The following is a list of events in Tokyo where you can drop by on your way home from work, as well as places to visit on your days off to enjoy the autumn colors. Why don’t you go and see the autumn leaves that you can only enjoy in the short autumn season before the full-blown winter arrives?
1, Takao Maple Festival (October 26-December 8)
Takao, which was awarded three stars by the Michelin tourist guide in 2007, boasts the world’s highest number of climbers, approximately 3 million per year. During the “Mt. Takao Maple Festival,” the head priest of Mt. Takao Yakuoin performs bush lantern goma and street preaching, and students from Hachioji City and local traditional performing arts are also on display. The best time to view the maple trees is usually from mid-November to early December.
👉Official website🚇Located near Takaoyamaguchi Station
2, Mitake Valley Autumn Color Festival (October 26-November 24)
Located in the upper reaches of the Tama River, Mitake Valley is well known for its autumn colors. When the large ginkgo trees in front of the Gyokudo Art Museum turn yellow, the autumn colors spread to both banks of the valley in combination with the autumn leaves on the opposite bank. This year’s “Mitake Valley Autumn Color Festival” will start with a “food stall village” at the Bricklayer’s Hall Shu-Tombo. There will also be food and drink tents and many local products for sale. The best time to view the cherry blossoms is usually from early November to late November.
📍 Ontake Valley area
👉Official website🚇About 20 minutes ride from Ome Station to Mitake Station on the JR Ome Line bound for Okutama.
3, Autumn Night Walk 2024 (October 31-December 1) @ National Showa Memorial Park
This event further accentuates the autumn foliage in Showa Kinen Park by lighting up the park at night. From November 2 to December 1, Japanese umbrellas will be available for rent in the Japanese Garden. The best time to view the bonsai is from late November to early December.
📍 National Showa Memorial Park, Katarai Ginkgo Lined Trees, Japanese Garden, Bonsai Garden, etc.
👉Official website🚇A 10-minute walk from Higashinakagami Station to Akishima Gate near the rows of ginkgo trees in Kataraï
🎟️ park entrance fee set ticket adult 1,500 yen (1,600 yen on Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
4, Autumn Foliage Festival (November 9-December 1) at Keio Hyakusoen
The annual Autumn Foliage Festival at Keio Hyakusoen will be held again this year. Like last year, “Digital Kakejiku” produced by digital artist Akira Hasegawa will be held in three areas in the garden. During the festival, the opening hours will be extended until 19:00. For souvenirs, ume jelly and ume jam made from 100% ume harvested in Hyakuso-en are recommended. The best time to view the ume blossoms is from mid-November to early December.
📍 560 Hyakuso, Hino City
👉Official Website🚇Approx. 10 min. walk from Hyakusoen Station on the Keio Line.
🎟️ Admission fee: Adults 500 yen, children 100 yen
5, Enjoy the deep mountain foliage @ Koishikawa Korakuen ( November 16-December 8 )
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is the oldest of the existing daimyo’s gardens in Tokyo, and is doubly designated as a Special Historic Site and a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. The garden is decorated with landscapes of “sea, mountains, rivers, and fields,” and the “mountain landscape” features Irohamomiji maple trees on a steep terrain reminiscent of deep mountains, etc. Events to experience Japanese culture will be held during the period, including a Hosho-style Noh play performance on November 17 and an Edo Kyokudogaku performance on November 23. The best time to view the flowers is usually from late November to early December.
📍 1-6-6 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku
👉Official website🚇About 8 min. walk from Iidabashi Sta.
🎟️Admission fee 300 yen for adults, 150 yen for those aged 65 and over
6, “Rikugien in the Garden Autumn Leaves” special nighttime viewing (November 22-December 4)
Rikugien, one of the most famous places for viewing autumn leaves in Tokyo, which is usually closed to visitors at night, will be lit up from 18:00 to 20:30. In addition, there will be projections on the walls of storehouses, and photo spots will be set up in several places in the park. The best time to visit is from late November to early December.
📍 6-16-3, Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku
👉Official website🚇Approx. 7 min. walk from Komagome Sta.
🎟️ Tickets at the door 1,100 yen (advance tickets online 900 yen)
7, Special nighttime opening: Autumn leaves and illumination of tatemono (November 23 and 24) @Edo Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
Special extended opening hours to coincide with the season of autumn leaves. The park’s colorful trees and historical buildings will be illuminated with faint lights, and the inside of the buildings will be warmly lit. In addition, there will be lanterns, gas lamps, and more. There will also be an event where visitors can try their hand at lighting traditional lights and light the hearths of private homes and fireplaces in Western-style houses. The best time to visit is from early November to early December.
📍 3-7-1 Sakura-machi, Koganei-shi
👉Official website🚇5 min. by bus from the north exit of Musashi Koganei Station
🎟️ Admission: General admission 400 yen
8, TOKYO RED GARDEN 2024 (November 23-December 15) @ Happoen
The Japanese garden at Happoen, which has a history of about 400 years, will be lit up in a glossy red color. Some spots will feature installation areas (photo spots) that combine the inherited garden scenery with light effects. At the restaurants in Happoen, visitors can enjoy event-specific menus and cocktails. The best time to view the lights is usually in December.
📍 Happoen’s pond garden (1-1-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku)
👉Official website🚇About 1 min. walk from Shirokanedai Stn.
🎟️No admission fee
9, Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Banyan Tree Lighting (November 23-December 1)
During this period, the 300-meter-long avenue of ginkgo trees will be lit up from 4:30 p.m. to around 7:30 p.m.. When the leaves fall, the path becomes a beautiful yellow carpet. The best time to view the trees is usually from mid-November to early December.
📍 From Kitaaoyama 1-chome, Minato-ku to Kitaaoyama 2-chome, Minato-ku
👉Official websiteJust a short walk from Gaienmae Station
10, “Ootaguro Park Autumn Foliage Light-up 2024” in commemoration of the completion of Ogi Gaisho (November 30-December 8)
This is the annual autumn foliage light-up at Ootaguro Park, the former residence of music critic Motoo Ootaguro, which has been developed as a Japanese garden and opened to the public. During this period, the gates will close at 4:30 p.m. and reopen to visitors at 5:00 p.m. In December, the restoration and maintenance project of Ogigaiso, where Fumimaro Chikanori, who served as prime minister three times, held many political turning point meetings in the early Showa period, will be completed. The best time to view the garden is usually from late November to early December.
📍 3-33-12 Ogikubo, Suginami-ku
👉Official website🚇About 10 min. walk from Ogikubo Stn.
🎟️ Adults 300 yen, elementary and junior high school students 100 yen