If you pass through Yokohama Station on Sunday, October 25, 2026, the taxi stand by the north-west exit becomes a small open-air festival for the day. SMILE GARDEN 2026 has free entry and runs from 11:00 to 20:00, with food stalls and craft beer, photo sessions with a popular character duo, a pro basketball cheer squad, and a DJ set once the sun goes down. You only pay for what you eat, drink or buy.
The event is held alongside Iwafes 2026 (イワフェス2026), the school festival of Iwasaki Gakuen (学校法人岩崎学園), a Yokohama-based education group. Below is the full timetable, what each slot involves, and what changes if it rains.
Event at a glance
| Event | SMILE GARDEN 2026 |
|---|---|
| Date and time | Sunday, October 25, 2026, 11:00–20:00 |
| Venue | Taxi stand area (transport plaza) at the north-west exit of Yokohama Station (横浜駅きた西口タクシー乗り場・交通広場) |
| Address | Yokohama Station north-west exit (Kita-Nishiguchi), Yokohama, Kanagawa |
| Admission | Free (food, drinks and merchandise are paid separately) |
| Organizer | Iwasaki Gakuen |
| Co-organizers | Yokohama Nishiguchi Area Management, Tsuruyacho Neighborhood Association, Daimachi Neighborhood Association |
| Supporters | City of Yokohama Urban Development Bureau, Kanagawa Shimbun, tvk (TV Kanagawa) |
| Held with | Iwafes 2026, the Iwasaki Gakuen school festival, on the same day |
| Inquiries | SMILE GARDEN 2026 Office, Iwasaki Gakuen: 045-311-5562 (main line) |
Iwasaki Gakuen runs vocational colleges in fields such as IT, fashion, design, sports, childcare and nursing, along with a graduate school for information security. Its official site is iwasaki.ac.jp, and the full announcement is in the official press release.
Full timetable
Food stalls are open throughout the day. The timed programs are listed below. The organizer notes that times and content may change, so check again closer to the day.
| Time | Program | Details |
|---|---|---|
| All day | Art exhibition and goods by illustrator Makoto Ikutake | Yokohama-themed works; postcards and clear files planned |
| 11:00–13:00 | Company × student workshops | Snow globe making, GREEN×EXPO 2027 character making and more |
| 11:00–17:30 | Body sticker corner for kids | Run by Yokohama f College students; free |
| 11:30–12:00 | Pisuke & Usagi meet-and-greet | Photos with the characters |
| 13:30–14:00 | B-ROSE cheer dance | Performance plus a dance visitors can join |
| 15:00–15:30 | B-ROSE cheer dance | Second session |
| 15:30–16:00 | Pisuke & Usagi meet-and-greet | Second session |
| 17:00–20:00 | DJ live | DJ BABE and DJ Mikado |
Food and drinks
A range of food vendors will set up at the plaza. The dishes announced so far mix classic Japanese festival snacks with more filling options:
| Type | Dishes announced |
|---|---|
| Snacks | Fruit candy (fruit ame), frankfurters, fries |
| Meals | Garlic shrimp, grilled beef rice bowl (yakiniku don), motsu-ni (simmered offal stew) |
| Drinks | Craft beer and other alcoholic drinks |
Individual stall prices haven’t been announced. Payment methods for the stalls aren’t listed either, so it’s safer to carry some cash alongside your card. If you’re still sorting out which card works best for everyday spending here, see our guide to credit cards in Japan for foreigners.
Character photos and the B-ROSE cheer stage
The daytime program is aimed squarely at families. The character duo Pisuke & Usagi (ピスケ＆うさぎ) appears twice, at 11:30–12:00 and 15:30–16:00, for a meet-and-greet where you can take photos with them.
B-ROSE, the official cheerleading squad of the pro basketball club Yokohama B-Corsairs (横浜ビー・コルセアーズ), takes the stage at 13:30–14:00 and 15:00–15:30. Besides their own routine, there’s a dance segment that visitors can join in on, and the first 50 participants receive cheering goods. If that’s the part you want, arrive a little early.
Evening DJ set
From 17:00 to 20:00 the mood shifts. DJ BABE and DJ Mikado (DJ帝) play a three-hour set, turning the plaza into a spot for music with food and drinks after dark. It’s a different crowd from the family-oriented daytime program, and an easy stop on the way home from shopping around the station.
Planning to stay from lunch until 20:00? A long day of photos can drain your phone. Our guide to free ChargeSPOT power bank rentals with d VALUE PASS explains one way to keep it charged.
Art and hands-on activities
All day, illustrator Makoto Ikutake (イクタケマコト) shows Yokohama-themed artwork at the venue. Original goods such as postcards and clear files are planned for sale, which makes for a small local souvenir.
From 11:00 to 17:30, students of Yokohama f College (横浜fカレッジ), who study fashion and beauty, run a free body sticker corner for children. Kids pick the stickers they like and get a quick bit of dress-up.
From 11:00 to 13:00, companies and students team up for mini workshops, including snow globe making and creating characters linked to GREEN×EXPO 2027. These are pitched at both children and adults. The workshop window is only two hours, so come in the morning if your kids want to make something.
Rain plan and things to know
- If it rains, the program is partly changed or scaled down and moved indoors to the 1st floor of the Institute of Information Security (情報セキュリティ大学院大学). Directions are on its official access page.
- On rainy days, pets aren’t allowed inside the building.
- Times and content of each program may change.
For the latest details, check the official announcement or call the event office at 045-311-5562.
Tips for your visit
- With kids: aim for 11:00–13:00. That window covers the workshops, the sticker corner and the first character session.
- For the cheer goodies: join the B-ROSE dance at 13:30 or 15:00. Only the first 50 participants get the goods.
- For a drink and music: come after 17:00 for the DJ set with craft beer.
- On a budget: entry, the sticker corner and the stage shows cost nothing, so you can stop by between errands and spend only on what you want to eat.
Looking for more free or cheap outings this autumn? Students run their own festival at Musashino Art University Festival 2026, and our Shibaura Canal Festival guide covers another free waterfront event. For discounted tickets to theme parks and attractions, see the Asoview Asobitsukushi campaign.
FAQ
- Is SMILE GARDEN 2026 free to attend?
- Yes. Entry is free. Food, drinks and merchandise are paid separately.
- When and where is it held?
- Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 11:00 to 20:00, at the taxi stand area (transport plaza) by the north-west exit of Yokohama Station.
- What happens if it rains?
- The program is partly changed or scaled down and moved to the 1st floor of the Institute of Information Security. Pets aren’t allowed inside on rainy days.
- How do I get the B-ROSE cheering goods?
- Join the dance segment during the B-ROSE stage at 13:30–14:00 or 15:00–15:30. The first 50 participants receive cheering goods.
- Is alcohol sold at the event?
- Yes. Craft beer and other alcoholic drinks are sold alongside the food stalls.
- Are there activities for children?
- Yes. There is a free body sticker corner from 11:00 to 17:30, workshops such as snow globe making from 11:00 to 13:00, and photo sessions with Pisuke & Usagi.