From Saturday, November 21, 2026 to Sunday, February 28, 2027, the winter illumination event "SAGAE Illumi Terrace 2026" (SAGAE IllumiTerrace 2026 サガエ イルミテラス2026), subtitled "A Dreamlike World Woven by Light" (光が紡ぐ、夢幻の世界), will be held in Sagae, Yamagata Prefecture. The venue is the Rose Garden (バラ園) of Mogamigawa Furusato Sogo Park (最上川ふるさと総合公園), on the waterside of the Center House (センターハウス水辺側).
"Sagae Illumi Terrace" (さがえイルミテラス) started in 2025 with the aim of becoming a new winter tradition where families and visitors gather and smile, expressing the charm that is unique to Sagae through illumination. In its second year, the event period has been extended to February 28, 2027, so that Sagae's winter is lit up with light and sound for about three months.
The lighting ceremony on the opening day, November 21, features Yamagata-born singer-songwriter Asakura Saya (朝倉さや) as a special guest. Asakura Saya and local high school student min'yo (Japanese folk song) singer Sato Miku (佐藤美玖) will perform live. The two will sing Sagae's original song "Sora no Yuiuta" (空の結い唄), and the illumination will light up along with their voices.
There will also be two special event days, on Sunday, December 20 and Sunday, January 10, 2027. Along with winter fireworks in the night sky, the days include the "Sagae Christmas Market" (さがえクリスマスマーケット), "Nippon Oyatsu Haku in Sagae" (にっぽんおやつ博 in 寒河江), "Harukoi Marche" (春恋マルシェ), and "Pudding EXPO in Sagae" (プリンEXPO in 寒河江), a variety of programs for both children and adults.
Second Year, With the Event Period Extended to February 28, 2027
"Sagae Illumi Terrace" is a winter illumination event that expresses the charm of Sagae, the "cherry town" (さくらんぼのまち), through light and sound.
The event started in 2025 with the aim of becoming a "new winter tradition for the region." In its second year, fiscal 2026, the event period has been greatly extended. Centered on the illumination, the event combines music, fireworks, marketplaces (marche), and food to offer a way to enjoy winter in Sagae.
Lighting Ceremony With Asakura Saya on Saturday, November 21
The illumination lighting ceremony takes place on the opening day, Saturday, November 21, from 4:30 PM.
Yamagata-born singer-songwriter Asakura Saya is the special guest. Asakura Saya and local high school student min'yo singer Sato Miku will give a special stage performance that is held on this day only, and the illumination will light up along with their voices.
"Sagae Specialty Fortune-Telling" (寒河江名物占い): Your Result Changes the Illumination Show
At the venue, the "Sagae Specialty Fortune-Telling" lets visitors enjoy an illumination show linked to music.
The staging of the show changes depending on the fortune result, and what comes up, such as "Dai-daikichi" (大大吉) or "Daikyo" (大凶), depends on the luck of the day. Visitors can enjoy the fortune-telling together with the staging of light and sound.
Event Day on Sunday, December 20: "Sagae Christmas Market" and "Nippon Oyatsu Haku"
The "Sagae Christmas Market" gathers handmade goods, crafts, workshops, baked sweets, and more from within Yamagata Prefecture and neighboring prefectures. Stage events and other programs will also be held, filling the venue with a Christmas mood.
On the same day, other programs include "Nippon Oyatsu Haku in Sagae," which gathers popular sweets and local confections from all over Japan; "Christmas Presents from Cherin" (チェリンからのクリスマスプレゼント) for elementary school students and younger; the "Illumination Sky Watch" (イルミネーションスカイウォッチ), where visitors enjoy the illumination from an aerial work platform (高所作業車); and hot chocolate treats.
In the evening, winter fireworks will be launched for about 5 minutes from 7:00 PM, decorating Christmas night with illumination and fireworks.
- Date and time: Sunday, December 20, 2026, from 10:00 AM
- Location: Mogamigawa Furusato Sogo Park (最上川ふるさと総合公園)
- Programs:
- Sagae Christmas Market (さがえクリスマスマーケット)
- Christmas Presents from Cherin (チェリンからのクリスマスプレゼント)
- Nippon Oyatsu Haku in Sagae (にっぽんおやつ博 in 寒河江)
- Illumination Sky Watch (イルミネーションスカイウォッチ)
- Hot chocolate treats (ホットチョコレートのお振舞い)
- About 5 minutes of winter fireworks (約5分間の冬花火)
- Sagae Onsen Ping-Pong Bingo (寒河江温泉ピンポンビンゴ)
Start times differ by program.
Event Day on Sunday, January 10: "Harukoi Marche," "Pudding EXPO," and "Snowlight Symphony" Winter Fireworks Linked to the Illumination
On Sunday, January 10, 2027, the "Harukoi Marche" will be held, with handmade goods and accessories, various workshops, warm food, a stage, and more.
Other programs include the "Kids Marche" (キッズマルシェ), where children become the shop managers and sell toys, picture books, and other items they no longer use; the "Pudding EXPO," which gathers local puddings from all over Japan; and a treat of "Sagae Niku Yakisoba" (さがえ肉焼きそば), a new local dish of Sagae.
From 7:00 PM, the winter fireworks "Snowlight Symphony" will run for about 20 minutes, combining the fireworks in the winter night sky with the illumination.
- Date and time: Sunday, January 10, 2027, from 10:00 AM
- Location: Mogamigawa Furusato Sogo Park (最上川ふるさと総合公園)
- Programs:
- Harukoi Marche (春恋マルシェ)
- Kids Marche (キッズマルシェ)
- Pudding EXPO in Sagae (プリンEXPO in 寒河江)
- Sagae Niku Yakisoba treat (さがえ肉焼きそばのお振舞)
- Winter fireworks "Snowlight Symphony" (冬花火「Snowlight Symphony」)
- Sagae Onsen Ping-Pong Bingo (寒河江温泉ピンポンビンゴ)
Start times differ by program.
Event Overview
SAGAE Illumi Terrace 2026 (SAGAE IllumiTerrace 2026 サガエ イルミテラス2026)
- Dates: Saturday, November 21, 2026 to Sunday, February 28, 2027
- Lighting hours: 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM (may change depending on the time of year)
- Venue: Rose Garden of Mogamigawa Furusato Sogo Park, waterside of the Center House (最上川ふるさと総合公園バラ園（センターハウス水辺側）), Sagae, Yamagata
- Organizer: Sagae Illumi Terrace Executive Committee (さがえイルミテラス実行委員会), secretariat: Sagae City Cherry Tourism Division (寒河江市さくらんぼ観光課)
- Co-organizer: Sagae City (寒河江市)
- Official website: https://sagae-illumiterrace.jp/
