8 winter events in Kagawa
- Illuminations run November 3 to February 28 at Reoma and November 21 to January 11 at Manno Park.
- Ritsurin Garden holds an evening light-up from November 20 to 29 and offers free admission on January 1.
- Kotohira-gu holds its Joya-sai year-end ceremony on December 31.
This page lists 8 events in Kagawa from November to January in date order. The illuminations at Reoma run from November 3, 2026 to February 28, 2027 and at Manno Park from November 21 to January 11, while the night illumination at Ritsurin Garden runs for 10 days, November 20 to 29. Over the New Year, Kotohira-gu holds its year-end ceremony on December 31, and admission to Ritsurin Garden is free on January 1.
In short
- Night lights: Reoma (admission ¥2,000), Manno Park (admission ¥450) and the Ritsurin Garden light-up (admission ¥500).
- Fireworks too: “Hanabi Fantasia” at Reoma. In December: the 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th and 24th to 30th.
- Low cost: Ritsurin Garden on January 1 (free admission) and the collection exhibition at Takamatsu Art Museum (free on December 3).
- Year-end shrine visit: the Joya-sai at Kotohira-gu (December 31). The shrine has no car park of its own, so you park in the town and walk up the stone steps.
- To run: the relay marathon at Manno Park (January 24). Entries close on December 23.
Checked with official pages on November 3, 2026 (Japan time). Prices and hours may change.
1. How to choose a winter event in Kagawa (illuminations, New Year, free)
- To see lights at night: Reoma (admission ¥2,000), Manno Park (admission ¥450) and the Ritsurin Garden light-up (admission ¥500).
- To see fireworks too: “Hanabi Fantasia” at Reoma. In December: the 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th and 24th to 30th.
- To spend little: Ritsurin Garden on January 1 (free admission) and the collection exhibition at Takamatsu Art Museum (free on December 3).
- For a New Year shrine visit: the Joya-sai at Kotohira-gu (December 31). There is no car park on the grounds, so you walk from a car park in town.
- To run: the relay marathon at Manno Park (January 24). Entries close on December 23.
2. Dates, fees and parking for 8 winter events in Kagawa
Click an event name to jump to its description. Fees are for one adult’s admission or entry.
| Date | Event | Fee | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 3 – Feb 28 | Reoma Winter Illumination | Admission ¥2,000 | Free, about 3,200 spaces |
| Nov 19 – Jan 24 | Theme exhibition at the Higashiyama Kaii Setouchi Art Museum | ¥400 | Free, about 300 spaces |
| Nov 20 – Nov 29 | Ritsurin Garden Autumn Light-up | Admission ¥500 | Paid, ¥100 per 25 min |
| Nov 21 – Jan 11 | Manno Park Winter Fantasy | Admission ¥450 | ¥2,000 on weekends and holidays |
| Dec 3 | Takamatsu Art Museum, Kagawa Citizens’ Day | Collection exhibition free | Underground, ¥100 per 25 min |
| Dec 31 | Joya-sai at Kotohira-gu | — | None on the grounds |
| Jan 1 | Ritsurin Garden on New Year’s Day | Free admission | Paid, ¥100 per 25 min |
| Jan 24 | Manno Park Relay Marathon | ¥3,200 | Charged separately |
A “—” in the table means no fee information was found.
3. NEW Reoma World Winter Illumination: November 3, 2026 to February 28, 2027
Reoma Winter Illumination shows about 2.5 million lights with a regular admission ticket (adults ¥2,000, children ¥1,500). Children aged 2 and under are free. In the evening session, a lighting ceremony for a tall tree takes place every day at 17:15.
The big fireworks “Hanabi Fantasia” and the “Miracle Aurora Show” are held only on set days: in November the 14th, 15th, 21st to 23rd, 28th and 29th; in December the 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th and 24th to 30th; in January the 2nd, 3rd and 9th to 11th; and in February the 11th and 23rd. They start at 20:30 on most days, and at 19:45 on November 23, January 9 to 11, February 11 and February 23 (planned). In strong wind or thunderclouds, the fireworks may be canceled or viewing areas restricted, and the admission fee is not refunded even if they are canceled.
To ride the attractions you need ride tickets (¥300 each) or a free pass (¥4,300). The free car park has about 3,200 spaces, and there is a paid car park beside the entrance gate (¥1,000 a day). A free shuttle bus runs from JR Sakaide and Utazu stations and Kotoden Okada Station. NEW Reoma World official site: fees
Photo source: press release of the Oedo Onsen Monogatari Group on Reoma Winter Illumination 2025 (October 24, 2025), PR TIMES.
| Name | NEW Reoma World |
|---|---|
| Address | 40-1 Kurikumanishi, Ayauta-cho, Marugame City, Kagawa |
| Hours / Closed | Illumination lighting ceremony daily at 17:15. Fireworks Fantasia and Aurora Show held on select days |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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4. Theme exhibition at the Higashiyama Kaii Setouchi Art Museum: November 19 to January 24, ¥400
From November 19 to January 24, 2027, the Higashiyama Kaii Setouchi Art Museum holds “In the Old Town: Nature and Life in Northern Europe”, with an adult viewing fee of ¥400. It is free for high school students and under, and for people aged 65 and over living in Kagawa Prefecture. It is closed on Mondays and from December 27 to January 1.
Parking is the west car park of Seto Ohashi Memorial Park (about 300 spaces, free). Enter “Seto Ohashi Memorial Park” in your car navigation. Higashiyama Kaii Setouchi Art Museum official site: visitor information
Photo source: a photo of the Kagawa Prefectural Higashiyama Kaii Setouchi Art Museum (Wikimedia Commons), by 663highland, CC BY 2.5.
| Name | Higashiyama Kaii Setouchi Art Museum |
|---|---|
| Address | 224-13 Minamidori, Samishima, Sakaide City, Kagawa |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Closed Mondays (open if a holiday, closed the following Tuesday), December 27–January 1 |
| Phone | 0877-44-1333 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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5. Ritsurin Garden Autumn Light-up: November 20 to 29, wooden boat ¥850
The autumn light-up at Ritsurin Garden runs from Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 29, from 17:00 to 21:00 (last entry 20:30), lighting up mainly Nanko Pond with its autumn leaves. The admission fee (adults ¥500, children ¥170) is charged separately.
The night wooden boats on Nanko Pond run 11 trips every 15 minutes from 17:30 (the last at 20:00), at ¥850 for adults and ¥420 for children (junior high school age and under). Book on the official site or by phone (087-833-7414), and only elementary school children and older can ride during the light-up.
By car, you can use the prefectural East Gate car park (30 spaces) or the North Gate car park (32 spaces), at ¥100 per 25 minutes. Parking at night is under separate fee rules, and you are asked to contact the Ritsurin Garden tourist office in advance. Kagawa Prefecture official page: Ritsurin Garden light-up
Photo sources: a photo of Ritsurin Garden (Wikimedia Commons), by Takuya ASADA, CC BY 2.0; and the press release of the Kagawa Tourism Association on the 2024 autumn light-up (November 22, 2024), PR TIMES.
| Name | Ritsurin Garden |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-20-16 Ritsurincho, Takamatsu City, Kagawa |
| Hours / Closed | Autumn light-up period (November 20–29): 17:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30). December and January: 7:00–17:00. Open year-round |
| Phone | 087-833-7411 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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6. Manno Park Winter Fantasy: November 21 to January 11
Winter Fantasy at Sanuki Mannou National Government Park runs from November 21, 2026 to January 11, 2027, with opening hours extended into the night for the illuminations. Admission is ¥450 for adults and ¥210 for ages 65 and over, and free for junior high school students and under.
During this period, parking on weekends and holidays and on December 21, 23 to 25 and 28 is ¥2,000 per standard car (admission charged separately), as a measure against traffic jams. On weekdays the usual rate (¥320 per standard car) applies. The park is usually closed on Tuesdays, and also closed from December 29 to January 1.
From JR Kotohira Station, you can take the Kotosan Bus Mi-ai line to “Mannou Koen-guchi”. If you contact the management center (0877-79-1700) before boarding, they will drive you from the bus stop into the park. Sanuki Mannou National Government Park official site: notice on parking fees
Photo source: press release of the Park Foundation on Winter Fantasy at Manno Park attracting a record 200,000 visitors (January 16, 2026), PR TIMES.
| Name | Sanuki Mannou National Government Park |
|---|---|
| Address | 4243-12 Yoshino, Mannocho, Nakatado District, Kagawa |
| Hours / Closed | November 1–end of February: 9:30–16:30 (extended into the night during Winter Fantasy). Closed Tuesdays, December 29–January 1 |
| Phone | 0877-79-1700 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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7. Takamatsu Art Museum: free collection exhibition on Kagawa Citizens’ Day, December 3
The collection exhibition at Takamatsu Art Museum is ¥200 for adults until December 27, and free for everyone on Thursday, December 3, “Kagawa Citizens’ Day”. It is always free for people aged 65 and over and for high school students and under. It is closed on Mondays and from December 29 to January 3.
The underground car park (144 spaces) is ¥100 per 25 minutes and is run separately from the museum. Takamatsu Art Museum official site: collection exhibition
| Name | Takamatsu Art Museum |
|---|---|
| Address | 10-4 Konyacho, Takamatsu City, Kagawa |
| Hours / Closed | 9:30–17:00. Closed Mondays (following weekday if a holiday), December 29–January 3 |
| Phone | 087-823-1711 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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8. Joya-sai at Kotohira-gu: December 31, with the New Year ceremony on January 1
In Kotohira-gu’s annual events table, there is the Great Purification and the Joya-sai (New Year’s Eve ceremony) on December 31, the Saitan-sai and a New Year greeting ceremony on January 1, and the Hatsu-toka-sai (first Konpira) on January 10. The January dates are from the 2026 table, and the times of the events are not given in the table.
Kotohira-gu has no car park, so you park in a car park in town and walk up the stone steps. There are 785 steps to the main shrine. Kotohira-gu official site: annual events
Photo source: a photo of Kotohira-gu (Wikimedia Commons), by Raita Futo, CC BY 2.0.
| Name | Kotohira-gu |
|---|---|
| Address | 892-1 Kotohira-cho, Nakatado District, Kagawa |
| Hours / Closed | Phone reception 8:30–17:00 |
| Phone | 0877-75-2121 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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9. Ritsurin Garden on New Year’s Day: free admission on January 1
Ritsurin Garden is open every day of the year, from 7:00 to 17:00 in December and January. Admission is free on January 1 (New Year’s Day). The usual admission is ¥500 for adults and ¥170 for children, and free for people aged 65 and over living in Kagawa Prefecture.
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10. Sanuki Mannou National Government Park Relay Marathon: January 24, entries close December 23
The 26th Sanuki Mannou National Government Park Relay Marathon is held on Sunday, January 24, 2027, from 11:00 to 15:00 around the lawn plaza. Teams have 2 to 20 people and run 21 laps of a course of about 2 km each, covering 42.195 km. A half marathon (20 km) category has been added this time.
The entry fee is ¥3,200 for adults and ¥1,600 for children (junior high school age and under), or ¥3,300 and ¥1,700 if you enter through RUNNET. Parking is charged separately. The capacity is 200 teams, and entries must arrive by Wednesday, December 23. It is held even in rain. Sanuki Mannou National Government Park official site: relay marathon
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Sources
19 pages we checked
- NEW Reoma World: Reoma Winter Illumination 2026-2027
- NEW Reoma World: fees and admission guide
- NEW Reoma World: access
- Higashiyama Kaii Setouchi Art Museum: top page
- Higashiyama Kaii Setouchi Art Museum: visitor information
- Kagawa Prefecture: Ritsurin Garden Autumn Light-up in Reiwa 8
- Kagawa Tourism Association: Ritsurin Garden visitor information
- Kagawa Tourism Association: Ritsurin Garden access and parking
- Sanuki Mannou National Government Park: parking fees during Winter Fantasy
- Sanuki Mannou National Government Park: fees
- Sanuki Mannou National Government Park: opening hours and closed days
- Sanuki Mannou National Government Park: annual schedule
- Sanuki Mannou National Government Park: 26th Relay Marathon
- Takamatsu Art Museum: collection exhibition
- Takamatsu Art Museum: access and parking
- Kotohira-gu: annual events
- Kotohira-gu: guide to visiting the main shrine
- Kotohira-gu: top page
- Japanese version of this page (日本語版)
Checked with official pages on November 3, 2026 (Japan time).
