Winter Illuminations 2026 / December 2026
Winter Illuminations in Japan: December 2026
17 illumination spots typically running in December 2026, across Japan. Windows are re-checked against official sources.
- Typically Oct 17 – Feb 15Kinpaku Kirara (Gold-Leaf Snow Guards)IlluminationFree
- Typically Oct 18 – May 31Nabana no Sato Winter IlluminationIllumination
- Typically Oct 18 – Feb 14Ashikaga Flower Park: Flower FantasyIllumination¥1,400
- Typically Oct 23 – Apr 5Yomiuriland JewelluminationIllumination4:00 PM¥3,100
- Typically Oct 24 – May 24Southeast Botanical Gardens: Okinawa Tropical IlluminationIllumination¥2,500
- Typically Nov 1 – Feb 28Yokohama Illumination (Yoru no Yo)IlluminationFree
- Fri, Nov 13 – Sun, Jan 17, 2027Universal Studios Japan ChristmasIllumination¥1,700
- Typically Nov 13 – Dec 25Tokyo Midtown Christmas IlluminationIllumination5:00 PMFree
Typically Nov 13 – Feb 15Marunouchi IlluminationIllumination4:00 PMFree- Typically Nov 15 – May 10Sagamiko IllumillionIllumination4:00 PM¥2,000
- Typically Nov 17 – Jan 3Hiroshima DreaminationIllumination5:30 PMFree
Fri, Nov 20 – Sun, Mar 14, 2027Sapporo White IlluminationIllumination4:30 PMFree- Typically Nov 22 – Feb 28Enoshima: Shonan no HousekiIllumination5:00 PM¥500
- Typically Dec 1 – Jan 12Yamanakako Illumination FantasiumIllumination5:00 PMFree
- Typically Dec 5 – Dec 28SENDAI Pageant of StarlightIllumination6:00 PMFree
- Typically Dec 19 – Jan 18Dogo Park: Hikari no MiIllumination
- Dates TBAHuis Ten Bosch: Kingdom of LightIllumination¥7,600
Travelling in Japan in December 2026
Illuminations are at their fullest, and late autumn colour lingers in the far south and in warm city gardens into the first half of the month. From about December 29 to January 3 much of the country closes for the New Year holidays — museums, restaurants and small businesses included.
Winter illuminations in December 2026: common questions
- Which winter illuminations are on in Japan in December 2026?
- This page lists 17 winter illuminations falling in December 2026, spread across 11 regions — Kanto, Hokuriku, Tokai, Okinawa, Kansai, Chugoku, Hokkaido, Koshinetsu, Tohoku, Shikoku and Kyushu. Highlights include Kinpaku Kirara (Gold-Leaf Snow Guards), Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination and Ashikaga Flower Park: Flower Fantasy. Every date is re-checked against the official source for that event.
- When exactly do they run?
- Across the 17 listed here, the season starts as early as Oct 17 and as late as Dec 19, with the last of them running until about May 31. Individual dates are on each event's page; windows shift by a week or more from year to year with the weather.
- Are there any public holidays in Japan in December 2026?
- No Japanese public holidays fall in December 2026, so crowds at the spots on this page are heaviest on ordinary weekends.