Tokyo Events December 2026: Dates, Tickets & Deadlines

Short answer: The big Tokyo events in December 2026 are the Chichibu Night Festival (2–3 Dec), Tokyo Comic Con (11–13 Dec), Hagoita-ichi at Senso-ji (17–19 Dec), Jump Festa (19–20 Dec) and Comiket 109 (29–31 Dec), plus free illuminations and Christmas markets that mostly end on 25 December. From 29 December to 3 January many gardens, museums and small restaurants close for New Year. For Christmas Eve itself, see where to book Christmas dinner in Tokyo.

The big Tokyo events December 2026 has to offer are the Chichibu Night Festival (2–3 Dec), Tokyo Comic Con (11–13 Dec), Jump Festa (19–20 Dec), the Hagoita-ichi paddle fair at Senso-ji (17–19 Dec) and Comiket 109 (29–31 Dec), on top of a month of free illuminations and Christmas markets that close on 25 December. Then the city switches to New Year mode: from about 29 December many restaurants, gardens and museums shut, and the action moves to temples ringing their bells at midnight on the 31st.

Below is every one of the Tokyo events December 2026 brings that we could verify, week by week, with prices, station and booking links. Each date is marked Confirmed (published by the organiser), Expected (a fixed annual date or clear pattern, not yet announced for 2026) or TBA. You also get the deadlines that matter, because the best December tickets go on sale in November. Last checked: 1 November 2026.

Key takeaways

• Five dates to pencil in: Chichibu Night Festival main night Thu 3 Dec; Tokyo Comic Con Fri 11–Sun 13 Dec; Hagoita-ichi Thu 17–Sat 19 Dec; Arima Kinen Sun 27 Dec; Comiket 109 Tue 29–Thu 31 Dec.
• Christmas is a working day in Japan. Shops are open on 25 December. The markets and most themed light-ups end that night.
• Book in November: Chichibu seats (sold 31 Oct–3 Nov), the Tokyo Skytree New Year sunrise lottery (5–26 Nov) and January sumo tickets (on sale Sat 5 Dec).
• Weather: average high 12.0°C, low 3.8°C, only 57.9 mm of rain all month (JMA 1991–2020 normals). Sunset is 16:28 on 1 December, so the lights are on before 17:00.
• It’s busy: Japan logged 3,617,700 visitors in December 2025, a December record (JNTO).
• 29 Dec–3 Jan is the shutdown window. Gardens, many museums and small restaurants close. Convenience stores and temples don’t.

Tokyo events December 2026 at a glance: week by week

Coming in November? Our Tokyo events November 2026 guide covers the month before. Many of the lights below switch on in November and simply carry on into December.

Week 1: 1–7 December

Dates	Event	Where	Price	Status	Info / tickets
Ongoing to 25 Dec	Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka illumination and Christmas market	Roppongi	Free	Confirmed	Roppongi Hills
Ongoing to 25 Dec	Tokyo Christmas Market, Shin-Toyosu	Toyosu	¥1,000 weekdays / ¥1,500 weekends	Confirmed	Official site
Ongoing to 10 Jan	Tokyo Mega Illumination (closed 30 Nov–4 Dec)	Oi Racecourse	From ¥800 in advance	Confirmed	Official site
Ongoing to 4 Apr	Yomiuriland Jewellumination	Inagi	¥1,800 (¥1,600 online)	Confirmed	Yomiuriland
Wed 2 – Thu 3 Dec	Chichibu Night Festival	Chichibu, Saitama	Free; seats ¥4,000	Confirmed	Our guide
Fri 4 Dec	Tokyo Christmas Market opens its Shiba Park site	Onarimon	As Shin-Toyosu	Confirmed	Official site
Sat 5 Dec	January sumo tickets on general sale	Online	Chair seats from ¥3,500	Confirmed	Ticket Oosumo
Sat 5 Dec	Odaiba Rainbow Fireworks, 19:00 (also 12, 19 and 26 Dec)	Odaiba	Free	Confirmed	Official site

Week 2: 8–14 December

Dates	Event	Where	Price	Status	Info / tickets
Fri 11 – Sun 13 Dec	Tokyo Comic Con 2026	Makuhari Messe, Chiba	¥5,500 per day in advance; 3-Day Pass ¥9,900	Confirmed	Tickets
11 – 27 Dec	Ao no Dokutsu blue lights	Shibuya to Yoyogi Park	Free	Expected (dates listed by ARTE TOKYO, hours TBA)	Our illuminations guide
Sat 12 – Mon 14 Dec	Gishisai (47 Ronin festival)	Sengakuji, Takanawa	Free (museum ¥500)	Confirmed	Sengakuji

Week 3: 15–21 December

Dates	Event	Where	Price	Status	Info / tickets
Tue 15 – Wed 16 Dec	Setagaya Boro-ichi flea market	Setagaya	Free	Expected (fixed date every year)	Setagaya City
Thu 17 – Sat 19 Dec	Hagoita-ichi paddle fair	Senso-ji, Asakusa	Free	Expected (fixed date every year)	GO TOKYO
Sat 19 – Sun 20 Dec	Jump Festa 2027	Makuhari Messe, Chiba	Free, advance application only	Confirmed	Jump Festa

Week 4: 22–31 December

Dates	Event	Where	Price	Status	Info / tickets
Thu 24 – Fri 25 Dec	Christmas Eve and Day: last nights of the markets and most themed lights	Citywide	Shin-Toyosu market ¥2,000 on these two days	Confirmed	Our Christmas market guide
24 Dec – 1 Jan	Tokyo Mega Illumination closed	Oi Racecourse	—	Confirmed	Official site
Sat 26 – Sun 27 Dec	Hopeful Stakes (26th) and Arima Kinen (27th) horse races	Nakayama Racecourse, Chiba	See JRA	Confirmed	JRA G1 calendar
Tue 29 – Thu 31 Dec	Comiket 109 (C109)	Tokyo Big Sight	See official page	Confirmed	C109 info
Thu 31 Dec	Joya no kane bells, countdowns, JR overnight trains	Citywide	Mostly free	Confirmed / Expected by venue	Our New Year guide

Book-by deadlines for December 2026 in Tokyo

The best tickets for Tokyo events December 2026 are sold in October and November. Miss these and you’re on standby.

1. Chichibu Night Festival seats — by Tue 3 Nov. The 200 in-person seats for the 3 December main night (¥4,000) are sold at Yao Department Store in Chichibu, 31 Oct–3 Nov, 10:00–18:30, cash only, up to four per person. The postcard lottery has closed.
2. Chichibu train seats — about one month ahead. Seibu Laview reserved seats go on sale one month before travel, so around 2–3 November for the festival nights.
3. Jump Festa general application — 2–16 Nov. It needs a Japanese address. Results come on 24 November.
4. Yoyogi Forest of Lights early-bird — to 30 Nov. ¥2,400 instead of ¥3,200. Details are in our illuminations guide.
5. Tokyo Skytree New Year sunrise lottery — 5–26 Nov. ¥11,000 per person. The full rundown is in our New Year in Tokyo 2027 guide.
6. Kanda Myojin New Year prayer booking — closes 17:00, Fri 27 Nov (also in the New Year guide).
7. Shinkansen for the year-end rush — one month ahead, from 10:00. For 29 December, that’s 29 November. The homecoming rush fills trains either side of New Year.
8. Zojoji New Year bell tickets — expected on sale 1 Dec, in person.
9. January sumo — Sat 5 Dec. The Hatsu Basho runs 10–24 January 2027 at Ryogoku Kokugikan. Chair seats C are ¥3,500 on weekdays and ¥4,000 on weekends (Japan Sumo Association). Our sumo tickets guide explains how to buy.
10. Tokyo Comic Con — now. Tickets have been on sale since 27 July. The 3-Day Pass is limited.

December 2026’s headline events in Tokyo, in full

These are the headline Tokyo events December 2026 has beyond the illuminations and Christmas markets, which have their own guides. These are the other events worth building a day around.

1. Chichibu Night Festival (Festival)

The Lowdown: One of Japan’s three great float festivals, with six huge lantern-lit floats hauled up a steep slope while winter fireworks go off overhead. Confirmed: Wed 2 Dec (eve) and Thu 3 Dec (main night), 2026. The main show runs from about 19:00 to 22:00.

Where: Chichibu, Saitama. Seibu Laview from Ikebukuro to Seibu-Chichibu, about 77 minutes.

The Vibe: Packed, loud, freezing and unforgettable. It’s a Thursday this year, so expect locals more than weekend day-trippers.

Price: Free to watch. Reserved seats ¥4,000. Laview ¥1,700 one way.

Official Link: All times, seat sales and access are in our Chichibu Night Festival guide.

💡 Japan Pro Tip: Book your return Laview the moment sales open. If you can’t get one, the eve (2 Dec) is far calmer and still has floats out.

2. Tokyo Comic Con 2026 (Pop culture convention)

The Lowdown: Japan’s Western-style comic con celebrates its 10th anniversary. Confirmed: Fri 11 – Sun 13 Dec 2026. Announced guests include Nicolas Cage (his first Tokyo Comic Con; Sat and Sun only), Mads Mikkelsen, John Cena (Sat and Sun only) and Giancarlo Esposito. Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio were announced, then cancelled.

Where: Makuhari Messe, Chiba. Kaihin-Makuhari Station on the JR Keiyo Line, about 30 minutes from Tokyo Station.

The Vibe: Marvel, Star Wars and Hollywood cosplay, plus a big artist alley.

Price: Single day ¥5,500 in advance or ¥5,900 on the door. Ages 18 and under ¥1,000, 15 and under ¥500, and primary-school age and younger free with a guardian. 3-Day Pass ¥9,900 (limited). Photo and autograph tickets cost extra (¥23,000–¥34,000 so far) and need an entry ticket too. Hours: Fri 11:00–19:00, Sat 10:00–19:00, Sun 10:00–18:00.

Official Link: tokyocomiccon.jp/ticket

💡 Japan Pro Tip: The 3-Day Pass costs less than two single days. Buy it even if you only plan to go twice.

3. Jump Festa 2027 (Anime and manga expo)

The Lowdown: Shueisha’s giant Shonen Jump showcase, with stage events and exclusive merch for One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen and other series. Confirmed: Sat 19 – Sun 20 Dec 2026, 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30).

Where: Makuhari Messe, Halls 1–9 and 11.

The Vibe: Long queues, serious fans, sell-out merch.

Price: Free, but entry is by advance application only. Every attendee from primary-school age needs an e-ticket in the Jump NAVI app.

Official Link: jumpfesta.com (dates and application rules also reported by Famitsu).

💡 Japan Pro Tip: The general application needs a Japanese address. If you don’t have one, this isn’t a walk-up event, so plan Comic Con instead.

4. Comiket 109 (Fan comics market)

The Lowdown: The world’s biggest self-published comics market. Confirmed: Tue 29 – Thu 31 Dec 2026. It runs for three days for the first time since 2018.

Where: Tokyo Big Sight, Ariake. Kokusai-Tenjijo Station (Rinkai Line) or Tokyo Big Sight Station (Yurikamome).

The Vibe: Huge crowds, doujinshi tables, corporate booths and a cosplay area.

Price: General visitors need a paid entry ticket or wristband, as at recent Comikets. The C109 ticket details are due in early November, so check the official page before you go. Circle booths open 10:30–16:00.

Official Link: Comiket 109 information

💡 Japan Pro Tip: Overnight queuing near the venue is banned. Arrive after midday if you just want to see it. The morning queues are for collectors.

5. Hagoita-ichi at Senso-ji (Traditional market)

The Lowdown: For three days Senso-ji’s grounds fill with stalls selling hagoita, decorated battledore paddles bought as New Year lucky charms. Expected: Thu 17 – Sat 19 Dec 2026. It’s held on these dates every year.

Where: Senso-ji, Asakusa. Asakusa Station (Ginza, Asakusa and Tobu lines).

The Vibe: Old Edo. Stallholders clap their hands to seal each sale.

Price: Free to browse. In 2025 the market ran 9:00–19:30 (to 19:00 on the last day).

Official Link: GO TOKYO

💡 Japan Pro Tip: Go after dark, when the paddles are lit up. Senso-ji is also worth a look before New Year, when the hatsumode crowds arrive.

6. Setagaya Boro-ichi (Flea market)

The Lowdown: A flea market that has run for more than 440 years, with antiques, kimono, tools and street food along one long street. Expected: Tue 15 – Wed 16 Dec 2026 (and again 15–16 Jan 2027). The city lists it for the 15th and 16th of December and January every year.

Where: Boroichi-dori, Setagaya 1-chome. Three minutes from Setagaya or Kamimachi stations on the Tokyu Setagaya Line.

The Vibe: Locals hunting bargains. Not a tourist market.

Price: Free. 9:00–20:00. It may change or close in bad weather.

Official Link: Setagaya City

💡 Japan Pro Tip: Buy the daikan mochi (rice cakes) early. The queue gets long by lunchtime. There’s no parking, so take the tram.

7. Gishisai at Sengakuji (Traditional festival)

The Lowdown: A memorial for the 47 Ronin, the samurai who avenged their lord on the 14th day of the 12th month of 1702 (old calendar; January 1703 on ours) and are buried here. Confirmed: Sat 12 – Mon 14 Dec 2026. The highlight is the Gishi parade, due at the temple at about 15:30 on the 14th. The grounds are open 7:00–20:00. Rurubu puts last year’s crowd at about 20,000.

Where: Sengakuji, 2-11-1 Takanawa. Three minutes from Sengakuji Station (Toei Asakusa and Keikyu lines).

The Vibe: Incense smoke, food stalls and a parade in Edo costume.

Price: Free. Incense for the graves ¥500. Memorial museum ¥500 for adults (9:00–18:00).

Official Link: Sengakuji: Gishisai

💡 Japan Pro Tip: Combine it with the new Takanawa Gateway area, a seven-minute walk away.

8. Arima Kinen (Horse racing)

The Lowdown: Japan’s year-end all-star race, where fans vote for the field. Confirmed: Sun 27 Dec 2026, with the Hopeful Stakes the day before, both at Nakayama.

Where: Nakayama Racecourse, Funabashi, Chiba. Funabashi-Hoten Station (JR Musashino Line).

The Vibe: A huge crowd, loud and well dressed, with lots of betting slips.

Price: See JRA. Check entry and seat rules before you go.

Official Link: JRA G1 calendar 2026

💡 Japan Pro Tip: You don’t need to bet big. A ¥100 ticket gives you a stake in the race.

9. Odaiba Rainbow Fireworks (Fireworks)

The Lowdown: Short winter fireworks over Tokyo Bay. Confirmed: Sat 5, 12, 19 and 26 Dec 2026, from 19:00 for about five minutes, with about 1,300 shells a night planned. Unlike 2025, there’s no Christmas Eve show this year.

Where: Off Odaiba Seaside Park.

The Vibe: A free bonus, not a destination. Watch from the beach with Rainbow Bridge behind.

Price: Free.

Official Link: Odaiba Rainbow Fireworks 2026

💡 Japan Pro Tip: Five minutes goes fast, so be on the beach by 18:45. Last year the show went ahead in rain and was called off only in storms. Stay on for the Rainbow Bridge lights.

Tokyo Christmas events 2026: illuminations and markets in brief

The festive side of Tokyo events December 2026, in short, with links to our full guides.

• Illuminations: Marunouchi (from 12 Nov), Roppongi Keyakizaka (to 25 Dec), Yebisu’s Baccarat chandelier (to 11 Jan) and a dozen more are free. Paid shows: Yoyogi Forest of Lights ¥3,200, Yomiuriland Jewellumination ¥1,800. Full list in our Tokyo illuminations 2026 guide.
• Tokyo Mega Illumination: the final season at Oi Racecourse runs to 10 January, from ¥800 in advance. It’s closed 30 Nov–4 Dec and 24 Dec–1 Jan. See our Tokyo Mega Illumination 2026 guide.
• Christmas markets: Tokyo Christmas Market at Shin-Toyosu (to 25 Dec) and Shiba Park (from 4 Dec), Roppongi Hills, Yebisu, Ueno and WHITE KITTE in Marunouchi (19 Nov–25 Dec). Prices and hours are in our Tokyo Christmas market 2026 guide.
• Christmas Eve is date night. In Japan, 24 December is a couples’ evening. Restaurants book out and the lights are busiest from 18:00 to 21:00. See how to book restaurants in Japan.

Tokyo New Year’s Eve 2026 events

There’s no official Shibuya scramble countdown. The last one was for 2019–20, and street drinking around Shibuya Station is banned at night. Instead, Tokyo does New Year quietly: temples ring their bells 108 times (joya no kane), and crowds head to shrines after midnight for hatsumode.

• Bell-ringing: Zojoji sells ringing tickets (¥2,000 last year; sale expected 1 Dec). At Senso-ji you can watch only.
• Trains: JR East runs extra overnight trains on 31 Dec, including the Yamanote Line from about 1:00 to 4:50 (confirmed). Tokyo Metro didn’t run overnight last year.
• Clubs and hotels: ticketed countdown parties, with 2026 line-ups TBA.

Times, temples, sunrise spots and the open/closed list are all in our New Year in Tokyo 2027 guide.

Tokyo in December: weather, what to wear and closures

Weather. December is cold, dry and bright. Tokyo’s averages are a 12.0°C high, a 3.8°C low, 57.9 mm of rain and 174.4 hours of sun (JMA 1991–2020 normals). Sunset is 16:28 on 1 December and 16:37 on 31 December (NAOJ). Snow in central Tokyo in December is rare.

What to wear. Layers. Trains, shops and museums are heated, and streets at 21:00 are near freezing. Bring a warm coat, a scarf and shoes you can stand in for two hours at an outdoor market. For Chichibu, add thermals and gloves. You’ll be standing outside until about 22:00. Convenience stores sell disposable heat packs (kairo).

Closures 29 December – 3 January.

Type	What to expect
25 December	Normal working day. Shops, museums and offices open.
Gardens	Shinjuku Gyoen closed 29 Dec–3 Jan; Imperial Palace East Gardens 28 Dec–3 Jan (Confirmed)
Museums	Many close for New Year. Tokyo National Museum is closed 26–31 Dec (only the Horyuji Treasures gallery and Kuroda Memorial Hall open 22–25 Dec) and reopens 1 Jan, 12:00–20:00 (Confirmed).
Small restaurants and bars	Many close from about 29 or 30 Dec to 3 Jan. Chains and hotels stay open.
Department stores	Shorter hours on 31 Dec; most closed 1 Jan and reopen 2 Jan (a few on 1 Jan) with lucky-bag sales (Expected)
Convenience stores, temples, shrines	Open (Expected)
Banks and post office counters	Closed 31 Dec–3 Jan (Expected). Use 7-Eleven ATMs for cash.

More on the season and the day trips that are worth doing in it: winter in Japan and Japan public holidays 2027.

Free vs paid: things to do in Tokyo in December 2026

Free	Paid
Marunouchi, Roppongi Keyakizaka, Yebisu and Ao no Dokutsu lights	Yoyogi Forest of Lights ¥3,200 (¥2,400 early-bird)
Roppongi Hills, Yebisu and Ueno Christmas markets (entry)	Tokyo Christmas Market from ¥1,000
Hagoita-ichi, Boro-ichi, Gishisai	Tokyo Mega Illumination from ¥800; Jewellumination ¥1,800
Chichibu Night Festival (standing)	Chichibu seats ¥4,000 + Laview ¥1,700 one way
Jump Festa (by application)	Tokyo Comic Con from ¥5,500 per day
Joya no kane watching, hatsumode	Zojoji bell tickets (¥2,000 last year); January sumo from ¥3,500

On a budget, the cheapest of the Tokyo events December 2026 offers is a free night: Marunouchi’s lights, WHITE KITTE and a convenience-store hot drink, all within five minutes of Tokyo Station.

A 3-day December itinerary for Tokyo

This plan uses Thu 17 – Sat 19 December, when Hagoita-ichi is on and the Christmas markets are in their final week.

Day 1 (Thu 17): Old Tokyo, then Marunouchi lights

• Morning: Senso-ji and Hagoita-ichi.
• Afternoon: Ueno Park and the Christmas Advent stalls.
• After 16:30: Marunouchi illumination and WHITE KITTE, then dinner near Tokyo Station.

Day 2 (Fri 18): Christmas market and Roppongi

• Afternoon: Tokyo Christmas Market, Shiba Park, with Tokyo Tower behind it (weekday price ¥1,000).
• Evening: Roppongi Hills market and the Keyakizaka lights, a short subway ride away.

Day 3 (Sat 19): Pick your fandom or the bay

• Option A: Jump Festa at Makuhari, if you won an entry.
• Option B: teamLab and Odaiba by day (see teamLab Tokyo tickets), then Tokyo Mega Illumination at Oi Racecourse. Or stay in Odaiba: the Rainbow Fireworks go up at 19:00 on 19 December.

Coming earlier? Swap Day 3 for Chichibu on 2 or 3 December, or Tokyo Comic Con on 11–13 December.

Tokyo events December 2026: FAQ

Sources: Comiket C109; Tokyo Comic Con tickets; Famitsu on Jump Festa 2027; Ticket Oosumo and Japan Sumo Association; JRA G1 calendar; Setagaya City; GO TOKYO Hagoita-ichi; Sengakuji Gishisai; Odaiba Rainbow Fireworks 2026; JMA climate normals; NAOJ sunrise and sunset; JNTO December 2025 arrivals. Last checked: 1 November 2026.