Nabana no Sato's Tunnel of Lights
Winter illuminations in Japan are essentially Christmas lights on crack. Or at the very least like they were designed for someone high on LSD. Flower parks in particular have capitalized on this trend, because it gives them another way to draw in the crowds during their leanest season.
When the sun goes down, the park lights up
Nabana no Sato is a park that has done this so well, that winter is now their busiest time of the year. Their show uses over 8 million sparkling LED lights, which makes it one of the best and biggest winter displays in the country.
Particularly magical is their 200 meter-long Tunnel of Lights, which is entirely lit up with 1.2 million tiny light bulbs. Going through the tunnel is a uniquely enchanting experience, like stepping into a universe of stars.
As if that wasn't enough to bowl you over, after exiting that tunnel you'll quickly come across another one, this time with lights that bathe you in one color after another.
Hashtag no filter
After that the path opens up to an expansive area where you're treated to an animated light show of epic proportions, whose theme changes every year.
If you're tired from walking, you can watch the show from the nearby beer garden. It conveniently has heaters you can cozy up to, as you happily sip from your cup of hot wine.
Here's my husband trying desperately not to die from the cold
Nabana no Sato is part of the larger Nagashima Resort which includes a theme park and onsen. You will find buses that will take you there at the Meitetsu Bus Center next to Nagoya Station. Those buses will be headed towards Nagashima Onsen, so be sure to get off at Nabana no Sato. The journey takes about 35 minutes and will cost you 890 yen one-way. Expect large crowds to leave the park at roughly the same time, so take note of the bus's last trip going back to Nagoya (or better yet, try to get on an earlier one) so you don't get left behind. Check here for the daily schedule.
The winter illumination at Nabana no Sato is up from mid-October to early May. Entrance fee is 2,300 yen/person, which includes a 1,000 yen voucher you can use at restaurants and gift shops inside the park. Access to some of the park's attractions, such as the Begonia Garden and Island Fuji moving observation deck, are charged separately - 1,000 and 500 yen, respectively.