"ASAKUSA CULTURE & LIGHTS 2025" Senso-ji Temple – Hozomon Gate, Five-storey Pagoda and the Important Cultural Nitenmon Gate Projection Mapping, produced by HITOHATA,INC., has been awarded the Excellence Prize in the ‘Projection Mapping Tokyo Award’ organised by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The ‘Projection Mapping Tokyo Award’ is a campaign designed to promote the appeal of Tokyo’s nightlife, recognising initiatives in projection mapping—one of the city’s key attractions. There were 45 entries, and three works, including "ASAKUSA CULTURE & LIGHTS 2025" Senso-ji Temple: Hozomon Gate / Five-storey Pagoda / Important Cultural Property Nitenmon Gate Projection Mapping was among the three winning entries.

“ASAKUSA CULTURE & LIGHTS 2025" Senso-ji Temple Hozomon Gate/Five-storey Pagoda/Important Cultural Property Nitenmon Gate Projection Mapping is the first-ever projection mapping event of its kind, themed around the fusion of Senso-ji Temple’s 1,400-year history and culture. It utilised the Hozomon Gate, the Five-storey Pagoda and the Nitenmon Gate as its stage, making special use of numerous precious cultural assets.

In addition to motifs such as Senso-ji’s ‘Dance of the Golden Dragon’, ‘Nio Guardian Statues’ and ‘Wind and Thunder Gods’, the event projected dynamic digital animations featuring numerous large votive plaques—a source of pride for Senso-ji—which are not normally on public display.

Furthermore, the event was broadcast and featured in numerous media outlets, including television and newspapers, bringing great vibrancy to the surrounding area. It also contributed to the promotion of night-time tourism through the special viewing sessions held concurrently.

The award recognised the project as an example of Tokyo’s cultural diversity, achieved by illuminating a historic space with cutting-edge lighting; the high artistic quality underpinned by professional technical expertise; and the significant contribution to the revitalisation of the local night-time economy through the fusion of regional traditions and the latest technology.

Taking this award as an opportunity, we will roll out projection mapping projects nationwide that make use of historical and cultural structures, including castles, temples and shrines. We aim to create moving experiences that transcend generations and nationalities, whilst contributing to the revitalisation of the local night-time economy.

*This event was implemented with the support of a grant from the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ FY2025 ‘Subsidy for Cultural Resource Utilisation Projects (Projects to Promote the Utilisation of Attractive Cultural Properties Nationwide)’.

Overview of the ‘Tokyo Projection Mapping Award’

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau are working to revitalise night-time tourism in order to attract visitors from both Japan and overseas, whilst also offering them new ways to enjoy Tokyo.

As part of a campaign to promote the appeal of Tokyo’s night-time scene, we are now inviting entries for the ‘Tokyo Projection Mapping Award’, which recognises initiatives involving projection mapping—one of the key attractions of Tokyo’s nightlife. Outstanding entries will be recognised, and the winning works will be showcased on a dedicated website for visitors to Tokyo from both Japan and overseas.

[Organisers] Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau

[Eligibility] Municipalities, tourism associations, chambers of commerce, private sector businesses, and other corporations and organisations

[Eligible Works] Projection mapping events held within Tokyo between 1 April 2023 and 31 December 2025

[Number of Entries] 45

[Number of Awards] 3 works

Award Details

[Award] Projection Mapping Tokyo Award: Excellence Award

[Award-winning Work] ASAKUSA CULTURE & LIGHTS 2025 (Asakusa Culture & Lights 2025) – Senso-ji Temple: Hozomon Gate / Five-storied Pagoda / Important Cultural Property: Nitenmon Gate Projection Mapping

[Work Description]

With the theme of fusing the 1,400-year history and culture of Senso-ji Temple, this is the first-ever projection mapping project to make special use of numerous precious cultural properties, using the Hozomon Gate, the Five-storied Pagoda and the Nitenmon Gate as its stage.

In addition to motifs such as Senso-ji’s ‘Dance of the Golden Dragon’, ‘Nio Guardian Statues’ and ‘Wind and Thunder Gods’, the event projected dynamic digital animations featuring numerous large votive plaques—a source of pride for Senso-ji—which are not normally on public display.

Furthermore, the event was broadcast and featured in numerous media outlets, including television and newspapers, bringing great vibrancy to the surrounding area. It also contributed to the promotion of night-time tourism through the special viewing sessions held concurrently.

Judges’ Comments

・This project, which sought to illuminate a historic space with cutting-edge lighting, served as a splendid example of Tokyo’s cultural diversity.

・The high level of artistry, underpinned by professional technical expertise, represents a powerful ‘killer content’ for Tokyo that captivates tourists from both Japan and abroad. By combining local traditions with the latest technology, I believe it has made a significant contribution to revitalising the night-time economy.

・We look forward to the establishment of a sustainable model through continued collaboration with local businesses