YumeTwins Visits the Sailor Moon Illumination Show

Is there anything more magical than a twinkling light show? What about a twinkling light show featuring Sailor Moon characters set to Sailor Moon theme music? We didn’t think so. This past winter, YumeTwins got to experience just that at the Sailor Moon Eternal Illumination at Sagamiko Pleasure Forest.

Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon Eternal is a two part animated movie that came out in Japan in 2021 that follows later parts of the Sailor Moon series written by Naoko Takeuchi. The series and the movies follow main character Usagi Tsukino, also known as Sailor Moon and friends as they continue to defend Earth, the moon, and the universe from different evils.

Sailor Moon Eternal is a continuation of the Sailor Moon Crystal series that came out in 2014 as a revamped version of the classic Sailor Moon animation that would more closely follow the original Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon manga.

Sagamiko Pleasure Forest

Sailor Moon fans were in luck when Sailor Moon Eternal, the newest Sailor Moon movie, partnered with Sagamiko Pleasure Forest, a family friendly, outdoor amusement facility in a mountainous area of Kanagawa Prefecture. On a normal day the facility offers playgrounds and amusement areas small enough for young children but also interactive enough that the whole family can enjoy.

The Climb

As for getting to the actual facility, it was a very long and steep walk or climb from the entrance to the actual park. We at YumeTwins enjoy curating the best kawaii goods for a living, and were not mentally or physically prepared for the climb that was involved to get to this park. With that being said, it was a lot of fun to go on an unexpected hiking trip in the mountains.

The park is enjoyable during the day with fun themed areas like Paddington Bear and Sumikko Gurashi play areas, rides, and a Muscle Monster endurance course.

The Food

There are also food and dining areas to grab a bite to eat or have a picnic. We tried the Sailor Guardian Power Plate set and got Sailor Pluto. The set included a Japanese style glazed hamburger steak, kaarage (Japanese style fried chicken), a tomato based pasta bowl, fried cheese balls, a small salad shaped like a bow, and a commemorative place mat.

Although that sounds like a lot it was not overly filling. The Japanese style hamburger steak was juicy and tender! Hanbaagu (hamburger steak) is one of our favorite japanese dishes. The pasta also used bowtie pasta reminiscent of the sailor scout uniform, which was an adorable touch!

The Main Event

The real show however starts once the sun goes down and the lights come on. There are many twinkling lights to view at the main level but that was not our priority at the time. In order to access the Sailor Moon area you must go up the Sailor Guardian’s Planet Symbol Lift, which is a ski lift above a rainbow sea of lights.

At the base of the lift stands all of the Sailor Guardians wishing you a safe journey. Caution should be taken for those afraid of heights. If you are not a scaredy cat and can bear to keep your eyes open during the lift, it is sure to be a magical experience.

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Photo Op!

After you step off the lift, you are then able to start enjoying your Sailor Moon Illumination experience! At the entrance you can see a photo area in front of some recognizable illuminated Sailor Moon items and designs. Our favorite was the outline of the three cats Luna, Artemis, and Diane.

To your right you can see the Moon Castle outlined in beautiful white lights. If you venture further in you will be greeted by the giant Legendary Silver Crystal and can watch as it sparkles and changes colors. There is a beautiful photo opportunity in front of the Legendary Silver Crystal where you can stand between Super Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask!

Depending on when you visit the Sailor Moon Gondola Ride and Yell Swing might be running, but they were not operational during our visit. 

As you go deeper into the Illumination you will come across the individual Sailor Scouts lit up along the path as well. For those who need a refresher on the Sailor Scouts or want to learn more about them we have a two part series introducing them.

Towards the back of the area lies the beautifully lit Elysion whose lights bounce off the face of the water in the lake. And at the very end of your journey you will find and be welcomed to the beautiful Crystal Tokyo.

At this point we would like to point out that the journey to get to this spot, plus the music, and the lights was pretty moving and we did shed one whole tear while watching the light show. Without giving any spoilers to the series, this scene felt like a beautiful end to a beautiful movie and a beautifully long trip up a mountain.

For those living or staying inside of Tokyo, a trip to the Sagamiko Pleasure Forest is a nice day trip, overnight accommodations are not necessary. As much as we were expecting large groups of teenage girls, the Sailor Moon area seemed to be enjoyable for the whole family. Both fans and non fans of the anime and manga alike could enjoy the light spectacle and fun atmosphere

Looking for other Sailor Moon inspired trips around Japan? YumeTwins has also toured the real life places in Sailor Moon as well. Or check out some other cool anime and manga museums instead.