Nagoya Illumination 2026-27: Nabana no Sato From ¥2,500
Nabana no Sato sits on Nagashima, an island between rivers in Mie Prefecture, just over the border from Aichi. Most visitors treat it as an evening trip from Nagoya. Central Nagoya adds free street displays near Nagoya Station and in Sakae from mid-November.
Prices change by date. The cheapest stretches are 17 October to 20 November 2026 and 1 March to 31 May 2027. From 21 November to 28 February the price rises, and the Begonia Garden adds a sound and light show after dark.
Nabana no Sato 2026-27 dates and hours
The Nabana no Sato official illumination page lists the season as 17 October 2026 to 31 May 2027. The park closes on 6 and 7 January 2027. Every other day of the season it opens, and it stays open in the rain.
Opening hours change from day to day. Nabana no Sato publishes a calendar on its Nabana no Sato illumination hours and admission fees page. Tap your date there to see the opening time and the lighting time. The gate stops taking visitors 30 minutes before closing.
The lights switch on at sunset, so the start time moves through the season. Some paths light up a little earlier than the main displays. On rainy days the wet ground reflects the lights, and the park says the show looks even better.
The photo above shows the light tunnel, one of three main sights. Here is what to look for once you are inside:
- Water illumination: the symbol of the park and one of the largest water-based light shows in Japan.
- Tunnel of light: 200 m of warm light bulbs overhead, chosen as one of the world’s great views.
- Twin trees: two trees that light up when the chapel bell rings.
- Champagne gold area: a wide field of gold lights.
Flower beds get their own light-up as the months change. Cosmos run from October to mid-November. Autumn leaves are lit from late November to late December. Kawazu cherry blossoms and weeping plum follow from late February to late March. Tulips come next from late March, and nemophila from late April to mid-May.
That means a November visit and an April visit look quite different. If you want autumn colour with the lights, aim for late November or early December.
The picture above shows the one number every ticket shares: a 1,000 yen voucher. You spend it on food and shopping inside the park. Many visitors use it toward dinner at one of the restaurants before the lights come on.
Nabana no Sato tickets: ¥2,500 to ¥5,500 by date
Buy Nabana no Sato tickets at a FamilyMart or 7-Eleven before you go. Print them at the store, as the park asks every visitor to do this. Without a ticket, issuing one at the gate can take 30 minutes or more.
The price depends on your date. Each regular ticket includes a 1,000 yen voucher and entry to the Begonia Garden. Children below elementary school age enter free on every date. The table lists the convenience-store price and the gate price for each period.
| Period | Convenience store | At the gate | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct to 20 Nov 2026 | 2,500 yen | 2,700 yen | 1,000 yen voucher, Begonia Garden |
| 21 Nov to 22 Dec 2026 | 3,000 yen | 3,200 yen | 1,000 yen voucher, Begonia Garden |
| 23 to 25 Dec 2026 (date-specified) | Not announced yet | 5,500 yen, only if any are left | 2,000 yen voucher, Begonia Garden free |
| 26 Dec 2026 to 28 Feb 2027 (closed 6-7 Jan) | 3,000 yen | 3,200 yen | 1,000 yen voucher, Begonia Garden |
| 1 Mar to 31 May 2027 | 2,500 yen | 2,500 yen | 1,000 yen voucher, Begonia Garden |
The cheapest dates cost 2,500 yen at a convenience store. From 21 November to 22 December, and again from 26 December to 28 February, the store price is 3,000 yen. The gate price is 200 yen higher in most periods. From 1 March to 31 May both prices are 2,500 yen.
A few rules apply to every ticket:
- No refunds: you cannot change the ticket type or get your money back after you buy.
- Voucher limits: the voucher works inside the park, with some exceptions such as ticket machines, and it has an expiry date.
- Payment: the gate accepts credit cards, QR code payments and e-money.
- Resale: buy only through official sellers, since the park does not handle resold tickets.
The checklist above covers the four points most visitors miss. Print the ticket first, skip 6 and 7 January, and plan ahead for Christmas week.
There is one way to enter free. Book a set course in advance at one of four restaurants: Italian Mugi, Marseille, Hisui or Tosen. Give your restaurant and booking name at the entrance information desk. Same-day bookings are not accepted, and you get no voucher with this option. Do not buy an advance ticket as well, because it cannot be refunded.
Guests of Hotel Hanamizuki, Garden Hotel Olive and Hotel Nagashima also enter free. That covers the day of the stay and the next day.
Inside, as in the photo above, the park is wide and mostly outdoors. Wear warm shoes, because you will walk on paths and bridges between the displays.
Getting to Nabana no Sato from Nagoya
Take the Kintetsu train from Kintetsu Nagoya Station to Kintetsu Nagashima Station, then the direct bus. This is the route the park recommends, and it takes about 35 minutes at the quickest. The Nabana no Sato illumination access page gives these times.
The three steps in the picture above work like this:
- Train: a semi-express from Kintetsu Nagoya takes about 25 minutes to Kintetsu Nagashima. Local trains stop there too. On some weekends and holidays, an express stops there and takes about 17 minutes.
- Bus: walk to the bus stop in front of Kintetsu Nagashima Station. The direct bus takes about 10 minutes. The fare table lists 250 yen one way for adults and 130 yen for children.
- Arrive: the bus stops at the park entrance. Show your printed ticket at the gate.
Limited express trains do not stop at Kintetsu Nagashima. Most expresses skip it too, so change at Kintetsu Yatomi if you board one from Nagoya. The extra express stops run on weekends and holidays from 31 October 2026 to 11 January 2027, and from 23 to 25 December.
Kintetsu Nagoya Station, shown above, is the easiest start. If you arrive by Shinkansen, change from JR to the Kintetsu line at Nagoya. If you take JR to JR Nagashima Station instead, you have to walk to Kintetsu Nagashima for the bus.
Watch the last bus. When the park closes at 22:00, the last bus back to the station leaves at 22:00. When it closes at 23:00, the last one leaves at 23:00. From 30 December to 4 January the bus runs on the weekend timetable. The bus from Kuwana Station does not run during the season.
| Place | Nabana no Sato |
|---|---|
| Price | Adults 2,500 to 3,200 yen by date; children below elementary school age free |
| Hours | 17 Oct 2026 to 31 May 2027, closed 6-7 Jan; hours vary by day, last entry 30 min before closing |
| Access | Kintetsu Nagashima Station, then direct bus about 10 min; or direct bus from Meitetsu Bus Center, about 30 min |
| Official site | Nabana no Sato illumination access page |
The second option is a direct bus from Meitetsu Bus Center in Nagoya, which takes about 30 minutes with no change. Buy a ticket on the 3rd floor and board at stop 22 on the 4th floor. The adult fare is 1,000 yen one way, and 500 yen for elementary school children. You can also pay with an IC card such as manaca, TOICA, Suica or ICOCA. Every passenger needs a seat, so a full bus means waiting for the next one. The 8:00 departure does not stop at Nabana no Sato.
Kintetsu also sells a set ticket. The Kintetsu Nabana no Sato train and bus set ticket bundles the return train, the return bus, park entry and the 1,000 yen voucher. From Kintetsu Nagoya it costs 3,670 yen for adults on the cheaper dates and 4,170 yen from late November to February. That saves 310 yen. Buy it at the limited express ticket counter at major Kintetsu stations.
Driving takes about 30 minutes from Nagoya by expressway. The park has free parking for 5,700 cars. Come by 16:00 on weekdays or 15:00 on weekends and holidays. On the way home, Route 1 and the Higashi-Meihan Expressway back up. The park suggests heading south along the Ibi and Nagara river bank to the Isewangan Expressway.
Landing at Chubu Centrair? The Chubu Centrair Airport to Nagoya page compares the 28-minute Meitetsu mu-SKY at 1,430 yen with the 980 yen limited express. The direct bus from the airport to Nabana no Sato is suspended for now. By car the park is about 40 minutes from the airport.
Christmas week: 23 to 25 December at Nabana
From 23 to 25 December 2026, Nabana no Sato runs a special Christmas opening from 15:00. You need a date-specified advance ticket. In Japanese it is called 日付指定チケット (hizuke shitei chiketto), meaning a ticket for one set date.
The hours are shorter at the start and longer at night:
- Wednesday 23 December: 15:00 to 22:00.
- Thursday 24 and Friday 25 December: 15:00 to 23:00.
The park closes until 15:00 on all three days. Tickets are limited and sold first come, first served at FamilyMart, 7-Eleven and the Asoview booking site. The advance price is not announced yet. Each Christmas ticket comes with a 2,000 yen voucher and free entry to the Begonia Garden.
The gate sells same-day tickets for 5,500 yen, but only when some are left. Member perks and regular tickets do not work on these days. The disability discount also does not apply during the Christmas opening. The Kintetsu set ticket is not sold for trips that start on these dates.
On 23 to 25 December, Kintetsu adds express stops at Kintetsu Nagashima for the extra crowds. Christmas Day in Japan is a normal working day, so trains carry commuters as well. The Christmas in Japan guide covers what else is open that week.
Nagoya illumination in the city centre
Central Nagoya has four winter light displays that you can see without a ticket. Their 2026-27 dates are not announced yet. The table shows last season’s dates from Aichi Now, the official Aichi travel guide, as a guide to timing.
| Display | Area | 2025-26 dates | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meieki-dori Street Light Show | Outside Nagoya Station | 12 Nov 2025 to 12 Jan 2026 | 5:00 pm to 10:30 pm |
| Nagoya Lucent Tower Winter Light Display | 5 min walk north of Nagoya Station | 12 Nov 2025 to 16 Jan 2026 | 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm |
| Sakae-Minami/Osu Winter Light Display | Otsu-dori, Sakae to Kamimaezu | 14 Nov 2025 to 22 Feb 2026 | 5:00 pm to 12:00 am |
| Nagoya Port Winter Illumination | Garden Pier, Nagoyako Station | 5 to 25 Dec 2025 | 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm |
The Aichi Now Meieki-dori Street Light Show page covers the trees along Meieki-dori outside Nagoya Station. Last season it ran from 12 November 2025 to 12 January 2026, from 5:00 pm to 10:30 pm. It is the easiest one to see on arrival day.
A short walk north, the Aichi Now Nagoya Lucent Tower Winter Light Display page lists trees and a light dome. Last season they ran from 12 November 2025 to 16 January 2026, from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm. The tower is a 5-minute walk north of Nagoya Station.
Sakae, shown above at night, is the starting point for the longest display. The Aichi Now Sakae-Minami and Osu Winter Light Display page describes champagne gold lights along Otsu-dori from Sakae to Kamimaezu. Last season they ran from 14 November 2025 to 22 February 2026, from 5:00 pm to midnight. Walk from Sakae, Yaba-cho or Kamimaezu subway stations.
The Aichi Now Nagoya Port Winter Illumination page covers about 145 thousand LED lights at Garden Pier. Last season it ran from 5 to 25 December 2025, from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Take the Meijo Subway Line to Nagoyako Station and walk 5 minutes south from Exit 3. Pay parking has about 600 spaces.
Planning a Nagoya winter trip around the lights
Searches for “nagoya illumination” peak in December. Last year they rose from 390 in October 2025 to 720 in November and 1,300 in December, then fell to 590 in January 2026. December had 3.3 times the October figure.
| Month | Searches |
|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 210 |
| Oct 2025 | 390 |
| Nov 2025 | 720 |
| Dec 2025 | 1300 |
| Jan 2026 | 590 |
| Feb 2026 | 260 |
| Mar 2026 | 260 |
| Apr 2026 | 170 |
| May 2026 | 210 |
| Jun 2026 | 70 |
| Jul 2026 | 110 |
| Aug 2026 | 140 |
The chart above shows the same pattern you will meet at the gate. Late November and December are the busiest weeks, so buy tickets early and arrive before dark.
November pairs the lights with autumn leaves. On average, the sample maple in Nagoya turns red around 28 November, and in 2025 it turned on 25 November. The Nagoya autumn leaves page tracks the dates. Our Nagoya in November page lists the city’s other events that month.
December has no national holiday in Japan. The Nagoya in December page lists year-end events such as the bell ringing on New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Day, Friday 1 January 2027, is the only holiday of the break, but banks close from 31 December to 3 January.
Trains get very busy around New Year. JR Central makes every Nozomi reserved-seat only from 25 December 2026 to 5 January 2027. The New Year in Japan 2026-27 page lists the closures and the busiest travel days. Remember Nabana no Sato itself closes on 6 and 7 January.
Coming from Tokyo or Osaka, the Nozomi Shinkansen runs straight to Nagoya. Our Tokyo to Nagoya and Osaka to Nagoya pages give the times and fares. From Osaka you can also ride Kintetsu all the way. The Kintetsu set ticket from Osaka Namba costs 7,430 yen on the cheaper dates, and the limited express charge is extra.
Evenings at Nabana no Sato are cold and you stand outside for hours. Read What to Wear in Japan in Winter, According to 100 Locals before you pack.
FAQ
When does the Nabana no Sato illumination start in 2026?
It starts on 17 October 2026 and runs until 31 May 2027. The park closes on 6 and 7 January 2027. The lights switch on at sunset, so the start time changes with the season.
How much is a Nabana no Sato illumination ticket?
A convenience-store ticket costs 2,500 yen or 3,000 yen depending on the date, and the gate price is up to 3,200 yen. Every regular ticket includes a 1,000 yen voucher and entry to the Begonia Garden. Children below elementary school age enter free. On 23 to 25 December, the same-day gate ticket costs 5,500 yen if any are left.
How do you get from Nagoya Station to Nabana no Sato?
Take a Kintetsu semi-express from Kintetsu Nagoya to Kintetsu Nagashima, which takes about 25 minutes. Then take the direct bus, about 10 minutes, to the park. Another option is the direct bus from Meitetsu Bus Center, which takes about 30 minutes.
Is Nabana no Sato open when it rains?
Yes. The park stays open on rainy days. The wet ground reflects the lights, and the park says the show looks even more beautiful.
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