Kera-ike Skating Rink, an outdoor rink in the Karuizawa Hoshino Area surrounded by the rich nature of Karuizawa, will hold "Stardust Ice Rink" (スターダスト・アイスリンク), a nighttime-only light-up event on the ice, from Saturday, November 21, 2026 to Sunday, January 31, 2027. Now in its third year, the event adds new shooting-star-inspired objects to a space created by sparkling objects and mirror balls. Glowing skates are also available for rent, offering the feeling of gliding through a galaxy.
A Space of Light Created by Sparkling Objects and Mirror Balls
As the sun sets, light effects wrap around the entire Kera-ike Skating Rink. The theme is "Forest Galaxy" (森の銀河). Trees surrounding the rink are decorated with star motifs, which, together with countless beams of light from the mirror balls, express the sparkle of a vast galaxy. Visitors can skate in an immersive space that feels like floating in the night sky.
The decorations are created by the art collective MIRRORBOWLER (ミラーボーラー), which makes spatial works of light and reflection using mirror balls.
About MIRRORBOWLER (ミラーボーラー)
MIRRORBOWLER is an installation art collective that creates spatial works of light and reflection. Its members come from diverse backgrounds, including graphic designers, photographers, lighting technicians, blacksmiths and plant artists. The collective wraps spaces in infinite light infused with feelings of love and joy, and pursues work that reaches people's hearts regardless of race, gender, generation, language or religious views. Its activities range widely, from various light events and illuminations to large rock festivals and spatial direction for music videos.
New Shooting-Star Objects
This year, new star objects inspired by shooting stars make their debut. Stars of various sizes are lined up to represent a shooting star and its trail, and the largest star is about 1.8 m in diameter. The stars are placed in the darkness of the forest, a little away from the rink, and glow from time to time. Just as people have long entrusted their wishes to the stars, the objects are designed to shine in a way that makes visitors want to quietly make a wish in their hearts.
Two Items Worth Photographing: Glowing Skates and a White Cocoa
The adjacent cafe sells a winter-only drink, the "Starlight White Cocoa" (星あかりのホワイトココア). It is a white cocoa with a gentle, milky sweetness, designed with twinkling stars. Because Stardust Ice Rink begins after dark, the drink is a good match for arriving a little early and looking forward to the light display to come.
In addition, limited-quantity glowing skates make the night skating experience more memorable. With small lights attached to the skates, skaters step onto the ice feeling as if they have become part of the fantastical space themselves.
Starlight White Cocoa (星あかりのホワイトココア)
- Sale hours: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (last order 3:30 PM)
- Price: ¥800
About Kera-ike Skating Rink
Kera-ike Skating Rink is an outdoor rink next to the Karuizawa Wild Bird Forest (軽井沢野鳥の森), where many wild birds and animals live in the surrounding area. Its concept is "a skating rink where you can feel the forest." In autumn the rink is surrounded by fall foliage, and during the coldest part of winter, visitors can skate on natural ice during the daytime.
- Official website: https://www.hoshino-area.jp/kera-ike-icerink/
Stardust Ice Rink Details
- Period: Saturday, November 21, 2026 to Sunday, January 31, 2027
- Hours:
- Saturday, November 21 to Monday, December 28, 2026: after sunset to 6:00 PM (last admission 5:00 PM)
- Tuesday, December 29, 2026 to Sunday, January 31, 2027: after sunset to 6:30 PM (last admission 5:30 PM)
- Location: Kera-ike Skating Rink, Karuizawa Hoshino Area
- Price: Adults (junior high school students and older) from ¥1,900 / Children (elementary school students and younger) from ¥1,300 (spectating is free)
- Note: Kera-ike Skating Rink is open from 10:00 AM until Stardust Ice Rink ends.
Also in the Area: Christmas in the Karuizawa Hoshino Area
From Saturday, November 21 to Friday, December 25, 2026, the Karuizawa Hoshino Area will be decorated with Christmas illuminations that wrap the whole area in warm light. At Harunire Terrace, the "small town" of the area, mistletoe decorations, said to be a symbol of happiness, will appear.
Along the promenade from Harunire Terrace to Momi-no-ki Plaza (もみの木広場), where a 10 m Christmas tree shines, visitors can take a special winter stroll around the Hoshino Area carrying a "Mistletoe Lantern" (やどりぎランタン), which is modeled on mistletoe berries.
Christmas in the Karuizawa Hoshino Area
- Period: Saturday, November 21 to Friday, December 25, 2026
- Lighting hours: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Mistletoe Lantern (やどりぎランタン)
- Period: Saturdays and Sundays in December 2026, and Monday, December 21 to Friday, December 25 (11 days in total)
- Hours: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Location: Harunire Terrace and Momi-no-ki Plaza (next to Tonbo no Yu, トンボの湯)
- Details: Limited-quantity rental of lanterns modeled on mistletoe berries
- Price: Free
Getting There
- Location: Hoshino, Karuizawa-machi, Nagano 389-0194 (Karuizawa Hoshino Area)
- Access: About 15 minutes by car from Karuizawa Station on the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen
- Official website: https://www.hoshino-area.jp/
