For years I have posted about the Premium Outlets Santa each November, secretly wishing that we had a Premium Outlets of our own in Saitama Prefecture! BUT NOW WE DO – FINALLY! Perhaps a Christmas Wish come true!? The Fukaya-Hanazono Premium Outlets opened in Saitama Prefecture on October 20th 2022, to much fanfare and queues that went on for miles. This outlet has been eagerly awaited since the announcement of its development, several years ago now. The fact that it is more than two years late in its completion, just added to the anticipation! We no longer have to travel all the way to Gotemba, Mito or Shisui to enjoy all the Premium Outlets have to offer!
Premium Outlets
The Premium Outlets are a well established shopping outlet chain, by Mitsubishi Estate, with ten locations around Japan. The branch in Gotemba is probably the best known; unquestionably it is one of the better outlets in Japan. They claim thee best, but thousands of customers agree with them, so fair game in my opinion! I’ve been to three of their branches and I do like the chain, more than the Mitsui Outlets – their main competitor in the Kanto plain.
Premium Outlets Christmas
Thanks to the opening of the Fukaya-Hanazono branch, we can now have a very premium Christmas right here in Saitama! Also meaning that we have a brand new night light up spot in Saitama for the second year in a row. (Last year, brought us the incredible light and illumination show in Chichibu, which incidentally isn’t that far from Hanazono – relatively speaking!) The stunning Christmas trees and a few other select areas will be lit up at night during the Christmas period, which in 2022 is from Friday November 11th to Christmas Day Sunday December 25th.
>>Check out this sweets buffet just a 6 minute drive away<<
Disney Heartful Christmas
The theme for the 2022 Christmas at the Premium Outlets is “Disney Heartful Christmas”. They will have special illuminations with Disney / Pixar Disney characters in all their branches nationwide. However, the extent and type of decoration depends on the branch. In addition, there will also be Star Wars and Marvel character ornaments on the trees in some of the branches. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to see what the trees will be like in the Fukaya Hanazono branch!
During the period there is a digital stamp rally with Minnie Mouse. If you collect all the stamps on your smart phone you will receive an original Disney poster. In addition, customers who purchase more than a 1000 yen of Disney designed products in participating stores will receive an Disney Christmas card. Further information of participating stores on the official event web page, linked at the bottom of the post. That page also includes information for the winter sale between November 11th and 23rd. There is also information for an Instagram campaign.
Premium Outlets Santa
Unfortunately, Santa Claus was unable to visit the Premium Outlets in 2020 or 2021. There is currently no confirmation for 2022 either. Before the pandemic he visited the branches in Shisui, Ami, Gotemba, Sano, Osaka, Kobe and Sendai annually. Here’s some places you could visit Santa in 2021.
Disney Christmas Information
Event: Premium Outlets Christmas
Date: Friday November 11th to Sunday December 25th
Time: the outlets are open from 10 am to 8 pm, but the grounds are accessible from 9 am. At night the restaurants are open until 9 pm. The lights get turned on at dusk.
Venue: all Premium Outlets around Japan, but this post focuses on the new branch in Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture. Fukaya-Hanazono Premium Outlets, 169 Kuroda, Fukaya, Saitama 369-1243. View on Google Maps.
Access
The outlets are an approximate five minute drive from the Hanazono Interchange of the Kanetsu Expressway. By train it is only a three minute walk from the Fukaya-Hanazono Station on the Chichibu Railway. That station a 20 minute train ride from Kumagaya Station. You can get a Steam Locomotive from Kumagaya Station on weekends (except in winter), check it out here!
jeepers Disney sure know how to corner the Japanese markets!