers are in bloom, and a variety of flowers can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons. There is also an amusement park for both children and adults. Various events are held throughout the year, including an illumination event every winter.