Free lights at Osaka Station City until 25 Dec: on at 17:00, and the station prayer room closes at 18:00
This week's news · Checked 2026-11-04
What happened. Osaka Station City, the shopping and station complex above JR Osaka Station (Umeda), announced on 2 Nov 2026 its winter lights, "Twilight Fantasy 2026 ~MIRACLE CHRISTMAS~", themed on Tom and Jerry. It runs 11 Nov – 25 Dec 2026 (45 days) and covers what the organisers call their widest decorated area so far (news release, checked 4 Nov 2026).
| Item | Details (Osaka Station City news release, 2 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|
| Dates | 11 Nov – 25 Dec 2026 |
| Lights | 17:00–23:00 (on 11 Nov from 18:30, after the lighting ceremony) |
| Where | 5F Toki-no-Hiroba, around the gold clock. The plaza is open 8:00–23:30 |
| Tom and Jerry characters | 5F Toki-no-Hiroba, the 1F "Water Clock", in front of the 3F bridge ticket gates of JR Osaka Station, and more |
| Digital stamp rally | 6 stops, 11 Nov – 25 Dec, free. Collect all: a clear file for the first 5,000. You need to answer a survey on the event's official site |
| 11 Nov | 16:00 Tom and Jerry photo time (2F Atrium, free, about 30 minutes); 18:30 lighting ceremony |
| 14 Nov | Kids' workshops at 13:00 and 14:00 (40 per session, follow and repost the official social account); character greetings at 15:00 and 16:30 |
| 21–22 Nov | MIRACLE STAGE: performances and inflatable play for kids |
| December | December events to be announced in late November |
What it means for you.
- In Osaka for the December school holidays: the lights stay on until 25 Dec, free, in the station you pass through if you stay in Umeda or take JR to Kyoto. After 25 Dec, the display is gone.
- Pray first, then go up: the JR Osaka Station 1F prayer room (South Gate Plaza) is open 11:00–18:00. Register first at Osaka Station City Information (North Gate Building 3F); 20 minutes at most (checked 18 Oct 2026; details in our Osaka halal food & prayer list). The lights come on at 17:00, so pray before 18:00, then head up to 5F.
- Stamp rally: the prize is for the first 5,000 only, so it may run out before December. Don't promise it to the kids.
- In Osaka in mid-November: 14 Nov (workshops and character greetings) and 21–22 Nov (inflatable play) suit kids best.
- Eating near Umeda: halal places with each one's status are in our Osaka halal food list; Osaka hotels with real family prices are in Osaka hotels for families.
- Staying in Osaka: Trip.com: Osaka hotels 7–11 Dec, 2 adults + 2 kids (prices depend on the day you check).
Before you fly: Map of 231 halal places & prayer rooms (US$6.99) — December Edition, 15 Nov.
Affiliate links may be used; your price doesn't change. Sources: Osaka Station City liaison council, news release (Japanese), westjr.co.jp, and the event details PDF; JR Osaka Station prayer room checked 18 Oct 2026. Checked 4 Nov 2026.