ARK Hills Christmas 2026 is a good choice if you want a real Christmas tree and a daytime seasonal outing rather than another late-night food market. The 2026 programme runs from November 7 to December 25, centred on an approximately six-metre living tree in ARK Karajan Plaza. Red and white decorations sit against gold lighting, while Saturday mornings bring a Christmas edition of Hills Marché.
Choose your visit by purpose. Allow roughly 30–45 minutes for the tree before dinner, or come on a Saturday morning for shopping and crafts. December 19 is particularly useful for combining the market with a free Christmas concert. These are planning suggestions; adjust them for your pace, shopping and meal plans.
ARK Hills Christmas dates: the tree and market keep different hours
The 2026 Christmas season covers the plaza, ARK Mori Building and South Tower, but their lighting hours are not identical.
| Programme | Dates | Hours and practical distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Plaza tree and ARK Hills illumination | November 7–December 25 | Planned 08:00–23:30; suitable for daytime decoration viewing or an evening photograph |
| South Tower illumination | The same Christmas season | Planned 07:00–01:00 the following day; this is not the main tree’s location |
| Christmas Hills Marché | Saturdays, November 7–December 19 | 10:00–14:00; purchases and paid workshops are separate expenses |
| Christmas concert | December 19 | 11:00–11:30 and 12:30–13:00; free to watch |
| GREEN WORKSHOP mini-tree session | December 12 | 10:00–12:00; follow the separate registration rules |
The South Tower’s late lighting does not turn the Saturday market into an all-night event. Likewise, the tree remains part of the programme after the market’s final Saturday.
What makes the tree worth a stop?
The display uses a real tree rather than a large sculptural installation. Red suggests gift ribbons, white recalls snow and gold light draws out the branches. It works best as a close-up seasonal stop: look at the decorations, include your companions for scale, then explore the smaller trees and lights around the buildings.
Daylight makes the tree’s shape and materials easier to see and fits naturally with the market. After dark, the gold lighting becomes the main attraction. There is little reason to remain all afternoon just to experience both unless you already have lunch, shopping or a concert planned. Keep the plaza’s entrances and through-routes clear when taking photographs.
Saturday Hills Marché: gifts and crafts before lunch
The Christmas marché adds festive sweets, small gifts and workshops to its usual seasonal produce. This suits travellers who want to browse before lunch. It does not suit someone expecting stalls to remain open after dinner.
Two craft options show how the workshops differ. Indian woodblock-printing sessions produce a drawstring pouch on November 14 and December 19, cost ¥2,000 and are for ages six and above. Stained-glass tree ornaments cost ¥2,500 and are scheduled on November 14 and 28 and December 5 and 19; part of that process involves soldering. These are organised activities with limits, not unattended free craft tables. Check participation arrangements and age requirements before promising a child a place.
For an easier visit, focus on small gifts that travel well. Ask about food storage and wrapping fragile purchases, and check the import rules that apply to your destination before buying food to take home. Published product examples do not guarantee every item will be stocked at every Saturday session.
Concert or children’s mini-tree workshop?
On December 19, the plaza hosts two half-hour performances combining voice and piano, with Christmas songs and opera in the programme. Pick either the 11:00 or 12:30 performance and fit shopping around it. Free viewing does not mean a seat has been reserved for you.
The December 12 GREEN WORKSHOP is different. Children use cotton grown through the programme and fruit gathered in the garden to make a mini tree. It belongs to a year-round nature-learning series, not the same drop-in activity as the market stalls.
The participation page specifies ages four to ten, ¥3,000 per child per session and a planned capacity of 22. Apply through the linked registration page and check payment, meeting instructions and availability. A page saying applications are open is not a guarantee that spaces will remain available on your travel date.
Getting to the correct plaza
ARK Mori Building is about one minute on foot from Roppongi-itchome Station Exit 3 on the Namboku Line or Tameike-sanno Station Exit 13 on the Ginza Line. South Tower connects directly with Roppongi-itchome Exit 3, but the main tree is in ARK Karajan Plaza, so continue to the correct location.
Use the Japanese plaza name, アーク・カラヤン広場, rather than simply searching for Roppongi. Roppongi Hills and ARK Hills are different destinations. The quoted one-minute walks also exclude platform access and do not establish a step-free route; check station lift information if travelling with a wheelchair or pushchair.
| Your priority | A sensible plan | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| Tree and dinner | Visit after dark, then keep your restaurant booking | The market will not stay open for your evening visit |
| Gift shopping | Arrive after 10:00 on a listed Saturday and finish before 14:00 | You do not need to wait until darkness |
| Children’s crafts | Choose a specific workshop and its attendance arrangements | Separate workshops are not one open-access play area |
| Music and browsing | Choose one December 19 concert | Free viewing does not guarantee seating |
ARK Hills is not the same as its flea market
The November 22 Akasaka flea-market Christmas special also uses the plaza, but it focuses on antiques, vintage clothing and selected goods. Our separate ARK Hills flea-market guide covers that event; confirm its latest hours with the organiser. Do not apply its one-day schedule to the Saturday marché or the tree season.
For a food-stall-focused alternative, compare the Azabudai Hills Christmas market. For a longer outdoor lights outing, use the Roppongi illumination guide. Our Tokyo transport guide helps compare the rail journeys.
Frequently asked questions
Must I visit at night to see the tree?
No. ARK Hills lighting is planned from 08:00, and daytime is useful for seeing the living tree and decorations. Choose after dark if the gold-lit evening scene matters more to you.
Is there a market every day?
No. The Christmas Hills Marché runs on Saturdays from November 7 to December 19, 2026, from 10:00 to 14:00. The tree season continues until December 25.
Can I visit the Saturday market on Christmas Day?
Not on the published 2026 schedule: December 25 falls on a Friday. Plan for the tree and dining rather than assuming the stalls will be present.
What happens in rain?
The marché is scheduled to proceed in light rain and cancel in severe weather. Check separate programme notices, and do not assume the entire plaza route is covered.
Is the mini-tree workshop a free drop-in activity?
No. GREEN WORKSHOP has an age range, a fee and its own application process. Check availability and payment arrangements through the programme registration page.