Japan in Lights: A Luminous Dream at the Jardin d’Acclimatation

As winter settles over Paris, the Jardin d’Acclimatation awakens in light. From December 10, 2025, the park becomes the stage for Japan in Lights, the third chapter of its celebrated Lantern Festival, where art, craftsmanship and imagination converge beneath the night sky until March 8, 2026.

Conceived as a living tableau, the experience unfolds like a dream written in glow. Nearly two thousand illuminated creations breathe life into the gardens, their reflections shimmering across pathways and trees. Each lantern is a gesture, a brushstroke of light, composing a visual poem inspired by Japan’s layered soul.

The journey drifts between worlds. Ancient temples recall the stillness of Kyoto, while Tokyo emerges in flashes of color and rhythm. Steam curls above imagined hot springs where snow monkeys pause in quiet contemplation. Manga figures step forward as sculptural icons, while nature reigns in luminous abundance, cherry blossoms in full bloom, koi gliding through pools of light, and Mount Fuji rising in serene majesty.

This nocturnal narrative unfolds in three movements. The Empire of Traditions explores the depth of Japanese heritage, shaped by ritual, history and spirituality. A Pop Modern Odyssey pulses with contemporary energy, where graphic forms and playful creatures celebrate creative freedom. The Garden of Dreams closes the journey in hushed reverence, a meditation on nature as muse, refuge and eternal source of inspiration.

Beyond its visual poetry, Japan in Lights invites the senses to wander. Immersive installations blur the line between spectator and artwork. Games become monumental and theatrical. Culinary interludes blend Japanese flavors with European savoir faire. Above it all, the Ferris wheel lifts visitors into the air, offering a fleeting glimpse of Paris illuminated in harmony with the glowing garden below.

A cherished landmark of the capital, the Jardin d’Acclimatation continues its tradition as a space where wonder feels both intimate and grand. Welcoming more than a million visitors each year, it has become a cultural compass, celebrating distant horizons while remaining rooted in Parisian elegance. After journeys through China, Korea and Mexico, this homage to Japan resonates deeply, echoing the global spirit of the Osaka World Expo earlier in the year.

With Japan in Lights, winter finds its muse. The festival becomes less an event than an atmosphere, an invitation to slow down, look closer and let light tell its story. An ephemeral voyage, quietly unforgettable, where art glows and time seems to soften, all within the heart of Paris.

Practical information
Every day from December 10, 2025 to March 8, 2026, from 6 pm to 9.30 pm
Closed on Monday and Tuesday outside school vacation periods

Jardin d’Acclimatation
Bois de Boulogne
Route de la Porte Dauphine
75116 Paris, France