Christmas Events for Kids in Saitama (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

5 min read · 日本語で読む

For 2026, we confirmed 6 Christmas events for kids in Saitama. The season opens on November 7 with COCOON CITY Christmas Market 2026 and runs until February 14 with Saitama Shintoshin Illumination 2026. Of these, 2 are free. 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 Saitama: 6
  • First: COCOON CITY Christmas Market 2026, Saitama, November 7
  • Free events: COCOON CITY Christmas Market 2026 and Cocoon City Christmas Music Festival 2026

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 Saitama

Kids’ Christmas events
6 confirmed for 2026
Towns
Saitama
Season
November 7 to February 14
Free events
2
Last checked

Free 2Ticketed and paid 4

Free Christmas events for kids in Saitama

Christmas marketFree

COCOON CITY Christmas Market 2026

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The first Christmas market outdoors at Cocoon City, from Sat, Nov 7 to Fri, Dec 25, 2026. According to the Enjoy Tokyo page, 9 huts, each designed like a present, sell food and drinks you can carry around. Carts selling Christmas goods will also appear.

There is also a corner where you pick toppings and make your own hot cocoa. There are champagne-gold lights, a big entrance arch and photo spots. Prices for food and drinks are not listed on the page.

Parent tip: It is a 1-minute walk from the East Exit of Saitama Shintoshin Station and an 8-minute walk from Kitayono Station. On Nov 7 only, it is closed for a while from 4:30 pm to 6:45 pm. Details may change, so check the official website.

Host
Cocoon City (opens in a new tab)
Where
Cocoon City Cocoon Hiroba (Cocoon 2), Keyaki Walk, Omotenashi Plaza (outdoors), 埼玉県さいたま市大宮区吉敷町4丁目263番地1, Saitama (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
レッツエンジョイ東京の掲載ページで詳細を見る (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 5 more Saitama events researched for you.

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Coming up on this page

  • 4 Lights
  • 2 Shows
  • 1 Crafts
  • 1 Markets
  • 2 Free

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Christmas showFree

Cocoon City Christmas Music Festival 2026

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Held on the outdoor stage at Cocoon Hiroba in Cocoon 2 on Sat, Nov 14 and Sat, Nov 28, 2026, from 11 am to 2:30 pm. It is a music festival with performers from Saitama City schools, and watching is free.

It is canceled in heavy rain. The Christmas Market is also held at Cocoon City on the same days, so you can stop by both.

Parent tip: It is outdoors, so bring a jacket on cold days. On Nov 28, the Shimajiro Christmas also starts the same day. It is canceled in the rain, so check the weather before you go.

Host
Cocoon City (opens in a new tab)
Where
Cocoon City Cocoon Hiroba (Cocoon 2) outdoor stage, 埼玉県さいたま市大宮区吉敷町4丁目263番地1, Saitama (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
ベストカレンダーの掲載ページで詳細を見る (opens in a new tab)

New events in Saitama every week

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

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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Saitama

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

The #1 spot Event hosts: free events are listed first. One featured spot puts your event at the very top of this page.Ask about the #1 spot

Christmas lights

Cocoon City Illumination 2026 "MILLION WISHES"

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From Sat, Nov 7, 2026 to Sun, Feb 14, 2027, lights are on at various spots in Cocoon City and on the East Exit Pedestrian Deck of Saitama Shintoshin Station. They are usually on from 5 pm to 11 pm, and on Nov 7 they are lit at around 6 pm. The theme is "MILLION WISHES."

On Nov 7 from 5:50 pm, there is a lighting event at Cocoon Hiroba in Cocoon 2, with actor and artist Ryui Miyase as a guest. A separate ticket is needed to enter the viewing area, and it is canceled in the rain. The usual viewing fee is not listed on the page.

Parent tip: It is right in front of the station, so going by train is easy. Even on days when you do not watch the lighting event, you can see the illumination itself until Feb 2027. Details may change, so check the official Cocoon City page.

Host
Cocoon City (opens in a new tab)
Where
Various spots at Cocoon City, Saitama Shintoshin Station East Exit Pedestrian Deck, 埼玉県さいたま市大宮区吉敷町4丁目263番地1 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
ベストカレンダーの掲載ページで詳細を見る (opens in a new tab)

New events in Saitama every week

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

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Christmas lights

Higashi-Urawa Station Christmas Illumination 2026

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From Sat, Nov 7 to Fri, Dec 25, 2026, the bus rotary at JR Higashi-Urawa Station is lit every day from 5 pm to 1 am the next day. On Nov 7 from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm, there is a lighting ceremony in the station plaza, with a dance by the dance studio egg and a performance by the Saitama City Fire Department Band. The lighting ceremony is canceled in the rain.

The executive committee organizes it, with help from local shopping associations and others. The City of Saitama page does not list a viewing fee.

Parent tip: It is in front of the station, so going by train is easy. For questions, contact the Saitama City Midori Ward Community Division (048-712-1131).

Host
Higashi-Urawa Station Christmas Illumination Executive Committee (opens in a new tab)
Where
JR Higashi-Urawa Station bus rotary (lighting ceremony at the station plaza), 埼玉県さいたま市緑区東浦和1丁目23番2号（JR東浦和駅前）, Saitama (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Higashi-Urawa Station Christmas Illumination Executive Committee (opens in a new tab)

New events in Saitama every week

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

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Christmas lights

Saitama Shintoshin Illumination 2026

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According to the City of Saitama, from Sat, Nov 7, 2026 to Sun, Feb 14, 2027, the venues are the East-West Passage at Saitama Shintoshin Station, the East Exit Pedestrian Deck, Keyaki Hiroba, the Kitayono Deck, Kitayono Station and Cocoon City. The lights are on from 5 pm to midnight, with different hours by area.

The theme for the west area is "If Snow," with the 150 zelkova trees at Keyaki Hiroba lit up. The theme for the east area is "MILLION WISHES," centered on Cocoon City. The City of Saitama page does not list an admission fee.

Parent tip: Many spots are within walking distance right outside the station gates, so it is easy to go by train. For questions, contact the Saitama City Urban Core Development Division (048-829-1578). Details may change, so check the City of Saitama page before you go.

Host
Saitama Shintoshin Community Development Promotion Council, Saitama Shintoshin Area Management, Saitama Super Arena, Cocoon City and others (opens in a new tab)
Where
Keyaki Hiroba, Saitama Shintoshin Station East-West Passage, East Exit Pedestrian Deck, Kitayono Deck, Kitayono Station, Cocoon City, 埼玉県さいたま市中央区新都心10（けやきひろば）ほか (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Saitama Shintoshin Community Development Promotion Council, Saitama Shintoshin Area Management, Saitama Super Arena, Cocoon City and others (opens in a new tab)

New events in Saitama every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Saitama 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 show

Together with Shimajiro! Happy Christmas! at Cocoon City

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Held at Cocoon City from Sat, Nov 28 to Fri, Dec 25, 2026. There is a photo spot on the 3rd floor of Cocoon 2 (in front of ABC-MART) and a stamp rally covering 4 spots in the building (sign up at the information desk on the 2nd floor of Cocoon 2). There is a display of dolls on the 2nd floor of Cocoon 1.

The character show is on Sat, Dec 5 and Sun, Dec 6 at Cocoon Hiroba on the 1st floor of Cocoon 2. The photo sessions are on Sat, Dec 12 and Sun, Dec 13 on the 3rd floor of Cocoon 2, and the workshops are on Sat, Dec 19 and Sun, Dec 20 at the Nigiwai Spot on the 3rd floor of Cocoon 2 (in front of UNIQLO). The page does not list a fee.

Parent tip: The dates differ by program. How to join and the fees for the show, photo sessions and workshops are not on the page, so check the official Cocoon City page before you go.

Host
Cocoon City (opens in a new tab)
Where
Cocoon City, Cocoon 1 and Cocoon 2, 埼玉県さいたま市大宮区吉敷町4丁目263番地1, Saitama (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
ベストカレンダーの掲載ページで詳細を見る (opens in a new tab)

New events in Saitama every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Saitama 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 Saitama: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Saitama?

For 2026, we confirmed 6 Christmas events for kids in Saitama, each on its host’s own page: Together with Shimajiro! Happy Christmas! at Cocoon City, Saitama Shintoshin Illumination 2026, Cocoon City Illumination 2026 "MILLION WISHES" and 3 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Saitama?

Yes, 2 of the 6 events here are free: COCOON CITY Christmas Market 2026 and Cocoon City Christmas Music Festival 2026. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.

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 Saitama

Saitama celebrates Christmas with light. Around Saitama-Shintoshin Station, 150 zelkova trees glow every winter, and in 2026 the lights switch on Nov 7. Cocoon City adds a brand-new market, a character show for little ones and free school concerts, so a family can fill a few evenings without leaving the station area.

How Saitama celebrates Christmas: a city of winter lights

Saitama's Christmas season is built around evening illuminations rather than one big market. The star is Keyakihiroba, a plaza next to Saitama-Shintoshin Station where 150 zelkova trees are lit up. The winter of 2025 to 2026 was the 26th time the lights ran, and a travel site reports about 200,000 mostly blue LEDs.

For a visiting family that means the best part of the day is after dark. In 2026 the Saitama-Shintoshin illumination runs from Nov 7 to Feb 14, 2027. The west area has the theme "If Snow" and the east area, centered on Cocoon City, has the theme "MILLION WISHES".

What a child will meet: glowing trees, present-shaped huts and warm cocoa

The newest attraction is the Christmas market at Cocoon City, held for the first time in 2026. It has nine small huts, each designed to look like a wrapped present, plus a cocoa corner where you choose your own toppings. The market sells treats such as beef stew, chowder, pretzels, hot chocolate and sausages, and there is a cart with Christmas goods.

Kids who like characters can visit the Shimajiro Christmas at Cocoon City, which has a photo spot, a stamp rally and a puppet display. In winter 2025 the area also held a candlelight evening with 1,200 candles.

Planning a Christmas visit to Saitama with kids

The season starts early. The lights and the Cocoon City market both open on Nov 7, 2026, and the market runs daily from noon to 10 pm until Dec 25. Free school concerts take place on the outdoor stage on Nov 14 and 28, and the Shimajiro Christmas runs from Nov 28 to Dec 25, with a character show on Dec 5 and 6, a photo session on Dec 12 and 13 and a workshop on Dec 19 and 20.

The lights shine on past Christmas, to Feb 14, 2027, while the bus rotary lights at JR Higashi-Urawa Station run from Nov 7 to Dec 25. Several of these events are free to enjoy, and the rest are mostly evening walks, so the trip is easy on a budget. Most events are in Japanese, so check with the host if you need English.

A look back at 2025 and a lighting ceremony with a fire brigade band

In 2025 the Saitama-Shintoshin lights switched on Nov 1 and ran to Feb 15, 2026, from 5 pm to midnight. The Keyakihiroba market that year had the theme "WHITE SNOW CHRISTMAS" and was free to enter.

At Higashi-Urawa Station, a lighting ceremony in 2024 was held for the first time in five years, with a performance by the Saitama City Fire Department band. The 2026 lights there run from Nov 7 to Dec 25.

Traditions today

  • Saitama-Shintoshin Illumination: Runs Nov 7, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027, from 5 pm to midnight, with times varying by area. The west area is themed "If Snow" and the east area "MILLION WISHES".
  • The 150 zelkova trees at Keyakihiroba: The lit trees are the signature sight of Saitama's winter. A travel site reports about 200,000 LEDs for the 2025 to 2026 season.
  • Cocoon City Christmas Market: A first-time market, Nov 7 to Dec 25, 2026, noon to 10 pm. It is listed as free to enter, with nine present-shaped huts and a build-your-own cocoa corner.
  • Christmas music festival at Cocoon City: On Nov 14 and 28, 2026, from 11 am to 2:30 pm, school groups from Saitama city perform on the outdoor stage. Watching is free, and it is canceled in rain.
  • Shimajiro Christmas at Cocoon City: From Nov 28 to Dec 25, 2026, with a photo spot, stamp rally and puppet display. A character show, a photo session and a workshop each take place on a weekend in December.
  • Higashi-Urawa Station lights: Local shop groups and others decorate the bus rotary at JR Higashi-Urawa Station. The lights shine from Nov 7 to Dec 25, 2026, from 5 pm until 1 am.

A fact for kids

At Keyakihiroba, 150 zelkova trees light up each winter. Try counting the trees as you walk.

Questions about Christmas in Saitama

Is Saitama worth visiting at Christmas with kids?

Yes, if your family enjoys lights and evening strolls. The Saitama-Shintoshin illumination, a new market at Cocoon City, a Shimajiro Christmas for little ones and free school concerts are all close to the station. Many of the events are free to enjoy.

When do the Saitama-Shintoshin Christmas lights start and end?

In 2026 the lights run from Nov 7 to Feb 14, 2027. They shine from 5 pm to midnight, though the hours differ a little by area. Details can change, so check the city's page before you go.

Where can you see the Saitama-Shintoshin illumination?

The venues are the east-west passage at Saitama-Shintoshin Station, the east exit pedestrian deck, Keyakihiroba, the Kita-Yono deck, Kita-Yono Station and Cocoon City. You can walk there from JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station or from Kita-Yono Station on the Saikyo Line.

What are the themes of the 2026 Saitama lights?

The west area is themed "If Snow" and lights the zelkova trees at Keyakihiroba. The east area is themed "MILLION WISHES" and centers on Cocoon City. The two feel different, so walking both is fun.

What is Keyakihiroba?

Keyakihiroba is a plaza by Saitama-Shintoshin Station where 150 zelkova trees are decorated with LED lights each winter. For the 2025 to 2026 season a travel site reports about 200,000 bulbs, mostly blue, with light and sound effects. The number for 2026 has not been confirmed.

When does the Cocoon City Christmas Market open in 2026?

It runs daily from Nov 7 to Dec 25, 2026, from noon to 10 pm, with last orders at 9:30 pm. On Nov 7 only, it pauses from 4:30 pm to 6:45 pm. It is an outdoor market at Cocoon City.

Is the Cocoon City Christmas Market free?

A Tokyo events site lists entry as free. You pay for food, drinks and goods you buy. For the Nov 7 lighting event, a separate ticket is needed for the viewing area.

What can kids eat at the Cocoon City Christmas Market?

Event listings mention beef stew, chowder, pretzels, hot chocolate and sausages. There is also a cocoa corner where you pick your own toppings, and a cart selling Christmas goods. Prices are not listed, so expect to check at the stalls.

Is there a Christmas event for small children at Cocoon City?

Yes. The Shimajiro Christmas runs from Nov 28 to Dec 25, 2026, with a photo spot, a stamp rally and a puppet display. A character show is planned for Dec 5 and 6, a photo session for Dec 12 and 13 and a workshop for Dec 19 and 20.

How does the Shimajiro stamp rally work?

The stamp rally visits four spots inside the building, and you sign up at the second-floor information desk in Cocoon 2. The photo spot is on the third floor of Cocoon 2, in front of the ABC-MART shop. The fee, if any, is not listed, so check the official page.

Are there free Christmas events in Saitama?

Yes. The Cocoon City market is listed as free to enter, and the Christmas music festival is free to watch. Walking through the lights is also an easy, low-cost evening, although prices for the illuminations are not listed.

What is the Christmas music festival at Cocoon City?

It takes place on Nov 14 and 28, 2026, from 11 am to 2:30 pm, on the outdoor stage at Cocoon Hiroba. School groups from Saitama city perform, and watching is free. It is canceled in heavy rain.

What are the Higashi-Urawa Station Christmas lights?

The bus rotary at JR Higashi-Urawa Station is decorated with lights made with local shop groups and others. They shine from 5 pm to 1 am, from Nov 7 to Dec 25, 2026. It is a neighborhood display rather than a big attraction.

What happens at the Higashi-Urawa lighting ceremony?

On Nov 7, 2026, from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm, there is a lighting ceremony on the station plaza with dance and a performance by the Saitama City Fire Department band. It is canceled in rain. A ceremony in 2024 also had the fire department band and was the first in five years.

What were the Saitama lights like in 2025?

In 2025 the Saitama-Shintoshin illumination ran from Nov 1 to Feb 15, 2026, from 5 pm to midnight. Keyakihiroba ended on Jan 18, 2026, and some Cocoon City displays, such as the Christmas tree, ended on Dec 25. The 2026 schedule is different, so use the dates above.

What was the Keyakihiroba Christmas market in 2025?

It had the theme "WHITE SNOW CHRISTMAS" and was free to enter. It ran from noon to 9 pm and mostly used cashless payment. A select market started earlier, on Nov 30. The same market for 2026 has not been confirmed.

What is the Christmas candle night in Saitama?

It was an evening in winter 2025 when 1,200 candles were lit around Saitama-Shintoshin, including near Cocoon Hiroba and the entrance of Omotenashi Plaza. It was canceled in bad weather. The date for 2026 has not been confirmed.

Can we meet a Christmas character in Saitama?

Santa meet-and-greets are not listed among the events on this page. The Shimajiro Christmas at Cocoon City has a photo session on Dec 12 and 13, 2026, and a photo spot for the whole run. Check the official page for how to join the session.

Can we drive to the Saitama-Shintoshin lights?

The city's page does not mention parking. The venues are around Saitama-Shintoshin Station and Kita-Yono Station, so the train is the easiest way. For parking at Cocoon City, check the Cocoon City website.

What if it rains during Christmas events in Saitama?

Some events are canceled in rain, including the Christmas music festival and the Higashi-Urawa lighting ceremony. The Nov 7 lighting event at Cocoon Hiroba is also rain-canceled. Check the host's page on the day.

Are the Christmas events in Saitama in English?

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

Who can I contact about the Saitama-Shintoshin illumination?

The city's urban center development division is listed as the contact, at 048-829-1578. The organizers include the Saitama-Shintoshin community development council, Saitama Super Arena and Cocoon City. Details can change, so confirm before you go.

Sources

  1. さいたま新都心イルミネーション2026（さいたま市）, さいたま市
  2. イルミネーション2025-2026（さいたま新都心のまちの催し）, さいたま市
  3. けやきひろばイルミネーション2025-26, ジョルダン
  4. COCOON CITY Christmas Market 2026, Let's ENJOY TOKYO
  5. コクーンシティのクリスマス、11月7日開幕, ベストカレンダー
  6. 東浦和駅前クリスマスイルミネーション（2026年）, さいたま市
  7. 東浦和駅前クリスマスイルミネーション点灯（2024年）, さいたま市
Kelsey Cecil
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