Every Weekend
Nagato Yumoto Noel
2026.12.4FRI—12.25FRI
Christmas in Nagato Yumoto Onsen,
filled with hot springs and music
PHOTO: @ayumoon1727
On the nights of Nagato Yumoto Noel, as you walk down the bamboo grove stairway, you will hear Christmas music. Waiting for you at Onto Plaza is a real fir Christmas tree, 6 metres tall. From the opening on 4 December until the 25th, there is a light show every night from sunset until 22:00. Mostly on weekend evenings, there is live music at inns and shops. Pop-up stores line Machi no Bandai, and on some days food stalls and a food truck join in. Warm up in the hot springs, enjoy something delicious, then let the music lead you on one more stroll. Wrapped in the warmth of the onsen, why not spend a slightly longer night than usual?
A real fir
Christmas tree,
6 metres tall
Standing at Onto Plaza, in the heart of the onsen town, is a real fir tree, put up through the joint efforts of forestry businesses from across the prefecture. Around the tree, tree-stump Santa Clauses made by local children greet everyone with a smile. Every night during the event, there is a light show from sunset until 22:00. Every Saturday, there is also a bonfire at Onto Plaza (after sunset).
Photos from 2025 PHOTO: @ayumoon1727 and others
LIVE MUSIC
Mostly on weekend evenings, there is live music at inns, shops and Onto Plaza.
Fri 4 DecOpening
- 17:001Onto PlazaMisuzu Children’s Choir & tree-lighting ceremonyCHOIR
- 18:001Onto PlazaCHIHIROVOCAL
Sat 5 Dec
- 20:003GyokusenkakuMegumi OzakiVIOLIN
POPUP / FOODsora -Gibier Food Truck- / Kawara Soba Yanagiya / Tree & wreath making (Machi no Bandai)
Sun 6 Dec
- 20:003GyokusenkakuKoichi Nomoto & Tomoko NomotoDUO
POPUP / FOODTree & wreath making (Machi no Bandai)
Sat 12 Dec
- 17:005365+1 BEERTOILET&C’MONMUSICSBAND
- 18:004SOIL NagatoyumotoOsamu OkudaJAZZ GUITAR
POPUP / FOODsora -Gibier Food Truck- / Aikororin (from 18:00)
Sun 20 Dec
- 20:003GyokusenkakuMomoko MaruyamaUKULELE
Thu 24 Dec
- 19:307Otani Sanso
“Mountain Flowers” Lobby LoungeLive Band at OTANI SANSOLIVE BAND
POPUP / FOODcafe and shop Tre (from 18:00)
Fri 25 Dec
- 19:307Otani Sanso
“Mountain Flowers” Lobby LoungeLive Band at OTANI SANSOLIVE BAND
POPUP / FOODcafe and shop Tre (from 18:00)
Pop-up stores at Machi no Bandai are open 13:00–19:00 throughout the event (until 20:00 on Saturdays; closed on Mondays and Tuesdays).
Light show every night, sunset–22:00. Bonfire at Onto Plaza every Saturday (after sunset).
POPUP & FOOD
Pop-up stores at Machi no Bandai (まちの番台)
4–25 December, 13:00–19:00 (until 20:00 on Saturdays)
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
- AJOUTER des FLEURSConifer-scented wreaths and swags. Tree and wreath making on 5 and 6 December.
- chiemisaraCandlelight from a candle artisan who also creates lighting for spaces.
- Son NouenNatural honey and hot honey drinks from a beekeeping farm in the mountains of Nagato.
- OtozuredoWarm soups from a vegetable soup specialist in Shimonoseki.
- ainoneA seasonal "winter sweets box" from a Nagato Yumoto baked goods brand.
- ArcaSnowball cookies and apple tea.
Food trucks & stalls at Onto Plaza
On the dates shown only
- sora -Gibier Food Truck-Food truck · Sat 5, Sat 12, Sun 13 DecPopular multinational dishes made with wild game from Tawarayama and yuzukichi citrus.
- Kawara Soba YanagiyaFood stall · Sat 5 DecFreshly grilled mitarashi dango (sweet soy-glazed rice dumplings) from a kawara soba restaurant.
- AikororinFood stall · Sat 12, Sat 19 Dec, from 18:00Bread and curry from a shop in Sannose, Nagato Yumoto.
- cafe and shop TreFood stall · Thu 24, Fri 25 Dec, from 18:00A café on the second floor overlooking the onsen town, by the Otozure River.
MAP
- 1Onto Plaza
- 2Machi no Bandai
- 3Gyokusenkaku
- 4SOIL Nagatoyumoto
- 5365+1 BEER
- 6THE BAR NAGATO
- 7Otani Sanso
- B“OTOZURE” bus stop
- PNagato Yumoto Onsen public car park (page in Japanese)
INFORMATION
- Dates
- Fri 4 – Fri 25 December 2026
- Light show
- Every night during the event, from sunset to 22:00
- Venue
- Onto Plaza and around Nagato Yumoto Onsen town
- Bonfire
- Every Saturday at Onto Plaza (after sunset)
- Admission
- Free at SOIL Nagatoyumoto, THE BAR NAGATO, 365+1 BEER and Gyokusenkaku.
At Otani Sanso, visitors who are not staying there are asked to order one drink.
Performances at SOIL Nagatoyumoto, Gyokusenkaku and Otani Sanso are open to visitors who are not staying there. - Parking
- Please use the Nagato Yumoto Onsen public car park (page in Japanese).
- Organiser
- Nagato Yumoto Onsen Machi Co., Ltd. (長門湯本温泉まち株式会社)
* The programme may change or be cancelled due to bad weather or other reasons. For the latest updates, see our Instagram @yumoto.mirai (posts are in Japanese).
ACCESS
From Fukuoka, take the "OTOZURE" bus
The Nishitetsu highway bus, the “OTOZURE” bus, runs from Hakata and Tenjin in Fukuoka to Nagato Yumoto Onsen with no transfers. Two round trips a day, every day.
- No transfersOne bus from Hakata and Tenjin in Fukuoka to Nagato Yumoto Onsen. It is the first stop on the Nagato side.
- Comfortable 3-row seatingEvery bus has reclining seats in rows of three. All seats are reserved; booking is required.
- Free Wi-Fi and toiletEvery bus has free Wi-Fi and a toilet.
- Arrive in the eveningLeave Hakata at 16:30 and arrive at Nagato Yumoto Onsen at 19:36, in time for the light show (until 22:00).
Timetable
| Hakata | Tenjin | Nagato Yumoto Onsen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 8:06 | 8:25 | 11:11 arr. |
| Afternoon | 16:30 | 16:50 | 19:36 arr. |
| Nagato Yumoto Onsen | Tenjin | Hakata | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 8:10 dep. | 10:55 | 11:11 |
| Afternoon | 16:41 dep. | 19:26 | 19:42 |
Times are from the Nishitetsu timetable. Please check the latest information when you book.
Booking in English on Japan Bus Online
