If you’re in Tokyo this November, don’t miss the dazzling “City of Water: Edo Outer Moat” projection show, which is part of the TOKYO Night & Light series. This free outdoor event transforms the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku into a luminous canvas of art, light, and sound, and it’s quickly becoming one of the city’s must-see nighttime attractions.
Please note the event is only taking place on weekends and public holidays during the month-long operating period. The run time is between 18:30 and 18:45, and between 21:00 and 21:15.
Produced by the award-winning creative studio HITOHATA, the four-minute projection mapping show brings the spirit of Edo, the old Tokyo, to life through breathtaking digital art. Expect to see shimmering waterfalls, peaceful waterside scenes inspired by ukiyo-e prints, and dreamlike landscapes where seasonal flowers bloom along clear flowing water.
The show is part of Tokyo’s “Outer Moat Purification Project,” a wider initiative to revive the capital’s historic identity as the City of Water. It’s a blend of tradition and innovation, capturing both the memories of old Edo and the futuristic vision of Tokyo today.
TOKYO Night & Light has even earned a Guinness World Record as the world’s largest permanent projection mapping installation on a building, making it a uniquely Tokyo experience you won’t find anywhere else. It’s free to enjoy, so head on over and check it out.
Getting there
The event takes place at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Citizens’ Square, which is around 10 minutes on foot from JR Shinjuku Station (take the West Exit) or directly connected to Tochomae Station on the Toei Oedo Line.
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