Last updated on December 8, 2023 by Krysti
Planning on spending Christmas in Japan? Then be sure to add Huis Ten Bosch to your itinerary!
Home to one of the world’s largest illumination displays, the Huis Ten Bosch theme park is an incredibly festive, fun-filled holiday destination that is sure to delight and inspire you.
From cheerful performances to holiday fireworks, Christmas markets, snowy winter effects, and colorful illuminations, Huis Ten Bosch offers the most authentic Christmas experience in Japan.
Couple this with it’s European setting – and it feels as if you’ve been directly transported to Amsterdam for the holidays.
I just spent a couple of days at Huis Ten Bosch myself and cannot recommend it enough. It was a magical experience – one that is perfect for visitors and families of all ages!
So, what exactly can you expect from a Huis Ten Bosch Christmas? When should you go? What should you do? How do you get there? I’ve got all that information and more for you below!
What is Huis Ten Bosch in Japan?
Opened in 1992, Huis Ten Bosch is a Dutch-inspired theme park that was constructed to commemorate the long-lasting relationship between Japan and the Netherlands.
The park, which spans approximately 375 acres, features a variety of Dutch architecture and decor, including wooden windmills, winding canals, steepled churches, cobblestone streets, and rows upon rows of flowers.
In addition to this, the park offers a variety of interactive activities and attractions. These are all grouped together into nine separate areas.
Here a quick sneak peak of what you can expect from each section of the park:
- Welcome Area: At the entrance to the park, you’ll find the Teddy Bear Kingdom and docks for the canal boat rides.
- Adventure Park: This area of the park features several thrilling attractions, including a high-ropes course, a zip line, and an interactive dinosaur forest.
- Attraction Town: Home to the park’s famous Sky Carousel, this section of the park offers a variety of virtual reality experiences.
- Art Garden: This is where you’ll find the park’s picturesque Ferris wheel, opera house, and expansive gardens.
- Fantasia City of Lights: This area of the park is home to numerous museums that use colorful light displays to provide interactive experiences.
- Amsterdam City: Here, you’ll find the iconic steepled church, where the park hosts a variety of performances and light displays.
- Tower City: Home to the park’s tallest building, this area of the park offers a variety of restaurants, shops, and an impressive observatory.
- Harbor Town: Centered around the harbor, this section of the park is where you’ll find the Porcelain Museum and the docks to Jurassic Island.
- Palace Huis Ten Bosch: This section of the park is home to Huis Ten Bosch’s namesake, the Huis Ten Bosch Palace.
Finally, we can’t forget about the countless restaurants, cafes, and shops that are scattered throughout the park. Many of which offer an array of European fare and souvenirs.
Huis Ten Bosch Quick Facts
Park Address: 1-1 Huis Ten Bosch Machi, Sasebo, Nagasaki 859-3243
Park Hours: The park is open 7 days a week, however, hours can vary depending upon the season. Generally speaking, the park opens at 9 or 10 am and closes at 9 or 10 pm. For specific dates and times be sure to visit Huis Ten Bosch’s official calendar.
Recommended Length of Stay: I typically recommend spending 1 full day and 1 night in the park. However, if you’re traveling with kids, you’ll probably be better off with 2 full days and 1 or 2 nights.
Where is Japan’s Huis Ten Bosch?
Nestled along Omura Bay, Huis Ten Bosch is located just outside of Sasebo City in the Nagasaki prefecture on Kyushu Island.
The closest airport to Huis Ten Bosch is Nagasaki Airport (NGS), which lies about 24 miles south of the theme park in the city of Nagasaki.
There is a direct bus route available between NGS and Huis Ten Bosch that you can take advantage of. Tickets for this can be purchased upon arrival at the airport, and travel time takes about an hour.
You can also catch a train from Nagasaki Station if you plan on spending time in the city. Travel times for this vary but generally take an hour to an hour and a half.
For those who may be coming from Fukuoka, you can catch a train to Huis Ten Bosch from Hakata Station. It takes about two hours to get to the theme park by train and typically requires a transfer.
Alternatively, you can also drive to the theme park. The drive time from Nagasaki to Huis Ten Bosch is about an hour long. While the drive from Fukuoka takes about an hour and a half.
Best Time to Visit Huis Ten Bosch for Christmas
Illuminations at Christmas Town in Huis Ten Bosch.
Thankfully, the Christmas celebrations at Huis Ten Bosch start early. So, you have plenty of wiggle room to plan out your itinerary.
Typically speaking, the Christmas illuminations are up and running by the second week of November and last through the New Year.
That being said, there are certain events, like ice skating and holiday fireworks, that don’t begin until December.
For specific dates and details, be sure to check out the event calendar for Huis Ten Bosch.
The Ins & Outs of Huis Ten Bosch Tickets
You can purchase tickets for Huis Ten Bosch online or upon arrival at the gate.
The park offers a variety of tickets ranging from day passes to annual passes. I’ve included all of the ticket options for you below:
- 1 Day Passport: Allows entry to the park for one entire day.
- After 3 Passport: Allows entry to the park for one day after 3 pm.
- 1.5 Day Passport: Allows entry to the park for 2 consecutive days, beginning at 3 pm on the first day.
- 2 Day Passport: Allows entry to the park for 2 full consecutive days.
- Annual Pass: Allows unlimited entry to the park for one full year.
Ticket prices vary depending on age; there are separate prices for adults, students, young children, and seniors.
Pro Tip: Park tickets allow for same day re-entry into Huis Ten Bosch if you need to leave for some reason. Just be sure to stamp the back of your hand before exiting at the Schipole souvenir store (the stamps are located right in front of the store’s exit doors). The stamps are invisible, so don’t be worried if you can’t see them – the staff will use a blue light to confirm they’re there when you re-enter the park.
Huis Ten Bosch Map
While there are maps posted around the park (like the one pictured above), I highly recommend utilizing a printed paper map. They’re much more detailed and are super helpful in figuring out where to go and what to do.
You can find these maps at the entrance to the park. They’re available in both English and Japanese.
7 Festive Things to Do in Huis Ten Bosch for Christmas
While there are countless things to do in Huis Ten Bosch, these are some of the top activities for visitors during the holiday season.
Visit Christmas Town
Huis Ten Bosch’s Christmas Town is, without a doubt, one of the main attractions during the holidays.
It’s essentially a Christmas market complete with vendors, giant Christmas trees, endless illuminations, and holiday shows.
Here, you can grab a hot chocolate, watch a musical performance, and even do some Christmas shopping.
This is also where you’ll find the park’s Sky Carousel all decked out in holiday lights.
Go Ice Skating
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to try ice skating, as it wasn’t open when we visited. But, we did see park employees preparing the ice – and it looked like it would be a lot of fun.
The rink lies in the middle of the park, along a section of the canal, and is, of course, surrounded by illuminations.
Anyone over the age of 4 can participate, although children under 12 will need to be accompanied by an adult.
Skating equipment is available to rent on-site. Gloves and hats are required in order to participate.
Explore the Aurora Garden of Lights
During the holidays, the Art Garden is transformed into a vibrant illumination display.
There are winding paths throughout the garden that are all lit up. There are fields of twinkling, waving lights. And there’s a cascading light show that depicts Christmas greetings.
It’s a really unique and magical experience – the photos don’t do it justice at all!
Admire the Christmas Lights from Above
The Ferris wheel offers incredible views of the park.
There are two vantage points from which you can get a bird’s eye view of the Christmas illuminations.
There’s the Ferris wheel – which in and of itself is decked out in lights. Or there’s the observatory at the Huis Ten Bosch Tower.
Either way, you’re guaranteed incredible views of the park and its colorful Christmas lights.
Enjoy the Christmas Performances
The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Christmas Town at Huis Ten Bosch.
Throughout the holiday season, Huis Ten Bosch puts on a variety of Christmas shows.
From gospel choirs to dance performances, live music, and lighting ceremonies, there’s a little bit of everything here.
While some of these shows occur at the Opera House, some happen right out on the street – so you may just stumble across them like we did!
If you prefer to plan ahead, however, and would like to see what’s being offered the day you visit, be sure to check out the park’s show schedule.
Watch the 3D Light Show in Amsterdam Square
The church where you can watch the 3D light show.
We stumbled upon this simply by chance – and it was one of my favorite moments during our entire visit.
In the evening, at the steepled church in Amsterdam Square, the park puts on a 3D light show that completely transforms the facade of the building.
Using a mix of color and lights, they cast a variety of images upon the church that create stunning visual illusions – some of which almost appear lifelike!
You can see everything from Santa Claus to Christmas trees, reindeer, presents, stars, and swirling kaleidoscopes of color dance across the church. It is a spectacular sight to behold!
Take in the Holiday Fireworks Show
Sadly, we didn’t have the opportunity to see any holiday fireworks, as our schedule didn’t line up.
That being said, the park typically hosts a number of different firework displays during the month of December.
Dates for these can vary from year to year, but they typically occur on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and a few other days as well.
To check out this year’s schedule, be sure to visit Huis Ten Bosch’s event page.
Where to Stay in Huis Ten Bosch
We stayed at Hotel Okura and loved it!
If you can stay the night near Huis Ten Bosch, I highly recommend doing so. It just makes things so much easier, especially if you plan to spend time checking out the park’s illuminations.
The park is typically open until 9:00 or 10:00 at night, depending upon the day. So having a hotel nearby is much more convenient than trying to travel back to the city late at night.
The park actually offers a few accommodations right on-site. The hotels that reside within the park are Hotel Europe, Hotel Amsterdam, Hotel Rotterdam, Hotel Den Haag, and the Forest Villa. These are all a bit on the pricey side but are the most convenient location-wise.
There are also two other official partner hotels that aren’t located in the park but are within walking distance. They are Hotel Okura Jr Huis Ten Bosch and Hotel Nikko Huis Ten Bosch.
Pro Tip: Book your hotel reservations in advance, if at all possible! The hotels near Huis Ten Bosch tend to fill up quickly around the holidays, which means the prices increase as well. For the most options and the best deals, be sure to plan ahead!
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Huis Ten Bosch for Christmas
At Umbrella Street in Attraction Town.
Here are my thoughts on some commonly asked questions about Huis Ten Bosch.
What Is Special About Huis Ten Bosch?
Huis Ten Bosch is one of Japan’s most expansive and unique theme parks. Inspired by the Netherlands, it features a full-scale Dutch village complete with a royal palace, winding canals, cobblestone streets, and incredible European architecture. It’s literally the only place in Japan where you can instantly be transported to Europe.
How Long Do People Spend at Huis Ten Bosch?
While it’s possible to visit Huis Ten Bosch as a day trip, I recommend spending at least one night in the area – especially if you’re traveling for the holidays. Many of the park’s events and illuminations don’t start until after the sun sets, so if you stay the night, it definitely makes things easier. And if you’re traveling with children, I’d recommend staying even longer. Two full days at the park is probably enough time to explore with breaks built in for the kids.
What Does Huis Ten Bosch Mean in English?
In English, Huis Ten Bosch means “house in the forest.” The name originally comes from a residential royal palace located in the Netherlands. At Huis Ten Bosch in Sasebo, Japan, you can find a replica of this very same palace.
How Big Is the Huis Ten Bosch Theme Park?
Huis Ten Bosch spans more than 375 acres of land and waterways. This makes it one of the largest theme parks in Japan. The park itself is divided into nine separate sections and takes quite a while to fully explore. To help speed up travel time between destinations, the park offers a variety of free transportation, including buses, bicycles, and boats.
What Seasonal Events Does Huis Ten Bosch Host?
The Huis Ten Bosch theme park hosts a variety of events and festivals throughout the year. However, some of the major celebrations include Christmas in the City of Lights, the 1 Million Tulip Festival, the Summer Light Festival, and the Halloween Festival.
Final Thoughts: Huis Ten Bosch for Christmas
I’ll be honest, I didn’t really know what to expect when I went to Huis Ten Bosch. I’m not usually a big fan of amusement parks, so, admittedly, I wasn’t super excited. But I ended up being pleasantly surprised!
The park has a lot more to offer than I originally thought and the best part, in my opinion, was that it wasn’t overly crowded!
I’m just so glad that we opted to visit Huis Ten Bosch for Christmas because it was a truly magical experience! And I absolutely loved the European vibes that accompanied it all!
I hope this Huis Ten Bosch review has prompted you to plan your own visit as well – because this lesser-known destination is definitely worth the trip!
Are you planning on traveling to Huis Ten Bosch for the Holidays? What are you most excited to do? Let me know in the comments below!
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