December children's events in Ehime
- Ehime has 7 family events in December 2026: 1 in Toyo, 5 in Chuyo, and 1 in Nanyo.
- Among the seven events, the wool craft "Hitsuji" at the Ehime Museum of Art (December 6 and 13) requires a booking.
- On Saturday, December 19, Christmas Night in Shiroyama Park coincides with the last December night of the Tobe Zoo Illumination.
Ehime has seven events in December 2026 you can take children to, and only one needs a booking: the zodiac wool craft at the Ehime Museum of Art on December 6 and 13 (¥400 for materials). On Saturday, December 19, the Christmas Night candles in Shiroyama Park and the last December night of the Tobe Zoo lights fall on the same day. This guide compares dates, cost, booking and parking, with one event in Toyo (east), five in Chuyo (central) and one in Nanyo (south).
In short
- Booking needed: only the wool craft “Hitsuji” at the Ehime Museum of Art (December 6 and 13, 12 places per session).
- Walk-in workshops: silk-screen printing (December 19) and indigo dyeing (December 26) at the same museum, 14:30–16:30, ¥1,500 each.
- Saturday, December 19: printing at the museum, Christmas Night candles in the same park from 17:00, and the Tobe Zoo lights in the evening.
- The event pages do not say whether staff can help in English; ask the venue before you go if you need it.
Checked with official pages on October 25, 2026.
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Ehime December 2026 events: all 7 in one table
Only “Hitsuji” at the Ehime Museum of Art needs a booking; you can go to the other six on the day. Tap an event name to jump to its section. They are listed from Toyo to Chuyo to Nanyo.
| Event | Dates | Cost | Booking | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science Museum lobby show | Until Dec 25 | Needs a permanent exhibition ticket (adults ¥580, school children free) | No | 320 spaces |
| Wool craft “Hitsuji” | Dec 6 and 13 | ¥400 materials | Yes (12 per session) | None (Prefectural Office West car park) |
| Printing and indigo | Dec 19 and 26, 14:30–16:30 | ¥1,500 each | No | None (Prefectural Office West car park) |
| Mozu Miniature Exhibition 2 | Until Jan 11, 2027 | Paid (see section) | No | None (Prefectural Office West car park) |
| Christmas Night 2026 | Dec 19 and 20, 14:00–20:00 | — | No | None (nearby paid car parks) |
| Tobe Zoo Illumination | Dec 5, 12 and 19, 17:00–20:30 | Zoo admission (adults ¥600, school children ¥100) | No | ¥300 per car |
| Kamaboko-ita paintings | Until Jan 11, 2027 | Adults ¥500, junior high and under free | No | — |
“—” means the official page does not give it.
Toyo (Niihama City): 1 event
The Ehime Prefectural Science Museum in Niihama has the fourth “Showa 100” lobby exhibition on the 3rd floor of its exhibition building until December 25.
Ehime Prefectural Science Museum: lobby exhibition and planetarium
The lobby exhibition “Showa 100 Exhibition, Vol. 4: Devices for Enjoying Sound” (昭和100年展 第4弾 音を楽しむ装置たち) runs until Friday, December 25. It traces how people listened to music from the Showa era to Reiwa: the phonograph, radio, radio-cassette player, karaoke, Walkman and iPod. The exhibition itself is free, but you need a ticket for the permanent exhibition. Science Museum: lobby exhibition page (Japanese)
The permanent exhibition costs ¥580 for adults (high school age and up) and ¥300 for people 65 and over; elementary and junior high school students are free. The planetarium is a separate ticket: ¥580 for adults, and ¥300 for school children and people 65 and over. A show lasts about 45 minutes, and the first 20 minutes or so explain the season’s constellations. The general public cannot book ahead; buy a ticket at the information desk on the day. Since October 1, the general program has been “Chi. – On the Motion of the Earth –” (チ。 ―地球の運動について―). Science Museum: fees and hours (Japanese) / Science Museum: planetarium (Japanese)
By bus, get off the Setouchi Bus at “Sakuragi” or “Uzuibashi”; the museum is about 2 km (about 30 minutes on foot) from there. Science Museum: access (Japanese)
| Phone | 0897-40-4100 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–17:30 (exhibition rooms until 17:00) |
| Closed | Mondays (if the 1st Monday, open and closed Tuesday; if a holiday, the next weekday), Dec 29–Jan 1 |
| Parking | 320 spaces |
| Name | Ehime Prefectural Science Museum (Lobby Exhibition & Planetarium) |
|---|---|
| Address | 2133-2 Ojoin, Niihama City, Ehime |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Chuyo (Matsuyama City and Tobe Town): 5 events
At the Ehime Museum of Art in December, only the zodiac craft needs a booking; for the silk-screen printing and indigo dyeing, just go to the studio on the day. The museum is inside Shiroyama Park, where Christmas Night is held on December 19 and 20.
Ehime Museum of Art: wool craft “Hitsuji” (December 6 and 13)
In “Wakuwaku Workshop: Making a Sheep from Wool” (わくわくワークショップ 羊毛でつくる「未」), children make the sheep, next year’s zodiac animal, from wool to display at home. It is a simple craft that young children can join. It runs on Sunday, December 6 and Sunday, December 13, with two sessions each day: 10:30–11:30 and 14:00–15:00. Each session takes 12 people, and children of elementary school age or younger come with a parent. It is in Atelier 2, and materials cost ¥400. Apply through the booking form on the museum’s event page. Ehime Museum of Art: wool craft page (Japanese)
| Name | Ehime Museum of Art (December Workshops) |
|---|---|
| Address | Horinouchi, Matsuyama City, Ehime |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Ehime Museum of Art: “Take Home a Memory of Ehime” (December 19 and 26)
The drop-in course of the studio program “Take Home a Memory of Ehime” (えひめの思い出をもちかえろう) needs no application; join any time between 14:30 and 16:30. On Saturday, December 19, you screen-print an illustration by Hiroshi Manabe in one color on a cotton bag (about 15 minutes, South Building Atelier 1). On Saturday, December 26, you dye a Japanese-made towel with Indian indigo in a tie-dye pattern (about 30 minutes, South Building Atelier 2). Each costs ¥1,500. Ehime Museum of Art: silk-screen page (Japanese) / Ehime Museum of Art: indigo page (Japanese)
The collection exhibition costs ¥340 for adults and ¥230 for high school and university students; junior high school students and younger are free. There is no museum car park inside Shiroyama Park. The Prefectural Office West car park (県庁西駐車場, entered from Higashi-Horibata) can be used for up to 2 hours, but spaces are limited, so the museum recommends public transport. From JR Matsuyama Station, take a streetcar bound for Dogo Onsen or Matsuyama-shi Station for 7 minutes to “Minami-Horibata (Ehime Kenbijutsukan-mae)”, then walk 3 minutes. Ehime Museum of Art: visitor guide (Japanese)
| Address | Horinouchi, Matsuyama City |
|---|---|
| Phone | 089-932-0010 |
| Hours | 9:40–18:00 (last entry 17:30) |
| Closed | Mondays (the next day if a holiday; if the 1st Monday, open and closed Tuesday), Dec 29–Jan 3 |
| Parking | None (Prefectural Office West car park, up to 2 hours) |
| Map | Google Maps |
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Mozu Miniature Exhibition 2 at the Ehime Museum of Art (until January 11, 2027)
“Mozu Miniature Exhibition 2”, by the stop-motion and miniature artist Mozu, runs from November 21 to Monday, January 11, 2027, in the special exhibition room on the 1st floor of the main building. The closed days in December are the 8th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 31st. Prices and how to buy tickets are in Ehime events in November 2026. Ehime Museum of Art: Mozu exhibition page (Japanese)
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Christmas Night 2026, Shiroyama Park, Matsuyama (December 19 and 20)
“Christmas Night 2026” at Yasuragi Plaza in Shiroyama Park runs on Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20 from 14:00 to 20:00, and about 3,000 candles are lit from 17:00 on both days. There is a photo booth made with 5,000 flowers, lit up from the evening. On Sunday, December 20 there is also a night bubble performance. Christmas Night 2026 official site (Japanese)
There is no car park at the venue; use a nearby paid car park. Bicycles and motorbikes can be left at the bicycle parks on the west and east sides of the venue. Shiroyama Park is the same park as the Ehime Museum of Art.
| Hours | Dec 19 and 20, 14:00–20:00 (candles from 17:00) |
|---|---|
| Parking | None (nearby paid car parks; bicycle parks on the west and east sides) |
| Name | Christmas Night 2026 (Shiroyama Park Yasuragi Square) |
|---|---|
| Address | Horinouchi, Matsuyama City, Ehime |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Tobe Zoo Illumination 2026, Tobe Town (December 5, 12 and 19)
At Ehime Prefectural Tobe Zoo, the illumination is on three Saturdays in December, the 5th, 12th and 19th, from 17:00 to 20:30 (entry until 19:30). You see it with the regular admission: adults ¥600, elementary and junior high school students ¥100, preschool children free. After 17:00, only some animals and areas can be seen. More details are in Ehime events in November 2026. Tobe Zoo: Illumination 2026 (Japanese)
| Hours | Dec 5, 12 and 19, 17:00–20:30 (entry until 19:30) |
|---|---|
| Admission | Adults ¥600, school children ¥100, preschool free |
| Parking | ¥300 per car |
| Map | Google Maps |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Nanyo (Seiyo City): 1 event
The 31st National “Kamaboko-ita” Painting Exhibition, Seiyo City (until January 11, 2027)
The “Kamaboko-ita” painting exhibition at Seiyo City Museum of Art Gallery Shirokawa runs until Monday, January 11, 2027 (a holiday), and entry is free for junior high school students and younger. It collects paintings made on kamaboko-ita, the small wooden boards that fish cakes come on, from all over Japan. The 31st edition had 6,552 entries, and every one is on show, including the grand prize. Gallery Shirokawa: prize results and dates (Japanese)
Admission is ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for high school and university students. A joint ticket for three places (Gallery Shirokawa, Shikoku Seiyo Geo Museum and Shirokawa History and Folk Museum) costs ¥900 for adults and ¥500 for high school and university students, and is valid for one month after you buy it. Gallery Shirokawa: visitor information (Japanese)
By car, it is about 45 minutes from Uchiko-Ikazaki IC on the Matsuyama Expressway. Without a car, it is about 45 minutes by taxi from JR Uchiko Station, and there is no bus from Uchiko. You can also go from JR Unomachi Station via Nomura and change to a Uwajima Bus.
| Phone | 0894-82-1001 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–17:00 (entry until 16:30) |
| Closed | Mondays and Tuesdays (open on holidays), New Year |
| Name | Seiyo Municipal Museum of Art Gallery Shirokawa ("Kamaboko-ita" Painting Exhibition) |
|---|---|
| Address | 680 Shimoai, Shirokawa-cho, Seiyo City, Ehime |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Choosing among Ehime’s December events
Monday, December 28 is a closed day for both the Ehime Museum of Art and the Science Museum. The Science Museum’s New Year closure is December 29 to January 1. The art museum’s usual New Year closure is December 29 to January 3, but the Mozu exhibition page lists December 8, 14, 21, 28 and 31 as closed days, so for a visit at the end of the year, check the open days on the exhibition page.
For the four events in central Matsuyama’s Shiroyama Park, the streetcar works better than a car. The art museum and Christmas Night have no car park of their own, and the Prefectural Office West car park is limited to 2 hours. The Science Museum (320 spaces) and Tobe Zoo (¥300 per car) are easy to reach by car.
The age for free entry differs. The Science Museum’s permanent exhibition is free for elementary and junior high school students (the planetarium is ¥300). The art museum’s collection exhibition and Gallery Shirokawa are free for junior high school students and younger. Tobe Zoo charges ¥100 for school children, and preschool children are free.
Gallery Shirokawa in Nanyo is about 45 minutes by car from Uchiko-Ikazaki IC, with no bus from Uchiko. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so plan it for a weekend.
Ehime December events by date
- Saturday, December 5: Tobe Zoo lights (evening)
- Sunday, December 6: wool craft “Hitsuji” at the art museum (booking needed)
- Saturday, December 12: Tobe Zoo lights (evening)
- Sunday, December 13: wool craft “Hitsuji” (booking needed)
- Saturday, December 19: silk-screen printing at the art museum; Christmas Night; Tobe Zoo lights (evening, the last night in December)
- Sunday, December 20: Christmas Night, with the night bubble performance
- Saturday, December 26: Indian indigo dyeing at the art museum
The Science Museum lobby exhibition runs until December 25, and the Mozu and Kamaboko-ita exhibitions until January 11, 2027, so you can go on any open day. On December 19, you can print a bag at the museum in the afternoon and then see the candles in the same park from the evening.
Questions about Ehime’s December events
From what age can children join the zodiac wool craft?
The museum describes “Hitsuji” as a simple craft that young children can join. Children of elementary school age or younger come with a parent. Each session takes 12 people, and you apply through the booking form.
Do the printing and indigo workshops need a booking?
No. The drop-in course takes people at any time from 14:30 to 16:30 on the day. The museum also has a separate booked course, which you apply for on a different page.
Does the Tobe Zoo illumination cost extra?
No. The regular admission covers the lights. After 17:00, only some animals can be seen, such as the Snake House and the outdoor part of Penguin Square.
Where can I find more winter events in Ehime?
Ehime’s tourism site Iyokan Net events (Japanese) and each venue’s event page list dates.
More Ehime guides
See Ehime events in November 2026, rainy-day museums in Ehime and free indoor play in Matsuyama.
Sources (checked October 2026)
5 pages we checked
- Ehime Prefectural Science Museum: lobby exhibition, fees and hours, planetarium, access
- Ehime Museum of Art: wool craft, silk-screen printing, indigo dyeing, Mozu Miniature Exhibition 2, visitor guide
- Christmas Night 2026
- Tobe Zoo: Illumination 2026
- Gallery Shirokawa: Kamaboko-ita exhibition, visitor information
All pages above are in Japanese.
