Information for the annual illumination and the daruma market in winter, and the monthly Hoshikawa Night Bazaar.
I’ve only seen a small part of this illumination personally. We had planned to go on January 6th 2024 as we were in Kumagaya for a Wild Knights rugby match. We had parked near Kumagaya station and the plan was to go see the lights on the walk back from the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium to the station. However, true but long story, we ended up meeting some of Japan’s national rugby players (who play for the Wild Knights) after the match and so we skipped the illumination! We did see a bit of illumination in Kumagaya Sports & Culture Park though!
Hoshikawa Illumination
The Hoshikawa illumination isn’t particularly large, but what is great about it is it lasts until the end of March. Most of the illumination displays either finish at Christmas or Valentine’s day. There are only a few that last until March, for example Misato’s which usually ends on White Day. In 2026 it will be on until Sunday March 15th. For the Hoshikawa Illumination they decorate the trees which line the Hoshi River, creating glistening reflections in the river. Or as they say, ‘A collaboration of light between Kumagaya’s night sky and the Hoshi river’.
Switch on Event
The lights will be turned on for the first time on Saturday December 13th after a music performance, a mini Christmas concert, at 5.50 pm. The same night the monthly night bazaar is on. They will also have a Santa walk event “Santa’s Hoshikawa Night Walk”. If the real Santa is participating, they don’t make a point of it. Instead, they encourage everyone to dress up like Santa for this event. They require you book in advance for the Santa Walk and it costs 500 yen.
Illumination Information
Event: Hoshikawa Illumination 2026 星川イルミネーション
Dates: from December 13th 2025 to Sunday March 15th 2026.
Time: from 5pm until midnight
Cost: there is no admission fee
Venue information shared in the access paragraph.
The featured image, at the top of the post, is from Kumagaya City.
| Kumagaya Station Illumination 2025 – 2026 |
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| There is also illumination around Kumagaya Station. The illumination at the rotary at the east exit will be on from September 10th 2025! The end date in 2026 is not yet available. It is on from 5 pm to 10 pm. Approximately 40,000 lights are used for 14 displays including the 3D Kumagaya letters and two cherry blossom trees. It also includes four snow object installations. |
The monthly Hoshikawa Night Bazaar
Each month there is a market at Hoshikawa on the second Saturday of the month. It is on from 5 pm to 9 pm. The venue is the same as above and outlined in the next section “Access”. For the October Night Bazaar, which in 2026 is on October 10th, they switch on a special pink ribbon month illumination and they have a candle night. The pink illumination continues then until the end of October. The display consists of 96 pink lights along the waterside and champagne-gold illuminations on 54 street trees.
This year, 2026, for the November market they will light up the river in white for cervical cancer awareness. They will have a candle night on that night too. The December Hoshikawa Night Bazaar coincides with the start of the illumination. In 2026, there is no Night Bazaar in January or February.
Hoshikawa / Kumagaya Daruma Market
For years, the Kumagaya Daruma Market was on February 7 annually. I don’t know when or why the date changed, but in 2024 and in 2025 its on in January. In 2025, it is on Sunday January 19th. Daruma shops line up along the Hoshi river in Kumagaya city. You can also buy other lucky charms. They say the market was started as a wish for the prosperity of Kumagaya during the Edo era.
Daruma Market Information
Event: Kumagaya Daruma Market 熊谷初市（だるま市）祭
Date: Sunday January 18th 2026.
Time: from 10 am to 4 pm.
Cost: there is no admission fee. Daruma and amulets have varying prices.
Venue information in the access paragraph below.
Access
The venue for all three is the same – Hoshi Kawa Symbol Street, Kamakuracho, Kumagaya, Saitama 360-0046. View on Google Maps. The ‘matsuri hiroba’ is pinpointed on the map, because that is the main area of the daruma market as it was for the night bazaar and other events that are on during the period of the illumination. Its about a five minute walk from JR Kumagaya Station.
