Dec12026
Enoshima Shonan no Hoseki 2026-2027
Enoshima's 'Jewel of Shonan' lights the Samuel Cocking Garden and Sea Candle, and was certified one of Japan's three great illuminations in 2025.
23 events start this month
What's on in Japan in December 2026.
Festivals, fireworks, illuminations and seasonal events starting in December 2026, checked against official sources.
Dec12026
Hakodate Christmas Fantasy
A giant Christmas tree from Hakodate's sister city Halifax floats in the harbour before the red brick warehouses, lit nightly with fireworks and a soup bar of local restaurants.
Dec12026
Omotesando Illumination 2026
Omotesando's zelkova avenue is expected to light about 900,000 champagne-gold bulbs along 1.1 kilometres for Christmas 2026.
Dec22026
Chichibu Night Festival
Annual festival of Chichibu Shrine with six decorated floats paraded through central Chichibu and winter fireworks on the main day.
Dec22026
Kabuki at Kabuki-za: December Grand Kabuki 2026
The December Grand Kabuki runs 2 to 25 December 2026 in three parts a day.
Dec42026
Hiroshima Dreamination
Hiroshima Dreamination fills Peace Boulevard with fairy-tale light objects; in 2026 it starts in December for the first time.
Dec42026
Meguro River Minna no Illumination
The Meguro River's 'winter cherry blossoms' are expected to light about 390,000 pink LEDs along 2.2 kilometres between Gotanda and Osaki.
Dec42026
Sendai Pageant of Starlight
Winter illumination lighting the zelkova trees along Jozenji-dori Avenue in central Sendai.
Dec42026
Yorunoyo
Illumination event across Yokohama's waterfront, with a five-minute city-wide light and music show.
Dec62026
NAHA Marathon (40th)
Japan's largest full marathon by field (c. 30,000) run through southern Okinawa with island-wide roadside support; 6h15 cut-off makes it a popular first marathon.
Dec112026
Ao no Dokutsu SHIBUYA 2026
Shibuya's 'blue cave' turns 900 metres from Shibuya Koen-dori to the Yoyogi Park zelkova avenue deep blue for just over two weeks.
Dec112026
OSAKA Hikari no Renaissance 2026
Nakanoshima's OSAKA Hikari no Renaissance fills the City Hall facade and park with light art for 15 days over Christmas.
Dec122026
Takarazuka Revue: Tenku no Artemis and Belle Epoque (Moon Troupe)
The Moon Troupe's musical Tenku no Artemis and revue Belle Epoque run at Takarazuka Grand Theatre from 12 December 2026 to 24 January 2027.
Dec132026
Aoshima Taiheiyo Marathon 2026
Miyazaki's flat, palm-lined December marathon ('Aotai') along the Pacific to Aoshima island, with 10 km and 3 km races; one of Kyushu's best-loved winter road races.
Dec132026
Tottori Sand Dunes Illusion 2026
A compact mid-December illumination at the edge of the Tottori Sand Dunes, with light tunnels and projections against the darkened dunes, run by Tottori City.
Dec192026
Jump Festa 2027
Shueisha's Jump manga festival at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, with stages, exhibitions and merchandise.
Dec202026
Furano Kan Kan Mura
A snow and ice village beside the Ningle Terrace cabins, with an ice bar, snow domes, tube slides and around 70,000 lights.
Dec202026
Tomamu Ice Village
A night-time village of ice domes at Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, with an ice chapel, ice bar, ice slide and an ice hotel room.
Dec262026
Countdown Japan 26/27
Japan's year-end indoor rock festival at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, closing with the New Year countdown.
Dec262026
Zao Juhyo (Tree Ice) Season and Light-Up
Season for viewing juhyo, fir trees coated in ice and snow above Zao Onsen, with night light-ups on selected dates.
Dec272026
Arima Kinen 2026 (Grand Prix, G1)
The fan-voted year-end Grand Prix over 2,500 m, the highest-turnover horse race on earth and Japan's traditional last big sporting event of the year.
Dec292026
Comic Market 109 (Winter Comiket)
Winter edition of Comic Market (Comiket), the world's largest doujinshi fair, at Tokyo Big Sight.
Dec312026
Itsukushima Shinto Shrine Chinkasai
New Year's Eve fire-prevention rite at Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, with around 1,000 pine torches carried to Mikasahama Beach.