Tokyo Lights

Tokyo's festival of lights returns to a new venue this year, taking place every evening at the foot of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and nearby Shinjuku Chuo Park from May 23 to May 31. Highlights include an international projection mapping competition on the facade of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, featuring works by the world's top creators and up-and-coming young talents. Participants compete for the world's best video, ranging from 1 minute to 1 minute 59 seconds in length, based on this year's theme, 'Dialogue’.

The nighttime illuminations continue at Shinjuku Chuo Park, located directly behind the mapping show, where you can admire 12 light installations, including a stunning spinning globe by UK artist Luke Jerram. Titled ‘Gaia’, the massive artwork measures 7 metres in diameter and features highly detailed 120-dpi NASA imagery of Earth's surface. The park also features large-scale interactive visual installations by renowned artists such as Yoichi Ochiai and Beamhacker. Beamhacker's work, ‘Embrace’, uses a circle of life-sized silhouettes to celebrate the power of human connection, illuminating with increasingly vibrant lights and music when visitors join hands with the silhouettes.

Online registration is required to enter the viewing area for the International Projection Mapping Competition. Check the event website for more details.