Huis Ten Bosch has confirmed its 2026–2027 countdown: approximately 5,000 fireworks welcome the New Year on December 31, 2026, and the park stays open until 2 a.m. on January 1, 2027. Budget for two separate things: a Countdown Passport for admission and, if wanted, a special fireworks viewing seat. A viewing-seat ticket alone does not get you into the park.
Admission sales begin October 9, 2026 at 2 p.m.; special viewing seats go on sale October 16 at noon. Both are Japan Standard Time. Do not remember only the seat-sale date. Prices are in yen; published admission prices include tax.
December 26–31: which night is actually the countdown?
Grand Finale Night is a six-day series from December 26 to 31, 2026, with different programmes on different evenings. The transition into 2027 happens on December 31. Choosing a named artist and choosing midnight fireworks lead to different dates.
| Date | Announced programme | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| December 26, 2026 | Yoko Takahashi special live performance | Choose this date for the artist and check its daily programme |
| December 27 | Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku special live performance | Check admission and viewing arrangements for that evening |
| December 28 | Wednesday Campanella special live performance | Do not assume this is also the December 31 lineup |
| December 31–January 1 | New Year countdown and fireworks; park closes at 2 a.m. | Plan admission, viewing seats and the late-night return first |
Choose December 29 or 30 from their eventual official programme rather than assigning the announced artists to those dates yourself. The organizer says the artist performances have no paid viewing seats, although park admission is required. Performance times, venues and any numbered-entry arrangements will be announced separately. A December 31 fireworks seat should not be bought as admission to an earlier artist appearance.
For November’s separate event, see our Kyushu Grand Fireworks Festival guide. Its date, fireworks programme and viewing arrangements are not the countdown programme.
Countdown Passport prices: count admission before adding a seat
| Admission category | Published Countdown 1DAY Passport price |
|---|---|
| Adult, 18 and over | ¥8,200 |
| Junior or senior high-school student | ¥7,200 |
| Elementary-school child | ¥5,600 |
| Age 4 to preschool | ¥4,400 |
| Senior, 65 and over | ¥6,500 |
Children aged three and under enter free. Check the documentation rules for age, school and senior categories. Do not transfer the admission ticket’s child categories to the special-seat pricing rules.
After 3 Passports and 1.5DAY Passports are not sold for the countdown date. Arriving in the late afternoon does not make an ordinary afternoon ticket applicable. Start from the official Countdown Passport page and select the valid December 31 product.
For example, an adult admission at ¥8,200 plus a Marine Front M-A seat at ¥2,000 totals ¥10,200 before meals, transport and accommodation. That is a more useful starting budget than treating a “seats from ¥2,000” headline as the entire night’s cost.
Water Garden or Marine Front viewing seats?
The current countdown page lists Water Garden and Marine Front. Compare the setting, seat format, group size and photography needs before comparing prices alone.
| Example | Published price | Main distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Water Garden W-A | ¥3,000 per seat | Lower-priced option in this area |
| Water Garden W-S | ¥5,000 per seat | Tiered arrangement, not usable while remaining in a wheelchair |
| Water Garden pair table | ¥10,000 per table, up to two people | Priced per table, not ¥10,000 each |
| Water Garden Garden Terrace | ¥20,000 per table, up to four people | Check the actual number in your party |
| Marine Front M-A | ¥2,000 per seat | Lower-cost designated-seat option |
| Marine Front camera seat | ¥5,000 per seat | Review this category’s rules if photography is a priority |
| Marine Front M-VIP | ¥24,000 per seat | Listed with sofa seating, hors d’oeuvres and hot drinks |
These are representative products. Use the official countdown viewing-seat page for the full selection and layout. Seats are allocated automatically; you cannot select a particular seat number. Do not interpret a section label as a guarantee of an unobstructed view from every row.
Accessibility needs attention before payment. The organizer flags tiered areas including W-S, pair tables, Garden Terrace and M-Arena as unsuitable for staying in a wheelchair. The absence of that warning on another product is not proof of step-free access. Confirm a suitable seat and approach route before buying a non-changeable ticket.
Seat conditions that matter for families and photographers
Special-seat pricing applies equally from age four; children three and under may watch free on an adult’s lap. Table products follow their stated capacity and booking conditions. Seat purchases are by credit card, with listed accepted brands including Visa, Mastercard, JCB and American Express; check the actual checkout requirements.
Special seats cannot be cancelled or changed after purchase, and resale is prohibited. Pets and umbrellas are not permitted in the viewing venue. Prepare suitable rainwear for the forecast, and follow the rules for your seat category when using camera equipment. Keep aisles and other visitors’ sightlines clear.
Admission and seat tickets are different products. General admission date-change guidance does not override the non-changeable seat condition. Check any package separately for December 31 admission, a fireworks seat and the exact seating category.
Read the map with the walk back in mind
Open the Huis Ten Bosch park map to locate the entrance, Water Garden and Marine Front, then compare the current event layout. Besides the fireworks direction, consider the walk to your hotel or exit and whether everyone in your group can manage it comfortably.
A normal map does not establish which paths or viewing spaces will be open on December 31. Without a special seat, an empty patch on a map is not an official guaranteed free viewing spot. Follow event-day routing and staff directions.
A 2 a.m. closing time does not promise a train to Fukuoka
Use Huis Ten Bosch Station as the rail destination and consult the official access guide. Regular train routes, extended park hours and special New Year’s Eve services are separate facts. Do not assume you can watch midnight fireworks and then return to Hakata or central Nagasaki without checking the actual holiday services and connections.
A walkable hotel reduces reliance on late-night transport. Hotels in Sasebo or another city must be compared together with the final journey. Drivers should allow for parking and exit delays: the organizer warns that parking is first come, first served, and failure to enter because parking is full does not entitle you to a seat-ticket refund.
There is a useful but specific official-hotel condition. Eligible December 30 guests at Hotel Europe, Hotel Amsterdam, Hotel Den Haag, Forest Villa or Hotel Rotterdam can use the next-day Passport benefit for December 31 after purchasing the required first-day admission. Verify the room plan and collection conditions before relying on it. That benefit does not include a special fireworks seat.
Keep enough energy for midnight
If the countdown is your main purpose, check in and leave your bags before visiting rather than combining several distant attractions that day. Once inside, identify the viewing venue and the route back, then plan meals, rides and photographs. Avoid leaving dinner until just before you need to reach the viewing area.
After the fireworks, choose when to leave according to the crowd, your energy and your accommodation. The 2 a.m. closing time is not a target every family needs to reach. Leave January 1 morning for sleep and a slower start instead of immediately scheduling another long intercity journey.
Frequently asked questions
Does buying a special seat on October 16 include park admission?
No. You still need valid admission for the date, whether through the appropriate Passport or a separately verified hotel/package entitlement.
Is the December 26 artist performance the countdown?
No. It is one evening of the six-day year-end series. The New Year countdown takes place on December 31.
Can I use an After 3 Passport for an evening arrival?
The countdown arrangements exclude sales of After 3 and 1.5DAY Passports. Check the valid December 31 Countdown Passport options.
Can I definitely return to Fukuoka after the fireworks?
That cannot be inferred from park closing time. Verify your exact holiday services and connections, or arrange nearby accommodation or other confirmed transport.