If you thought Okinawa’s sunshine was bright, wait until you see the light show this winter! From October 24, 2025 to May 24, 2026, the Southeast Botanical Gardens in Okinawa City turns into a glowing paradise for the Okinawa Tropical Illumination 2025–2026.
This award-winning event has been ranked 2nd nationwide for two years in a row, so yes—it’s basically the Beyoncé of light festivals in Japan.
🌺 Theme: “Paradise of Light Filled with Tropical Seas and Flowers”
This year’s theme transforms the gardens into a wonderland that screams “Okinawa.” Expect giant illuminated lotus flowers, sparkling palm trees, glowing fruit-shaped lights, and a shimmering “sea of light.” Every single display is handmade by staff, giving it that cozy, homemade charm that outshines any plug-and-play light show.
🍴 Dinner with a View
If your stomach’s growling louder than the light generators, head to Restaurant PEACE inside the gardens. They’re offering a half-buffet dinner, featuring colorful appetizers, salads, pork shabu-shabu, and dim sum—all while you sit by glass windows with a perfect view of the glowing garden. Romantic? Absolutely. Instagrammable? You bet.
🦜 Sunset Bird Show
New this year: the Sunset Bird Show! Starting at 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays, colorful tropical birds take flight against the backdrop of the setting sun. It’s dramatic, beautiful, and about as close as you’ll get to living inside a Disney movie—minus the singing crabs.
🌙 Night Pass – All-In-One Fun
If you’re the kind of person who wants to do everything, grab the Night Pass, which includes access to:
🪲 The “World of Insects” exhibition
🦓 The “Ani-māru” animal area
🚂 The Yassy Train ride around the park
💎 Treasure hunts and mini fair games
💡 “Tropical ECO Lights” (from mid-January)
It’s like a night carnival with less noise and more glowing palm trees.
📍 Where and When
Dates: October 24, 2025 (Fri) – May 24, 2026 (Sun)
Illumination Hours: 17:00–22:00 (last entry 21:30)
Location: Southeast Botanical Gardens, 2146 Chibana, Okinawa City
Parking: Free (and yes, that’s rare enough to celebrate)
🎟️ Admission
Night Admission
Adults (15+): ¥2,500 / ¥2,000 (Okinawa residents)
Kids (4–14): ¥900 / ¥600 (Okinawa residents)
Ages 3 and under: Free
1-Day Pass
Adults (15+): ¥2,850 / ¥2,350 (Okinawa residents)
Kids (4–14): ¥1,200 / ¥900 (Okinawa residents)
Ages 3 and under: Free
Event pricing applies during Dec 20–Jan 4 and Jan 10–12.
Step into a glowing world of tropical flowers, palm trees, and flying birds under the Okinawan night sky—it’s not just a light show, it’s a full-on mood.
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Disclaimer
⚠️Disclaimer: Our passion for supporting local businesses drives us to share information about events in the Okinawa area. Please note that Oki Social is not responsible for hosting this event. It’s important to be aware that the event’s host reserves the right to make changes or even cancel the event without prior notice. Some photos and videos may come from various sources on the internet, whether official or unofficial. It is possible that some photos and videos may have been taken from the same event in previous occurrences.
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