Tama Center in Winter: Illumination and Sanrio Christmas

From mid-November to early January, the streets around Tama Center (多摩センター) Station are lit up for the Tama Center Illumination, and the official site has already published the 2026 dates: November 14, 2026 to January 11, 2027, lit 16:30–22:30 (some displays switch off at 20:30). Because the lights start at dusk, the easiest plan is to spend the afternoon at Sanrio Puroland or around Tama Center and walk through the illumination on your way back to the station.

Tama Center Illumination 2026: key facts

	Details (official site, as of October 4, 2026)
Period	November 14, 2026 – January 11, 2027
Lighting hours	16:30–22:30 (some displays until 20:30)
Camphor tree (Kusunoki)	Lit for longer: October 17, 2026 – February 28, 2027
Lighting ceremony	November 14, 2026
Organizer	Tama Center Illumination Executive Committee

The official site is in Japanese and posts updates such as the lighting ceremony program. Check it again before your visit, because times and side events can change.

Where to walk

The illumination is spread around the station area rather than inside a single venue. Tama Center Station is shared by the Keio, Odakyu and Tama Monorail lines, so you can arrive and leave on whichever line suits you.

Sanrio touches

Tama Center has been promoted as “a town where you can meet Hello Kitty” since 2002, so it is worth looking for Sanrio elements during the illumination too. Tama City lists an illuminated Hello Kitty light ball at the intersection next to Puroland. Local reports of the 2025 lighting ceremony mentioned a Hello Kitty and Shimajiro appearance, but we have not confirmed what is planned for 2026.

For the year-round Sanrio details between the station and Puroland, see Sanrio Details Around Tama Center.

Pairing it with Puroland’s Christmas season

Sanrio Puroland’s 2026 Christmas event, Puroland Illumination Christmas, runs from November 6 to December 25, 2026, according to its official event page (listed on October 14, 2026). Check the Puroland events page for the show schedule, and see Puroland Hours and the Best Time to Visit for opening hours, which vary by date.

A simple winter plan:

Time	Plan
Late morning	Arrive at Tama Center, walk to Puroland
Afternoon	Puroland (check that day’s closing time)
Dusk (after 16:30)	Walk through the illumination on the way back to the station
Evening	Dinner near the station, then train back, or stay the night

Puroland ticket prices vary by date; check and buy on the Sanrio Puroland official site. See Sanrio Puroland Tickets for how to buy.

You can also book Sanrio Puroland e-tickets on Klook.

Side events

In 2025, the official site listed a Christmas night market (December 20–25) and an “Aomori Fujisaki Week” (December 6–14) alongside the illumination. Nothing equivalent for 2026 had been announced as of October 17, 2026, so do not plan your trip around these until the official site confirms them.

Should you stay overnight?

Seeing the lights means being in Tama Center after dark, and with small children a late train back into the city can be the hardest part of the day. Staying near Tama Center lets you see the illumination, go back to your room, and return to Puroland the next morning.

See Where to Stay Near Sanrio Puroland for hotel options, and Day Trip or Overnight? for how to decide.

Practical tips

• It gets cold. Tama is on hills west of central Tokyo; dress in layers for standing outside after dark.
• Christmas week and weekends are likely to be the busiest.
• Last trains: check the last convenient train to your hotel before you set off, especially on weekends.
• Photography: use the walkways’ edges so you do not block foot traffic.

Before-you-go checklist

• Your date is between November 14, 2026 and January 11, 2027
• Re-check the official illumination site for changes
• Check Puroland’s hours and Christmas event dates if you are going in
• Warm layers and a charged phone
• Return train or hotel booked