When do the Jingu Gaien ginkgo trees peak in 2026?

They usually peak from late November to early December, with colour starting in mid-November. The exact week depends on the weather, so check a Japanese autumn-leaf forecast about two weeks before you go.

Is the Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival happening in 2026?

No festival has been announced for 2026. The official Meiji Jingu Gaien events page still lists 2019 as the latest. If one is announced, it will appear there.

What is the nearest station to Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue?

The nearest are Aoyama-itchome and Gaienmae stations on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, both a few minutes' walk from the Aoyama-dori end. Shinanomachi (JR) and Kokuritsu-kyogijo (Toei Oedo Line) are nearer the Picture Gallery end.

Is Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue free?

Yes. It is a public road with pavements, free and open at all hours. The museums and the skating rink nearby charge their own fees.

How long does it take to walk Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue?

The avenue is 300 m long. Allow 20 to 40 minutes to walk it there and back with photos, longer at the weekend peak.

Is Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue good for kids?

Yes. It is short, flat and paved, and children love the fallen leaves. Go on a weekday morning, as weekend crowds at the peak make strollers hard to push.

Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue: A Family Guide for Autumn 2026

08/21/202510/10/2026

Rows of golden ginkgo trees on both sides of the road at Jingu Gaien

Quick answer

Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue is a 300 m road in Aoyama lined with 146 ginkgo trees in four rows, leading to the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery.
The leaves usually turn gold from mid-November and are at their best from late November to early December.
The nearest stations are Aoyama-itchome and Gaienmae on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, a few minutes' walk from the Aoyama-dori end.

Contents

What Is Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue?

Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue (Icho Namiki) is the most photographed autumn street in Tokyo. It is a straight 300 m road in Kita-Aoyama lined with 146 ginkgo trees in four rows, 9 m apart, which turn bright gold in late autumn.

At the far end stands the domed Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, framed by the trees.

It is free, it is a public road with pavements, and there are no gates or opening hours. You need 20 to 40 minutes to walk it end to end and back, longer if you stop for photos.

The avenue belongs to Meiji Jingu Gaien, the outer garden of Meiji Jingu shrine. The trees were raised from 1908, and the avenue was finished in 1923, before the outer garden as a whole was dedicated in 1926.

For a family in Tokyo in November, it is one of the easiest places to see autumn colour without leaving the city.

Private tour

Private Tours in Tokyo with a Local Guide Cherry blossom or autumn leaves at the right place and the right hour, planned with you. From US$550 per group.

When Is the Best Time to See the Ginkgo Leaves in 2026?

The leaves usually start turning in mid-November and are at their best from late November to early December. In 2022, for example, Meiji Jingu Gaien posted that the avenue was at its best on 17 November.

The timing moves by a week or more depending on how cold the autumn is, so look at a Japanese autumn-leaf forecast about two weeks before your visit.

Too early. Before mid-November, the trees are still green and yellow-green.
Peak. The whole canopy is gold and the pavement starts to turn yellow under your feet.
Late. In early December the leaves fall fast. A carpet of yellow leaves on the ground is beautiful too, but the trees thin out.

Tall golden ginkgo trees under a blue sky — Near the peak, the whole canopy turns gold

If your trip is in early November, the ginkgo trees at Showa Memorial Park in Tachikawa turn at about the same time, and that park has a light-up from 29 October to 29 November 2026. For other places, see our list of autumn leaves in Japan.

Is There a Ginkgo Festival in 2026?

No 2026 festival has been announced. The Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival (Icho Matsuri), with food stalls and regional dishes beside the avenue, used to run from mid-November to early December.

Meiji Jingu Gaien's own events page still shows the 2019 dates as the most recent, and the festival's website is no longer online.

Some travel sites, and older versions of this page, list festival dates every year. Do not plan your day around food stalls. If the organiser announces a festival for 2026, it will appear on the Meiji Jingu Gaien events page.

There is also no official evening light-up announced for 2026 at the time of writing.

How to Get to Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue

The avenue runs north from Aoyama-dori, between Aoyama-itchome and Gaienmae stations, to the Picture Gallery. Start at the Aoyama-dori end, where the classic view up the avenue is.

The Aoyama-dori road sign with the ginkgo avenue in the distance — The avenue starts at Aoyama-dori, between Aoyama-itchome and Gaienmae stations

Station	Lines	Which end
Aoyama-itchome	Tokyo Metro Ginza and Hanzomon lines, Toei Oedo Line	Aoyama-dori end, a few minutes' walk
Gaienmae	Tokyo Metro Ginza Line	Aoyama-dori end, a few minutes' walk
Shinanomachi	JR Chuo-Sobu Line (local trains)	Picture Gallery end
Kokuritsu-kyogijo	Toei Oedo Line	Picture Gallery end

The Ginza Line is the simplest. It runs from Asakusa, Ueno and Ginza straight to Gaienmae and Aoyama-itchome. You can also walk from Omotesando along Aoyama-dori in about 20 minutes.

Driving is not a good idea in the leaf season. The car parks around the Picture Gallery cannot be reserved, and the gallery car park has fewer spaces than before.

Best Time of Day and How to Avoid the Crowds

Go on a weekday morning, before 9:00. The avenue is open at all hours, the light is soft and low in the morning, and you will share it mostly with dog walkers and office workers on their way to work.

Busiest. Weekends and the public holiday on 23 November, from late morning to dusk. At peak the pavements are shoulder to shoulder.
Afternoon. The sun is low by mid-afternoon in late November, which gives warm side-light for photos but a crowd to match.
Rain. The gold looks even brighter on a grey day, and the crowds thin. The fallen leaves get slippery.

ONO

I have walked the avenue myself, and I recommend it. It was busy, but you could walk along normally. From midday into the afternoon it gets crowded.

The smell. Female ginkgo trees drop fruit in autumn. When it is stepped on, it smells strongly, and the mashed fruit is slippery.

Watch where children run, and wipe shoes before getting into a taxi.

Photo Spots and How the Avenue Was Designed

The best photo is from the Aoyama-dori end, looking north up the avenue towards the Picture Gallery. The view is designed. The trees were planted tallest at the Aoyama-dori end and gradually shorter towards the gallery, and the ground slopes down the same way, so the rows seem to point at the dome.

Ginkgo trees forming a golden tunnel over a pavement — On the pavements, the branches meet overhead

From the pedestrian crossing on Aoyama-dori, you get the symmetrical view of the four rows. Take it quickly and keep moving, as people wait for the same shot.
Under the trees on the pavements. The canopy closes overhead, which is the tunnel shot.
The gallery end. Look back towards Aoyama, and the avenue frames the city skyline.
The ground. At the end of the season, children love kicking through the yellow leaves. This is the photo families usually like best.

Please do not stand in the road for photos. Cars still use it.

The wider Jingu Gaien district is being redeveloped over the coming years, and several sports facilities around the Picture Gallery have closed or are changing. Expect some fencing near the gallery end.

Visiting with Kids and Strollers

The avenue is flat, paved and short, so it is one of the easiest autumn walks in Tokyo with small children. At the peak, the crowds are the hard part.

Stroller. Fine on a weekday morning. On a peak weekend afternoon, a baby carrier is easier.
Toilets. Go at the station or a cafe before you start. At peak, every toilet nearby has a queue.
Warm clothes. Late November mornings can be cold in Tokyo, and the shade under the trees is colder still.
Short visit. For young children, 30 to 45 minutes is plenty. Pair it with one of the places below rather than making it the whole morning.

Planning an autumn day in Tokyo around the leaf peak, naps and lunch is what our private Tokyo tour with kids is for. For other trips in Japan, see Japan Trails.

Things to Do Near Jingu Gaien with Kids

Several family-friendly places are within walking distance or one stop away.

Place	Why go with kids	Getting there
Japan Olympic Museum	Olympic history and sport, free for high school age and under	5 min from Gaienmae Exit 3
Meiji Jingu Gaien Ice Skating Rink	Year-round skating, rental helmets	At the Picture Gallery end
Shinjuku Gyoen	A big garden with lawns and autumn leaves	About 15 min on foot to Sendagaya Gate
Meiji Jingu and Harajuku	Tokyo's best-known shrine, then Takeshita Street	Ginza Line to Omotesando

Japan Olympic Museum. It opens 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30) and closes on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday). Adults pay ¥500, and high school age and under enter free with ID.

Entry needs an advance reservation for a date and time on the official site.

Ice skating. The Meiji Jingu Gaien Ice Skating Rink is open all year, 13:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and 10:00 to 18:00 on weekends and holidays, with last entry at 17:00.

Gloves are required, and long sleeves and long trousers are recommended. Helmets are lent free. Hours can change for competitions.

Shinjuku Gyoen and Meiji Jingu. For a longer day, walk on to Shinjuku Gyoen, whose maples turn red around the same time, or take the Ginza Line to Omotesando and visit Meiji Jingu and Takeshita Street.

For more ideas by age, see things to do in Tokyo with kids.

A Simple Autumn Morning Plan

Arrive at Aoyama-itchome or Gaienmae at 8:30 and walk the avenue from Aoyama-dori to the Picture Gallery. Let the children play in the leaves at the gallery end, then go to the Japan Olympic Museum when it opens at 10:00 (booked ahead).

Have an early lunch in Aoyama, and spend the afternoon at Shinjuku Gyoen or in Harajuku.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the Jingu Gaien ginkgo trees peak in 2026?: They usually peak from late November to early December, with colour starting in mid-November. The exact week depends on the weather, so check a Japanese autumn-leaf forecast about two weeks before you go.
Is the Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival happening in 2026?: No festival has been announced for 2026. The official Meiji Jingu Gaien events page still lists 2019 as the latest. If one is announced, it will appear there.
What is the nearest station to Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue?: The nearest are Aoyama-itchome and Gaienmae stations on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, both a few minutes' walk from the Aoyama-dori end. Shinanomachi (JR) and Kokuritsu-kyogijo (Toei Oedo Line) are nearer the Picture Gallery end.
Is Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue free?: Yes. It is a public road with pavements, free and open at all hours. The museums and the skating rink nearby charge their own fees.
How long does it take to walk Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue?: The avenue is 300 m long. Allow 20 to 40 minutes to walk it there and back with photos, longer at the weekend peak.
Is Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue good for kids?: Yes. It is short, flat and paved, and children love the fallen leaves. Go on a weekday morning, as weekend crowds at the peak make strollers hard to push.

Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue

Address

1-1 Kasumigaokamachi, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0013

See Map

Nearest station

Gaienmae Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza)
Aoyama-itchome Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza / Hanzomon / Toei Oedo)

Sources

https://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/kouhou/kuse/koho/konjaku/konjaku19.html
https://www.meijijingugaien.jp/walk/sight/
https://www.meijijingugaien.jp/event/
https://www.meijijingugaien.jp/gaien-news/
https://www.meijijingugaien.jp/information/access-map.html
https://japan-olympicmuseum.jp/en/access/
https://meijijingugaien-iceskating.com/information_price/

Plan a Private Day with a Local

Every tour is private, for your group only, and planned with you before you arrive. From US$550 per group for a day on foot in Tokyo or Yokohama, or from US$890 for a day trip by train to Kamakura, Hakone or Mt. Fuji. Travelling with children? See our Tokyo private tour with kids.

Free Consultation

Name *

Email *

Phone Number *We may contact you via WhatsApp.

Preferred tour date *Pick a day from the calendar. If nothing is fixed yet, tick the box below and tell us the period in the message. My dates are not fixed yet

Which tour would you like to choose? *

SubjectPlease tell us where you’d like to go and what kind of itinerary you have in mind.

Send me Japan travel tips by email now and then (optional). You can unsubscribe anytime.