OfficialOn now© Steve Cadman · CC BY-SA 2.0Aki Basho 2026 runs Sep 13–27 at Ryogoku Kokugikan. Tickets go on sale Aug 8 — seat prices and how overseas fans can book, explained.
Until Sun, Sep 27, 2026 18:00 JST TokyoTickets required. Arena chair seats start from around ¥3,000; traditional box (masu) seats and ringside cost more. Purchase through the official Japan Sumo Association site.
OfficialUpcoming© Miyuki Meinaka · CC BY-SA 4.0Over 5 million LEDs transform the park into a glowing garden — a luminous wisteria tunnel, a great wisteria of light and reflective ponds rank it among Japan's top three illuminations.
Sat, Oct 17, 2026 15:30 JST TokyoEvening admission around ¥1,400 (varies by light stage).
OfficialUpcoming© Cobalt Fox · Public DomainOne of the Kanto region's largest illuminations blankets a hillside German-themed park in millions of lights, best seen from its observation wheel.
Sat, Oct 31, 2026 16:00 JST Across JapanPaid: adults ¥1,500, children (age 4–elementary) ¥800; parking from ¥1,000.
OfficialUpcoming© Dick Thomas Johnson · CC BY 2.0From late autumn, Tokyo's avenues glow: Roppongi's blue keyaki-zaka and Marunouchi's golden champagne lights dazzle nightly.
Sun, Nov 15, 2026 17:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialUpcoming© Daisuke tashiro from Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0Wild Japanese macaques bathe in a steaming mountain hot spring as snow falls around them — the world-famous 'snow monkeys' of Nagano, most iconic in winter.
Tue, Dec 1, 2026 08:30 JST Across JapanPark admission around ¥800; the 'Snow Monkey Pass' (~¥3,500) bundles transport and entry.
OfficialUpcoming© Chad Davis · CC BY 2.0COMITIA 158 runs on Sunday 13 December 2026, 11:00–16:00, at Tokyo Big Sight East Halls 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8. Entry is by catalog — Tia's Magazine 158, ¥1,400 in advance or ¥1,500 on the day, free for under-12s. 6,000 circle slots. (Official COMITIA site, as of 8 September 2026.)
Sun, Dec 13, 2026 11:00 JST TokyoThe catalog, Tia's Magazine 158, is your entry pass: ¥1,400 in bookshops in advance, ¥1,500 at the venue. Free for under-12s. The catalog goes on sale 15 November 2026. (Official COMITIA site, as of 8 September 2026.)
OfficialUpcoming© 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0Ito's winter fireworks over the seafront: Sat 19 Dec 2026, 20:30–21:00 at Nagisa Park, paired with the Winter Yosakoi Sozura dance festival and the ITO MARCHE stalls. 10 min walk from JR Ito Station.
Sat, Dec 19, 2026 16:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY 2.0Wind, snow and ice encase the alpine firs into surreal white 'snow monsters'; ride the ropeway up and see them glow under colored floodlights at night.
Sat, Dec 26, 2026 17:00 JST Across JapanFree outdoors; Zao Ropeway round-trip fare (several thousand yen) to reach the summit juhyo.
OfficialUpcoming© Taichi · CC BY-SA 3.0Winter Comiket returns to Tokyo Big Sight for a rare 3-day run, Dec 29-31, 2026 — the first 3-day winter edition since C95 in December 2018.
Tue, Dec 29, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoPaid wristband entry required for general visitors each day (exact price not yet announced). Circle (doujin seller) participation is by application, expected to open around August 2026.
OfficialUpcoming© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0The 52nd Sounkyo Onsen Ice Waterfall Festival runs 23 January to 7 March 2027 (official). In a Daisetsuzan gorge, ice domes and towers fill a riverside field, lit nightly in shifting colors with weekend fireworks over the snow.
Sat, Jan 23, 2027 Across JapanThe cooperation fee for 2027 (52nd edition) has not been announced as of 2026-09-18. For the 51st edition in 2026 it was ¥1,000, with the site open 17:00–21:30 on weekdays and 11:00–21:30 at weekends and on holidays (last entry 21:15).
OfficialUpcoming© Inlet Masu · CC BY-SA 3.0The 2027 Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival runs 30 January to 23 February, open 10:00–20:00 (official). Sculptors spray the clear blue waters of Lake Shikotsu onto frames to build towering turquoise ice domes and tunnels, glowing in jewel tones after dark.
Sat, Jan 30, 2027 10:00 JST SapporoAdmission (cooperation fee): ¥1,000 for junior-high age and over on weekdays, ¥3,000 at weekends and on public holidays; free for elementary-school children and younger (official, as of 2026-09-18)
OfficialUpcoming© Senior Chief Petty Officer Ryan Delcore (U.S. Navy) · Public domainSapporo Snow Festival 2027: confirmed Feb 4–11 dates, the three free sites (Odori, Susukino, Tsudome), and how to get there from New Chitose Airport.
Thu, Feb 4, 2027 10:00 JST SapporoFree
OfficialUpcoming© 欅 (Keyaki) · CC BY-SA 3.0The 2027 edition runs 6–13 February (Otaru Tourism Association, announced 9 June 2026). Otaru's historic canal and old rail line glow with thousands of hand-lit snow lanterns and floating candles for eight winter nights.
Sat, Feb 6, 2027 SapporoFree
OfficialUpcoming© 京浜にけ · CC BY 3.0The 68th Asahikawa Winter Festival runs 6–11 February 2027 (official). Hokkaido's second-biggest snow fest pairs colossal stage-sized snow sculptures by the Ishikari River with an international ice-carving championship.
Sat, Feb 6, 2027 SapporoFree
![Wonder Festival 2027 [Winter]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpub-0f4e7c05fe4645118224685565717085.r2.dev%2Fevent%2F16c304784892bf53.jpg&w=1280&q=75&dpl=dpl_2BinJr6Am1C9Xo7uzYkHyfLH62vU)
OfficialUpcoming© Albert C. Beckwith, Peter K. Graichen · CC0The world's biggest garage-kit and figure fair fills Makuhari Messe with thousands of hand-built model figures sold for one day only by amateur and pro sculptors.
Sun, Feb 7, 2027 10:00 JST TokyoAdmission ticket required (~¥2,000–2,500); 'one-day license' allows licensed-figure sales.
OfficialUpcoming© Rarisan · CC0Hundreds of candlelit snow igloos glow across Yokote while children inside invite passersby in for sweet sake — plus 4,000 mini-kamakura lighting the riverbed.
Fri, Feb 12, 2027 Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© おにく · CC BY-SA 3.0Japan's largest illumination: millions of LEDs transform a flower park near Nagoya into glowing tunnels and light shows.
Thu, Jan 15, 2026 17:00 JST Across JapanAdmission around 2,500 yen (includes a park voucher)
OfficialPast event© Kinori · Public DomainHokkaido's winter wonderland: giant snow and ice sculptures fill Odori Park, drawing over two million visitors each February.
Wed, Feb 4, 2026 10:00 JST SapporoFree
OfficialPast event© Diego Molla · CC BY-SA 3.0Otaru's historic canal and old streets glow with thousands of candles in snow lanterns, a quiet, romantic counterpoint to Sapporo's snow festival.
Fri, Feb 13, 2026 17:00 JST SapporoFree
OfficialPast event© Fisherman · CC BY-SA 3.0Aomori Nebuta 2026 reserved viewing seats: ¥4,000 prices, the 2026 sale dates (lottery + Jun 27 first-come), how to buy, and access from Tokyo.
Sun, Aug 2, 2026 19:00 JST Across JapanReserved viewing seat ¥4,000 (Aug 7 daytime + fireworks set ¥9,500); handling fee added