Tokyo Autumn Leaves with Kids | 4 Stroller-Friendly Spots, Best Timing & Beating Crowds [2026]

Can you enjoy Tokyo’s autumn leaves with kids — and when do they peak?

The short answer: with the right spot, Tokyo’s autumn leaves are easy to enjoy even with little ones. The peak is usually mid-November to early December (ginkgo late November to early December, maples a little later). Keep these three things in mind:

• Pick a big park that’s free for kids — room to run, easy for strollers
• Go on a weekday morning — the famous spots get crowded on weekend afternoons
• Dress warm and pack for the stroller — Tokyo mornings and evenings get chilly in November–December

This guide covers four spots from a family’s point of view: Showa Kinen Park, the Meiji Jingu Gaien ginkgo avenue, Rikugien, and Koishikawa Korakuen. For kids’ free and discounted admissions, see free and discounted deals for kids in Tokyo.

Three tips for autumn leaves with kids

Peak timing varies by spot

Even within Tokyo, ginkgo and maples — and central vs. suburban spots — peak a few days apart. Here’s a rough guide.

Spot	Typical peak
Showa Kinen Park (ginkgo)	Mid to late November
Meiji Jingu Gaien ginkgo avenue	Late November to early December
Rikugien (maples)	Late November to early December
Koishikawa Korakuen (maples)	Late November to early December

For fewer crowds, go weekday mornings

Autumn-leaf spots draw the biggest crowds on peak weekends. On a weekday morning it’s calmer and you can move at your child’s pace. Evenings get busy fast when there’s an illumination, so with small kids a daytime visit is the easier call.

Warm layers, the stroller, and a backup for cold days

November–December days in Tokyo can be cold, so a warm jacket, hat, and a blanket help. See the full Tokyo packing list for families. If cold or rain makes you want to change plans, it helps to have rainy-day and hot-day indoor spots for kids nearby.

Showa Kinen Park | the top family pick (free for under-15s)

In Tachikawa, Showa Kinen Park is one of the easiest places for autumn leaves with kids. The “Katarai Ginkgo Avenue” is a golden tunnel of 98 trees over about 300 meters, and the Japanese garden adds maples.

The big draw is that wide lawns and playgrounds sit right next to the foliage. Kids can play while adults enjoy the leaves, so no one gets bored just looking at scenery.

Item	Details
Admission	Adults ¥450 / free for under-15s / ¥210 for 65+
Peak	Ginkgo around mid to late November
Stroller	OK (wide, mostly paved paths; rentals on site)
Evening illumination	”Autumn Leaves Festival & Autumn Night Walk,” roughly late October to late November (Oct 30–Nov 30 in 2025)

Free admission for under-15s is a real saving for families. (Official: Showa Kinen Park / Autumn Night Walk)

⚠️ Admission and the dates of the festival and illumination can change. Check the official site before you go.

Meiji Jingu Gaien ginkgo avenue | a golden tunnel by the station

Running about 300 meters from Aoyama-dori toward the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, the Meiji Jingu Gaien ginkgo avenue is a downtown landmark where 146 ginkgo trees form a golden tunnel. It’s close to the station with wide, flat sidewalks, so strollers roll easily.

The cover photo of this article was actually taken at the Jingu Gaien ginkgo avenue — the golden trees make a popular backdrop for family photos.

• Peak: typically late November to early December
• Access: a short walk from Aoyama-itchome, Gaienmae, or Shinanomachi stations
• Note: the former “Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival” (food stalls, etc.) has been canceled in recent years. You can still view the avenue itself, but whether events or illuminations are held varies year to year

(Official: Meiji Jingu Gaien)

⚠️ Whether the ginkgo festival and illuminations are held — and the state of the surrounding redevelopment — varies by year. Check the official site for the latest.

Rikugien | a Japanese garden with a beautiful evening illumination

In Komagome, Rikugien is a strolling garden that keeps the feel of an Edo-era daimyo garden. Maples and ginkgo reflected in the pond are lovely, and in autumn there’s a special evening viewing (illumination).

• Peak: typically late November to early December
• Regular admission: ¥300 for adults (¥150 for 65+; free for elementary students and younger, and for junior-high students living in Tokyo)
• Evening viewing: in 2025, Nov 28–Dec 9, 18:00–20:30 (last entry 19:30); the special evening ticket was about ¥1,000 in advance / ¥1,200 same-day

With lots of gravel and pondside paths, a baby carrier is often easier than a stroller for small kids. The illumination runs into the evening, which is late for little ones, so with preschoolers a daytime visit is best. (Official: Rikugien)

⚠️ The evening-viewing dates, hours, and fees change each year. Check the official site before visiting.

Koishikawa Korakuen | great access, next to Tokyo Dome City

Koishikawa Korakuen is a strolling garden from the early Edo period, where maples frame the Oigawa stream. Its biggest strength is access — a short walk from Korakuen or Iidabashi stations. Tokyo Dome City is right next door, so you can enjoy the garden’s autumn colors and then move on to a play area for the kids.

Item	Details
Admission	¥300 for adults / free for elementary students and younger, and Tokyo-resident junior-high students / ¥150 for 65+
Peak	Late November to early December
Access	3 min from Iidabashi (Toei Oedo Line, Exit C3); 8 min from Korakuen (Marunouchi/Namboku lines)
Stroller	OK (paths are walkable, with some steps and gravel)

(Official: Koishikawa Korakuen)

⚠️ Admission, opening hours, and events can change. Check the official site in advance.

Want to go farther? | Autumn leaves in the Mt. Fuji area

If your itinerary allows a longer trip, the autumn leaves around the Mt. Fuji area (Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka) are worth it. The peak comes a little later than central Tokyo, and you can see the lake, Mt. Fuji, and fall colors together. For a family day trip, see a Mt. Fuji area day trip with kids from Tokyo.

Tokyo autumn-leaf spots at a glance

Spot	Typical peak	Adult fee	Kids’ fee	Stroller	Nearest station	Evening illumination
Showa Kinen Park	Mid–late Nov	¥450	Free under 15	◎	Nishi-Tachikawa	Yes (confirm)
Meiji Jingu Gaien ginkgo	Late Nov–early Dec	Free	Free	○	Aoyama-itchome	Varies (confirm)
Rikugien	Late Nov–early Dec	~¥300	Free (preschool)	△ (gravel)	Komagome	Special evening viewing (confirm)
Koishikawa Korakuen	Late Nov–early Dec	¥300	Free (elementary & under)	○	Korakuen	None

For smoother travel, see our Tokyo subway guide for families. Coming in spring? Pair this with the cherry-blossom spots in Tokyo cherry blossoms with kids. Up to here, this has been about planning your autumn-leaf outing. Let us close with a word about what stays with you afterward.

Keep your family’s autumn as a film

A child running under golden ginkgo, a small hand holding up a leaf to show you — autumn brings out so many natural family moments. But parents are busy keeping an eye on the kids, and the one shot with the whole family in it rarely happens.

We help families capture the moments you didn’t get to photograph yourself. Take a look if you’re interested.

👉 See the Tokyo Family Records service

※ Fees, peak timing, and event dates in this article are current as of July 2026. Autumn-leaf timing shifts with the weather, and fees and illuminations can change, so please verify with each official website.

Photos via Pexels: Yan Krukau, Suki Lee, Maheshwaran Shanmugam, Tris Truong, Lam N, Lorenzo Castellino, Nizar F, Helena Lopes