Rikugien (六義園) is an Edo-period strolling garden in Bunkyo, Tokyo. Each autumn it holds a special event called Nighttime Autumn Foliage Viewing (庭紅葉の六義園 夜間特別観賞), when the garden's maples and central pond are lit up after dark. Most people just call it the Rikugien autumn illumination; in 2025 it ran from November 28 to December 9.
As of early September 2026, the dates, prices, and advance-ticket release date for 2026 have not been announced. For now, this guide uses last year (2025) to give you an idea of what to expect for timing, tickets, and access. We will update it once the dates are posted.
A separate evening ticket is needed to enter after dark. In 2025, advance tickets were sold online through Asoview up to the day before your visit, while same-day tickets were sold at the main gate (cash only).
For other autumn-foliage spots in the city, see our roundup of Tokyo autumn-leaves spots.
Dates and Timing (2026 Pending)
Rikugien's maples usually peak from late November to early December, and the evening viewing is scheduled to coincide with the peak. For reference, in 2025 it ran November 28 to December 9, and in 2024 November 22 to December 4, so 2026 will likely fall in the same window.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association usually posts the official 2026 dates, prices, and ticket release around mid-October. If you are planning your trip around the event, check the official site again around then to confirm the exact dates.
Daytime vs. Evening
Rikugien is normally open 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30). Regular admission is ¥300, and children in elementary school and younger enter free. The maples are worth seeing by day, too.
The evening viewing runs on a separate schedule, and regular daytime admission does not cover it. You need a separate evening ticket. After dark, the maples reflected in the pond and the lit-up trees are the draw. In 2025 there was also a projection show on the garden's storehouse wall and a light installation at Suikoe (水香江).
Tickets and Reservations (2025 Details)
The figures below are from 2025; the 2026 prices and hours have not been announced. In 2025 the evening ticket was ¥1,000 in advance and ¥1,200 same-day (tax included, for visitors of junior-high school age and older). Visitors with a disability certificate paid ¥500 same-day.
The garden closed at 17:00 after the daytime session, then reopened at 18:00 for the evening viewing. Last entry was 19:30 and the garden closed at 20:30, so as long as you were in by 19:30 you could stay to the end.
Advance tickets were sold only online through Asoview, going on sale November 1 and available up to the day before your visit. Same-day tickets were sold at the main gate (cash only, 18:00–19:30) and online (9:00–19:30, by credit card). It is a busy season, so if your date is set, a dated advance ticket is the safer bet.
Getting to Rikugien
The nearest station is Komagome (駒込) on the JR Yamanote and Tokyo Metro Namboku lines, about a 7-minute walk. Sengoku (千石) on the Toei Mita line is about 10 minutes away.
During the evening viewing in 2025, entry was through the main gate (Seimon 正門) only, while visitors could exit through either the main gate or the Somei gate (染井門). Gate arrangements can change from year to year, so follow the official signs on the day.
The garden gets especially cold after sunset from late November into early December, so dress warmly. For a guide to seasonal clothing, see what to wear in Japan in autumn.
This article was translated from the original Japanese with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. The Japanese version is authoritative.
