Annual information for the Ashigakubo Icicles in Yokoze Town, one of the “three great icicles of Chichibu”, along with Onouchi and Misotsuchi Icicles. They have decided on the dates of the 2026 season. In 2026 they will once again have light up on four nights a week. Moreover, in 2026 they will have “customer gratitude day” each Thursday. Please bear in mind that the dates are tentative and weather can effect the start and end date in a given year. Also, please note that in 2026 they are introducing a new charging system and the prices have gone up.
Ashigakubo Icicles
The icicles are open to the public from early January to mid February annually. However, there are years when the weather interferes! For example, in 2020 and 2024, due to warmer than normal weather, the event ended up starting late and ending early. In 2021 they started on time, but finished up early also due to warm weather melting the icicles. However, in 2022, the icicles enjoyed their best year ever, according to the Yokoze Tourist Association. Subsequently, they actually extended the period of viewing until the end of February due to the excellent condition of the icicles. They also extended the viewing in 2025, right up until the first weekend in March.
The Ashigakubo icicles are the baby in the family of the “3 great icicles of Chichibu“. They were only discovered about 10 years ago. They soon attracted lots of visitors and lots of attention. However, they are not entirely natural – the locals help to create the scene in collaboration with Mother Nature! One of the icicles is 200 meters high and 30 meters wide. There is a one way system to viewing the icicles which every visitor is expected to respect. There are areas where you can and can’t use tripods to take photos, which are marked at the site.
Hospitality and Gratitude Thursdays
Before the pandemic, Ashigakubo was known for its hospitality. For example, they used to give free black tea and Yokoze amazake to customers, but they had to suspend those services during the pandemic. However, in 2026 they will have a “customer gratitude day” every Thursday. On Thursdays (only) customers who come in cosplay can enter the icicle area for free. Also, on Thursdays only, children can enter for free. The students of the Faculty of Tourism of Rikkyo University are planning something on Thursdays too, but as of December 5th 2025, information for that event is not yet available.
Ashigakubo Icicles Light up
Until 2023 the light up was only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the period of the icicles formation. However, since 2023 they have been lighting up the icicles on Friday nights too. And since 2025 they are lighting them up on Thursday nights too. You need to make a reservation to see the light up on a Saturday and Sunday night, but no advance registration is required for a Thursday or Friday night. The booking form for the light up is not yet ready for 2026, as of December 5th 2025. They say the best viewing of the light up is around 5.30 pm during January and after 6 pm in February.
Usually during the last weekend of January and the first weekend of February they have additional special events on at the icicles. For example, in 2024 they had an Icicle Festival for the first time ever. That was on Friday February 9th 2024, but it has not yet been scheduled for 2026. The full title of the event is “I will light up your heart too. Icicle Festival in Ashigakubo”.
Free Shuttle Bus
There is usually a free shuttle bus on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays only. The timetable for 2026 is not yet available. You can get the shuttle bus from either:
- Yokoze Station
- Komatsuzawa Leisure Farm
- Buko Hot spring
It is a loop bus, so it goes from Yokoze station to the icicles, from the icicles to Komatsuzawa Leisure Farm, from the farm to Buko Onsen and from Buko onsen back to the station.
Ashigakubo Icicles 2026 information
Event: Ashigakubo Icicles 2026 あしがくぼの氷柱
Ashigakubo icicles / Light up dates
The icicles are generally open to the public from the first week in January to the last week in February. Yokoze town have set the 2026 dates as from Thursday January 8th to public holiday Monday 23rd of February. The light up is on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holiday nights only. However, they cancel the light up if there is bad weather. Please note, booking is required to visit the light up on Saturday and Sunday nights only. That is, you don’t need a reservation for Thursday or Friday nights.
Hours
Open to the public daily from 9 am to 4 pm. And until 8 pm on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for the light up. The light up starts around 5 pm.
Cost
Ticket prices are going up in 2026 and they have introduced a new pricing system. They will now have a daytime price and a night time (light up) price. During the day it costs 600 yen for anyone over 12 years old and 400 yen for elementary school aged children. At night, for the light up, it costs 800 yen for an adult and 500 yen for a child on Saturdays and Sundays, and 600 yen for an adults and 400 yen for a child on Thursdays and Fridays.
There is no charge for children under seven years old, either by day or night and no charge for children on Thursdays. Also, if you come in cosplay on a Thursday (only) you don’t have to pay in.
The three great icicles of Chichibu
Ashigakubo Icicles are just one of “three great icicles of Chichibu”. The other two are Misotsuchi and Onouchi Icicles. Misotsuchi are the only completely natural icicles of all three. Although all three are in the Chichibu area, they are very far apart. It takes about an hour to get from one to the other. But if you are travelling by car you can in theory visit all three icicles in the same day.
Ashigakubo Icicles Access
Address: Ashigakubo, Yokoze, Chichibu District, Saitama 368-0071. View on Google Maps.
Phone: +81494250450
The location is easier to get to than the better known Misotsuchi Icicles in neighbouring Chichibu, as unlike Misotsuchi these icicles are located relatively close to a train station. The Ashigakubo station, which is on the Seibu Chichibu Line, is about a ten to fifteen minute walk from the icicles. Since 2023, they distribute a numbered ticket for the light up at the station, exclusively to people who arrive by (Seibu Railway) train between 4 pm and 7.25 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. In addition, the railway usually put on extra limited express trains during the period of the icicles to accommodate visitors.
There is usually a free shuttle bus from / to Yokoze Station on Saturdays and Sundays only. It takes about 25 minutes to get to the icicles from Yokoze station on the loop bus. However, please note that as of December 5th 2025 there is currently no mention of a free loop bus in 2026.
The main car park for the event is the “Dai ni” parking, which is about a ten minute walk from the icicles. It is located at Roadside Station Orchard park 道の駅果樹公園あしがくぼ, beside the station. There is parking for about 100 cars and it is free.
Misotsuchi Icicles
Onouchi Hyakkei Icicles
Editor’s note: First published in January 2017, republished December 2017, November 2018, October 2019, April 2020. December 2020. Last update December 5th 2025. Unlike Misotsuchi icicles, the Ashigakubo icicles were not lit up in January and February 2021, due to a State of Emergency in the prefecture at the time. However, they lit upthe icicles in 2022. Moreover, for the first time ever, they lit up the icicles in the morning so that passengers of the Laview Express train could enjoy the stunning scenery in passing.
very… cool 😉
Haha, I saw what you did there!!