HANA BIYORI (HANA・BIYORI), the flower park run by Yomiuriland Co., Ltd. (株式会社よみうりランド), is holding a nighttime illumination event, HANA Akari (HANAあかり～HANA・BIYORI×竹あかり～). Bamboo lanterns glow along the paths, while trees, flowers and a cultural-property gate are lit in soft, Japanese-style light. The event is already running, and from Thursday, October 29, 2026 it gets an upgrade with a brand-new lantern gate.
Below you will find the hours, admission prices, what to look for at each spot, and how to combine it with the Jewellumination light show at the Yomiuriland amusement park next door.
Key facts: dates, hours and admission
| Event | HANA Akari: HANA BIYORI × bamboo lights |
|---|---|
| Venue | HANA BIYORI, next to the Yomiuriland amusement park |
| Upgrade starts | Thursday, October 29, 2026 (the event is already running before this date) |
| End date | Not announced |
| Hours | 16:00–20:30 (check the official site for opening days and hours) |
| Admission | Adults (junior high school age and up): 800 yen Elementary school children: 500 yen Preschool children: free |
| Discount | Visitors to the Yomiuriland amusement park get a discounted HANA BIYORI admission (details on the official site) |
| Lighting design | CHIKAKEN |
| Organizer | Yomiuriland Co., Ltd. |
New from October 29: Akaribana no Mon
The headline addition this year is Akaribana no Mon (灯り花の門), a gate of lantern flowers set up near the hanachozu, the flower-filled water basin. The gate features six house-shaped bamboo lanterns and flower-shaped ornaments. In the middle stands a panel decorated with flowers, giving the whole gate a festive, blooming look that suits a flower park.
Six more spots to see
Beyond the new gate, six more areas are lit up. If you are short on time, the bamboo lantern lane and the hanging bamboo balls near the entrance are the two you should not skip.
Hana Akari Koji: about 500 bamboo lanterns
Hana Akari Koji (花灯小路) is a lane lined with roughly 500 bamboo lanterns. At the end, the Sacred Gate (聖門) is lit up. It is a cultural property said to have been moved here from the Kyoto Imperial Palace.
Takemari Kairo: glowing bamboo balls overhead
Right after you pass the HANA BIYORI entrance, you walk under Takemari Kairo (竹毬回廊), a corridor where dozens of bamboo balls hang high in the air and sparkle.
Waakari no Yagura: the lantern tower
Waakari no Yagura (和灯のやぐら) is a tower-shaped piece in front of the entrance to the hot spring facility inside HANA BIYORI (花景の湯). The paper lantern in the center carries the park logo. By day it stands out as a design piece, and at night it greets visitors with warm light.
Takemari no Fusha: pinwheels inside bamboo balls
At Takemari no Fusha (竹毬の風車), flower-shaped pinwheels are set inside bamboo balls. They turn gently when the wind blows, so the light seems to move.
Toka Tairin and Hikari no Hanabatake: the passage to the amusement park
Two more pieces line the passage that connects HANA BIYORI with the amusement park. Toka Tairin (灯華大輪) combines several bamboo objects into the shape of a huge bloom, like an entrance into a dreamlike world of light. Hikari no Hanabatake (光の花畑), a field of light, uses flower motifs to echo the blooms in the park garden.
Who is behind the bamboo lights
The decorations are produced by CHIKAKEN, a group that makes take akari, lanterns made by drilling holes in bamboo and placing lights inside. It is led by Chikao Ikeda and Kenji Miki, who met at Sojo University in Kumamoto, and was founded in April 2007. The group is based in Kumamoto and creates bamboo lantern scenes for festivals all over Japan, often working together with local communities.
Their work has also appeared on the world stage. CHIKAKEN displayed bamboo lanterns at the dinner venue of the spouses program during the G7 Ise-Shima Summit in May 2016, and in the government PR exhibition area at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May 2023.
Pair it with Jewellumination next door
The Yomiuriland amusement park next door runs its own winter light show, Jewellumination (よみうりランド ジュエルミネーション). Started in 2010, it mixes jewel-colored illuminations with a big view of the Tokyo night skyline. Lighting designer Motoko Ishii produces it again this year.
This season the sub-theme is Growing Light, which focuses on green and expresses how plants sprout, grow and spread their leaves. New colors based on green gemstones return for the first time in two years.
| Dates | October 29, 2026 to April 4, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Days | 138 days planned, excluding closed days |
| Exception | Weekdays from March 1 to March 12, 2027: daytime amusement park only |
| Discount | Discounted rate for HANA BIYORI visitors |
Since the two venues are connected by a passage, you can see the bamboo lights and the jewel lights on the same evening. Ticket prices and opening days for Jewellumination are on the official Jewellumination page.
Tips to save money and plan your visit
- Use the cross discounts. Amusement park visitors get a discounted HANA BIYORI admission, and HANA BIYORI visitors get a discounted rate for Jewellumination. The release does not list the discounted prices, so check the official sites before you decide which to enter first.
- Visiting with kids? Preschool children get into HANA BIYORI for free, and elementary school children pay 500 yen.
- Arrive early. The lights run from 16:00 to 20:30. Coming soon after opening leaves time for all seven spots and the walk through to the amusement park.
- Want the new gate? Akaribana no Mon is only available from October 29, 2026.
Looking for more discounted days out? See our guide to the Asoview Asobitsukushi campaign with up to 3,000 yen off attractions. If you like evening events, the Setagaya Tamagawa fireworks guide and the Ghibli Park exhibition guide are worth a look too. And if you are still paying everything in cash, our guide to credit cards in Japan for foreigners explains which card to get first.
FAQ
- When does the upgraded HANA Akari start?
- The upgraded version opens on Thursday, October 29, 2026, and adds the new Akaribana no Mon gate. HANA Akari is already running before that date. No end date has been announced, so check the official HANA BIYORI website.
- What time are the lights on?
- The lights run from 16:00 to 20:30. Opening days and hours may differ, so check the official HANA BIYORI website before you go.
- How much does it cost to get in?
- Admission to HANA BIYORI is 800 yen for adults (junior high school age and up), 500 yen for elementary school children and free for preschool children.
- Is there a discount if I also visit the Yomiuriland amusement park?
- Yes. Visitors who enter the Yomiuriland amusement park can enter HANA BIYORI at a discounted rate, and HANA BIYORI visitors get a discounted rate for Jewellumination. The press release does not list the discounted prices, so check the official websites.
- Who created the bamboo lights?
- The decorations are produced by CHIKAKEN, a bamboo lantern art group founded in April 2007 and based in Kumamoto.
- How long does Jewellumination run?
- Jewellumination runs from October 29, 2026 to April 4, 2027, for a planned 138 days excluding closed days. On weekdays from March 1 to March 12, 2027, the amusement park is open in the daytime only.