December events in Yamaguchi
- Seven events include the Warai-ko laughing ritual in Hofu on December 6, the Akiyoshidai meteor shower tour on December 12, and the Hagi Castle Town Marathon on December 13.
- The Geminids meteor shower tour runs on December 12 at 18:00–21:00 for ¥9,900 and requires booking.
- The Mohri Family New Year exhibition runs from December 11 to January 25 and costs ¥900 for adults and ¥250 for elementary and junior high school students.
This guide lists seven events in Yamaguchi Prefecture in December 2026: a laughing ritual, a meteor shower tour, a factory-night walk, a marathon, a New Year’s Eve bell-ringing and a countdown fireworks show. It also covers Shichi-Go-San, the shrine blessing for children aged 3, 5 and 7, at four shrines. For each one it gives dates, times, cost, how to get there and parking. The official pages are in Japanese, and several events need a booking made through a Japanese-language form.
In short
- Two events need a booking: the Akiyoshidai meteor shower tour (Mine City) and the Shunan factory-night walk. Both are on Saturday, December 12.
- As of October 8, the Shunan city page says the December 12 walk has reached capacity and sign-up is closed.
- The Hagi marathon on Sunday, December 13 is open to spectators for free. Runner entry closed in September.
- The countdown fireworks in Ube on December 31 are still listed as planned. Check the organizer’s social media nearer the date.
- All four Shichi-Go-San shrines take walk-ins without a booking.
Checked with official pages on October 6, 2026. Four pages were read again on October 11, 2026.
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1. All seven events at a glance
Depends on the organizer
On Saturday, December 12, the Akiyoshidai meteor tour and the Shunan factory-night walk both start in the evening, so you cannot do both. The list is in date order. Tap an event name to jump to its section.
| Event | City | Date and time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warai-ko laughing ritual | Hofu | Dec 6, from 11:00 (ritual about 13:00) | Not stated |
| Mohri family New Year display | Hofu | Dec 11 to Jan 25, 9:00 to 17:00 | ¥900 adults, ¥250 children |
| Geminids meteor shower tour | Mine | Dec 12, 18:00 to 21:00 | ¥9,900 (booking) |
| Factory Night Walk | Shunan | Dec 12, meet at 17:00 | ¥1,000 (full) |
| Hagi Castle Town Marathon | Hagi | Dec 13, from 10:00 | Free to watch |
| Joya-no-kane bell ringing | Hofu | Dec 31, from 23:00 | Not stated |
| Countdown fireworks 2027 | Ube | Dec 31 (planned), from 20:00 | Not stated |
Winter illuminations in Hofu and Shunan are in a separate guide: Illuminations in Yamaguchi 2026.
2. What should you know before choosing?
Depends on the organizer
Only two events need a booking, the Akiyoshidai meteor tour (20 places) and the Shunan factory-night walk (about 20 places), and both are first come, first served. Everything else you can attend without signing up.
- Hofu on December 6. The 57th Hofu Yomiuri Marathon starts at 10:40 in the city on the same day as the Warai-ko ritual. If you drive to Hofu, allow extra time.
- Year-end closures. The Mohri Museum is closed from December 22 to 31. The garden is open every day. To see the New Year display, go on or before December 21, or after the New Year.
- Parking. Hagi Wellness Park has limited parking, so the marathon uses a temporary car park and a free shuttle bus. In Ube, a car park next to the fireworks site can be used from 17:00 on December 31 to 2:00 on January 1.
- Cold nights. Three events are outdoors at night: the meteor tour (18:00 to 21:00), the factory-night walk (about 120 minutes from 17:00) and the countdown fireworks at midnight. Bring warm clothes.
3. Akiyoshidai and Ube area
Depends on the organizer
The Akiyoshidai Geminids tour starts at 18:00 on Saturday, December 12, and costs ¥9,900 for adults and children alike, with a telescope kit and a light meal included.
3.1 Geminids meteor shower tour at Akiyoshidai, Mine City, December 12
The Mine City Tourism Association runs this tour. A star guide talks while you watch the Geminids. Meet at the Mine Akiyoshidai Geopark Center Karstar. Check-in starts at 17:40, the tour begins at 18:00 and ends around 21:30. The association says the shower peaks around December 14 and that the new moon in 2026 makes viewing easier.
The fee is ¥9,900 for adults and children, with a telescope kit and a light meal. Repeat visitors, and groups who do not need a telescope, pay ¥3,700 with a light meal. There are 20 places, and the tour does not run with fewer than 10 people. You need a tripod for the telescope, so bring a camera or video tripod if you have one. Bring warm clothes, a drink and a flashlight. If the sky is cloudy, the tour moves indoors to an astronomy class using the Mitaka software, so there is no cancellation for rain.
Book through the association’s form (Japanese). Places close when full. Cancellation fees are 20% of the tour price 10 to 8 days before, 30% for 7 to 2 days before, 40% the day before and 50% on the day. Links: booking form (Mine City Tourism Association), Yamaguchi tourism site. Venue: Karstar, Mine City. Phone: Mine City Tourism Association, 0837-62-0115. Google Maps.
| Name | Geminids meteor shower tour at Akiyoshidai (Karstar) |
|---|---|
| Address | Mine City, Yamaguchi |
| Phone | 0837-62-0115 (Mine City Tourism Association) |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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3.2 Countdown Fireworks 2027 in UBE, Ube City, December 31 (planned)
This is planned as the 15th New Year’s Eve event at Ube Port Pier. The Yamaguchi tourism site says it starts at 20:00 on Thursday, December 31, with a stage show, food trucks, mochi throwing, a children’s fair and New Year’s Eve soba noodles. Everyone counts down together, and the fireworks start at 0:00 on January 1.
A car park next to the site can be used from 17:00 on December 31 to 2:00 on January 1. Parking and road closures are possible on the day. The tourism site’s page reflects information as of April 2026, and the organizer says it will post updates on social media. The organizer is the Countdown Fireworks 2027 in UBE office (the southern branch of the Yamaguchi Association of Small and Medium Enterprise Executives). Links: Yamaguchi tourism site, organizer’s website. Address: 1-15 Minatomachi, Ube City. Google Maps.
| Name | Countdown Fireworks 2027 in UBE (Ube Port Pier) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-15 Minatomachi, Ube City |
| Phone | 070-5055-9892 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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4. Hofu area
Depends on the organizer
Hofu’s Warai-ko ritual is on Sunday, December 6, from 11:00, and the laughing itself starts around 13:00. After that come the Mohri Museum’s New Year display from December 11 and the bell ringing at Amidaji Temple on New Year’s Eve.
4.1 Warai-ko laughing ritual, Hofu City, December 6
Warai-ko is a Shinto ritual handed down in the Obata district of Hofu. Hofu City has designated it an intangible folk cultural property. Members in formal crested kimono hold a sakaki branch and laugh together three times, “Wa-ha-ha-ha”, to give thanks for this year’s harvest, pray for next year’s and laugh away the year’s worries. It is said to date from the Kamakura period (1185 to 1333). It takes place at Obata Hachiman Shrine.
The shrine is about 5 minutes by car from JR Daido Station on the JR Sanyo Line and about 15 minutes by car from Hofu-Higashi IC or Hofu-Nishi IC on the Sanyo Expressway. A car park is available. Address: 1143 Daido Obata, Hofu City. Google Maps. Links: Tabitabi Hofu page, Yamaguchi tourism site.
| Name | Warai-ko (Obata Hachiman Shrine) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1143 Daido Obata, Hofu City |
| Phone | 0835-25-2148 (Hofu Tourism and Convention Association) |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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4.2 Special exhibition “Mohri Family New Year” (企画展「毛利家のお正月」), Hofu City, December 11 to January 25
The Mohri Museum shows New Year decorations that belonged to the Mohri family in its Exhibition Room 2, together with paintings and crafts with lucky motifs. It runs from Friday, December 11, 2026 to Monday, January 25, 2027, 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30). The museum is closed from December 22 to 31.
Admission to the museum is ¥900 for adults and ¥250 for elementary and junior high school students. The garden is ¥500 for adults and ¥250 for students. There is a car park. By public transport, take a bus bound for Amidaji from JR Hofu Station (about 6 minutes) to “Mori Hontei Iriguchi” (毛利本邸入口), then walk about 6 minutes. Address: 1-15-1 Tatara, Hofu City. Google Maps. Links: Tabitabi Hofu page, Yamaguchi tourism site.
| Name | Special exhibition "Mohri Family New Year" (Mohri Museum) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-15-1 Tatara, Hofu City |
| Phone | 0835-22-0001 (Mori Hokokai) |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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4.3 Bell ringing on New Year’s Eve (除夜の鐘つき), Hofu City, December 31
At Todaiji Betsuin Amidaji Temple, the bell is rung 108 times, matching the number of worldly desires in Buddhism. It starts at 23:00 on Thursday, December 31. Cost and parking are not stated on the page. Link: Tabitabi Hofu page. Location: Hofu City. Phone: 0835-38-0839. Google Maps.
| Name | Bell ringing on New Year's Eve (Todaiji Betsuin Amidaji Temple) |
|---|---|
| Address | Hofu City, Yamaguchi |
| Phone | 0835-38-0839 (Amidaji Temple) |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
5. Shunan area
Shunan City
As of October 8, the Shunan city page says the December 12 factory-night walk has reached capacity and sign-up is closed. The earlier sessions on October 24 and November 22 were also full.
5.1 Factory Night Walk, Shunan City, December 12
A Shunan factory-night guide leads a walk of about 120 minutes. Meet at 17:00 at the Shunan tourist information center “Machi no Port” (まちのポート), which is on the first floor of Tokuyama Deck D1. The route takes in Tokuyama Port Town, the observation deck of Tokuyama Port Building (not normally open at night) and Harumi Waterside Park, a Japan Night View Heritage site. It ends at JR Tokuyama Station. Each walker receives a souvenir and an original novelty, and a pin badge at the finish.
The fee is ¥1,000 per person, free for children below elementary school age. Capacity is about 20 people, first come first served. If fewer than 5 sign up, the city informs applicants of cancellation about 5 days before. The walk is cancelled in rain, with a decision by 15:00 on the day. Children aged 15 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Sign-up is through a form on the city’s page. Check that page for any reopening. Address of the meeting point: 1-26 Minami Ginza, Shunan City. Google Maps. Link: Shunan City page.
| Name | Shunan Factory Night Walk (meet at Machi no Port) |
|---|---|
| Address | Tokuyama Deck D1 1F, 1-26 Minami Ginza, Shunan City, Yamaguchi |
| Phone | 0834-22-8372 (Shunan City Tourism Promotion Division) |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
6. Hagi area
Depends on the organizer
The Hagi Castle Town Marathon is on Sunday, December 13 at Hagi Wellness Park, with mochi throwing and local specialty stalls on site. Runner entry closed in September, so a visit now is as a spectator.
6.1 Ishin-no-Sato Hagi Castle Town Marathon 2026, Hagi City, December 13
There are four races: half marathon, 5 km, 2 km and a family race (2 km), where elementary school children run with a parent or guardian. Registration is from 8:00 to 9:00. The half marathon and the family race start at 10:00, and the 5 km and 2 km races start at 10:20. The venue closes at 15:00. The race goes ahead in rain. Finishers are served fugu (blowfish) hot pot and natsumikan citrus juice. Local specialty stalls and mochi throwing are on site, and the organizer says spectators can enjoy them too.
Parking at Hagi Wellness Park is limited, so use the temporary car park and the free shuttle bus. It is about 10 minutes by taxi from JR Higashi-Hagi Station. Address: 73-7 Tsubaki Kiriguchi, Hagi City. Google Maps. Links: official race outline, race features, Yamaguchi tourism site.
| Name | Hagi Castle Town Marathon (Hagi Wellness Park) |
|---|---|
| Address | 73-7 Tsubaki Kiriguchi, Hagi City |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
7. Where can you get a Shichi-Go-San blessing in Yamaguchi?
Depends on the shrine
Shichi-Go-San (七五三, “seven-five-three”) is a Japanese custom for children aged 3 (boys and girls), 5 (boys) and 7 (girls). Families visit a shrine to give thanks for the child’s growth and receive a blessing (kito, 祈祷). The shrine usually asks for a gift of money called hatsuho-ryo (初穂料). The traditional day is November 15, which is a Sunday in 2026, but families go on other days in the season.
All four shrines below take visitors without a booking on the day. Kameyama Hachimangu sets its fee per child. The other three state it per person, so siblings each pay the fee.
| Shrine | City | Hours | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kameyama Hachimangu | Shimonoseki | 9:00 to 16:00 | ¥5,000 or more |
| Hofu Tenmangu | Hofu | Until 16:30 | ¥8,000 or more |
| Kotozaki Hachimangu | Ube | 8:30 to 16:30 | From ¥5,000 |
| Toishi Hachimangu | Shunan | 9:00 to 16:00 | ¥5,000 or more |
Shrines count age the traditional way (kazoe-doshi, 数え年), but they say you may also go by your child’s age in years. Based on Kameyama Hachimangu’s table for Reiwa 8 (2026):
| Age | Child | Traditional age: born in | Age in years: born in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Boys and girls | 2024 | 2023 |
| 5 | Boys | 2022 | 2021 |
| 7 | Girls | 2020 | 2019 |
7.1 Kameyama Hachimangu, Shimonoseki
The fee is ¥5,000 or more per child, no booking is needed, and reception is from 9:00 to 16:00. You can receive the blessing at any time of year, not only in November. Children get chitose-ame candy and an amulet. A souvenir set for siblings (candy and a toy) costs ¥1,000; ask at reception. Offering envelopes are available at the shrine.
You sit on a chair for the blessing, so kneeling is not needed. On festival or wedding days there may be a wait, and the shrine asks you to phone once you have chosen a date. If a family member cannot come, a blessing by post is available for a ¥1,000 handling fee on top of the offering.
The shrine has a car park for 30 cars. By public transport, take a bus from JR Shimonoseki Station (about 5 minutes) or JR Shin-Shimonoseki Station (about 17 minutes) to “Karato” (唐戸) and walk 3 minutes. Address: 1-1 Nakanocho, Shimonoseki City. Google Maps. Phone: 083-231-1323. Links: Shichi-Go-San guide, blessings, access.
7.2 Hofu Tenmangu, Hofu
No booking is needed. The fee is ¥8,000 or more per person, applied for on the day at the blessing reception hall (客殿), and reception closes at 16:30. The hall is outside the west gate of the cloister, on the right. You join other families for the blessing. If you want it for your family alone, apply by phone. Grandparents and relatives can come in too, though seats may be apart on weekends and holidays. A visiting photographer can take photos.
Blessings are held all year, but keepsakes such as chitose-ame are handed out only from September to November. Weekends and holidays in November are busiest, and with festivals or weddings the wait can exceed an hour. From October 1 to late November, a go board (碁盤) is set out for the “go-ban ceremony”, in which a child stands on it, bows to the shrine and jumps down. A nursing room and diaper-changing table are inside the reception hall.
2026 is a year of the 1,125th anniversary festival, planned for Saturday, November 28. Because of construction for it, the route from the Bairin car park to the main gate has changed. The Tenjinyama Park car park holds 500 cars and is free. Visitors using wheelchairs or strollers can park near the car blessing area behind the hall. It is about 15 minutes on foot from JR Hofu Station, or about 5 minutes by bus bound for Amidaji from stop 2 at Hofu Station Tenjin-guchi (north side) to “Hofu Tenmangu”, then 3 minutes on foot. By car it is about 10 minutes from Hofu-Higashi IC or Hofu-Nishi IC. Address: 14-1 Matsuzakicho, Hofu City. Google Maps. Phone: 0835-23-7700. Links: Shichi-Go-San page, blessings, access, latest news.
7.3 Kotozaki Hachimangu, Ube
The Shichi-Go-San season is late October to mid-December. Blessings are also available outside it, but chitose-ame may not be included. Reception is from 8:30 to 16:30, and the shrine asks you to avoid 12:00 to 13:00 if you can. It is not a booking system: you apply at the shrine office on the day, are taken to the main hall in order and share the blessing with others who applied at the same time.
The fee starts at ¥5,000 per person. Children receive a Shichi-Go-San amulet plus gifts such as chitose-ame and character goods. If you forget a gift envelope, the shrine office sells them for ¥50 each. Weddings and festivals can cause a wait, so the shrine asks you to inquire once the day is set.
Address: 571 Oaza Kamiube Okoji, Ube City. Google Maps. Phone: 0836-21-0008. Links: Shichi-Go-San page, FAQ.
7.4 Toishi Hachimangu, Shunan
No booking is needed. Reception is from 9:00 to 16:00, and the fee is ¥5,000 or more for an individual. Go straight to the shrine office. The shrine says the timing of your visit can be arranged to suit the family.
Next to the shrine, Toishi Kaikan offers a “Shichi-Go-San pack” that bundles the blessing fee, costume and dressing. For fiscal 2026 (Reiwa 8) it runs from September 1 to December 20. Girls (3 and 7) get hair and make-up, and boys (3 and 5) get dressing. A pack with one photo pose is also available. Book the pack at least 10 days ahead, and a costume fitting at least a week ahead. Phone Toishi Kaikan on 0834-32-2181 or use its booking form.
A car park is available. By car it is 15 minutes from Tokuyama-Higashi IC on the Sanyo Expressway. By bus, take a Bocho Bus from the front of JR Tokuyama Station to “Toishi Hachimangu-mae”. Address: 2-3-1 Toishi, Shunan City. Google Maps. Phone: 0834-32-8888 (8:00 to 16:30). Links: blessings, access, Shichi-Go-San pack (Toishi Kaikan).
8. How do you choose?
For a child-friendly evening, the choices are the meteor tour at Akiyoshidai and the factory-night walk in Shunan. Both are on December 12, and the walk is currently full. Without a booking, you can go to the Warai-ko ritual, watch the Hagi marathon or go to the countdown fireworks. For the school break, the Ube fireworks (planned), the bell ringing and the Mohri Museum display, which runs into the New Year, are the options.
For Shichi-Go-San, Hofu Tenmangu has a large free car park and the go-ban ceremony, and the other three shrines start at ¥5,000. If you also want costume and photos arranged, Toishi Hachimangu has a pack through Toishi Kaikan. Hours and ceremony plans can change, so check the official page or phone before you go.
9. Common questions
Which events need a booking?
The Akiyoshidai meteor tour and the Shunan factory-night walk. Both are first come, first served and close when full. Runner entry for the Hagi marathon closed in September.
What happens in rain?
The meteor tour has no rain cancellation. If the sky is cloudy, it moves to an astronomy class inside Karstar. The factory-night walk is cancelled in rain, with a decision by 15:00 on the day. The Hagi marathon goes ahead in rain.
Can we have the Shichi-Go-San blessing outside November?
Kameyama Hachimangu and Hofu Tenmangu accept it all year. At Hofu Tenmangu, keepsakes are given only from September to November. At Kotozaki Hachimangu, chitose-ame may not be included outside the season.
Can grandparents join the blessing?
At Hofu Tenmangu, yes, although seats may be apart on weekends and holidays. At Kameyama Hachimangu you sit on a chair for the blessing.
Can we take photos at Hofu Tenmangu?
A visiting photographer can take photos. The shrine asks that other worshippers are not in the photos, and that you wear suitable clothes inside the hall.
Sources (checked October 2026)
3 pages we checked
- Official pages of each event and shrine, linked in each section. Checked on October 6, 2026 (Japan time). The Shunan, Ube, Akiyoshidai and Hagi pages were read again on October 11, 2026.
- Yamaguchi Tourism Federation event listings (yamaguchi-tourism.jp).
- Photo of Kotozaki Hachimangu: full moon69, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Dates, times and prices can change. Check the organizer’s page before you go.
