Cocoon City Christmas – Cocoon City is just one part of Saitama Shintoshin. The whole area of Shintoshin is the most Christmassy location I have found in Saitama prefecture to date. In Cocoon city, between the illumination, the markets, the concerts, candle night, crafts and Santa visits, it really is one of the best places to find the Christmas spirit in Saitama. However, the Santa Claus visit is not yet scheduled for 2023. My feeling is that they will add information for that at a later date, but there is no guarantee.
Cocoon City Christmas
This article focuses on all the festive events in Cocoon City each Christmas.
- Color changing Christmas Tree
- Winter Illumination
- Christmas Concerts
- New in 2023: Christmas Train
- Candle Night
- Christmas Market
- Christmas Crafts – added after the rest
Normally Santa Claus visits, but he currently is not scheduled for 2023. However, the Christmas crafts also weren’t scheduled originally, but they added information at a later date. I still hold out the hope that they will schedule a Santa Claus visit – but no guarantees!
(1) Colour changing Christmas Tree
Date: November 11th to December 25th 2023
Time: 5 pm to 11 pm
The Christmas tree in Cocoon City is beautiful every year. It is a ten meter tree classically decorated. Since around 2018 it is also a magical tree! On the hour and half hour the tree changes color twice accompanied by projection mapping. There is also at least one other (non magic!) Christmas tree. The Christmas trees are displayed until Christmas night.
(2) Cocoon City Illumination
Date: Saturday November 11th 2023 to February 14th 2024
Time: 5 pm to 11 pm
The Christmas tree is just one part of Cocoon City’s annual illumination display. The other illumination is on longer, as the Christmas trees come down on Christmas day. This years illumination theme is “Brilliant Promise”. And it is bigger than ever, with two new illumination areas added and 450,000 lights used. See the finer details here. Then there is the illumination at Saitama Shintoshin too.
(3) Christmas Concerts
Date: December 2nd and 3rd 2023 (weather permitting)
Time: 1.30 pm to 4 pm on Saturday and from 10.15 am to 3 pm on Sunday.
The Christmas Concerts are at the Cocoon Hiroba of Cocoon 2. There is usually also Christmas music in neighboring Saitama Shintoshin.
(4) Christmas Train
Date: from Wednesday November 22nd to Sunday December 3rd, except for November 26th.
Time: from 11 am to 7 pm
New in 2023! This year Cocoon City will have a Christmas Train, at Cocoon I Market Mall. It costs 300 yen per ride per person, but no charge for children under two years old. Official event page.
(5) Christmas Candle Night
Date: December 20th to December 25th 2023
Time: 5 pm to 9 pm
Undoubtedly the most popular Christmas event at Cocoon City, the candle night has gone from a one night event back in the day to a six day event. In 2021 and 2022 it was on for a full week. Approximately 1000 candles are used, as per the featured photo at the top of the post. They are displayed in Cocoon 2’s Cocoon Hiroba. You will find more candle nights and Christmas events under the Christmas tag on this blog over the coming weeks.
(6) Christmas Market
Date: Thursday December 21st to 25th 2023
Time: from noon to 8 pm
The Christmas market is not as big as the one on in the super arena end of Saitama Shintoshin, but they have hot drinks and Christmas food, and a variety of Christmas ornaments and handmade goods. Each year it is on from December 21st to December 25th. It is held at the “Cocoon Hiroba” in Cocoon 2. It maybe cancelled in the event of heavy rain.
(7) Christmas Workshops
Dates: Saturday December 16th and Sunday December 17th 2023.
Time: from 11 am
Added after the post was republished, as Cocoon City didn’t release this information until November 24th. They will have two very lovely Christmas workshops this year. One to make snow globes, the other resin charms. Both are free if you have receipts for 1000 yen of purchases in Cocoon on the day. However, the event is limited to the first 150 in line. The workshops will be conducted in Cocoon1, on the 1st floor in front of GU.
Official 2023 Christmas event page
You will find even more Christmas events taking place just a minutes walk away at Saitama Shintoshin, such as a Santa parade on December 4th. There is also illumination, Christmas concerts and a Christmas market at Saitama Shintoshin too.
Cocoon City Information
General information for the Cocoon City. Cocoon City is made up of Cocoon 1, Cocoon 2, Cocoon 3 and the park side building. Each building has a variety of shops, services and restaurants in them. Also, there are walk ways and plazas between each building as well as car parking lots.
Opening hours: 10 am to 9 pm
Address:4-263-1 Kishikicho, Omiya Ward, Saitama City
Phone: 048-601-5050
Access: about a one minute walk from JR Saitama shintoshin Station, about an 8 minute walk from JR Kitayono Station
Parking: Cocoon City is open from 10 am to 9 pm, but the cinema opens longer and the parking reflects that. It is open 9.00 am to 1.00 am. 200 yen for 30 minutes, but if you have a Cocoon card or if you spend more than a 1000 yen in one shop you get one hour free parking. If you use the cinema you get 3 hours free parking.
R20211107, previously titled: The 2022 Christmas line up for Saitama’s most festive mall. R20221129. R231120
Thanks. We live near shintoshin and walk through the Keyaki Hiroba / cocoon several times a week
Thanks for telling us what’s on / When
The candle display is spectacular among other things
I really want to see the candle night this year, hopefully we can wing it 🤞 And thank you for reading / commemting 💗