Showa Kinen Park Japanese Garden
This season's opening
Autumn Night Walk: Japanese garden lighting
- Hours
- In 2025, lights 16:30–20:30, park closing 21:00; only the Nishi-Tachikawa and Tachikawa gates open at night.
- Admission
- In 2025, garden lighting ticket ¥1,200 in advance / ¥1,300 at the gate, plus ¥450 park admission; combined ticket ¥1,600 in advance.
- Booking
- Booking advised
About 300 maples, the Kanputei tea house, the Seichiken pavilion and the wooden bridge are lit and mirrored in the pond. The bonsai garden was lit for the first time in 2025.
The garden is about 20 minutes' walk from Nishi-Tachikawa and the nearer Sunagawa gate is shut at night. Tea in the garden is daytime only, so eat in Tachikawa beforehand.
About the garden
A six-hectare pond-and-stroll garden opened in 1997 in the north of this huge national park in Tachikawa. An artificial hill rising 30 metres serves as borrowed scenery, with the Kanputei tea house and a seven-metre waterfall around the pond. About 300 maples colour in autumn and are lit at night.
Where to stand
Kanputei stands on the west side of the pond, its main rooms set to give the deepest view across the water. Look at it from the far bank first, then sit inside for tea and look back the other way. At the Ryoboden waterfall pavilion, face the seven-metre fall straight on.
Practical notes
The Japanese garden is deep inside a very large park: about 15 minutes' walk from the Sunagawa gate and 20 from Nishi-Tachikawa. For the autumn night lighting you need a garden lighting ticket on top of park admission, and only the Nishi-Tachikawa and Tachikawa gates are open at night. Matcha is served in Kanputei by day only.
Tea and food nearby
Small places within walking distance. Check their opening days against the garden's.
- 0 min walk☕ CafeTea at Kanputei (inside the Japanese garden)
Tea in Kanputei, the pavilion on the west side of the pond built for its deepest view; see it here by day before the evening lights.
Order：Matcha and a seasonal sweet (¥900)
Nov–Feb 10:30–12:30, 13:00–15:30 (last order 30 min before)Closed: Fridays from 7 Dec to 31 Jan, and park closing days¥900Details ↗ - 12 min walk☕ CafeOka Cafe (inside the park)
A bakery café on the east side of the big central lawn, with the meadow in view from its seats: a break on the long walk to the Japanese garden.
Order：A fresh butter croissant and the house blend
Nov 10:30–16:00, Dec–Feb 11:00–15:30 (last order 30 min before)Closed: Tuesdays from 7 Dec to 31 Jan, and park closing daysAbout ¥1,000Details ↗