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Planning a December evening out in Sendai? Sendai Christmas Market 2026 (仙台クリスマスマーケット2026) will run from December 4 to 25, 2026, at Nishikicho Park. Expect wooden stalls, hot drinks and Christmas lights—but check your date before going: entry is free on most days, while eight specified dates require a ¥1,600 contribution that includes an original mug.
Information based on the organizer’s announcement of October 15, 2026. Last updated: .
Which dates require the ¥1,600 contribution?
The market’s entry charge depends on the day you visit. The following dates require a ¥1,600 contribution, with an original mug included. Entry is free on the other dates within the December 4–25 run.
| Contribution dates | Days of the week |
|---|---|
| December 11, 12 and 13 | Friday, Saturday and Sunday |
| December 18, 19 and 20 | Friday, Saturday and Sunday |
| December 24 and 25 | Thursday and Friday |
If you would prefer a free-entry visit, choose a date outside this list. In particular, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day both require the contribution. The exemption for elementary-school children and younger applies throughout the event.
Advance tickets go on sale November 4
Advance ticket sales are scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The announcement does not specify the booking link, same-day ticket arrangements or re-entry rules. Check the official event announcement and subsequent organizer updates before purchasing.
Opening hours and getting to Nishikicho Park
Weekday visits start in the late afternoon, while the market opens at noon on Saturdays and Sundays. Sunday closing is one hour earlier than on other days.
| Dates | December 4–25, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Weekdays | 4:00–10:00 p.m. |
| Saturdays | Noon–10:00 p.m. |
| Sundays | Noon–9:00 p.m. |
| Venue | Nishikicho Park (錦町公園), Sendai |
| By subway | A 5-minute walk from Kotodai-koen Station (勾当台公園駅) on the Sendai Subway Namboku Line |
| From JR Sendai Station | An 11-minute walk from the West Exit |
| Organizer | 2026 SENDAI Pageant of Starlight Executive Committee (2026 SENDAI光のページェント実行委員会) |
| Co-organizer | Sendai Christmas Market Executive Committee |
| Planning and production | Higashi Nippon Broadcasting / TV Asahi Music |
The announcement gives walking routes but no street address. Confirm the park’s location before setting off. If you are also researching rail-related benefits for future trips, our JRE BANK guide is a separate planning resource; no transport discount is announced for this market.
What to expect: wooden stalls, hot drinks and Christmas lights
The market began in 2022, and the organizer is presenting this edition as its fifth-anniversary celebration. Plans include more extensive decorations and activities, alongside the wooden huts inspired by European Christmas markets.
Stalls will offer Christmas food, hot drinks and original merchandise. A decorated Christmas tree and illuminations are also planned. Individual vendors, menus and prices have not been listed in the supplied announcement, so there is no confirmed dish-by-dish lineup yet.
| Creative feature | Announced details |
|---|---|
| Theme song | Sonar Pocket (ソナーポケット): X’mas Love Story. (X’masラブストーリー。) |
| Art and decoration planner | Chiho Sato (佐藤千穂) |
The theme-song credit is not a live-performance announcement. There is no confirmed Sonar Pocket appearance in the information provided.
What to check before you go
- Your visit date: check whether it falls on a contribution-required day.
- Ticket arrangements: confirm where to buy, whether same-day tickets are available and whether re-entry is permitted.
- Food and shopping: check the eventual vendor lineup, menu prices and accepted payment methods.
- Any updated visiting guidance: consult organizer announcements for details not covered in the initial release.
For practical preparation beyond this event, see our guide to d VALUE PASS and ChargeSPOT power-bank rentals. Rental availability at the market itself is not confirmed.
If this visit is part of a wider search for days out in Japan, our Ghibli Park exhibition guide covers a separate outing option. Check each destination’s dates independently.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Sendai Christmas Market free?
- Entry is free except on December 11–13, 18–20, 24 and 25, when a ¥1,600 contribution including an original mug is required. Elementary-school children and younger enter free every day.
- When do advance tickets go on sale?
- Advance ticket sales are scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on November 4, 2026. The purchase link and same-day ticket arrangements are not specified in the announcement.
- What time does the market close?
- The market closes at 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and at 9:00 p.m. on Sundays.
- Will Sonar Pocket perform live?
- Sonar Pocket is credited with the market’s theme song. The announcement does not confirm a live appearance.
Source: Higashi Nippon Broadcasting’s official announcement, published October 15, 2026.
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