Illumination Festa in Ama, west of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, is moving from last year’s fairy-tale theme into space. The 22nd edition is themed “Welcome to Space”, with approximately 200,000 lights around Miwa Bunka no Mori and Fureai no Mori.
The published season runs from November 28, 2026 to January 3, 2027, with lighting from 17:00 to 22:00. An opening ceremony starts at 17:00 on November 28. Choose the opening ceremony for a switch-on atmosphere, or a later evening if the lights themselves are your priority.
Current theme, dates and opening ceremony
The event dates and venue-outline PDF is useful for checking the arrangements before leaving. Sponsorship contribution amounts in that document are not visitor ticket prices.
| Published 2026–27 detail | Arrangement |
|---|---|
| Dates | November 28, 2026–January 3, 2027 |
| Lighting | 17:00–22:00 |
| Opening ceremony | November 28, 2026, from 17:00 |
| Theme | Welcome to Space |
| Scale | Approximately 200,000 lights |
| Setting | Miwa Bunka no Mori and the surrounding Fureai no Mori area |
A space theme alone does not tell you the size of a particular planet, the length of a tunnel or the height of a Christmas tree. If a photograph is the reason you want to visit, first check which edition it depicts.
Not last year’s Grimm theme, and not necessarily a daily market
The 2025 edition had a Grimm fairy-tale theme, with stage events and food booths on opening day. Those details provide historical context, but they cannot become a promise of food and performances every evening in 2026.
For an opening-night atmosphere, consider November 28 and check the detailed programme as it appears. If your priority is the lights themselves, there is no need to treat opening night as the only worthwhile date. A normal evening can make the plan simpler, although attendance will still vary with weather, dates and any additional activities.
| Your priority | A suitable approach |
|---|---|
| Seeing the formal switch-on | Choose November 28 and check the latest arrival and programme information |
| Photographing the lights | Pick a convenient evening without depending on extra performances |
| A family space-themed outing | Let children choose favourite areas instead of requiring every photograph |
| A full Christmas-market visit | Find a separately documented market with stall information and trading hours |
Kida Station involves a real final walk
Unlike a station-front illumination, this venue is not immediately outside the ticket gates. Allow approximately 15 minutes to walk from Meitetsu Kida Station. The cultural-hall address is 1-1 Hanamasa Jisaki, Ama.
Check the actual train and its stops, then add the final walk to your journey. The Nagoya transport guide can help distinguish Meitetsu from the municipal subway.
With children or older companions, arriving around the start of the evening makes it easier to understand the return route before everyone is tired. The walk back to Kida also counts towards the outing. Work backwards from your chosen train rather than waiting until the lights switch off at 22:00 to think about departure.
Drivers should check this season’s temporary parking and staff directions. Parking spaces were limited in the previous season; “parking available” should not be read as guaranteed immediate access on opening night. If the wider trip does not require a car, compare rail with the costs explained in the Nagoya car-rental guide before hiring one solely for this evening.
Dinner and a realistic visit length
Allow approximately 45–75 minutes for the lights as an editorial planning estimate, with the station walk added separately. Families may prefer to eat first or return to Nagoya for dinner. Do not make unannounced food stalls the only meal plan.
The Nagoya food guide can help choose a meal after the return journey, while the hotel-area guide helps assess how much further you will need to walk. To compare suburban and city-centre displays, use the Nagoya illumination guide; separate evenings are often more comfortable than rushing between districts.
Start photographs with one wider view, then choose details that appeal to you. A child wanting to watch the light rather than move to the next designated picture is not missing the point. This kind of community event works well as a shared winter walk, not a compulsory list of photo stops.
Frequently asked questions
Is the current theme still Grimm fairy tales?
No. The 2026 theme is space. Grimm belongs to the 2025 edition.
When is the opening ceremony?
It is scheduled from 17:00 on November 28, 2026.
Is the ¥5,000 in the PDF an admission ticket?
No. It is a sponsorship contribution, not a visitor admission price.
Is the venue directly outside Kida Station?
No. Allow approximately 15 minutes on foot.
Are food booths and performances available every night?
Do not assume that. The current detailed programme needs to establish those arrangements; an opening-day feature in 2025 is not a daily promise for this season.