Three winter light displays in Yamaguchi Prefecture have 2026 dates posted on official pages: Joeiji Temple’s Sesshu Garden in Yamaguchi City, the Shunan Winter Tree Festival in Shunan City, and the Light and Sound Pageant in Hofu City. This guide gives the dates, hours, cost and how to get to each. Two are not final: Shunan’s dates are marked “planned”, and Hofu has not posted its details. Other big displays in Yamaguchi have not announced 2026 dates yet. They are listed at the end.
In short
- Joeiji Sesshu Garden is first: weekends and holidays from October 10 to November 23, 2026, 18:00–21:00, ¥1,300 at the door.
- Shunan’s tree festival is planned for December 1 to 28, 2026, 17:00–22:00. Hofu’s pageant runs December 5, 2026 to January 11, 2027.
- Parking is free at Joeiji. Shunan points to paid lots near the venue. Hofu has not posted parking details.
- Shunan’s venue is a 1-minute walk from JR Tokuyama Station (Miyuki exit).
Checked with official pages on October 5, 2026.
| Event | Dates (2026) | Hours and cost | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joeiji Sesshu Garden | Oct 10–Nov 23, weekends and holidays | 18:00–21:00; ¥1,300 at the door | Free |
| Shunan Winter Tree Festival | Dec 1–28 (planned) | 17:00–22:00 (planned); cost not stated | Paid lots nearby |
| Hofu Light and Sound Pageant | Dec 5–Jan 11, 2027 | 17:00–22:00; cost not stated | Not stated |
“Not stated” means the official pages we checked do not give that item.
1. Joeiji Temple Sesshu Garden (常栄寺雪舟庭), Yamaguchi City
Organizer: Yamaguchi Convention and Visitors Association
The temple garden, a nationally designated place of scenic beauty (国指定名勝), is lit with light and music from October 10 to November 23, 2026 on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays only, 18:00–21:00 with last entry at 20:30. The theme follows the travels of the painter Sesshu. Photography is allowed.
Note
The organizer’s page says weekends and holidays only (土日祝). The prefecture’s illumination feature page says Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays (金土日祝). We follow the organizer. Check before you go on a Friday.
- Tickets: ¥1,300 at the door. Online tickets are ¥1,100 for adults and ¥900 for junior and senior high school students. Elementary school children and younger are free. Door and online adult tickets come with a ¥700 discount coupon for use in Yamaguchi City. Groups of 20 or more get 10% off. The organizer sells online tickets through Webket and Jalan (both in Japanese).
- Sunday events: a shakuhachi (bamboo flute) concert at 18:30 on October 11 and November 22. A Buddhist painting exhibition on October 18. A special display of the Sesshu portrait on October 25. A candle night on November 15 with about 200 candles, moved to November 21 if it rains.
- Free shuttle bus: only for guests staying at Yuda Onsen inns, on October 18 and November 8. It leaves the Yuda Onsen bus stop at 19:30 and leaves the garden at 20:50. There are 45 seats. Book through your inn. Same-day booking is possible if seats remain.
- Getting there: about 10 minutes by car from Yamaguchi IC, about 10 minutes on foot from Miyano Station, and about 15 minutes by car from Yuda Onsen. From the Sannomiya bus stop it is about a 25-minute walk. Parking is free, and large buses need a reservation.
Address: 2001-1 Miyanoshimo, Yamaguchi City. Phone: 083-933-0088 (in Japanese). Google Maps
2. Shunan Winter Tree Festival (周南冬のツリーまつり), Shunan City
Organizer: Tokuyama Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Yamaguchi Prefecture’s tourism site lists “Shunan Winter Tree Festival: Winter Illumination 2026” for December 1 to 28, 2026, marked “planned”, with lights on from 17:00 to 22:00. The same page shows that the 2025 festival lit up at 17:30, so check the start time closer to the date. About 1 million LED lights cover the area around JR Tokuyama Station. The venue includes Miyuki-dori street, Aozora Park, PH-dori street and the city center.
- Getting there: 1 minute on foot from the Miyuki exit of JR Tokuyama Station, or about 15 minutes by car from Tokuyama-higashi IC on the Sanyo Expressway.
- Parking: use the paid lots around the venue.
- Fantastic Night: a special day with stage shows and food stalls. The 2025 one was on December 20. The 2026 details are not posted yet.
Organizer: Tokuyama Chamber of Commerce and Industry (徳山商工会議所), 0834-31-3000 (in Japanese). Google Maps (Tokuyama Station)
3. Hofu Light and Sound Pageant (光と音のページェント), Hofu City
Organizer: Hofu Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The 2026 pageant runs from December 5, 2026 to January 11, 2027. The prefecture’s tourism site lists lights on from 17:00 to 22:00. Three areas are lit: around the station, the Omotesando and Kami-Tenjin area, and the Aspirato and Lulusas area. Events are planned at various places, but the city’s tourism portal says details will be posted when decided. It does not state parking or entry cost yet. Hofu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (防府商工会議所): 0835-22-4352 (in Japanese).
4. Which displays have no 2026 dates yet?
- Christmas City Yamaguchi (「12月、山口市はクリスマス市になる。」): the official site has no 2026 events posted. It says the first recorded Christmas in Japan was held in Yamaguchi on December 24, 1552 (Western calendar).
- TOKIWA Fantasia (Ube City): Tokiwa Park is taking applications for exhibits until 17:00 on October 26, 2026, but gives no event dates.
- Hagi Illumine Festa: the prefecture’s tourism site says the next one is undecided.
5. How do I choose?
- Soonest: Joeiji Sesshu Garden, from October 10. Confirm the ticket price and the day first, since it opens only on weekends and holidays.
- Without a car: Shunan is 1 minute from the station. Joeiji is about 10 minutes on foot from Miyano Station.
- Staying at Yuda Onsen: the free shuttle runs on only two dates, October 18 and November 8.
6. Common questions
Common questions
Can I take photos at Joeiji Sesshu Garden?
Yes. Photography is allowed. The event also runs an Instagram campaign with the hashtag #雪舟庭ライトアップ2026.
Is parking free at Joeiji Sesshu Garden?
Yes, for regular cars and large buses. Large buses need a reservation.
Can I get to the Shunan festival by train?
Yes. The venue is a 1-minute walk from the Miyuki exit of JR Tokuyama Station.
Sources (checked October 2026)
- Yamaguchi City tourism site (Japanese): Joeiji Sesshu Garden light-up and event guide
- Yamaguchi Prefecture tourism site (Japanese): Shunan Winter Tree Festival, Hofu Light and Sound Pageant, Hagi Illumine Festa
- Hofu City tourism portal: Light and Sound Pageant, Christmas City Yamaguchi and Tokiwa Park: TOKIWA Fantasia 2026 (Japanese)
Dates, hours and prices can change, so check the official page before you go.
