2027 Shunsetsu Touka (Yokohama Chinatown illumination)
Japanese title: 2027春節燈花（横浜中華街のイルミネーション）
Yokohama Chinatown, Ichiba-dori Bridge, Yamashita Park-dori (Motomachi-Chukagai Sta.) · Free
Yokohama Chinatown is lit with red lanterns and lights ahead of Lunar New Year, featuring a giant dragon lantern over the main street, a 200 m light promenade from Yamashita Park and a light bridge to Motomachi. Free to view.
- Dates
- Nov 1 (Sun) – Feb 20 (Sat)
- Time
- 16:00–23:00
- Price
- Free to view
- Venue
- Yokohama Chinatown, Ichiba-dori Bridge, Yamashita Park-dori
- Nearest station
- Motomachi-Chukagai Sta.
Check closed days and last admission on the official page before you go.
About this event
One of Japan's largest dragon lantern displays takes over Yokohama Chinatown's main street for the 2027 Shunsetsu Toka winter illumination. Red lanterns and illuminated decorations extend across the neighborhood in anticipation of Lunar New Year, transforming its streets and traditional Chinese gates into an outdoor night-time spectacle. A smaller dragon appears along Shanghai Road, while a roughly 200-metre illuminated promenade connects Yamashita Park's central entrance with Chinatown's Choyomon Gate. Another installation, the Bridge of Light, decorates Ichiba-dori Bridge between Chinatown and Motomachi. The opening ceremony near Zenrinmon Gate features a traditional lion dance followed by the illumination switch-on. Rather than concentrating everything in one square, the event spreads its displays across several streets and neighboring areas, encouraging visitors to explore on foot. Organized by the Yokohama Chinatown Development Association, the illumination continues a local tradition that has used decorative lighting to welcome the Chinese New Year since 2003.
Highlights
- See a large illuminated dragon above Chinatown's main street.
- Find the smaller dragon lantern along Shanghai Road.
- Walk the approximately 200-metre illuminated promenade from Yamashita Park toward Choyomon Gate.
- Cross the Bridge of Light connecting Chinatown and Motomachi.
- Watch the opening lion dance near Zenrinmon Gate.
- Good for
- Couples, families, photographers and travelers interested in Chinese New Year traditions will enjoy this illuminated neighborhood walk.
Good to know
- The illumination is an outdoor event and is listed as suitable for rainy weather.
- The displays extend across Chinatown, Ichiba-dori Bridge and Yamashita Park Avenue rather than occupying one enclosed venue.
- The opening ceremony takes place near Zenrinmon Gate on Chinatown's main street.
Summarized from the official page and press materials.
Why does Yokohama Chinatown celebrate Lunar New Year with dragon lanterns?
Chinese New Year, known as Shunsetsu in Japanese, is the most important annual celebration in Yokohama Chinatown's event calendar. The neighborhood began holding its organized Spring Festival celebrations in 1986, establishing a winter tradition that attracts visitors from beyond the local Chinese community. As the celebrations developed, decorative lanterns became a way to extend the festive atmosphere beyond individual ceremonies and into the streets, restaurants and shopping areas of Chinatown.
The winter illumination has operated under the name Shunsetsu Toka since 2003. Red lanterns, illuminated dragons and decorated gateways connect the district's public spaces to traditions associated with Lunar New Year. The dragon installations are especially prominent, with a major display on Chinatown's main thoroughfare and a smaller example on Shanghai Road. The decorations also reach beyond Chinatown toward Yamashita Park and Motomachi. So follow the illuminated streets beyond the main gate to discover how the celebration connects different parts of Yokohama.
Yokohama City Visitors Bureau, 2027 Shunsetsu Toka (Japanese) · Yokohama Chinatown Development Association, official event announcement (Japanese)
Distance from major stations
- From Motomachi-Chukagai
- 0.4 km, about 6 min on foot
- From Ishikawacho
- 0.5 km, about 8 min on foot
- From Nihon-odori
- 0.5 km, about 9 min on foot
- From Kannai
- 0.9 km, about 14 min on foot
Distances are straight-line; times are rough estimates.
Other events nearby
- Jiangsu Shanghai Hairy Crab at Kaseiro, Yokohama Chinatown (Autumn 2026)Kaseiro Main Store and Annex, Yokohama Chinatown (Motomachi-Chukagai Sta.) · 0.1 km, about 2 min on foot from here · Oct 16 (Fri) – Nov 30 (Mon)
- Autumn High Tea at Jukeihanten Annex (Yokohama Chinatown)Jukeihanten Annex (Rose Hotel Yokohama 1F) (Motomachi-Chukagai Sta.) · 0.1 km, about 2 min on foot from here · Sep 1 (Tue) – Nov 30 (Mon)
- Haruka Kawauchi Christmas Dinner Show (Hotel New Grand)Hotel New Grand Main Building 2F, Phoenix Room (Motomachi-Chukagai Sta.) · 0.4 km, about 6 min on foot from here · Dec 23 (Wed)
- TiA Christmas Dinner Show 2026 "WHITE NOEL" with White Noel Choir (Hotel New Grand)Hotel New Grand Main Building 2F, Rainbow Ballroom (Motomachi-Chukagai Sta.) · 0.4 km, about 6 min on foot from here · Dec 22 (Tue)
- Weekday Grape Afternoon Tea "Taste of Autumn" (THE GATE HOTEL Yokohama by HULIC)THE GATE HOTEL Yokohama by HULIC, top-floor Bar & Lounge (Motomachi-Chukagai Sta.) · 0.4 km, about 6 min on foot from here · Sep 16 (Wed) – Nov 16 (Mon)
- The Café Christmas Course 2026 (Hotel New Grand)Hotel New Grand Main Building 1F, The Café (Motomachi-Chukagai Sta.) · 0.4 km, about 7 min on foot from here · Dec 1 (Tue) – Dec 25 (Fri)
Food and cafes nearby
Search places around the venue on Google Maps.
Tours and tickets nearby
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FAQ
- What is 2027 Shunsetsu Touka (Yokohama Chinatown illumination)?
- One of Japan's largest dragon lantern displays takes over Yokohama Chinatown's main street for the 2027 Shunsetsu Toka winter illumination. Red lanterns and illuminated decorations extend across the neighborhood in anticipation of Lunar New Year, transforming its streets and traditional Chinese gates into an outdoor night-time spectacle. A smaller dragon appears along Shanghai Road, while a roughly 200-metre illuminated promenade connects Yamashita Park's central entrance with Chinatown's Choyomon Gate. Another installation, the Bridge of Light, decorates Ichiba-dori Bridge between Chinatown and Motomachi. The opening ceremony near Zenrinmon Gate features a traditional lion dance followed by the illumination switch-on. Rather than concentrating everything in one square, the event spreads its displays across several streets and neighboring areas, encouraging visitors to explore on foot. Organized by the Yokohama Chinatown Development Association, the illumination continues a local tradition that has used decorative lighting to welcome the Chinese New Year since 2003.
- When is 2027 Shunsetsu Touka (Yokohama Chinatown illumination)?
- Nov 1 (Sun) – Feb 20 (Sat)
- What are the opening hours of 2027 Shunsetsu Touka (Yokohama Chinatown illumination)?
- 16:00–23:00 Check the official page for closed days and last admission.
- How much does 2027 Shunsetsu Touka (Yokohama Chinatown illumination) cost?
- Free to view
- Where is 2027 Shunsetsu Touka (Yokohama Chinatown illumination) and what is the nearest station?
- It is held at Yokohama Chinatown, Ichiba-dori Bridge, Yamashita Park-dori. The nearest station is Motomachi-Chukagai Sta..
Checked against the official page on October 28, 2026. Titles and descriptions are our own translations.