Showa Kinen Park Autumn Leaves Festival & Night Walk
Showa Kinen Park (Kokuei Showa Kinen Koen), the large national government-run park on the border of Tachikawa and Akishima in western Tokyo, is running its autumn leaves festival from Thursday, October 29 to Sunday, November 29, 2026. The official name is Koyo Momiji Matsuri & Aki no Yoru Sanpo 2026, which roughly means Autumn Leaves Festival & Autumn Night Walk.
The draw is simple: about 200 ginkgo trees and some 300 maples, seen in daylight and again under the lights after dark. The only cost for most visitors is regular park admission, and children of junior high school age and younger get in free.
Key facts at a glance
| Event | Autumn Leaves Festival & Autumn Night Walk 2026 (Koyo Momiji Matsuri & Aki no Yoru Sanpo 2026) |
|---|---|
| Dates | Thu, Oct 29 – Sun, Nov 29, 2026 |
| Park hours | 9:30–21:00 |
| Illumination | 16:30–20:30 |
| Venue | Showa Kinen Park (Tachikawa and Akishima, Tokyo) |
| Main spots | The Canal, the Katarai ginkgo avenue, the Japanese Garden |
| Park admission | Adults ¥450 / 65 and over ¥210 / junior high students and younger free |
| Japanese Garden ticket | Adults and 65 and over from ¥1,200 / elementary and junior high students from ¥600 |
| Organizer | Showa Kinen Park Parks Consortium (lead company: Parks Foundation; member: Seibu Landscape) |
| Contact | Showa Kinen Park Management Center, PR team: 042-528-1751 (main line) 3173 Midoricho, Tachikawa, Tokyo |
New this year: Night View Heritage and an extra free night
On October 9, 2026, the Autumn Night Walk was named a Light-up Night View Heritage site in the 21st round of Japan Night View Heritage (Nihon Yakei Isan). The selectors singled out the ginkgo avenue light-up. The naturally shaped trees arch over the path, and the lighting is synced to music, so the avenue becomes a tunnel of gold. They also noted that the lights make the leaves look golden even early in the season, before they have fully turned.
To mark the recognition, the park added one more night to its free Japanese Garden evenings. The garden at night was originally going to open on admission alone on October 29 and 30. Saturday, October 31 has now been added. You still need to pay park admission on those nights. You don’t need the separate garden ticket.
The three main spots and when they peak
Each spot peaks at a slightly different time, so the right date depends on what you most want to see.
| Spot | Best viewing | Trees | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Canal | Early to mid Nov | 106 ginkgo | About 200 m |
| Katarai ginkgo avenue | Mid to late Nov | 98 ginkgo | About 300 m |
| Japanese Garden | Early to late Nov | About 300 maples and related trees | About 6 ha |
The Canal: formal lines and reflections
The Canal is the most geometric of the three: two rows of ginkgo with a water channel and fountains running down the middle. When the trees turn, they reflect on the water. It usually peaks in early to mid November.
Katarai ginkgo avenue: the golden tunnel
Here the ginkgo grow in their natural shape, and their branches spread over the path. This is the light-up the Night View Heritage judges praised. The park says the lighting turns the trees golden even before peak color, so day and night look completely different. Peak season is mid to late November, the latest of the three.
Japanese Garden: maples, lanterns and bonsai
The Japanese Garden is a stroll garden built around a pond, covering about 6 hectares. Look for yukitsuri rope supports on the trees, plus wind chimes, stone lanterns and traditional paper umbrellas. The Bonsai Garden (Bonsai-en), a national bonsai display facility, is lit up too. The maples look their best from early to late November.
Tickets: what you pay and when you pay less
There are two layers of fees. Everyone pays park admission. The Japanese Garden at night needs a separate viewing ticket on most nights.
- Park admission: adults ¥450, 65 and over ¥210, junior high students and younger free.
- Japanese Garden by day: included in park admission.
- Japanese Garden at night: a viewing ticket, from ¥1,200 for adults and those 65 and over, from ¥600 for elementary and junior high students.
- October 29–31: the garden at night is open with park admission only.
Planning more days out this autumn? The Asoview Asobitsukushi campaign takes up to ¥3,000 off tickets at other leisure spots. If you are still sorting out how to pay for things in Japan, our guide to credit cards for foreigners in Japan covers where to start.
The park app and its Japanese Garden stamp walk
On October 22, the official park app GO! Showa Kinen Park (GO! Showa Kinen Koen) adds a feature called Twelve Views of the Japanese Garden (Nihon Teien o Tanoshimu Juni-kei). It guides you around twelve points in the garden and explains its history, culture and design. You collect a digital stamp at each one, which makes it a nice add-on if you are visiting with kids.
Between the app, photos and a few hours after dark, your phone battery will take a hit. If you use docomo services, d VALUE PASS gives free ChargeSPOT power bank rentals, which are handy for long evening walks.
Planning tips
- See the Canal first and save the Katarai avenue for last. The Canal peaks early to mid November, the Katarai avenue mid to late November. A visit in mid November gives you a fair chance at both.
- Arrive before dusk. The lights come on at 16:30. Walking the avenues in daylight and then again after dark is the easiest way to see why the night version is special.
- Leave time before closing. Lights go off at 20:30 and the park closes at 21:00.
- Check color updates. Peak timing depends on the weather. The park posts updates on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Looking for more outings around Tokyo? See our guides to the Musashino Art University Festival and the Ghibli Park exhibition.
FAQ
- Q. When is the best time to see the autumn leaves at Showa Kinen Park?
- It depends on the spot. The Canal peaks in early to mid November, the Katarai ginkgo avenue in mid to late November, and the Japanese Garden maples from early to late November.
- Q. Is the night illumination free?
- The lights are inside the park, so you pay park admission: ¥450 for adults, ¥210 for those 65 and over, and free for junior high students and younger. The Japanese Garden at night needs a separate viewing ticket, except from October 29 to 31, when park admission alone gets you in.
- Q. What time are the lights on?
- The illumination runs from 16:30 to 20:30. During the festival the park is open from 9:30 to 21:00.
- Q. Do I need a Japanese Garden ticket during the day?
- No. In the daytime the Japanese Garden is included in park admission.
- Q. What is Japan Night View Heritage?
- It is a program that recognizes notable night views in Japan. In its 21st round, announced on October 9, 2026, the Autumn Night Walk was named a Light-up Night View Heritage site, mainly for the ginkgo avenue light-up with lighting synced to music.
- Q. Where can I check access and the latest ticket prices?
- See the official Showa Kinen Park website and the Autumn Night Walk page. The Japanese Garden ticket is listed as from ¥1,200, so check the exact price there.
Official links
- Autumn Night Walk official page
- Showa Kinen Park official website
- GO! Showa Kinen Park app
- Japan Night View Heritage official website
- Press release from the Parks Foundation
Information is based on the press release dated October 10, 2026. Dates, hours and fees may change, so check the official website before visiting.