Ashikaga Flower Park Illumination by Car from Haneda

Winter illuminations near Tokyo worth driving to (as of November 2026)

From December to February, the Kanto region around Tokyo has more evening light shows than at any other time of year. The illuminations in central Tokyo are easy by train, but the big suburban venues are often far from the nearest station, and the trains home can be packed, so a car makes the trip much easier. Below are two venues that are easy to reach by car from Haneda Airport and whose official sites already list this season's details. Dates, prices and times are from the official sites as of November 2026 and may change, so always check the latest information before you set off.

Distances and times from Haneda assume no traffic. On weekends and during the December holidays the drive can take much longer.

Ashikaga Flower Park "Flower Fantasy"

This flower park in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, is covered in "flowers of light" in winter. According to the official site, the 2026-2027 event runs from 17 October 2026 to 14 February 2027, and the park is closed only on 31 December.

• Evening hours: 15:30 to 20:30 (to 21:00 on weekends and holidays). From 7 November to 3 January hours are extended to 21:00 on weekdays and 21:30 on weekends and holidays.
• Lights on: around 17:00 normally, around 16:30 during the extended period.
• Admission: adults 1,500 yen, children 800 yen.
• Day and night sessions: the day and night sessions are separate, and for the night session you need a ticket bought from the shopping area.
• Parking: free parking for 300 cars and 40 large buses.

The official site notes that dates and hours may change depending on the flowers, and warns that JR Ashikaga Flower Park Station gets very crowded on the way home. Driving lets you skip the station crowds, but around Christmas and on year-end weekends the car park entrance and nearby roads also get busy, so aim to arrive a little before the lights come on.

Sagamiko Illumillion

This illumination covers a mountainside at Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture. According to the official site, the 2026-2027 season runs from 14 November 2026 to 9 May 2027, with the lights coming on gradually from 16:00.

• Admission: adults (junior high school age and up) 2,000 yen normally or 2,400 yen in high season; children (age 3 to elementary school) and seniors (65+) 1,300 yen or 1,700 yen. The official calendar shows which price applies on which day.
• Open days: check the official calendar. From 5 April it opens on weekends and holidays only.
• Parking: cars 1,000-1,500 yen on weekdays and 1,500-2,000 yen on weekends, holidays and special days. If you leave and come back, you pay again. Prices may change.
• Getting there: from the Tokyo side, about 7 minutes from the Sagamiko-Higashi exit of the Chuo Expressway. The official site suggests searching your car navigation by phone number (042-685-1111).

The official site warns that roads around the venue get congested on weekends. If you go on a weekend, arrive early and get into the car park while it is still light.

Tips for the night drive

Illuminations are evening events, so you will be driving on winter roads after dark.

1. Work back from the return time: Go on Rent-a-Car pick-up and return hours are 9:00 to 20:00. Getting back to Haneda by 20:00 on the same day after the lights come on is not realistic, so on an illumination day keep the car until the next day and either stay nearby or drive back to your hotel in Tokyo that night.
2. Icy roads in winter: even near Tokyo, mountain roads and bridges can freeze on winter nights. If snow is forecast, change your plans. Our terms prohibit driving on snowy roads without our prior consent. Snowy roads require winter tyres, so if you plan to visit a snowy area, contact us before booking. See our winter driving guide for details.
3. Traffic on the way back: on weekend evenings, the Tokyo-bound (inbound) lanes of the Chuo and Tohoku expressways get busy. Take breaks at service areas, and if you feel sleepy, stop and rest.
4. Drive safely: keep to the speed limit and drive slowly around the venues, where there are many pedestrians. Japan's traffic rules are summarized in our road rules for visitors.
5. Expressway tolls: tolls are not included in the rental price and are paid by you. See our expressway tolls and ETC guide for how to pay, and ask us about an ETC card before you set off.

Sample plans from Haneda

If you add Nikko after Ashikaga, see our Tokyo to Nikko by car guide; for Mt Fuji, see Haneda to Mt Fuji and Hakone by car. For other combinations, try our Tokyo road trip planner.

Going with Go on Rent-a-Car

The car is a Volkswagen Golf Variant TSI Lounge (5 seats, automatic, premium petrol), picked up and returned on the 8th floor of the P5 car park at Haneda Airport Terminal 3. Prices start from 14,650 yen per day (tax and the Peace of Mind Pack included) and can vary by date; check the site for the price on your dates. You can book up to 48 hours before pick-up and up to 180 days ahead. December weekends fill up quickly, so once your dates are set, book at Haneda early.