Koganei Park Flower and Light Movement: Free Autumn Cosmos Light-Up, Oct 23–Nov 8

Tokyo’s Flower and Light Movement (花と光のムーブメント) has reached Metropolitan Koganei Park (都立小金井公園) for its autumn edition. This one is called Akiiro Monogatari (秋彩ものがたり), roughly an autumn-colored story, and it turns seven spots in the park into chapters of a story told with fresh cosmos, straw, lanterns, music and light. Admission is free, and it runs until Sunday, November 8.

The organizer is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and the decorations were designed by Hibiya Kadan (株式会社日比谷花壇), a florist founded in 1872. The theme draws on Koganei’s history, nature and culture, so each chapter has its own motif, from local spring water to the textile industry that once operated in the area.

Key details: dates, hours and admission

The hours above are for the light-up. The flowerbeds and decorations can be seen in daylight too, and they look quite different by day and by night (more on that below). The lighting ceremony already took place on Friday, October 23, with a countdown followed by a lantern workshop.

The seven spots, chapter by chapter

Koganei Park covers about 80 hectares, so it helps to know the layout. The seven spots sit between Ikoi no Hiroba and the area around the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. Walk them in order and the story unfolds like turning the pages of a book.

Chapters 1 and 2: lanterns, fabric and pampas grass

The walk opens with Chapter 1, where the motifs are the spring water that has supported local life and the textile industry Koganei once had. Colorful lanterns and a photo spot inspired by cloth greet you first. By day the flowerbeds carry the color; after dark the lights on the trees take over.

Chapter 2 is the most autumn-looking stop: delicate cosmos mixed with pampas grass and straw. Under a clear sky it feels like a meadow; in the evening the lighting follows the sky as it shifts from sunset to night.

Chapter 3: the cosmos field in the middle of the plaza

In Japanese, cosmos is written with the characters for autumn cherry blossom (秋桜), which explains this chapter’s name. The center of Ikoi no Hiroba is covered with cosmos. After dark, arch-shaped lighting inspired by Koganei’s water spreads over the field like ripples, and the effects are synced to music. If you only have time for one spot at night, this is the one to plan around.

Chapter 5: the film-strip photo spot

Along the path in front of the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, you will find a photo spot shaped like movie film, paper lanterns for shadow play and flip books made by local children. Soft lights are added at night, so it feels a bit like walking through a picture book.

Day or night: when to go

The same decorations change character once the light-up starts, so going twice is not a bad idea if you live nearby. Here is what each of the first four chapters shows at different times of day.

The night program also includes projector animations and light effects that represent Koganei as a land of spring water. The light-up starts at 17:00 every day and lasts half an hour longer on weekends and holidays, so a weekend visit gives you a little more time after dark.

Workshops, the kids’ area and kitchen cars

Workshops are held on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays during the event. You need to book in advance, though same-day slots are also planned. What is offered on which day, and how to book, is on the special site.

Chapter 6 is built for children. Play equipment made from wood thinned in the park and natural instruments let kids learn about trees and forests while they play. There is also a workshop where you make a lantern from fallen leaves collected in the park, then carry it around the park at night.

Chapter 7 is where you can sit down. Tables and benches made from upcycled materials stand at the foot of golden-lit trees, and kitchen cars are set up during the event. The kitchen car lineup is listed on the special site.

Bonus on Nov 6–7: the open-air museum light-up

On Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, right next to Chapter 5, opens at night for a special event that lights up its historic buildings. If you can choose your date, those two evenings let you see both. Hours and admission for the museum night opening are on the museum’s official site.

5th anniversary stamp rally and the other parks

The Flower and Light Movement is a Tokyo Metropolitan Government program that creates large new flowerbeds in metropolitan parks and stages flower and light displays through the seasons. To mark its fifth year, there is a stamp rally covering the six parks taking part this fiscal year.

• Collect stamps at 3 of the 6 parks to receive a free gift: an original tenugui (a thin Japanese cotton towel).
• Stamps can only be collected while each park’s event is running.
• The tenugui is handed out at the event venue in each park, during the event period.
• The rally runs on the furari app: iOS / Android.

Two of the events have already ended, so Koganei is a good place to pick up your first or second stamp. This fiscal year’s schedule:

How to get there

No train station sits right at the park, so the usual route is train plus bus. Bus stop names are shown in Japanese too, which helps when you check the screen on the bus.

Most of the seven spots are around Ikoi no Hiroba, while Chapter 5 is by the museum, so the museum-side stops are handy if you want to start or finish there.

For the park itself, see the Koganei Park official page or the park’s X account.

Tips before you go

• Last day is Sunday, November 8. On weekdays the lights go off at 20:00, so leave enough time after work to reach the park by bus.
• Book the workshops early if you are going with kids. Same-day slots are planned, but booking ahead is the main route.
• Check the special site on the day. Weather or disasters can change the program.
• Your phone battery drains fast with night photos. If you often run low, our guide to free ChargeSPOT power bank rentals with d VALUE PASS is worth a look.
• Planning a full day out? The Asoview discount campaign guide covers money off paid leisure spots, and our Musashino Art University Festival guide is another autumn event to put on the list.

Missed the big summer and early-autumn events? Our Setagaya Tamagawa fireworks guide shows how we plan viewing spots and the trip home, and the same approach works for any evening event.

FAQ

Q. Is the Koganei Park flower and light event free?

Yes. Admission is free.

Q. What time does the light-up start and end?

It starts at 17:00 every day. It ends at 20:00 Monday to Friday and at 20:30 on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays.

Q. When are the workshops held?

On Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays during the event. Booking in advance is required, and same-day slots are also planned.

Q. Where in the park are the seven spots?

Around Ikoi no Hiroba and near the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, inside Koganei Park.

Q. Can I drive to the event?

There is paid parking open 24 hours, but Itsukaichi-kaido gets congested on weekends and holidays, and parking entry may be restricted. Public transport is recommended.

Q. What happens if the weather is bad?

The event or some services may be cancelled, suspended or changed because of weather or disasters. Check the special site before you go.

Q. How does the stamp rally work?

Collect stamps at 3 of the 6 participating parks while each event is running to receive an original tenugui towel. Details are in the furari app.

Source: Hibiya Kadan Co., Ltd. press release (October 26, 2026) and the event special site. Details may change, so please confirm on the official site before visiting.