The opening ceremony for “Winter Wonder Park Yokohama 2025-26” was held on December 3 at Yamashita Park (Yamashitacho, Naka Ward, Yokohama).

The event venue is near the Yamashita Park festival square, and this year’s theme is “Shiny Winter.” The park is decorated with lights to create a “fantastical space” synchronized with music. A special skating rink is set up as the centerpiece, with various experience-based content such as skating lessons available.

A special ambassador for the event performed on the rink enveloped in lights.

The ambassador began entertainment industry activities at age 3 and has appeared in numerous dramas and films.

Also active as a figure skater, the ambassador shared with a smile, “I have memories of holding my father’s hand and skating when I was little. My dream for the future is to become an actress who can skate and dance. I want to keep doing my best.”

The skate park uses an environmentally friendly resin skating rink. It is available for use day and night, and the venue features various attractions such as photo spots, seasonal food trucks, hot drink sales, and DJ events.

Skating lessons led by the ambassador will be held on January 31 and February 11 at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The lessons are for beginners (ages 5 to 15), with a capacity of 30 people per session. The approximately one-hour session includes basic skating instruction and a group photo. The participation fee is 5,000 yen, which includes free skating for the rest of the operating day after the lesson ends.

Skate park fees are as follows: high school students and older = 1,200 yen (includes skating fee and skate rental), ages 3 to junior high school students = 1,000 yen, parent-child set = 2,000 yen. A combined ticket for the skate park and Marine Tower is 1,900 yen for junior high school students and older, among other options. Admission to the park area is free. Operating hours are 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and from December 22 to January 12: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.). The event runs until March 1, 2026.

Winter Wonder Park Yokohama 2025-26

“Winter Wonder Park Yokohama” is an annual large-scale winter illumination and event festival held in Yokohama, Japan, typically around the Minato Mirai area. While the specific details for the 2025-26 edition are not yet historical, the event traditionally features millions of LED lights, ice skating rinks, Christmas markets, and festive attractions, transforming the waterfront into a seasonal destination. It builds on Yokohama’s modern tradition of hosting elaborate winter light displays that began in the early 2000s to attract visitors during the holiday season.

Yamashita Park

Yamashita Park is a scenic waterfront park in Yokohama, Japan, opened in 1930. It was built on reclaimed land using debris from the Great Kantō earthquake of 1923 and named after the famous liner “Hikawa Maru” often docked nearby. Today, it is a popular promenade offering views of Yokohama Bay and the iconic Marine Tower.

Marine Tower

The Marine Tower is a 106-meter lighthouse and observation tower in Yokohama, Japan, completed in 1961 to commemorate the centennial of the city’s port. It was the world’s tallest lighthouse until 2006 and was built on the historic site where Japan’s first gas-powered lighthouse was erected in the late 19th century. Today, it remains a prominent symbol of Yokohama’s maritime history and offers panoramic views of the port and city.