Showa Kinen Park Autumn Leaves 2026 Confirmed

国営昭和記念公園の紅葉 — Tachikawa, Tokyo (Kanto)

Showa Kinen Park in Tachikawa is western Tokyo's big-canvas autumn spot: a vast national park where two grand ginkgo avenues — the 300-meter Katarai avenue and the canal-side rows — turn into golden tunnels, while the Japanese garden's maples supply the reds. The season runs early to late November, with the ginkgo peaking mid-month. During the Autumn Night Walk event, from late October to the end of November, the ginkgo avenues and Japanese garden are illuminated after dark under a separate evening ticket. Daytime admission is ¥450 for adults.

Background

The park opened in 1983 on the former site of the Tachikawa air base, converted to parkland to commemorate the 50th year of Emperor Showa's reign. Its ginkgo avenues, canal, and Japanese garden were laid out as part of that transformation from military field to national recreation ground.

Getting there

Take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku to Tachikawa (about 30 minutes), a ten-minute walk to the main Akebono gate — or ride one more stop on the Ome Line to Nishi-Tachikawa Station, which sits directly beside its own park gate. The park is enormous; note which gate is nearest your targets.

Tips

• Admission is ¥450 for adults; the Autumn Night Walk illumination requires its own evening ticket, so plan a twilight handover if you want both.
• The two ginkgo avenues peak in mid-November, usually a week or so before the Japanese garden's maples — mid-to-late November catches both in one visit.
• Rent a bicycle inside the park: the foliage spots are spread across a huge site and cycling between them saves an hour of walking.
• The canal-side ginkgo rows with the fountain line are the signature symmetrical shot; go on a weekday morning before school groups arrive.