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If you’ve ever dreamed of floating hundreds—or thousands—of glowing lanterns into a snowy night sky while sipping warm sake and nibbling hot noodles, then pack your warmest coat and fuzzy socks: the Tsunan Snow Festival 2026 is calling your name!
Each year in mid-March, the snowiest parts of Japan turn into an enchanting winter playground in Tsunan Town, Niigata Prefecture. This region sees snow piling deep—sometimes up to three meters!—so locals decided long ago to celebrate winter rather than just endure it.
Activities All Day Long
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The Tsunan Snow Festival isn’t just about waiting for the lanterns to light up the night—it’s an all-day winter playground where snow is the main attraction. During the daytime, visitors can dive straight into hands-on snow fun, from zooming down massive snow slides and tubing courses to hopping on snowmobiles and fat bikes designed to handle Tsunan’s famously deep snow.
Cultural experiences also take center stage throughout the day. Traditional performances like Akazawa Kagura, complete with dramatic masks and energetic movements, add a touch of local folklore, while ritual burnings of New Year’s lucky charms invite visitors to send off last year’s fortunes and welcome fresh luck.
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Snow huts known as kamakura also pop up around the venue, offering cozy spaces to step inside and experience winter life the old-fashioned way, while live music and stage performances keep the festive mood going.
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And of course, no winter festival would be complete without comfort food. Food stalls serve up steaming local favorites made even better by the cold weather, including bowls of soba crafted with Tsunan’s pristine snowmelt water, hearty rice dishes featuring Niigata’s famous koshihikari rice, and savory pork specialties unique to the region. Add in a cup of locally brewed sake, and you’ve got the perfect fuel to stay warm until the lanterns finally take flight.
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As night falls, crowds gather at New Greenpia Tsunan for the festival’s most anticipated moment: the sky lantern launch. One by one, then all at once, around 2,000 glowing lanterns rise into the crisp night sky. It’s a quietly breathtaking sight that feels both celebratory and reflective—but be sure to plan ahead, as tickets to participate in the lantern launch must be purchased in advance.
Step-by-Step: How to Buy Your Tsunan Snow Festival Lantern Ticket
Buying a lantern participation ticket is straightforward once you know the flow. Here’s how to do it without the guesswork:
Step 1: Visit the Official Ticket Site
Head to the Tsunan Snow Festival’s official ticket page and choose the ticket type that best suits your travel plans, whether that’s the New Greenpia Tsunan venue parking option or one of the designated satellite parking areas.
Step 2: Register as a Ticket Member (Free)
Before purchasing, you’ll need to sign up as a Tsunan Snow Festival Ticket Member. Registration is free and only takes a few minutes. Once registered, log in to proceed with your purchase.
Step 3: Select Your Ticket Type
Choose from the available ticket options:
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New Greenpia Tsunan Venue Parking Lot – ¥19,500
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Najomon Area Parking Lot (N) – ¥13,500
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Tsunan Elementary School Area Parking Lot (S) – ¥13,500
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Tsunan Station Parking Lot (E) – ¥13,500
Each ticket includes one sky lantern exchange voucher, parking for one vehicle, and a ¥500 food coupon for use at New Greenpia Tsunan.
Step 4: Complete Payment by Credit Card
Payment must be made by credit card at the time of application. VISA, Mastercard, and JCB are accepted, and the charge will appear as “EVENTIFY ticket price” on your statement. Please note that tickets cannot be canceled once payment is completed.
Step 5: Pick Up Your Ticket at FamilyMart
After purchase, log in to your account and check your My Page (Reservation/Purchase History) to find your 13-digit exchange slip number (starting with “4”). Enter this number into the multi-copy machine at any FamilyMart store in Japan, then bring the printed receipt to the cashier within 30 minutes to receive your physical ticket.
Step 6: Arrive at Your Assigned Parking Area on Festival Day
On the day of the festival, arrive at the parking area specified on your ticket during the designated entry time. From there, follow staff instructions and take the required shuttle bus to New Greenpia Tsunan to prepare for the lantern launch.
Tsunan Snow Festival 2026 Basics
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Date: March 14, 2026 (Saturday)
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Venues:
• New Greenpia Tsunan (main lantern launch & snow activities)
• Owarino Special Venue (festival food stalls & music) -
Admission: Free to enter; tickets required for sky lantern participation (buy in advance!)
How to Get There the Smart Way
Tsunan is wonderfully scenic, but it is a bit off the beaten path—so plan ahead:
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Bullet Train + Local Line:
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Iiyama Station, then hop on the JR Iiyama Line straight to Tsunan Station. -
Alternative Route:
From Tokyo, take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Nagaoka, transfer to a local train to Echigo-Kawaguchi, then switch to the Iiyama Line. -
Festival Shuttles:
On the big day, paid shuttle buses run between Tsunan Station and New Greenpia Tsunan (lantern site). Plan your return carefully—trains may stop running before the lantern launch ends!
Why Go?
The Tsunan Snow Festival isn’t just another winter event. It’s a community celebration that turns one of Japan’s snowiest towns into a glowing nighttime wonderland. Whether you’re sharing a lantern release with family, zooming down a snow slide with new friends, or simply savoring a warm bowl of local soba, this festival wraps you in heart-warming winter joy you’ll remember for years
