14 winter illuminations and bamboo lanterns in Kochi from December to January
- Illuminations at Toyo Denka Central Park in Kochi City run from December 4 (planned) to January 11.
- Christmas Market 2026 in Kochi is held in the same park from December 11 to 25.
- Take-akari no Yoi in Geisei Village runs from December 1 to January 11.
In December and January, Kochi Prefecture gathers illuminations and bamboo-lantern events around the prefecture under the name “Kochi Hikari no Festa” (Kochi Festival of Lights). This page lists 14 events from the prefecture’s guide as of October 2026, in order of start date. At Toyo Denka Central Park in Kochi City, the illumination runs from December 4 (planned) to January 11, and the Christmas market from December 11 to 25.
In short
- In central Kochi City: Illumination Festa 2026 (December 4 [planned] to January 11) and Christmas Market 2026 in Kochi (December 11 to 25).
- Seaside, close to the airport: Take-akari no Yoi in Geisei Village (December 1 to January 11, 17:00 to 22:00).
- One-night events: Aki Candle Night (December 12) and the Winter Namekawa Festival (December 12, cancelled in rain).
- After New Year: Nakatsu Gorge Niyodo Blue Festa (January 2 to February 28). Longest run: Yusuhara Winter Illumination (mid-November to the end of February).
Checked with official pages on November 3, 2026 (Japan time). Prices and hours may change.
1. How to choose a winter illumination in Kochi (date, place, time)
- In the center of Kochi City: Illumination Festa 2026 (December 4 [planned] to January 11) and Christmas Market 2026 in Kochi (December 11 to 25).
- By the sea, near the airport: Take-akari no Yoi in Geisei Village (December 1 to January 11, 17:00 to 22:00).
- For a one-night event: Aki Candle Night (December 12) and the Winter Namekawa Festival (December 12, cancelled in rain).
- To see lights after the New Year: Nakatsu Gorge Niyodo Blue Festa (January 2 to February 28).
- For one that runs to the end of February: Yusuhara Winter Illumination (mid-November to the end of February).
For trips with a hot spring stay, see 12 hot spring inns in Kochi (Japanese), and for indoor places on rainy or cold days, 9 indoor play places in Kochi (Japanese).
2. The 14 December and January events in Kochi, by date
Of the 14 events, 2 run for one night only, Aki Candle Night and the Winter Namekawa Festival on December 12, and 2 start after the New Year: Nakatsu Gorge Niyodo Blue Festa (January 2) and Yuzu FeS (January 23). Tap an event name to jump to its section.
| Dates | Event | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 22 to Jan 12 | Sukumo Machi no Eki Hayashi-tei | Hayashi-tei, Sukumo | 17:00 to 20:30 |
| Nov 28 to Dec 26 | Aquarium of Light in Daisan | Around Kono Park, Aki | Sunset to 22:00 |
| Mid-Nov to end of Feb | Yusuhara Winter Illumination | Along Route 440, Yusuhara | 10 minutes before sunset to sunrise |
| Dec 1 to Jan 6 | KUT+illumination2026 | Kochi University of Technology, Kami | 18:00 to 24:00 |
| Dec 1 to Jan 11 | Take-akari no Yoi | Mercure, Geisei Village | 17:00 to 22:00 |
| Dec 1 to Dec 24 | Starry Sky and Illumination at the Shimanto Hinoki House | Tadenokawa, Shimanto | 17:00 to about 22:00 |
| Dec 4 (planned) to Jan 11 | Illumination Festa 2026 | Toyo Denka Central Park, Kochi City | 17:00 to about 24:00 |
| Dec 11 to Dec 17 | Tsuno Town Illumi Night | Kawauso Nature Park, Tsuno | 17:00 to 21:00 |
| Dec 11 to Dec 25 | Christmas Market 2026 in Kochi | Toyo Denka Central Park, Kochi City | Weekdays 17:00 to 21:30, weekends 11:00 to 21:30 |
| Dec 12 | Aki Candle Night 2026 | In front of the Jibasan Market at Aki Station | 16:30 to 20:30 |
| Dec 12 | Winter Namekawa Festival | Fureai-no-Sato Namekawa, Motoyama | 16:00 to 20:00 |
| Mid-Dec to mid-Jan | Tano Illumi | Tano Town | — |
| Jan 2 to Feb 28 | Nakatsu Gorge Niyodo Blue Festa | Nakatsu Gorge Yunomori, Niyodogawa | 18:00 to 20:30 |
| Jan 23 to Jan 30 | 13th Yuzu FeS (season Rintetsu) | Chugei area (Nahari, Tano, Yasuda, Kitagawa and Umaji) | Varies by program |
The dates and times come from the “Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026” guide of the Kochi Prefecture tourism campaign (content as of October 2026). Events may be cancelled or changed because of weather and other reasons. The guide gives the end date of Illumination Festa 2026 in Kochi City as “January 11, 2026”, and since the year does not fit, only January 11 is shown here.
3. Things to know when choosing a winter night event in Kochi
Most of the events in Kochi Prefecture are at places you reach by car, and the only ones in an urban area are the 2 at Toyo Denka Central Park (Obiyamachi) in Kochi City. Hirome Market is in the same Obiyamachi area and is closed on January 1, 2027. Kochi Castle is closed from December 26 to January 1.
Night events are easiest to see in December, when the sun sets early, and the mountain venues (Namekawa, Tsuno and Yusuhara) get colder. Some events are cancelled in rain, and the Namekawa festival is cancelled in rain.
4. Four events in Kochi City and Kami
Illumination Festa 2026
At Toyo Denka Central Park (1-11 Obiyamachi), the lights are on from December 4 (planned) to January 11, from 17:00 to about 24:00. It is organized by the Illumination Festa executive committee of the Kochi City Central Shopping Street Redevelopment Council, and inquiries go to 088-824-8830 (Illumination Festa 2026 page of Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026).
| Name | Illumination Festa 2026 |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-11 Obiyamachi, Kochi City, Kochi (Toyo Denka Central Park) |
| Hours / Closed | December 4 (planned)–January 11, 17:00–about 24:00 |
| Phone | 088-824-8830 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
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Christmas Market 2026 in Kochi
It is held in the same Toyo Denka Central Park from December 11 to 25. Hours are 17:00 to 21:30 on weekdays and 11:00 to 21:30 on weekends, and 11:00 to 21:30 on the 25th. A 10 m illumination tower, limited-edition food made with Kochi ingredients and stage events are planned (Christmas Market 2026 in Kochi page of Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026). The official site is christmas-kochi.com.
| Name | Christmas Market 2026 in Kochi |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-11 Obiyamachi, Kochi City, Kochi (Toyo Denka Central Park) |
| Hours / Closed | December 11–25, weekdays 17:00–21:30 · weekends 11:00–21:30 |
| Phone | 088-883-6788 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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KUT+illumination2026
It is held at the Kami Campus of Kochi University of Technology in Kami from December 1 to January 6, from 18:00 to 24:00. LED lights inspired by autumn leaves are set up on the plaza and the trees (KUT+illumination2026 page of Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026).
| Name | KUT+illumination2026 |
|---|---|
| Address | Inside the Kami Campus of Kochi University of Technology, Kami City, Kochi |
| Hours / Closed | December 1–January 6, 18:00–24:00 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
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Nakatsu Gorge Niyodo Blue Festa
It is held at Nakatsu Gorge Yunomori in Niyodogawa from January 2 to February 28, from 18:00 to 20:30. A huge single rock in the gorge is lit up (Nakatsu Gorge Niyodo Blue Festa page of Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026). Yunomori offers overnight stays and day-use baths, and it is also included in 12 hot spring inns in Kochi (Japanese).
| Name | Nakatsu Gorge Niyodo Blue Festa |
|---|---|
| Address | 258-1 Nanogawa, Niyodogawa-cho, Agawa-gun, Kochi |
| Hours / Closed | January 2–February 28, 18:00–20:30 |
| Phone | 0889-36-0680 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
5. Four events in the east (Geisei, Aki, Tano and Chugei)
Take-akari no Yoi (Evening of Bamboo Lights)
It is held at Mercure Kochi Tosa Resort & Spa in Geisei Village from December 1 to January 11, from 17:00 to 22:00. About 100 bamboo-lantern objects, large and small, are set out in the hotel’s courtyard and by the pool. Inquiries go to the Geisei Village Bamboo Lights executive committee (0887-33-2114) (Take-akari no Yoi page of Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026). Mercure is closed from 11:00 on January 13 to 15:00 on January 14.
| Name | Take-akari no Yoi |
|---|---|
| Address | 2995 Ko, Nishibun, Geisei-mura, Aki-gun, Kochi |
| Hours / Closed | December 1–January 11, 17:00–22:00 |
| Phone | 0887-33-2114 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Aquarium of Light in Daisan, Lovers’ Sanctuary
It is held around Kono Park in Aki (near the Roadside Station Daisan) from November 28 to December 26, from sunset to 22:00. A harbor-style illumination is being done for the first time, with stage events, a lighting ceremony and photo spots (Aquarium of Light in Daisan page of Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026).
| Name | Aquarium of Light in Daisan, Lovers' Sanctuary |
|---|---|
| Address | Around Kono Park (near Roadside Station Daisan), Aki City, Kochi |
| Hours / Closed | November 28–December 26, sunset–22:00 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
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Aki Candle Night 2026
It is held on December 12 from 16:30 to 20:30 at the roundabout in front of the Jibasan Market at Aki Station. It has candle displays, a stage and local food stalls (Aki Candle Night 2026 page of Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026).
| Name | Aki Candle Night 2026 |
|---|---|
| Address | 4-2-30 Yanomaru, Aki City, Kochi (roundabout in front of the Jibasan Market at Aki Station) |
| Hours / Closed | December 12, 16:30–20:30 |
| Phone | 0887-34-8344 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Tano Illumi
Colorful LEDs light up Tano Town. It runs from mid-December to mid-January, and the guide does not give the time or place (Tano Illumi page of Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026).
| Name | Tano Illumi |
|---|---|
| Address | Tano-cho, Aki-gun, Kochi |
| Hours / Closed | Mid-December–mid-January |
| Phone | 0887-38-3141 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
13th Yuzu FeS (season Rintetsu)
This is an experience expo in the Chugei area (Nahari, Tano, Yasuda, Kitagawa and Umaji), and the winter “season Rintetsu” runs from January 23 to 30. Hours differ by program. The autumn “season Yuzu” runs from November 14 to 28 (Yuzu FeS page on Kochi Tabi Net).
| Name | 13th Yuzu FeS |
|---|---|
| Address | Nahari Town and the Chugei area, Aki-gun, Kochi |
| Hours / Closed | January 23–30, varies by program |
| Phone | 0887-30-1865 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
6. Five events in the west and the mountains
Winter Illumination 2026 at Sukumo Machi no Eki Hayashi-tei
The garden of Hayashi-tei, a historic building in Sukumo, is lit from November 22 to January 12, from 17:00 to 20:30 (Sukumo Machi no Eki Hayashi-tei page of Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026).
| Name | Winter Illumination 2026 at Sukumo Machi no Eki Hayashi-tei |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-1-3 Chuo, Sukumo City, Kochi |
| Hours / Closed | November 22–January 12, 17:00–20:30 |
| Phone | 0880-63-3123 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
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Starry Sky and Illumination at the Shimanto Hinoki House
The building, garden and tree of the Shimanto Hinoki House, a model house in Shimanto where you can stay overnight, are decorated from December 1 to 24, from 17:00 to about 22:00 (Starry Sky and Illumination at the Shimanto Hinoki House page of Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026).
| Name | Starry Sky and Illumination at the Shimanto Hinoki House |
|---|---|
| Address | 8-2 Tadenokawa, Shimanto City, Kochi |
| Hours / Closed | December 1–24, 17:00–about 22:00 |
| Phone | 0880-31-8400 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Tsuno Town Illumi Night
It is held from December 11 to 17, from 17:00 to 21:00, at Kawauso Nature Park and the Hayama-no-Sato rural experience hall. There are bamboo balls and bamboo lights, a starry sky, and food and goods booths themed on stars, bamboo and Christmas (Tsuno Town Illumi Night page of Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026).
| Name | Tsuno Town Illumi Night |
|---|---|
| Address | 251-1 Nagano, Tsuno-cho, Takaoka-gun, Kochi |
| Hours / Closed | December 11–17, 17:00–21:00 |
| Phone | 0889-55-2023 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Yusuhara Winter Illumination
Along National Route 440 in Yusuhara, the lights are on from 10 minutes before sunset to sunrise. The period is mid-November to the end of February, and the lighting ceremony is held around Yusuhara Town Office (Yusuhara Winter Illumination page of Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026).
| Name | Yusuhara Winter Illumination |
|---|---|
| Address | Yusuhara, Yusuhara-cho, Takaoka-gun, Kochi (along National Route 440) |
| Hours / Closed | Mid-November–end of February, 10 minutes before sunset–sunrise |
| Phone | 0889-65-0489 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Winter Namekawa Festival
It is held on December 12 from 16:00 to 20:00 at Fureai-no-Sato Namekawa in Motoyama. It is cancelled in rain. Lights come on in a village in the mountains, and you can enjoy drinks and food bought from the stalls by a bonfire (Winter Namekawa Festival page of Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026).
| Name | Winter Namekawa Festival |
|---|---|
| Address | 755 Shimoseki, Motoyama-cho, Nagaoka-gun, Kochi |
| Hours / Closed | December 12, 16:00–20:00 |
| Phone | 080-2986-1700 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Sources
17 pages we checked
- Kochi Hikari no Festa 2026 (Kochi tourism campaign)
- Sukumo Machi no Eki Hayashi-tei: Hikari no Festa guide
- Aquarium of Light in Daisan: Hikari no Festa guide
- Yusuhara Winter Illumination: Hikari no Festa guide
- KUT+illumination2026: Hikari no Festa guide
- Take-akari no Yoi: Hikari no Festa guide
- Starry Sky and Illumination at the Shimanto Hinoki House: Hikari no Festa guide
- Illumination Festa 2026: Hikari no Festa guide
- Tsuno Town Illumi Night: Hikari no Festa guide
- Christmas Market 2026 in Kochi: Hikari no Festa guide
- Aki Candle Night 2026: Hikari no Festa guide
- Winter Namekawa Festival: Hikari no Festa guide
- Tano Illumi: Hikari no Festa guide
- Nakatsu Gorge Niyodo Blue Festa: Hikari no Festa guide
- Yuzu FeS: official site
- Hirome Market: closing day notice
- Japanese version of this page (日本語版)
Checked with official pages on November 3, 2026 (Japan time).
