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Mother Farm (マザー牧場), the hilltop farm park in Futtsu, Chiba, is lighting up again for winter. Its illumination event, Mother Illumi (マザーイルミ), opens on Saturday, October 31, 2026 and runs on weekends and holidays until February 28, 2027. This is the event’s 15th year. The draw is the location: the lights sit about 300 m above sea level, with Tokyo Bay below and, on a clear evening, Mount Fuji on the horizon.
The best part for your wallet: if you arrive after 16:00, adult entry is half the daytime price and parking is free. Here is everything you need to plan an evening visit.
What is Mother Illumi?
Mother Illumi is Mother Farm’s winter illumination, held in the Yama-no-ue (hilltop) area of the farm on Mount Kano (Kanozan) in Futtsu, Chiba. The farm covers 250 hectares and is normally known for cows, sheep, horses and alpacas, seasonal flower fields, and activities like bungee jumping and ziplining.
During the illumination, the farm stays open into the evening. Some animal events move to the late afternoon, the amusement park is lit up for night rides, and there is food you can only get on illumination days. During the day, the farm runs as usual, and if you come early you can simply stay on for the lights.
Dates, hours and entry fees
It is not open every day, so check the calendar before you go. Outside the year-end period, it only runs on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays.
| Event | Mother Illumi (マザーイルミ) |
|---|---|
| Organizer | Mother Farm Co., Ltd. (株式会社マザー牧場) |
| Venue | Mother Farm, Yama-no-ue (hilltop) area About 300 m above sea level |
| Address | 940-3 Takura, Futtsu, Chiba (千葉県富津市田倉940-3) |
| Dates | Weekends and national holidays, Oct 31, 2026 (Sat) – Feb 28, 2027 (Sun) Every day, Dec 24, 2026 (Thu) – Jan 4, 2027 (Mon) |
| Hours | 16:00–19:30 |
| Parking | Free after 16:00 ¥1,000 if you park from the daytime |
| Phone | 0439-37-3211 |
| Official page | Mother Illumi (Japanese) |
Entry fees depend on when you arrive. Coming in at 16:00 or later is the cheaper option.
| Ticket | From 16:00 | From daytime |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (junior high and up) | ¥900 | ¥1,800 |
| Child (age 4 to 6th grade) | ¥450 | ¥900 |
| Age 3 and under | Free | Free |
| Accompanying dog | Free | ¥700 |
The press release does not include access details such as trains or buses. Check the Mother Farm official website for directions and any last-minute schedule changes.
Highlights: sheep lights, Mount Fuji and the bay
Sheep everywhere. 2027 is the Year of the Sheep in the Japanese zodiac, and sheep are also Mother Farm’s signature animal. This season’s lights use sheep as the main motif.
A giant photo frame. On the field of lights there is a huge photo frame looking out over Tokyo Bay. It is set at an angle so you can fit the field of lights and Mount Fuji in the same shot.
Three skies in one evening. Because the farm sits high on a hill, the view changes as the evening goes on:
- Late afternoon: the landscape glows orange in the setting sun. In good weather, Mount Fuji appears as a silhouette.
- Magic hour: for about 40 minutes after sunset, the sky shifts through soft gradients.
- After dark: the night views of Tokyo and Yokohama across Tokyo Bay spread out below the lights.
Evening animal shows and petting
On illumination days, some of the farm’s popular animal activities also run after 16:00, so even a late arrival gets some time with the animals.
| Activity | Time |
|---|---|
| Night Farm Show Farm animals show off their tricks | 16:30 (about 15 min) |
| Rabbit & guinea pig petting (うさモルタッチ) Indoors and warm | 17:00–18:00 |
| Sheep feeding | 16:00–18:00 |
Night bungee, the tower and the night amusement park
Night Bungee. The tower is 21 m tall. Add the farm’s elevation and you are jumping from about 321 m above sea level toward the lights. It is a different experience from the daytime bungee.
Night Illumi Tower. If jumping is not your thing, you can climb the same bungee tower just for the view over the lights and the night skyline across Tokyo Bay.
Night amusement park. The family area, Waku Waku Land (わくわくランド), is lit up and open at night. The Ferris wheel reaches 330 m above sea level at its highest point, which the farm says is the highest in Chiba. There is also a merry-go-round and a pedal-powered sky monorail.
| Activity | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Night Bungee | 16:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30) | ¥2,500 (¥2,000 from the 2nd jump) |
| Night Illumi Tower | 16:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30) | ¥300 per person (about 10 min per group, up to 6 people) |
| Night unlimited rides (Waku Waku Land) | Sold from 16:00 | ¥2,100 |
Illumination-only food
The headline meal is a 90-minute all-you-can-eat. You choose either the farm’s classic Genghis Khan (Japanese-style grilled lamb, ジンギスカン) or the illumination-only steamed pork in a bamboo basket (名水もち豚せいろ蒸し). Side dishes are included.
| Menu / ticket | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| All-you-can-eat (90 min) | ¥3,800 | ¥1,900 |
| Entry + meal set | ¥4,200 | ¥2,100 |
| Entry + meal + unlimited rides set | ¥6,200 | ¥4,000 |
| Soft drink bar | ¥380 (other options available) | |
For dessert, the Kira Kira Petit Parfait (キラキラ☆プチぱふぇ, ¥650) puts the farm’s soft serve on a soda jelly base, decorated to look like the lights. It is sold at Rosemary CAFE until 19:30 on illumination days only. A Kira Kira Soft (¥550) is also available.
To warm up, look for the farm’s milk ramen, corn soup, and house-made thick-cut bacon and sausages grilled over charcoal.
How to make the most of a visit (and save)
- Arrive after 16:00. Adult entry drops from ¥1,800 to ¥900, children from ¥900 to ¥450, and dogs from ¥700 to free. Parking, which is ¥1,000 from the daytime, is free after 16:00.
- Go on a clear day. The Mount Fuji silhouette only shows in good weather, and strong wind can stop the bungee.
- Time it for sunset. Catch the orange sky and the roughly 40-minute magic hour after sunset, then stay for the night view over the bay.
- Do the timed things first. The bungee and tower take last entries at 17:30, and the animal events end by 18:00. Save the Ferris wheel and dinner for later.
- Look at the set tickets if you plan to eat and ride. Compare them with buying separately on the official page.
- Christmas and New Year. From December 24 to January 4 it runs every day, which makes it easier to fit into a winter break.
If you are paying for tickets, food and rides by card, our guide to credit cards in Japan for foreigners explains which card to get first. Looking for other discounted days out? The Asoview campaign with up to ¥3,000 off leisure spots is worth a look, and if you liked the idea of an evening out with a view, read our tips for the Setagaya Tamagawa Fireworks or the Ghibli Park exhibition.
FAQ
- How much is entry to Mother Illumi?
- Entry from 16:00 costs ¥900 for adults (junior high school age and up) and ¥450 for children from age 4 through 6th grade. Children 3 and under enter free. If you enter during the day, the fees are ¥1,800 for adults and ¥900 for children.
- Which days is Mother Illumi held?
- It runs on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays from October 31, 2026 to February 28, 2027, plus every day from December 24, 2026 to January 4, 2027. Hours are 16:00–19:30.
- Is parking free at Mother Farm in the evening?
- Parking is free if you arrive after 16:00. If you park from the daytime, the fee is ¥1,000.
- Can I bring my dog?
- Accompanying dogs enter free from 16:00. From the daytime, the dog fee is ¥700.
- Can I see Mount Fuji from the illumination?
- In good weather, the silhouette of Mount Fuji can appear in the sunset sky. The giant photo frame on the field of lights is set at an angle that fits both the lights and Mount Fuji in one shot.
Details may change, so check the official Mother Illumi page before you head out. Source: Mother Farm press release (October 27, 2026).
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