Autumn Illuminations in Rikugi-en
🍁 Sublime Koyo Foliage in a Tokyo Daimyo Garden
The autumn illumination at Rikugien-en garden is a seasonal nightly event in Tokyo celebrating the viewing of the red koyo maple tree foliage in Japan. During about 10 days at the end of November, one of the capital’s most outstanding Japanese gardens opens in the evening for an unforgettable night time visit.
Rikugi-en, located in the north of the city, is one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens in Tokyo where to admire the momiji maple tree foliage turn red in fall. Built in the feudal Edo period (1603 – 1868), by daimyo lord Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu (1658 – 1714), it offers a relaxing stroll around a central pond, enlivened with several viewpoints on miniaturized reproductions of traditional sceneries.
Rikugi-en garden is normally open on the daytime all year long, but also exceptionally opens after sunset (around 6 p.m.) in autumn for a few memorable evenings. During about 10 days at the end of November, Rikugi-en garden’s autumn illuminations allow to contemplate its maple trees at night, along with other remarkable landscapes of the garden composed of Japanese pine trees, rock formations, waterfalls and bamboo groves.
In 2025, this light-up is staged between November 28 and December 9. Note that the koyo peak may vary each year in Tokyo, and often happens in early December. Therefore, it is recommended to plan a visit on the later days of the event to benefit from the best looking momiji foliage. Admission tickets are available online in advance, or at the door on the same day, on a "first come, first served" basis, knowing that the number of tickets per evening is limited.
Nightly stroll around a large pond
Immersed in the dark, visitors are led on a specific course of the garden that follows the main walking path around the pond. The secondary paths winding on artificial hills and crossing small bridges are closed and not lit-up.
The highlight of the nightly viewing of Rikugien’s momiji is the perfect reflection of the trees and rocks of Naka-no-shima island on the pond’s peaceful surface. The magical scenery is mesmerizing and makes the city’s high-rises fade away in the night.
Several other installations are also to be enjoyed, such as:
- Video mapping projections themed on waka poetry, on the wall of a traditional kura warehouse;
- Fukiage-chaya and Shinsen-tei, two tea houses that serve a set of matcha tea and wagashi sweet;
- A couple of yatai food stalls at the entrance of the garden; and, lastly,
- A pop-up shop selling souvenirs, like seasonal omiyage.
Rikugi-en’s autumn illuminations further deepen the beauty of this Japanese garden. Garden amateurs will thoroughly enjoy the visit, and we highly recommended going preferably on a weekday evening to avoid the crowd of the weekend inasmuch as possible. Taking pictures is allowed, but often requires waiting quite a bit to reach the best spots. Tripods are not allowed to ensure a quality visit for everyone.