Ark Hills, the complex run by Mori Building Co., Ltd. (森ビル株式会社), is getting its Christmas makeover again this year. ARK HILLS CHRISTMAS 2026 runs from Saturday, November 7 to Friday, December 25, 2026, with a real Christmas tree on Ark Karajan Plaza (アーク・カラヤン広場) as the centerpiece.
The tree is free to look at whenever you pass by, but the best days to go are Saturdays, when the Hills Marche (ヒルズマルシェ) farmers market turns into a small Christmas market with workshops, and Sunday, November 22, when an expanded Akasaka Flea Market (赤坂蚤の市) takes over the plaza. Below is what each part offers, what it costs where prices have been announced, and which dates to pick.
Key facts at a glance
| Event | ARK HILLS CHRISTMAS 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | Sat, Nov 7 to Fri, Dec 25, 2026 |
| Venues | Ark Karajan Plaza (アーク・カラヤン広場), Ark Mori Building (アーク森ビル), Ark Hills South Tower (アークヒルズサウスタワー) |
| Organizer | Mori Building Co., Ltd. (森ビル株式会社) |
| Part of | CHRISTMAS HILLS 2026, a joint Christmas program across 5 Hills complexes |
| Admission | Not listed in the announcement. Workshops have their own fees (see below). |
| Official page | arkhills.com event page |
The 6 m real Christmas tree
This year’s main tree is a live tree about 6 m tall, styled in classic red and white. The red ornaments are meant to evoke gift ribbons and the white ones snow, and the whole thing is lit with gold illuminations. The look is traditional rather than flashy, which suits a slow walk through the plaza. The display is produced by To/&co.
The decorations do not stop at the plaza. Smaller trees and illuminations are also set up around Ark Mori Building and Ark Hills South Tower, so the whole complex feels festive as you walk between buildings. Night photos drain a phone battery quickly, so our guide to free ChargeSPOT power bank rentals with d VALUE PASS may help.
Hills Marche Christmas edition: workshops and gifts
Hills Marche is a city farmers market held at Ark Karajan Plaza every Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00. It started in 2009 and is now in its 17th year, bringing in quality produce mainly from around the Kanto region and from across Japan. During the Christmas period it keeps its usual seasonal food stalls and adds Christmas workshops, seasonal goods and sweets.
Workshops
| Workshop | Dates (Sat) | Capacity / age | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas flower arrangement by Soi-même | Nov 28 Dec 5 | 20 to 30 people Age 3 and up | ¥1,500 to ¥4,000 (extra tools can be added) |
| Stained glass ornament making by Hippopotomos | Nov 14 Nov 28 Dec 5 Dec 19 | 10 people (3 per session, about 30 min) Age 6 and up | ¥2,500 |
In the flower workshop you make a Christmas arrangement with real flowers. Frame wreaths and reindeer figures are also available, so you can choose the base you like.
The stained glass workshop has you combine colored glass pieces into a tree-shaped ornament. Part of the process involves soldering with an iron yourself. The finished piece comes with a hanging ribbon and is handed over in a box, so it works as a gift too. Families with preschoolers should check with the organizer first.
Christmas goods and sweets
| Shop | Item | Price |
|---|---|---|
| COOKIE MACCHIART | Santa-style toy poodle soft cookie, mini gingerbread cookies | ¥540 |
| Machi no Bunbougu-yasan (まちのぶんぼうぐやさん) | Christmas tree gift bags (clear zip bags) | ¥500 for 5 ¥120 each |
| R&M Kashmir | Hand-carved wooden Christmas stamps | ¥770 / ¥990 |
| mit mit | Christmas ribbon charm for Pasar bags | ¥1,200 |
| Amoyo (アモーヨ) | Hand-knit earrings (snowman / boot) | ¥3,700 |
COOKIE MACCHIART’s palm-sized toy poodle cookie gets a Santa version only for the Christmas season, and mini gingerbread cookies are also on offer.
The gift bags have star-shaped handles and are sized for small presents. You can buy a single one if you only need a few.
R&M Kashmir’s stamps are carved one by one by artisans in India, in designs like trees, stars and snowflakes. Use them on paper or fabric to make your own cards and wrapping.
mit mit’s bright red ribbon charm turns a Pasar bag into a Christmas bag. Amoyo, a knit repair shop, makes its earrings by hand-knitting the sewing thread it uses for repairs, and this year’s lineup includes Christmas motifs.
Akasaka Flea Market Christmas special (Nov 22)
The Akasaka Flea Market (赤坂蚤の市) normally takes place once a month with antiques, vintage clothing, jewelry and household goods, plus music performances and food trucks. The November edition is an expanded Christmas special with more vendors than usual and Christmas decorations around the plaza.
| Date | Sunday, November 22 |
|---|---|
| Time | 11:00 to 18:00 (one hour longer than usual) |
| Place | Ark Karajan Plaza |
| Regular schedule | 4th Sunday of each month, 11:00 to 17:00 (December only: 2nd Sunday, 11:00 to 16:00) |
Expect ornaments, winter interior pieces and accessories that work as presents. The mood is closer to an old-fashioned European flea market than a big Christmas market. Some of the confirmed vendors:
| Vendor | What they bring |
|---|---|
| 塔屋 TOYA | Select shop from Mejirodai, Bunkyo: Finnish antiques and works by contemporary Japanese makers |
| Fiskars Japan | Nordic tableware brand; will bring hard-to-find items and some more affordable pieces |
| JAM CLOTHING | Vintage clothing hand-picked in Europe and the US |
| Sanva | Fragrance brand inspired by memory and abstract imagery |
| SANDERS | English shoemaker founded in 1873 in Northamptonshire |
| USONIAN GOODS STORE | Flagship of INDIVIDUALIZED SHIRTS, an American goods select shop marking its 10th year |
| sheep | Made-to-order cakes and sweets |
| VA-VA | Japan-made clothing and crafts from Kyushu: ceramics, glass, woodwork |
| STANDARD SUPPLY | Japan-made bags and leather goods, plus ARTS&CRAFTS and NICOTAMA OUTDOOR CLUB items |
| EIFFEL | Food truck from a wine bar in Ikejiri-Ohashi, focusing on French and Japanese natural wines |
Christmas food at Ark Hills restaurants
Restaurants in the complex will offer Christmas cakes, seasonal sweets and chicken. Mori Building says full details will come in a later announcement, but two items are already confirmed:
| Shop / item | Price | Available |
|---|---|---|
| Bubby’s New York ARK Hills Fried chicken barrel (8 pieces + 2 mini coleslaws) | ¥4,320 | Dec 23 to Dec 25 Reservations accepted |
| Pâtisserie I griega Bûche de Noël chocolat (Ark Hills only) | Eat-in ¥1,760 Takeout ¥1,728 | Dec 5 to Dec 25 Closed Mon and Tue (shifted if a holiday) Reservations accepted |
Bubby’s barrel is a whole chicken fried with herbs and pepper, following the recipe from its original Tribeca restaurant in New York. The bûche from Pâtisserie I griega pairs blond chocolate mousse with orange jelly and cream, topped with caramelized pecans on a sablé base. Both take reservations, which is worth doing for the days right before Christmas.
CHRISTMAS HILLS stamp rally: a ¥1,000 coupon
ARK HILLS CHRISTMAS is one part of CHRISTMAS HILLS 2026, which links Christmas events at Roppongi Hills, Azabudai Hills, Toranomon Hills, Omotesando Hills and Ark Hills from November 5. The key visual was created by Misawa Design Institute at Nippon Design Center with illustrations by artist Daniel Barrett.
If you are already shopping at more than one Hills, the joint stamp rally is worth joining:
- Period: Nov 5 to Dec 25, 2026
- Spend ¥1,000 or more (tax included) in one transaction at any of the 5 Hills to get 1 stamp.
- Collect stamps at 3 different Hills and you get a ¥1,000 coupon usable at Hills shops.
- You need to download the Hills App (ヒルズアプリ), sign up for a free membership and log in.
- Show the app when you pay so Hills Points are added. Paying with a Hills Card Mastercard linked to the app means you do not need to show it.
- Only purchases eligible for Hills Points count. Some shops, items and payment methods (such as paying with Hills Points) are excluded.
Note that the market stalls and the flea market are not described as stamp-eligible, so plan to collect stamps at regular shops and restaurants. If you are still deciding which Japanese card to use for everyday spending, see our guide to credit cards in Japan for foreigners. Details are on the CHRISTMAS HILLS official site.
Which day to go: a simple plan
- Want to try both workshops? Nov 28 and Dec 5 are the only Saturdays when the flower arrangement and stained glass workshops run on the same day.
- Want a gift you can make yourself? The stained glass workshop also runs on Nov 14 and Dec 19. With only 3 people per session, arriving early in the 10:00 to 14:00 window is the safer bet.
- Looking for vintage gifts? Go on Sunday, Nov 22. The flea market runs until 18:00 that day, so you can shop and then stay to see the tree after dark.
- Ordering Christmas food? The bûche is sold from Dec 5 and the chicken barrel from Dec 23, and both take reservations.
Looking for more autumn outings? See our guides to the Shibaura Canal Festival and the Musashino Art University Festival, or find discounts on leisure spots in the Asoview Asobitsukushi campaign.
FAQ
- When and where is ARK HILLS CHRISTMAS 2026?
- It runs from November 7 to December 25, 2026, at Ark Karajan Plaza, Ark Mori Building and Ark Hills South Tower.
- Is there an admission fee?
- The announcement does not list an admission fee for the event. The workshops have their own fees: the flower arrangement costs 1,500 to 4,000 yen and the stained glass ornament costs 2,500 yen.
- When is the Akasaka Flea Market Christmas special?
- Sunday, November 22, from 11:00 to 18:00 at Ark Karajan Plaza, with more vendors than a usual month.
- How does the CHRISTMAS HILLS stamp rally work?
- From November 5 to December 25, spend 1,000 yen or more (tax included) in one transaction at any of the 5 Hills to get a stamp. Stamps from 3 different Hills earn a 1,000 yen coupon. You need the Hills App with a free membership.
- Can I reserve the Christmas food?
- Yes. Both the fried chicken barrel and the chocolate bûche de Noël accept reservations.
Official sources
- ARK HILLS CHRISTMAS 2026 official page
- Hills Marche in ARK HILLS
- Akasaka Flea Market in ARK HILLS
- CHRISTMAS HILLS 2026 official site
- Mori Building press release (Oct 19, 2026)
Information as of October 19, 2026, based on the organizer’s announcement. Schedules and prices may change, so please check the official pages before visiting.