Ritsurin Garden Autumn Leaves 2026 Confirmed

栗林公園の紅葉 — Takamatsu, Kagawa (Shikoku)

Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu earned three stars from the Michelin Green Guide, and autumn shows why: 1,400 sculpted pines set off the burning maples around Nanko pond, all against the borrowed backdrop of Mount Shiun. Peak color runs mid-November to early December. The annual autumn light-up (in 2025, November 21-30, sunset to about 9:00pm) adds night boat cruises on the south pond — a lantern-lit ride under lit maples. Daytime admission is 410 yen.

Background

The Matsudaira lords of Takamatsu built Ritsurin over more than a century, completing it in 1745 as their strolling garden; it opened to the public in 1875. It holds the Special Place of Scenic Beauty designation, the highest rank for a Japanese garden, and is the largest garden so honored.

Getting there

From JR Takamatsu Station, ride one stop on the Kotoden line to Ritsurin-Koen Station (10-minute walk to the east gate) or take the JR Kotoku Line to Ritsurin-Koen-Kitaguchi (3-minute walk to the north gate). Takamatsu is about an hour from Okayama via the Marine Liner across the Seto Ohashi bridge.

Tips

• Daytime entry is 410 yen; the autumn light-up is ticketed separately and the wasen boat's night cruises sell out — reserve the boat early in the evening.
• Climb the Hiraiho hill on the south circuit for the postcard view over Engetsukyo bridge — best in the hour after opening, before tour groups arrive.
• The garden opens around sunrise year-round; a 7am walk in late November means mist on the ponds and nearly private paths.
• Kagawa is udon country — the noodle shops around Ritsurin open early, so bookend your visit with a 300-yen bowl of sanuki udon.