Christmas Events for Kids in Okayama (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

3 min read · 日本語で読む

For 2026, we confirmed 5 Christmas events for kids in Okayama. The season opens on November 6 with Nishikawa Illumi 2026 and runs until February 14 with Okayama Forest Park Doitsu no Mori (German Forest) Winter Illumination. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Japan.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Okayama, Akaiwa, Ibara and Soja: 5
  • First: Nishikawa Illumi 2026, Okayama, November 6
  • Free events: None confirmed yet

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by town, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (registration, ages, what is included).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Okayama

Kids’ Christmas events
5 confirmed for 2026
Towns
Okayama, Akaiwa, Ibara and Soja
Season
November 6 to February 14
Free events
None confirmed yet
Last checked

Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Okayama

Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.

Christmas lights

Nishikawa Illumi 2026

Expand to see the parent tip

In 2026 it is lit every day from 5 pm to 10 pm, from Nov 6 to Jan 3, 2027. The venue is about 550 m of greenway from Momotaro-odori to Akura-dori. For the fee, check with Okayama City's contact line (086-803-1393).

Parent tip: The greenway is a flat path, so it is easy to walk with a stroller. It gets cold at night, so bring one more layer for the kids.

Host
Okayama City (opens in a new tab)
Where
Nishikawa Greenway Park, 岡山市北区南方1丁目から清輝橋1丁目, Okayama (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Okayama City (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 4 more Okayama events researched for you.

  • New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Okayama.
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Coming up on this page

  • 5 Lights
  • 1 Zoos and museums

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Christmas lights

Okayama Momotaro Festival MOMOTAROH FANTASY 2026

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In 2026 it is lit every day from 5 pm to 10 pm, from Nov 26 to Jan 11, 2027. On the first day only, Nov 26, it starts at 6 pm. The venues are around JR Okayama Station, part of Shiyakusho-suji, part of Haremachi-dori and more. For details such as fees, check the official website or call (086-803-1332).

Parent tip: You can walk around from the station, so it is an easy venue to reach by train. On busy weekends, holding your kids' hands keeps them safe.

Host
Okayama Momotaro Festival (opens in a new tab)
Where
Around JR Okayama Station, Shiyakusho-suji, Haremachi-dori, 岡山市北区駅元町 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Okayama Momotaro Festival (opens in a new tab)

New events in Okayama every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Okayama every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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Christmas events for kids in Akaiwa

Christmas lights

Okayama Forest Park Doitsu no Mori (German Forest) Winter Illumination (Akaiwa)

Expand to see the parent tip

In 2026 it runs from Nov 21 to Feb 14, 2027, open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. From Dec 24 to Jan 5, it is open every day. It is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Entry is 5 pm to 9 pm, with last entry at 8 pm. Admission is 1,500 yen for junior high school and up, 1,000 yen for age 4 to elementary school, and free for ages 3 and under. The light swing costs 500 yen extra per ride.

Parent tip: The light swing is canceled on rainy days. The park is large and has some high places, so hold small children's hands as you go around.

Host
Okayama Forest Park Doitsu no Mori (opens in a new tab)
Where
Okayama Forest Park Doitsu no Mori, 赤磐市仁堀中2006, Akaiwa (opens in maps) (near 岡山)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Okayama Forest Park Doitsu no Mori (opens in a new tab)

New events in Okayama every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Okayama every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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Christmas events for kids in Ibara

Christmas lights

Minakurune 2026-2027 (Ibara)

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In 2026 it runs from Nov 22 to Jan 30, 2027. The lights are on from around 5 pm to 10 pm. The venue is Ibara Station Plaza and the shopping street in front of the station, and the station's symbol tower is lit. For questions about fees and more, contact the Ibara Chamber of Commerce Youth Division (0866-62-0420).

Parent tip: It is a short walk from Ibara Station on the Ibara Railway. There is parking too, so you can also go by car.

Host
Ibara Chamber of Commerce Youth Division (opens in a new tab)
Where
Ibara Station Plaza and the shopping street in front of the station, 井原市七日市町7-943-3 (opens in maps) (near 岡山)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Ibara Chamber of Commerce Youth Division (opens in a new tab)

New events in Okayama every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Okayama every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas events for kids in Soja

Christmas lights

SOJA Illumination 2026-2027

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In 2026 it is lit every day from 5 pm to 10 pm, from Nov 28 to Jan 3, 2027. There is a lighting ceremony on the first day. The venues are in front of JR Soja Station, Shiyakusho-dori, Chuo Bunka-suji, City Hall, Kamigatsuji Plaza and more. For the fee, check with the organizer before you go.

Parent tip: The venue is a short walk from the station. If you decide on your train home first, you can head back before the kids get sleepy.

Host
Soja City (opens in a new tab)
Where
In front of JR Soja Station, Shiyakusho-dori, Chuo Bunka-suji, City Hall, Kamigatsuji Plaza and more, 総社市駅前 (opens in maps) (near 岡山)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Soja City (opens in a new tab)

New events in Okayama every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Okayama every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

More Christmas events for kids in Japan

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Christmas events for kids in Okayama: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Okayama?

For 2026, we confirmed 5 Christmas events for kids in Okayama, each on its host’s own page: Okayama Forest Park Doitsu no Mori (German Forest) Winter Illumination (Akaiwa), Minakurune 2026-2027 (Ibara), Okayama Momotaro Festival MOMOTAROH FANTASY 2026 and 2 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 9, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Okayama

Okayama brightens its winter nights with lights. The Momotaro Festival illumination at JR Okayama Station began in 1986, and in 2026 it runs from Nov 26 to Jan 11, 2027. A 550 m greenway, Kurashiki's station lights and a German-style forest park give families plenty of evenings to choose from.

How Okayama celebrates Christmas: a winter of station-front lights

Okayama's winter is led by the Okayama Momotaro Festival, whose winter illumination began in 1986 with the aim of brightening the city. The 40th edition was held in 2025. The venues are the east and west plazas of JR Okayama Station, along with Shiyakusho-suji and Haremachi-dori.

In winter 2026, lights also glow in front of Kurashiki Station and at stations in Soja and Ibara. For a visiting family, this is a season of evening walks, since most of the lights turn on at 5 pm.

What a child will meet: Momotaro lights, a lit greenway and a light swing

The Momotaro Festival lights change theme each year. In 2025 it used about 130,000 LEDs with the theme "Connecting with light, the Momotaro town" and was free to enter. In 2024 the theme was "A Corner of Falling Stars," with an illumination tree at the east plaza and a Peach Arabesque at the west plaza.

The Nishikawa Illumi decorates about 550 m of a park path from Momotaro-odori to Akura-dori. At the German Forest in Akaiwa, a light swing costs 500 yen a ride, and in 2026 there is a lit rose garden.

Planning a Christmas visit to Okayama with kids

The lights begin early. The Nishikawa Illumi opens Nov 6, 2026, and the German Forest on Nov 21. Kurashiki's lights began Oct 31, and the Momotaro Festival opens Nov 26. Soja's lights open Nov 28, and Ibara's Nov 22.

For Christmas itself, the Kurashiki Christmas Market is on Dec 11 and 12 at Kurashiki Ivy Square. Many lights are free to enjoy, and several run past New Year's: Momotaro Festival to Jan 11, Kurashiki to Jan 31, and the German Forest to Feb 14, 2027. Most events are in Japanese, so check with the host if you need English.

Candles and cedar trees: lights near Okayama in 2025

In 2025, Yubara Onsen planned a candle fantasy on Dec 20, with about 1,000 candles from 6 pm to 9 pm, free to see. At the Kuraray Kurashiki plant, two Himalayan cedar trees were decorated with about 100,000 bulbs from Dec 10 to 25, free from 5 pm to 10 pm. The 2026 schedules for both have not been announced.

Traditions today

  • Okayama Momotaro Festival MOMOTAROH FANTASY: Winter lights at JR Okayama Station that started in 1986. In 2026 they run Nov 26 to Jan 11, 2027.
  • Nishikawa Illumi: About 550 m of the Nishikawa Greenway Park is lit, from Nov 6, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027.
  • Kurashiki Kirameki no Michi: Lights at four spots around Kurashiki Station. About 180,000 LEDs were used in the 2025 to 2026 season, and the 2026 run is Oct 31 to Jan 31, 2027.
  • Kurashiki Christmas Market: A two-day market at Kurashiki Ivy Square on Dec 11 and 12, 2026. Entry is free.
  • Winter lights at the German Forest: Held at Okayama Forest Park in Akaiwa, with a light swing. In 2026 they run Nov 21 to Feb 14, 2027.

A fact for kids

Okayama Station's winter lights began in 1986, and in 2025 they celebrated their 40th year.

Questions about Christmas in Okayama

Is Okayama worth visiting at Christmas with kids?

Yes, if you enjoy evening lights. Okayama has the Momotaro Festival at the station, a lit greenway, and nearby Kurashiki, Soja and Ibara all add their own lights. Several of these run well into the new year.

When is the Okayama Momotaro Festival in 2026?

It runs from Nov 26, 2026 to Jan 11, 2027, daily from 5 pm to 10 pm. The first day, Nov 26, starts at 6 pm. The venues include the area around JR Okayama Station and parts of Shiyakusho-suji and Haremachi-dori.

How long has the Momotaro Festival lit up Okayama?

The winter illumination began in 1986, with the aim of brightening the city. The 40th edition was held in 2025. The 2026 edition begins on Nov 26.

How many lights does the Okayama Station illumination have?

In 2025 the Momotaro Festival used about 130,000 LEDs. The city announcement for 2024 also said about 130,000. Items such as an illumination tree at the east plaza and a Peach Arabesque at the west plaza glowed.

Is the Momotaro Festival free?

It was free to enter in 2025. For 2026, check the official website or call 086-803-1332. It is held along city streets and plazas.

What was the theme of the Momotaro Festival in 2025?

The 2025 theme was "Connecting with light, the Momotaro town," and it ran from Nov 27, 2025 to Jan 4, 2026. In 2024 the theme was "A Corner of Falling Stars." The theme changes each year.

What is the Nishikawa Illumi in Okayama?

It lights Nishikawa Greenway Park from Nov 6, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, from 5 pm to 10 pm. The lit path stretches about 550 m from Momotaro-odori to Akura-dori. Check the official site for any fees.

When do the Kurashiki Kirameki no Michi lights run in 2026?

They run from Oct 31, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027, from 5 pm to 10 pm. They spread across four spots north and south of JR Kurashiki Station. On opening day there are a night market, workshops and a bubble show.

Where are the four Kurashiki Kirameki no Michi spots?

They are Kurashiki Mirai Park, Achi Terrace Kurashiki, the pedestrian deck at the north exit of JR Kurashiki Station (Andersen Square) and Achi 2-chome Square. All are near the station, so you can walk between them in one evening.

How many bulbs light Kurashiki station area?

In the 2025 to 2026 season about 180,000 LEDs were used. At Kurashiki Mirai Park, Nordic-style decorations lined the canal, and Andersen Square had an aurora sky theme.

When is the Kurashiki Christmas Market in 2026?

It is on Dec 11 and 12, 2026, at Kurashiki Ivy Square. On Dec 11 it runs from 4 pm to 9 pm, and on Dec 12 from 11 am to 8 pm. Entry is free, while food, goods and workshops cost extra.

Was there a Kurashiki Christmas Market last year?

Yes. In 2025 it was held on Dec 13 and 14, and in 2026 it is planned for Dec 11 and 12. The venue is Kurashiki Ivy Square at Honmachi 7-2, Kurashiki.

Can kids go to the Okayama German Forest winter lights?

Yes. From Nov 21, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027, admission is 1,500 yen for junior high students and older, 1,000 yen for ages 4 to elementary school and free for ages 3 and under. A light swing costs 500 yen a ride.

Is the German Forest open every day?

No. During the run it is open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and daily from Dec 24 to Jan 5. Hours are 5 pm to 9 pm with last entry at 8 pm, and it is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

What is the lit rose garden at the German Forest?

In 2026 the German Forest in Akaiwa has a lit rose garden as part of its winter illumination. The light swing is a separate 500 yen ride. The park is Okayama Forest Park.

What other Christmas lights are near Okayama?

In 2026, Soja station area lights run from Nov 28 to Jan 3, 2027, and Ibara station lights run from Nov 22 to Jan 30, 2027. Both are lit from about 5 pm to 10 pm. These are smaller station-front displays.

How can we see both Okayama and Kurashiki lights in one trip?

One option is to spend one evening at the Momotaro Festival and Nishikawa Greenway in Okayama. On another evening, visit the lights at Kurashiki Station, and on Dec 11 or 12 add the Ivy Square market. Check the dates above.

Which lights are still on at Christmas in Okayama?

On Dec 25, 2026, the Momotaro Festival, Nishikawa Illumi, Kurashiki Kirameki no Michi and Soja lights are all within their run. The German Forest is open daily from Dec 24. Check hours before you go.

Do the Okayama lights continue after New Year?

Yes. The Momotaro Festival runs to Jan 11, 2027, Kurashiki to Jan 31 and the German Forest to Feb 14. The Nishikawa Illumi ends on Jan 3. That helps families who visit over the holidays.

Are there candle or other lights near Yubara Onsen?

In 2025, a candle fantasy was planned for Dec 20 around the sand bath at Yubara Onsen, with about 1,000 candles, from 6 pm to 9 pm, free. The 2026 schedule has not been announced.

What is the Kuraray Christmas Fantasy in Kurashiki?

At the front gate of the Kuraray Kurashiki plant in 2025, two Himalayan cedar trees were decorated with about 100,000 bulbs, from Dec 10 to 25, 5 pm to 10 pm, free. Check for the 2026 dates before you go.

Where can kids meet Santa in Okayama?

Santa meet-and-greets are not listed among the events here. The lights and the market are the main attractions. Check with each venue for other greetings.

Are the Christmas events in Okayama in English?

Most events are in Japanese, and the sources do not say whether English help is offered. The lights are easy to enjoy without much language. If you need English, check with the host.

Sources

  1. おかやま桃太郎まつり MOMOTAROH FANTASY 2025, るるぶ&more
  2. MOMOTAROH FANTASY 2024 報道発表資料, 岡山市
  3. おかやま桃太郎まつり MOMOTAROH FANTASY 2026, おかやま観光コンベンション協会
  4. 【2025~2026】くらしき きらめきのみち, おかやま観光コンベンション協会
  5. 岡山のイルミネーション・クリスマス特集, るるぶ&more
  6. おかやまフォレストパーク ドイツの森 ウィンターイルミネーション, おかやま観光コンベンション協会
  7. 石井十次ゆかりの地を訪ねて, おかやま観光コンベンション協会
  8. 西川イルミ2026, おかやま観光コンベンション協会
  9. Kurashiki Christmas Market 2026, おかやま観光コンベンション協会
  10. 岡山のクリスマスイベント特集, イコーヨ
Kelsey Cecil
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