Tokyo Shitamachi Kaiyu Takeakari: Bamboo Lights, a Lit-Up River and a Free Workshop

Every winter since 2022, Tobu Railway has lined the riverside between Tokyo Skytree Town and Asakusa with glowing bamboo lanterns. This year marks the fifth edition, called Tokyo Shitamachi Kaiyu Takeakari (東京下町回遊 竹あかり). Shitamachi means the old downtown, and kaiyu means strolling from spot to spot, which is exactly how the event works: six lit-up spots that you walk between.

It runs from Saturday, November 7, 2026 to Sunday, January 31, 2027, with lights on from 17:00 to 22:00. The big addition this year is a light show on the water itself. For the first time, part of the Kitajukken River is lit as part of the display.

Dates, hours and who runs it

The lights are the work of CHIKAKEN (ちかけん), a Kumamoto-based unit founded in April 2007 that creates takeakari: bamboo lanterns made by drilling patterns of holes into the stalks and lighting them from inside. Takeakari is in fact CHIKAKEN’s registered trademark. Their work has been shown at the spouses’ dinner venue of the 2016 G7 Ise-Shima Summit and in the government PR area of the 2023 G7 Hiroshima Summit.

New this year: the lit-up river

Past editions kept the lanterns on land. This time, part of the Kitajukken River (北十間川) between Genmori Bridge (源森橋) and Koume Bridge (小梅橋) is lit, with bamboo balls called take-mari (竹毬) set out along roughly 200 meters. The idea is to turn the water into part of the display, so the lantern objects and the riverside blend into one wider scene.

The catch: the river is not lit on every day of the event. It is scheduled only on these days.

If the river is the main reason you are going, aim for the opening weekend or any evening from December 10 onward.

The six spots

The spots sit close together on both sides of the Sumida River, so you can walk them as one loop. The official map numbers them 1 to 6.

1. Kitajukken River Terrace

This terrace was built along with Tokyo Mizumachi and is a relaxed place to sit by the water. It hosts the new river show described above, and Sumida City co-hosts this part of the event.

2. Ushijima Shrine

The whole series began here in 2022, and the shrine (牛嶋神社) is now in its fifth year of winter lanterns. Expect bamboo decorations and floodlights playing on the main hall. Tobu’s pick for photos: the bamboo balls that look as if they are hanging in midair with Tokyo Skytree behind them.

3. Sumida River Walk

Sumida River Walk (すみだリバーウォーク) is the footbridge linking Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree Town. You get lantern objects with Skytree as the backdrop, plus a bamboo lantern arch over the walkway.

4. Sumida Park

Part of Sumida Park (墨田区立隅田公園), next to Sumida River Walk, has been managed since April 2025 by a group of companies led by Tobu Railway. Along part of the path toward Ushijima Shrine, you will find lanterns made by people who joined the workshop (see below).

5. Tully’s Coffee Hanakawado Sumida Park

This cafe (タリーズコーヒー花川戸隅田公園店) sits right on the Sumida River with a view of both the river and Tokyo Skytree. Its lantern objects first appeared in winter 2024, and this is their third year.

6. Tokyo Skytree 4F entrance floor

If you are heading up to the Skytree observation decks, look for the lantern objects set against Skytree panels on the 4th-floor entrance floor before you go up.

Opening night: lighting ceremony and river concert

Saturday, November 7 is the night to go if you like a bit of ceremony. Local performers play first, then the lanterns and the river light-up switch on all at once. Right after, members of the New Japan Philharmonic (新日本フィルハーモニー交響楽団) play a string quartet by the water, using the river terrace as the audience seating. The concert runs in two parts.

The quartet, as listed by Tobu:

The concert is held with the cooperation of Tokyo Waterways Co., Ltd. and a grant from the Sumida Yume Oen program. If bad weather forces the ceremony or the concert to be called off, a notice goes up on the official Instagram around 18:00 the day before.

Free bamboo lantern workshop

Want to make one yourself? The workshop is free. You pick a pattern and make two lanterns: one is yours to take home, and the other goes on display in Sumida Park during the event. Booking ahead is required.

The form is in Japanese. Capacity per session is not given in the announcement, so book early if you have a specific slot in mind.

Extras: Instagram campaign and garden eels

• Instagram posting campaign: runs during the light-up. The rules are on the official site and the official Instagram.
• Garden eel hunt with Sumida Aquarium: in a collaboration called Sokora-ju ni Chin-anago (そこらじゅうにチンアナゴ), the aquarium’s popular garden eels show up as bamboo lanterns, quietly poking out somewhere around the venues. A fun one to hunt for with kids.

Tips for planning your visit

• Pick your date by the river schedule. The land-based lanterns are on every evening, but the river show is only on Nov 7, Nov 8 and from Dec 10.
• Opening night is the busiest program. Ceremony at 17:15, then two short concerts. Check Instagram the evening before if the weather looks rough.
• Walk it as a loop. All six spots are on the official map, so you can link them on foot and finish at Skytree if you plan to go up.
• Keep your phone charged. Night shots and map checks drain batteries fast. Our guide to free, unlimited ChargeSPOT power bank rentals with d VALUE PASS covers one way to avoid paying for a rental.
• Book the workshop now. It happens before the light-up starts (Oct 31 and Nov 1), and the lantern you leave behind ends up in Sumida Park.

Looking for more evening events by the water? See our Shibaura Canal Festival guide with free canal cruise times and our tips on where to watch the Setagaya Tamagawa Fireworks and get home afterward. If you are building a day out around other paid attractions, the Asoview Asobitsukushi campaign offers discounts on leisure spots.

FAQ

When is Tokyo Shitamachi Kaiyu Takeakari held?

From Saturday, November 7, 2026 to Sunday, January 31, 2027. The lights are on from 17:00 to 22:00.

Is the Kitajukken River lit up every night?

No. The river light-up runs on November 7 (18:00 to 21:00), November 8 (17:00 to 21:00), and every day from December 10, 2026 to January 31, 2027 (17:00 to 22:00).

How much does it cost to see the lights?

The announcement from Tobu Railway does not list an admission fee for the light-up. Please check the official website before you go.

How do I join the bamboo lantern workshop?

Book in advance through the reservation form linked in this article. The workshop is free and takes place in the 1F hall of the Tobu Museum on October 31 and November 1, 2026.

What happens if opening night is rained out?

If the lighting ceremony or the river concert is canceled due to bad weather, a notice will be posted on the official Instagram around 18:00 the day before.

Who designed the lights?

The overall direction is by Kenji Mishiro of CHIKAKEN, a bamboo lantern unit based in Kumamoto.