Tokyo Solamachi

German-inspired Christmas markets are taking Tokyo by storm, and this one is no exception. Tokyo Solamachi Christmas Market offers all the usual attractions like wooden stalls with various holiday accessories, beer, warm glühwein, hot chocolate and traditional confectionery such as stollen cake and waffles. The lighting in the market area combines nicely with the golden winter illuminations at Tokyo Skytree and the four-metre-tall Christmas tree, creating a homely atmosphere at Solamachi’s Sky Arena. The Christmas market is open daily until 10pm.

The forested footpaths surrounding Skytree's Solamachi mall and stairways connecting the mall's rooftop Sky Arena with Tokyo Skytree Station and Oshiage Station are getting a holiday makeover this winter with over 500 thousand lights. Expect to see trees decorated in champagne coloured LEDs near Oshiage Station, and Sorami-zaka and Hanami-zaka staircases illuminated with thousands of LEDs displaying Christmas-themed animations for this event, held as part of the complex's Christmas celebrations. The main spectacle, however, takes place at the Sky Arena, which is decorated with a four-metre-tall white Christmas tree that’s beautifully lit with sparkling lights. Also, be on the hunt for champagne-coloured light-up character figures of Sorakara-chan and friends, Tokyo Skytree mascots, which are also four metres tall. Look forward to special light-ups of the 634m Tokyo Skytree itself, which is getting a Christmas light-up revamp for the first time this year. The transmission tower will be glowing in three different designs, which change every minute from Christmas tree green with red ornaments and a shining star on top, champagne gold to resemble an elegant Christmas tree, as well as white and red to look like Santa Claus with a golden belt and a shining pom-pom hat. Visitors can enjoy the illuminations while sipping on some German beer or mulled wine from the on-site Tokyo Solamachi Christmas Market (from November 6). Venture a bit further and you'll come across blue and...