For three days this October, the area around Tokyo Tower (東京タワー) becomes a candle festival. Tokyo Tower Candle Days 2026 runs from Friday, October 23 to Sunday, October 25, 2026, and entry is free.
You can shop for handmade candles, make your own in a workshop, see 112 finalist works from a candle art contest, and stay after dark for the Candle Night at the foot of the tower. The organizers are the Japan Candle Association (一般社団法人日本キャンドル協会) and JCA Inc. (株式会社JCA).
Key facts: dates, hours, venue, entry
| Dates | Friday, October 23, Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 10:00–20:00 (Friday only: 15:00–20:00) |
| Sunday closing | 1F Event Space until 17:00. Entrance plaza market and workshops until 18:00. Candle Night until 20:00 |
| Venue | Tokyo Tower: main entrance plaza, 1F Event Space and Main Deck (メインデッキ). 4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
| Entry | Free. The observatory area needs a separate admission ticket, and some workshops are paid |
| Organizers | Japan Candle Association / JCA Inc. |
| Official info | Official event page / JCA Instagram |
What happens where and when
Each part of the festival has its own hours, so check this table before you decide which day to go.
| Program | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Candle market and workshops | Entrance plaza | Fri 15:00–20:00 Sat 10:00–20:00 Sun 10:00–18:00 |
| Award ceremony | See official site | Sat, Oct 24 from 14:00 |
| Award finalist exhibition | 1F Event Space | Sat: after the ceremony until 20:00 Sun 10:00–17:00 |
| Guide tour of exhibited works | Exhibition space | Sun, Oct 25 from 13:00 |
| Special collaboration talk show | Exhibition space | Sun, Oct 25 from 15:00 |
| Candle Night | Foot of the tower | Every day around 18:00–20:00 |
| Sky collaboration | Entrance plaza and observatory | Details to come from Sky |
Japan Candle Artist Award exhibition
The Japan Candle Artist Award 2026 is a contest to choose the No.1 candle artist, open to artists in Japan and abroad. In the 1F Event Space you can see 112 finalist works that made it through judging: fine carvings, candles with flowers and plants sealed inside, and pieces with striking color gradients. Many of them do not look like candles at first glance.
This year two categories were added, Table Coordination and Golden Wax, bringing the total to 11 categories. The award ceremony is on Saturday, October 24, from 14:00, and the Grand Prix is announced there.
After the ceremony, a talk show with a well-known guest and a special collaboration exhibition will take place alongside the finalist works. With the new Table Coordination category, the exhibition space also hosts HARMONIER presents, a special collaboration exhibition produced by a food-space design company (食空間プロジェクト株式会社).
Sunday, October 25, has more on the program: a guide tour of the Table Coordination works at 13:00, a talk show between candle artists and table coordinators at 15:00, and a talk by CANDLE JUNE.
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Talk show guest | LiLiCo |
| Award ceremony MC | Chris Tomoko (クリス智子), JCA board member |
| JCA executive director, general director of the Candle Night | CANDLE JUNE |
Candle market and workshops
The candle market in the entrance plaza brings together popular candle artists and candle brands from all over Japan. Look for one-of-a-kind artist pieces, scented candles and design candles for your home, or pick up a gift for someone.
There are also many candle-making workshops. Beginners and children can join, you make your candle with a professional instructor, and you take it home the same day. The organizer asks visitors to check workshop details and how to join on the official website and Instagram.
Sponsor and partner booths line the market area too. At the booth of LOVE FOR NIPPON, an association headed by CANDLE JUNE, you can learn about its support work for disaster-hit areas.
Tokyo Tower Candle Night
When it gets dark, the candles lined up at the foot of Tokyo Tower are lit together, and their flickering light sits right under the illuminated tower. The candle installation is directed by CANDLE JUNE. It runs every day from around 18:00 to 20:00, including Sunday, when other areas close earlier.
As part of its recovery support work, the event again runs a project where visitors write messages for disaster-hit areas on candle holders, then line the candles up and light them.
If evening light events are your thing, see also our guide to the Setagaya Tamagawa Fireworks and where to watch them.
Sky collaboration
Sky (Sky 星を紡ぐ子どもたち), the social adventure game by thatgamecompany, returns to Tokyo Tower this year. Here is what is planned:
- Sky booth in the entrance plaza: an original candle-making workshop, a photo spot inspired by the world of Sky, a corner where visitors write messages, and character greetings
- Collab cafe in the observatory: buy a qualifying soft drink or other item and get a free gift
- Stamp rally: from the entrance plaza up to the observatory
- Artist live performances in the observatory
What is free and what costs money
| Free | Entry to the event, the market area, the award exhibition and the Candle Night |
|---|---|
| Paid | Observatory admission (needed for the Sky collab cafe, stamp rally and live shows), some workshops, and anything you buy at the market |
Workshop fees and observatory ticket prices are not in the event announcement, so check the official event page before you go.
Tips for planning your visit
- Friday works well after work. It opens at 15:00, and the Candle Night starts around 18:00.
- Want to see the award works? The exhibition is listed for Saturday after the ceremony and Sunday until 17:00, not Friday.
- Sunday closes in stages: 1F Event Space at 17:00, market and workshops at 18:00, Candle Night at 20:00. Come early if you want to do everything.
- Saturday is the big day: the award ceremony from 14:00, the exhibition until 20:00, and the Candle Night in the evening.
Looking for more weekend outings? Our guide to the Musashino Art University Festival covers another art-focused event, and the Shibaura Canal Festival guide is an example of the free events in Minato Ward we cover. To warm up after an evening outdoors, the Tokyo sento half-price coupon may be worth a look.
FAQ
- Q. Is Tokyo Tower Candle Days free to enter?
- Yes. Entry to the event is free. The observatory area needs a separate admission ticket, and some workshops are paid.
- Q. What time is the Candle Night?
- Around 18:00 to 20:00 on each of the three days, October 23, 24 and 25.
- Q. When can I see the award finalist works?
- On Saturday, October 24, from the end of the award ceremony (which starts at 14:00) until 20:00, and on Sunday, October 25, from 10:00 to 17:00.
- Q. How do I join a candle workshop?
- The organizer asks visitors to check workshop details and how to join on the official website and Instagram. Beginners and children can take part, and you take your candle home.
- Q. What time does the event start on Friday?
- Friday, October 23, runs from 15:00 to 20:00. Saturday and Sunday open at 10:00.
- Q. Where is the Sky collaboration?
- The Sky booth is in the entrance plaza, and the collaboration continues up to the observatory with a collab cafe, a stamp rally and artist live shows. The observatory needs a separate admission ticket.
Source: Japan Candle Association press release (September 30, 2026). Plans may change, so check the Japan Candle Association website for the latest information.