One cannot escape this picturesque charm of Sendai’s main winter event – the illumination of Zelkova trees that line up the streets of Jozen-ji. Every year in December, Sendai city hosts its biggest winter illumination event, famously known as, “Sendai Hikari no Pageant”. About 600,000 LEDs lighten up Jozen-ji Avenue, making it exquisitely special for the winter month of December – painting an idyllic Christmas scenery.
Illuminated Zelkova trees of Jozen-ji Avenue
Began in 1985, since then, Sendai pageant of starlight has become one of Japan’s biggest winter illumination events. It attracts thousands of visitors every year. Sendai is known for its heavy snowfalls, the spectacular illumination added snowfall during the month creates a lasting memory – a perfect scenery of Christmas season. It’s an opportune time for families, friends, and couples to relax and enjoy the warmth of this illumination during a frosty cold winter. It captures a vivid feeling of happiness on the face of every visitor.
Radiating warmth of the winter illumination
The event features many attractive activities, such as orchestra bands performing Christmas carols, a parade of Santa Claus, street vendors selling local delicacies – stone grilled sweet potato, several joyful rides offered by the locals to enjoy the tunnel of illumination at a slower and relaxed pace, and ice-skating for a more adventurous winter-like experience.
Parade by 400 Santa Clauses = “Santa’s Forest Story”