Cocoon City Christmas – Cocoon City is just one part of the Saitama Shintoshin area. The whole area of Saitama 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 2025.
Cocoon City Christmas
This article focuses on all the festive events in Cocoon City each Christmas.
- Color changing Christmas Tree
- Winter Illumination
- Illumination Photo shoot
- Christmas Concerts
- Christmas Workshops
- Candle Night
- Christmas Market
Before the pandemic Santa Claus always visited Cocoon City, but he hasn’t visited since and currently he is not scheduled for 2025 either. 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) Color changing Christmas Tree
Date: November 1st to December 25th 2025
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 1st 2025 to Sunday February 15th 2026
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 “Eternal Stars”. Because the Christmas trees and illumination have separate dates, the illumination also has a post of its own with more details. Including the ten places you can see the illumination in Cocoon City. Then there is the illumination at Saitama Shintoshin too.
(3) Illumination Photo Shoot
Date: November 15th and 16th 2025
Time: from 5 pm to 9 pm
Get a photo in front of the illuminated Christmas tree by a professional photographer. The event will be limited to the first 150 people each day, who have receipts for at least 1000 yen worth of purchases in Cocoon City on the day. Official event page.
(4) Christmas Concerts
Date: Saturday November 29th and Sunday November 30th
Time: 10.30 to 3 pm on Saturday and from 1 pm to 3 pm on Sunday.
The Christmas Concerts are at the Cocoon Hiroba of Cocoon 2. They are performed by local schools. There is usually also Christmas music in neighboring Saitama Shintoshin.
(5) Christmas Workshops
Dates: Saturday December 6th and Sunday December 7th 2025.
Time: from 11 am
They will have two very lovely Christmas workshops this year. One to make mini Christmas trees and the other, an advent calendar. 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. In addition, for each workshop they will be giving the first 50 participants, who follow them on Instagram, a Christmas candy! The workshops will be conducted in Cocoon1, on the 1st floor in front of GU.
(6) Christmas Candle Night
Date: from Saturday December 20th to Thursday December 25th 2025, weather permitting.
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 1200 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.
(7) Christmas Market
Date: Friday December 19th to December 21st and again on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2025
Time: from 11 am 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. It is held at the “Cocoon Hiroba” in Cocoon 2. It maybe cancelled in the event of heavy rain.
You will find even more Christmas events taking place just a minutes walk away at Saitama Shintoshin. There is also illumination, Christmas concerts and a Christmas market at Saitama Shintoshin too.
New Year at Cocoon City
The New Year event information is not yet available for 2026. However, usually they have shishimai performances at the mall on both January 1st and 2nd. They have two different types. The Chindonya Shishimai is on at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm and there is also shishimai at noon and 2 pm. Another popular event annually for New Year’s is the street performance festival. Cocoon City co-host the excellent street performance festival with Saitama Shintoshin. In 2026 it will be on January 17th and 18th:
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. Last update: December 2025.
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 💗