10 best parks, gardens and streets to see the autumn leaves in Tokyo

Enjoy 146 perfectly shaped, golden yellow ginkgo trees that form a 300m-long boulevard between Gaienmae and Aoyama-Itchome stations. This is Tokyo’s quintessential – hence also one of the most visited – autumn scenery, which has graced countless Instagram accounts.

Showa Kinen Park is the most beautiful in autumn, with the maple and ginkgo trees blushing in fiery red and yellow respectively. The ginkgo trees are the first to turn and you can see two boulevards of the golden yellow trees as soon as you enter the park’s Tachikawa gate. These trees are expected to turn full yellow in mid-November. The momiji and kaede trees, however, present their signature vermillion hues a bit later towards the end of November.

During this season, the park stays open after dark, with special light-ups taking place at the Gingko Tree Avenue (near the futsal and basketball courts) and the traditional Japanese Garden from 4.30pm until 8.30pm.

While you can enjoy the light-ups at Gingko Tree Avenue with just the park's regular admission fee (¥450, free for junior high school students and younger), you need an extra ticket to enter the Japanese Garden (advance ticket online ¥1,200, primary and junior high school students ¥600; same-day tickets sold at Komorebi House close to the Japanese Garden ¥1,300, ¥700).

Tickets to enter the Japanese Garden are now available to purchase online.

Note that the main entrance for this year's event is the Nishi-Tachikawa gate, a 2-minute walk away from Nishi-Tachikawa Station on the Ome Line. 

Shinjuku, with its bustling station and popular nightlife district Kabukicho, is also home to one of the most beautiful parks in Tokyo. Scenic all year round, the sprawling Shinjuku Gyoen features three distinct gardens, including a landscape garden and a traditional Japanese garden complete with a quaint little tea house serving matcha and wagashi (traditional Japanese confectionery).

Autumn colours are found throughout the park, but make a beeline for the Maple Hill for the best photo op.

Note: drinking alcohol as well as playing sports and musical instruments are prohibited in the garden.

Rikugien is one of the best gardens in Tokyo to immerse yourself in beautiful Japanese landscapes. There’s no bad time to see the garden, but we do admit it’s especially picturesque in autumn, when the leaves take on vibrant shades of red and yellow.

From November 22 to December 4, Rikugien stays open until 8.30pm for its annual light-up. The trees in the garden are bathed in golden lights so that the brilliant colours of the changing leaves stand out even more, providing stunning views.

Aside from admiring the autumn foliage, don’t forget to drop by the garden’s dozo (storehouse). Its earthen walls serve as the canvas for a beautiful projection show between 6pm and 8.30pm. 

We recommend purchasing tickets online in advance, since tickets are limited and offered at a discounted price of ¥900. Otherwise, you can purchase tickets for ¥1,100 at the door.

Established in 1903 as Tokyo’s first Western-style park, Hibiya Park is one of the best spots in the city centre to admire koyo (autumn foliage). Blazing red maple trees and mustard-yellow ginkgo leaves can be found around the Kumogata-ike pond, which features a beautiful fountain inspired by the crane, the Japanese symbol for good luck.

The reflection of the colourful leaves on the water set against a backdrop of gleaming skyscrapers is the perfect combination for some postcard-perfect photo ops. Next to the on-site restaurant Hibiya Matsumotoro, you’ll even find a 20m tall ginkgo tree that’s almost 500 years old.

This ginkgo tree-lined avenue stretches from the central exit of Tokyo Station to the Imperial Palace's Wadakura gate. It’s most picturesque during autumn, when the mustard-yellow trees set a beautiful contrast against the blue sky and the area’s towering high-rise buildings. 

Inokashira Park in Kichijoji is a year-round hit with families, thanks to an abundance of playground facilities and the small zoo on-site – kids will love the guinea pigs at the petting area. In autumn, however, the star attraction is the colourful foliage, best admired from aboard one of the swan-shaped pedal boats on the lake. You’ll find the best views between the end of November and early-December.

Make the most of your trip: discover the best things to do in Kichijoji, where Inokashira Park is

This Setagaya park served as a secondary venue for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and is home to a distinctive Kenzo Tange-designed tower that looks more like a Jenga set.

The facilities are still used for sporting competitions today, as well as less physically demanding events such as flea markets and food festivals. Come autumn, the park's avenue of zelkova trees is as picturesque as the one in Meiji Jingu Gaien, but much less crowded, giving you plenty of space to capture that perfect Instagram shot.

Easily accessible from Shinjuku Station, Mt Takao is a popular weekend getaway for stressed-out Tokyoites looking to recharge their batteries surrounded by nature. From mid-November to early-December, the nearly 600m-tall elevation attracts hordes of cheerful hikers looking to admire the warm yellow and blazing red hues of the forest.

The autumn foliage is best viewed from the cable car, which brings you up to the first observation deck, from where you’ll also be treated to a breathtaking panorama of the city. You can pick up souvenirs and snacks here, too.

Make the most of your trip: Mt Takao's annual autumn Momiji Festival is happening this year

Located to the west of Tokyo, the area surrounding Mitake Gorge is a particularly popular destination with hikers between mid-October and late-November. Get off at Mitake Station on the JR Ome Line and stick to the walking trails along the river banks.

Postcard views of vivid red maple leaves and yellow ginkgo trees await, and for the perfect shot, make sure you have in your frame the majestic bridge that presides over the crystal clear Tama River. Do visit the nearby Gyokudo Art Museum for classic Japanese paintings before making the trip back to town.

Make the most of your trip: discover the best things to do in Okutama, where Mitake Gorge is