The Tokinosumika Illumination 2026-2027 "Hikari no Sumika" (ひかりのすみか) will begin on Friday, October 9, 2026, at Gotemba Kogen Tokinosumika (御殿場高原 時之栖), a resort complex in Gotemba, Shizuoka. Described as the large-scale illumination closest to Mount Fuji in Japan, it reaches its 25th season this year. A lighting ceremony on opening day will switch on the lights across the whole venue at once, following a countdown with the audience.
This year's theme is "DREAM LIGHTS SYMPHONY: A Forest of Light Once Seen in a Dream" (いつかの夢で見た光の森), and about 5.5 million lights create a dreamlike world. Throughout the day, the resort will also host a series of events to open the illumination season, including the start of the autumn beer festival "Beer Kingdom," a dance show, and a collaboration of the fountain laser show, dance and fireworks.
Lighting Ceremony Overview
Date and time: Friday, October 9, 2026, from 5:30 PM
Venue: "Hatsuyume Bridge" (初夢の橋) inside Gotemba Kogen Tokinosumika
Schedule:
- 4:00 PM: "Beer Kingdom: Autumn Beer Festival" opens (Sakura SQUARE, さくらSQUARE)
- 5:00 PM: Masquerade Dance Show (Sakura SQUARE, free to watch)
- 5:30 PM: Lighting ceremony begins, with remarks from guests (Hatsuyume Bridge)
- 6:00 PM: Countdown and illumination switch-on
- 6:30 PM / 7:20 PM / 7:40 PM: Fountain laser show and dance collaboration (Royal Palace Hill, 王宮の丘)
- 8:00 PM: Fountain laser show, dance and fireworks (Royal Palace Hill)
Content and times may change or be cancelled depending on the weather. The fountain laser show takes place in the paid area, Royal Palace Hill.
4:00 PM: Beer Kingdom, the Autumn Beer Festival
From Friday, October 9 to Monday, October 12 (national holiday), the "Beer Kingdom: Autumn Beer Festival" takes place at "Sakura SQUARE" (さくらSQUARE) inside the resort. Visitors can enjoy craft beer delivered directly from breweries, food that pairs well with beer, and stage events.
Hours:
- Friday, October 9: 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Monday, October 12 (national holiday): 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Cancelled in case of rain.
Venue: Sakura SQUARE, Gotemba Kogen Tokinosumika
Admission: Free. Prices for drinks, food and other items depend on each stall.
More details: https://www.tokinosumika.com/10075/
5:00 PM: Masquerade Dance Show
This dance show is performed by "SHOJIN ENTERTAINMENT LABO," led by choreographer and jazz dance instructor SHOJIN. For autumn 2026, the show comes in a "Masquerade Ver." featuring performances inspired by a glamorous masquerade ball. Active professional dancers will liven up the resort before the illumination is switched on.
Date and time: Friday, October 9, from 5:00 PM
Venue: Sakura SQUARE (free to watch)
More details: https://www.tokinosumika.com/9976/
6:00 PM: "Hikari no Sumika" Illumination Switch-On
At the countdown signal, the roughly 5.5 million lights across the resort turn on all at once, and the story of this season's theme, "DREAM LIGHTS SYMPHONY: A Forest of Light Once Seen in a Dream," begins. Highlights include a 20-meter-high symbol tree, the roughly 300-meter "Light Tunnel" (ひかりのトンネル), the projection mapping show "Mori no Sumika" (もりのすみか) that tells a new story, and the "Good Night Dome," a dreamlike space featuring the moon.
8:00 PM: Fountain Laser Show, Dance and Fireworks
The lighting ceremony night closes with a special collaboration at Royal Palace Hill. The fountain laser show, which reaches up to 150 meters and is billed as the highest in Japan, is joined by dance, and fireworks are launched into the night sky. Light, water, music, dance and fireworks come together in one show.
In severe weather, the fountain laser show and other programs may be cancelled for safety reasons.
Show times: 6:30 PM, 7:20 PM, 7:40 PM and 8:00 PM (fireworks are planned only for the 8:00 PM show)
Venue: Royal Palace Hill (paid area)
Admission: Adults (junior high school age and older) ¥1,300 / Elementary school students ¥700 / Preschool children free
More details: https://www.tokinosumika.com/9976/
About This Season's "Hikari no Sumika"
"Hikari no Sumika" at Gotemba Kogen Tokinosumika marks its 25th year in 2026 and is a winter tradition of the resort. This season's theme is "DREAM LIGHTS SYMPHONY: A Forest of Light Once Seen in a Dream." About 5.5 million lights decorate the resort, taking visitors on a journey through a dream world: from the original "Light Tunnel" to a path that feels like walking through clouds and stars, the projection mapping "Mori no Sumika," Royal Palace Hill themed on water and magic, and the "Good Night Dome" bathed in moonlight.
The illumination runs from Friday, October 9, 2026, to Sunday, March 7, 2027.
Illumination Overview
Name: Tokinosumika Illumination 2026-2027 "Hikari no Sumika"
Period: Friday, October 9, 2026, to Sunday, March 7, 2027
Lighting hours:
- Period 1 (Friday, October 9 to Saturday, October 31, 2026): 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM (lighting is planned for 6:00 PM on October 9)
- Period 2 (Sunday, November 1, 2026 to Monday, January 11, 2027, national holiday): 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM
- Period 3 (Tuesday, January 12 to Sunday, March 7, 2027): 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Admission (paid areas):
- Royal Palace Hill: Adults (junior high school age and older) ¥1,300 / Elementary school students ¥700
- Mori no Sumika: Adults (junior high school age and older) ¥700 / Elementary school students ¥400
- Combined ticket for both facilities: Adults (junior high school age and older) ¥1,800 / Elementary school students ¥1,000
- Preschool children are free. Free areas are also available.
Parking: About 2,000 spaces
Official website: https://www.tokinosumika.com/9964/
