Key points
- Three Christmas markets in the region have 2026 dates published by the organizer or in an event listing: Risoukyo in Towada (Dec 23 to 27), ASPAM in Aomori City (Dec 11 to 25) and Sendai Christmas Market (Dec 4 to 25).
- Risoukyo is the closest to Misawa and the only one set on a flower-garden estate with a spruce about 36 ft (11 m) tall. It is outdoors, in the evening and in the snow.
- We could not confirm 2026 dates for markets in Hachinohe, Hirosaki, Morioka or Akita on an official source, so we left them out. Check local listings.
- All dates are as of Oct 30, 2026 and can change. Verify with the organizer before you travel.
How we picked these
Many lists of "Christmas markets in Japan" recycle last year's dates. For this guide we only include a market if its 2026 dates appear on an official or organizer source we could read. Where we could not confirm a date, we say so. Hours and admission were not available for every event, and we mark those as unconfirmed rather than guessing.
One more thing to know first. Christmas in Japan is not a big family holiday, so markets are mostly a recent import and a date-night or weekend-outing activity. Our Christmas in Japan explainer covers the background.
Quick comparison
- Risoukyo Christmas Market, Towada: Dec 23 to 27, 2026. Outdoor, evening (3:00 to 9:00 p.m., planned). About 30 minutes by taxi from Aoimori Railway Misawa Station.
- ASPAM Christmas Market, Aomori City: Dec 11 to 25, 2026. Held at the Aomori Prefectural Tourist Center (ASPAM).
- Sendai Christmas Market, Sendai: Dec 4 to 25, 2026. Held at Nishikicho Park.
1. Risoukyo Christmas Market, Towada (Dec 23 to 27)
This is the nearest option for Misawa residents and the one we cover in depth. It is planned for Wednesday, Dec 23 to Sunday, Dec 27, 2026, from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Handmade Village Risoukyo, 2-21 Torigamori, Fukamochi, Towada. The centerpiece is a spruce about 36 ft (11 m) tall grown on the grounds, with food trucks and stalls, handmade crafts, workshops, a stage with DJs, dance and singing, an eat-in area, kamakura snow huts, snowman making and a sled slide. An idol live show is planned as a secret main act on Dec 27.
Planned admission is ¥1,500 for adults, ¥1,000 for high school and university students, ¥500 for junior high and younger, and free for age 5 and under. Regular tickets are not on sale yet. Advance tickets exist only as crowdfunding rewards on READYFOR (in Japanese), and the project must reach its ¥2,000,000 goal by Nov 3, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Japan time or the market cannot be held.
Best for: families with kids who like snow, anyone who wants an evening outing without a long trip, and people who enjoy local crafts. Not best for: anyone who needs a guaranteed indoor, heated space, since the event is outdoors. Read the full Towada Christmas Market 2026 guide and the English overview.
2. ASPAM Christmas Market, Aomori City (Dec 11 to 25)
The Aomori Prefectural Tourist Center, known as ASPAM (アスパム), lists its Christmas market for Dec 11 to 25, 2026 (Friday to Friday). The building is at 1-1-40 Yasukata, Aomori City, Aomori 030-0803. The organizer page does not give daily hours or market admission in the section we could read, and a separate admission page and notice were linked but not available to us. Check the ASPAM site before you go.
Getting there from Misawa: Aoimori Railway runs from Misawa toward Aomori. According to Wikipedia, Misawa Station is 46.9 km (about 29 miles) from Aomori Station by rail. We did not verify train times or fares, so check the Aoimori Railway timetable and plan your return trip. Last trains matter if you stay for an evening.
Best for: a longer outing with a longer run of dates, so it is easier to fit into a busy schedule than a five-day market. We have not confirmed which parts of the market are indoors, so dress warmly.
3. Sendai Christmas Market (Dec 4 to 25)
The 2026 Sendai Christmas Market is announced for Friday, Dec 4 to Friday, Dec 25, 2026, at Nishikicho Park in Sendai, in what is described as its fifth year. The listing cites the organizing committees for Sendai's Pageant of Starlight and the Sendai Christmas Market. The park is a 5-minute walk from Kotodai-koen Station on the Sendai Subway Namboku Line and an 11-minute walk from the west exit of JR Sendai Station.
Sendai is a day trip or an overnight rather than an evening outing from Misawa. The Tohoku Shinkansen stops at Shichinohe-Towada Station, and Sendai is a major station on the same line, but we have not verified train times or fares here. Check the JR East timetable and consider staying overnight.
The date information comes from a press listing, and we could not read the organizer's own site. Please confirm opening hours and admission there. A separate event, the Sendai Pageant of Starlight light-up on Jozenji-dori, is generally a December event, but one travel listing says its 2026 dates are not yet confirmed, so we have not listed dates.
Which one should you pick?
- Short evening with kids and snow: Risoukyo. It is close, planned for snow play, and ends at 9:00 p.m.
- Flexible dates, city setting: ASPAM in Aomori City. Two weeks of dates leave room to pick a clear day.
- Full day out or a weekend trip: Sendai, with its longer run and a city around it.
You do not have to choose only one, and the dates leave room for both: ASPAM runs from Dec 11 and Sendai from Dec 4, well before Risoukyo opens on Dec 23. Doing an earlier city market and the Towada evening in holiday week is a realistic plan.
Winter travel notes
Whichever you choose, winter changes the plan. Roads can be icy after dark, and a long trip with kids is easier if you leave before dusk. See Misawa to Risoukyo in winter for train, taxi and driving advice, and follow your unit's and the base's current guidance for off-base travel and winter driving. If you drive, do not drink. For clothing, see what to wear in Aomori winter. For food, see Christmas market food and drinks.
At a glance: Risoukyo Christmas Market 2026
- Dates: Wednesday, Dec 23 to Sunday, Dec 27, 2026 (5 days)
- Hours: 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. (15:00 to 21:00) (planned)
- Venue: Handmade Village Risoukyo, 2-21 Torigamori, Fukamochi, Towada, Aomori 034-0106
- Admission (planned): adults ¥1,500; high school and university students ¥1,000; junior high and younger ¥500; age 5 and under free
- Parking: 300+ spaces (planned)
- New Year countdown fireworks: Dec 31, 2026 from 10:00 p.m. (planned)
Details are planned and may change — see the English overview and the official page (Japanese).
FAQ
What is the closest Christmas market to Misawa Air Base?
The Risoukyo Christmas Market in Towada (Dec 23 to 27, 2026) is the closest one we could confirm. It is about 30 minutes by taxi from Aoimori Railway Misawa Station, according to the official access page. We do not have a verified drive time from the base.
When does the Aomori City Christmas market run in 2026?
The ASPAM site lists Dec 11 to 25, 2026 (Friday to Friday). Hours and admission were not available to us, so check the ASPAM site.
Is there a Christmas market in Hachinohe?
We could not confirm a 2026 Christmas market in Hachinohe on an official source, so we do not list one. Check the city and local tourism sites for current events.
Can I take the train from Misawa to Aomori City?
Aoimori Railway connects Misawa and Aomori; Misawa Station is 46.9 km by rail from Aomori Station. We did not verify timetables, so check the current schedule, especially last trains.
Are all of these markets outdoors?
Risoukyo is an outdoor evening event with a planned eat-in area. For ASPAM and Sendai (held in a park), we have not confirmed what is indoors or outdoors, so dress warmly regardless.
