KOIWAI Winter Lights (銀河農場の夜, "Galactic Farm Night") runs at Makiba-en (まきば園), the visitor park at Koiwai Farm (小岩井農場) in Shizukuishi, Iwate, from December 1, 2026, to January 17, 2027.
The lights are on from 4 to 8 p.m. (last entry at 7 p.m.; until 7 p.m. on December 31), and admission is ¥1,000 for adults and free for children in elementary school or younger. As of November 13, no advance tickets have been announced.
The catch is getting there without a car. Regular buses from Morioka Station stop serving the farm in winter.
A special bus for the event runs on just 18 days between December 1 and January 17: weekends, national holidays, and December 30 through January 3. That means no bus on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, which both fall on weekdays this year.
On days without the special bus, a taxi is your main option if you're not driving: about ¥6,000 one way from Morioka Station.
2026-27 at a Glance
Edition | 13th |
|---|---|
Dates | Tue, Dec 1, 2026 – Sun, Jan 17, 2027 |
Hours | 4–8 p. |
Hours on Dec 31 | 4–7 p. |
Admission | ¥1,000 for junior high age and up, free for elementary school age and younger, ¥300 per dog |
Fireworks | Dec 31 from 6:30 p. |
Parking | Free (about 1,500 cars) |
Venue | Koiwai Farm Makiba-en (小岩井農場まきば園), 36-1 Maruyachi, Shizukuishi, Iwate |
Check hotel rates near Morioka Station, where the special bus departs
The Special Bus From Morioka Station
Iwate Kenkotsu (岩手県交通), the regional bus company, operates the special bus from stop 10 (10番のりば) at Morioka Station's East Exit. The fare is ¥750 one way for adults and ¥380 for children, and transit IC cards are accepted.
Bus days (December) | 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27, 30 (Wed), 31 (Thu) |
|---|---|
Bus days (January) | 1 (Fri, holiday), 2, 3, 9, 10, 11 (Mon, holiday), 16, 17 |
To the farm (from Morioka Sta. | 3:20 p. |
Return (from Makiba-en) | 6:30 p. |
Return on Dec 31 | 6:45 p. |
Take the 4:50 p.m. bus out and the 8 p.m. bus back, and you get about 2 hours and 40 minutes at the farm. The 3:20 p.m. bus arrives at 3:50, so you'll wait about 10 minutes for the 4 p.m. opening.
Iwate Kenkotsu notes that once the bus fills up, some passengers may be turned away.
Except on December 31, if the 6:30 p.m. bus back is full, you can wait for the 8 p.m. If that one fills up too, you'll need to call a taxi (numbers below).
New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
On December 31, the 6:30 and 8 p.m. return buses are canceled and replaced by a single 6:45 p.m. departure.
The fireworks start at 6:30 and last about five minutes, leaving roughly 10 minutes before the bus departs. Take the 4:50 p.m. bus out that day, and you'll have only about 1 hour and 25 minutes at the farm.
If the 6:45 p.m. bus is full, there's no other special bus back that night. Consider booking a taxi back ahead of time, just in case (numbers below).
On January 1, the fireworks start at 7:30 p.m., which leaves time to catch the 8 p.m. bus.
If you're riding the Shinkansen up to Morioka over the holidays, see our guide to how year-end Shinkansen tickets go on sale.
Getting There on Days Without the Bus
According to the farm's access page, a taxi takes about 30–40 minutes from Morioka Station (about ¥6,000) or 10–15 minutes from Koiwai Station on the JR Tazawako Line (about ¥2,000).
The same page lists two local companies: Shizukuishi Taxi (019-692-3131) and Kogawa Taxi (019-613-4545). If you'd rather not call in Japanese, ask your hotel to call for you.
Makiba-en closes at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. on December 31). The farm doesn't say whether taxis wait outside at night, so it's safer to book your ride back when you book the ride out.
If you go via Koiwai Station, check the train times back before you set out.
By car, it's about 12 km (7.5 miles), or 15 minutes, from Morioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway. Head toward Akita on Route 46 and turn right at the Tsunagi Jumonji (繋十文字) intersection. Parking is free.
Tickets and Advance Booking
As of November 13, 2026, the official event page lists admission prices but says nothing about advance tickets or online booking. The farm's own booking site isn't selling illumination tickets either.
The farm also hasn't said where you pay or which payment methods it accepts. If you need an answer before you go, call Makiba-en at 019-692-4321 (+81-19-692-4321 from abroad; 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Japan time). We'll update this article when details come out.
Daytime Hours and the 3 p.m. Cutoff
From December 1 to January 17, Makiba-en is open from noon to 3 p.m. for daytime visitors, with only some facilities operating. Daytime admission is ¥400 for adults and ¥150 for kids from age 5 through sixth grade.
Everyone has to leave at 3 p.m., and evening entry starts at 4 p.m. The farm doesn't say whether a daytime ticket also covers the evening, so budget for both unless staff at the gate tell you otherwise.
New This Season
This season (December 1 to January 17) brings two new attractions: the Illumination Butterfly and illuminated playground equipment in Sparkling Plaza (きらめき広場).
The Butterfly is a photo spot built around a swing, and the wings move as you swing. Staff take a small photo of each group, and one print per group is free. A large print costs ¥1,500.
You'll also find a tunnel of lights about 50 m (165 ft) long, a steam locomotive wrapped in lights (銀河鉄道SL), and the Sunflower Maze (ひまわり迷路), a maze of lights inspired by summer sunflower fields.
Weather Closures and Rules on Site
The event page doesn't say whether there are any closing days, or what happens in bad weather. Iwate Kenkotsu says that if Makiba-en closes because of bad weather, the special bus won't run either.
If the forecast looks rough, call Makiba-en (019-692-4321) before you head out.
Paths can get slippery, and the farm asks you to watch your footing. It also asks you not to bring sleds, tricycles, bicycles, kick scooters, kids' bikes (balance bikes), or similar ride-on toys.
For another winter light display in Tohoku (northeastern Japan), the SENDAI Pageant of Starlight runs through December 27 in Sendai.
This article was translated from the original Japanese with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. The Japanese version is authoritative.
