Projection Mapping to See at Christmas 2026 in Japan: Dates and Times for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Osaka City Central Public Hall, Yorunoyo, Hiroshima Castle and Matsumoto Castle

Here are the projection mapping shows you can see in Japan over Christmas 2026 (December 24 and 25), with dates, times and admission. In 2026, December 24 falls on a Thursday and December 25 on a Friday, both weekdays. Osaka City Central Public Hall screens images of Santa Claus racing across the night sky until the 25th, and TOKYO Night & Light at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building runs every day except in severe weather. Yorunoyo 2026 in Yokohama, Hiroshima Castle Yoimeguri 2026, the first projection mapping ever on the keep of Hiroshima Castle, and the winter event at Matsumoto Castle, a National Treasure, also overlap with the Christmas period. All of them are free to watch (admission for Matsumoto Castle had not been announced as of November 9).

Main projection mapping shows to see at Christmas

• Osaka City Central Public Hall (OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026): Friday, December 11 to Friday, December 25, 5:30–9:30 p.m., free

• TOKYO Night & Light (Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building): Every day year-round (except in severe weather), 5:30–9:30 p.m. from November to January, free

• Yorunoyo 2026 (Yokohama): Friday, December 4 to Wednesday, December 30, 5:00–9:05 p.m., free

• Hiroshima Castle Yoimeguri 2026 (Hiroshima): Friday, December 18 to Monday, January 11, 2027 (national holiday), 5:30–9:00 p.m., free

• Matsumoto Castle Projection Mapping 2026–2027 (Matsumoto, Nagano): Saturday, December 12 to Sunday, February 14, 2027, 6:00–10:00 p.m. (both planned)

Osaka City Central Public Hall is the one that ends on December 25. The other four continue after Christmas, through the New Year holidays and beyond.

Osaka City Central Public Hall: Santa Claus races across the night sky

At Osaka City Central Public Hall in Nakanoshima, Osaka, “OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026: Osaka City Central Public Hall Projection Mapping” runs for 15 days, from Friday, December 11 to Friday, December 25. Under the theme “Osaka, a Festive Night of Light,” images of glittering windows of light, falling snow and stars, and Santa Claus racing across the night sky are projected onto the east facade of the hall, a national Important Cultural Property. The show takes a Christmas night as its subject, and its final day falls exactly on the 25th.

Screenings run from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., with the last screening starting at 9:20 p.m. Viewing is free and requires no advance registration. The show goes ahead in the rain but may be paused or canceled in severe weather. It is produced and created by HITOHATA, INC. OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance is a light event held in Nakanoshima since 2003 and, together with the Midosuji Illumination (until December 31), forms the core program of “Osaka Festival of the Lights.” For details, see our article on the Osaka City Central Public Hall projection mapping 2026.

Name: OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026: Osaka City Central Public Hall Projection Mapping
Dates: Friday, December 11 to Friday, December 25, 2026
Hours: 5:30–9:30 p.m. (last screening at 9:20 p.m.)
Venue: East facade of Osaka City Central Public Hall (1-1-27 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka)
Admission: Free (no advance registration required)

TOKYO Night & Light at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building: screened every day, Christmas included

TOKYO Night & Light, projected onto the east wall of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government No. 1 Building, is screened every day except in severe weather. According to the annual schedule on the official website, screenings from November to January start at 5:30 p.m., and the last one is at 9:30 p.m. Each screening lasts about 15 minutes and can be watched for free from the Citizens’ Plaza. The show is certified by Guinness World Records for the “Largest architectural projection-mapped display (permanent).”

“City of Water: Edo Outer Moat,” created by HITOHATA, INC., is shown only on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays, so it will not be screened on December 24 and 25, which are weekdays. To see it around Christmas, Saturday, December 19, Sunday, December 20, Saturday, December 26 and Sunday, December 27 are the options. The lineup and showtimes are covered in our TOKYO Night & Light guide, and the background of “City of Water: Edo Outer Moat” in our article on the work and the Sotobori Purification Project.

Name: TOKYO Night & Light
Days: Every day year-round (except in severe weather)
Hours: 5:30–9:30 p.m. from November to January (about 15 minutes per screening; showtimes may vary by day)
Venue: East wall of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government No. 1 Building (viewed from the Citizens’ Plaza, 2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo)
Admission: Free (no advance registration required)

Yorunoyo 2026 (Yokohama): “Kujiland” on the Osanbashi Pier and a light show across 47 buildings

At Yorunoyo 2026, held in Yokohama’s waterfront area from Friday, December 4 to Wednesday, December 30, “Kujiland,” which uses the entire rooftop of the Osanbashi Pier, features what the organizers call one of Japan’s largest participatory outdoor projection mapping shows, with a 25-meter whale of light. A five-minute show in which 47 buildings from Minato Mirai to Yamashita Park light up in sync with music is also held nine times a day. Hours are 5:00–9:05 p.m., and viewing is free. It can be enjoyed together with the harbor night view of Yokohama at Christmas.

Hiroshima Castle Yoimeguri 2026: the first projection mapping ever on the castle keep

At Hiroshima Castle, “Hiroshima Castle Yoimeguri 2026 (Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander)” runs from Friday, December 18 to Monday, January 11, 2027 (national holiday). It is the first projection mapping ever on the keep of Hiroshima Castle; images are also projected onto the Omote-gomon Gate and the castle’s stone walls, and the Gomon Bridge and the main enclosure are lit up. Hours are 5:30–9:00 p.m.; viewing is free and requires no advance registration, and the show goes ahead in the rain. It is closed from Thursday, December 31 to Sunday, January 3, 2027. Planning and production are by HITOHATA, INC. See our article on Hiroshima Castle Yoimeguri 2026.

Matsumoto Castle Projection Mapping 2026–2027: from December 12 (planned)

At Matsumoto Castle, a National Treasure in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, the projection mapping at the heart of the winter event “Matsumoto Kacchin: Castle Town Festival of Light and Ice” enters its fourth year. According to a call for proposals published by the organizers in May, it is planned to run from Saturday, December 12 to Sunday, February 14, 2027, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. The content, admission and production company had not been announced as of November 9.

Other light events at Christmas

Besides projection mapping, Christmas light events are held across Japan. In Fukuoka, the teamLab Fukuoka Castle Ruins Light Festival turns stone walls, stone steps and trees into works of light and continues until Monday, January 11, 2027 (national holiday). Illuminations are covered in our guide to winter illuminations across Japan, Christmas markets in our guide to Christmas markets in Japan, and December exhibitions and light events in our December art event calendar.

Before you go: rain, crowds and photography

Outdoor projection mapping often goes ahead in the rain, but may be paused or canceled in severe weather. Osaka City Central Public Hall and Hiroshima Castle both say they project even in the rain. Christmas nights are expected to be crowded, so leave plenty of time, and aiming for the screening before the last one is one option. When taking photos, follow each venue’s guidance on flash and tripods. Tips are summarized in our article on how to photograph projection mapping.

Frequently asked questions

Which projection mapping shows can I see on Christmas Day (December 25)?

Osaka City Central Public Hall (its final day), TOKYO Night & Light at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Yorunoyo 2026 in Yokohama, Hiroshima Castle Yoimeguri 2026 and Matsumoto Castle (planned). “City of Water: Edo Outer Moat” at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is shown only on weekends and holidays, so it will not be screened on the 25th, a weekday.

Are they free? Do I need to book?

Osaka City Central Public Hall, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Yorunoyo and Hiroshima Castle are all free to watch and require no advance registration. Admission for Matsumoto Castle had not been announced as of November 9.

Is there a projection mapping show featuring Santa Claus?

OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026 at Osaka City Central Public Hall projects images of Santa Claus racing across the night sky and falling snow and stars under the theme “Osaka, a Festive Night of Light.” It runs from December 11 to 25.

*Information as of November 9, 2026. Please check each event’s official website for the latest information.

*Top image: Image of OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026: Osaka City Central Public Hall Projection Mapping (from a press release by HITOHATA, INC.)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on announcements by each organizer and information on their official websites (as of October 19 to November 9, 2026).

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team

A note from the publisher

*Disclosure: Among the events introduced in this article, “OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026: Osaka City Central Public Hall Projection Mapping,” “Hiroshima Castle Yoimeguri 2026” and “City of Water: Edo Outer Moat” at TOKYO Night & Light are events and works produced and created by HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE (About us).

The latest information on events produced by HITOHATA, INC. is available at HITOHATA, INC.’s event information. Inquiries about planning projection mapping are accepted through the company’s contact form.