Tokyo Skytree Lights Up Like Japan’s Tallest Christmas Tree for Year-End Celebrations

A festive season above Tokyo’s skyline

As the Christmas season gives way to the New Year, Tokyo Skytree, the world’s tallest broadcasting tower at six hundred and thirty-four metres, becomes a focal point for year-end celebrations in Japan. Located in Sumida Ward, on the eastern side of Tokyo, the tower and the surrounding Tokyo Skytree Town will host seasonal programmes from December 26, 2025, to January 7, 2026, blending festive illumination with traditional Japanese customs.

During this period, the tower functions as a vertical festive landmark, often likened to a towering Christmas tree on the city’s skyline. Seasonal lighting transforms the structure into a visual marker of celebration, visible across large parts of the Japanese capital.

Seasonal tower lighting and greetings
To welcome the New Year, Tokyo Skytree will be illuminated in red and white hues inspired by the Japanese national flag, symbolising renewal and optimism. A ‘Happy New Year’ message will be projected through laser mapping across the Tembo Deck’s upper façade, creating a visible greeting above the city during the holiday period.

Sumo encounters at three hundred and fifty metres
From January 1-3, 2026, visitors to the Tembo Deck on Floor three hundred and fifty will have the opportunity to meet professional sumo wrestlers from Kise Stable, based in Sumida Ward. The experience includes photo opportunities and strength-based interactions traditionally associated with good fortune in Japanese culture.

Shishimai lion dance performance
On January 1, 2026, the traditional Shishimai lion dance will be performed at Soramachi Plaza and the Tembo Deck. Accompanied by live music, the ritual is believed to ward off misfortune. The symbolic act of the lion gently biting a guest’s head is traditionally associated with blessings of wisdom and good health.

Sorakara-chan New Year greetings
Tokyo Skytree’s official character, Sorakara-chan, will appear in a New Year kimono from January 1-7, 2026, greeting visitors at the Tembo Deck. The interaction remains especially popular with families travelling during the holiday season.

Year of the Dragon installations
Marking the zodiac cycle, decorative installations themed around the Year of the Dragon will be displayed across Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Skytree Town. The dragon, symbolising strength and transformation, will be represented through traditional motifs, folding fans and floral elements from December 26, 2025, to January 7, 2026.

Festive food and shopping at Tokyo Solamachi
Tokyo Solamachi, the retail and dining complex at the base of the tower, will host the inaugural Japan’s Best Foods Nakamise Festival at the Sky Arena on Floor four from December 29, 2025, to January 12, 2026. Regional specialities from across Japan will be showcased, offering visitors access to seasonal and local flavours in one location.

A long-standing New Year's tradition, Fukubukuro (lucky bags), will also be available at participating Tokyo Solamachi stores. Each bag contains a curated selection of items and is traditionally believed to bring good fortune for the year ahead.

For travellers visiting Japan during Christmas and New Year, Tokyo Skytree offers a structured yet culturally rooted way to experience the festive season. Rising above the city like a vertical Christmas tree, the tower combines panoramic views with rituals, performances and food traditions that reflect Japan’s approach to welcoming the year ahead.