Mejiro Garden in Toshima-ku, Tokyo, will hold TERASU 2026, its autumn garden illumination, from Saturday, November 21 to Sunday, December 6, 2026. Odako Co., Ltd., which leads the Mejiro Garden Park Management Joint Venture, the garden's designated manager, announced the event on October 17.
Evening admission is 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for elementary school students; children not yet in elementary school enter free. The night view below is an image of the illumination.
Projection on Sekichoan starts December 1
This year's theme is "Autumn Nights Linked by Fall Foliage and Lanterns." Rather than lighting the garden evenly, the organizers say they will combine light and darkness to show the shapes of tree branches, reflections on the water, the stonework, and the shadows of the architecture.
From Tuesday, December 1, projection mapping will be shown on the tea house Sekichoan inside the garden. According to the company, this is the first time such a performance has been given at the autumn garden illumination.
Handmade lanterns made by students of Soen Nursery Teacher Training College, expressing "things found in Mejiro Garden," will also be displayed. Lanterns made together with kindergarten children will be set up at the Nagaya Gate, adding the glow of handwork to the garden scenery.
Reserved admission and same-day tickets vary by visit date
The illumination runs from 17:30 to 21:00, with last admission at 20:30. On some weekends and holidays, a timed-entry ticket is required for the earlier time slots, and the time from which same-day tickets admit visitors also differs by date.
- November 21 (Sat), 22 (Sun), 23 (Mon, holiday), 28 (Sat), and 29 (Sun): Entry at 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, and 19:00 is by reservation. On-site sale of same-day tickets and admission begin at 19:30.
- December 5 (Sat) and 6 (Sun): Entry at 17:30 and 18:00 is by reservation. On-site sale of same-day tickets and admission begin at 18:30.
- Weekdays other than the above: No reservation needed. Same-day tickets are sold on site from 16:30, and admission starts at 17:30.
Each reservation slot holds 150 people. Entry times are specified in 30-minute increments; this is not a rotation system that limits your stay to 30 minutes. Reserved tickets are purchased through "teket," and at the entrance you show the QR ticket on your smartphone screen or in print.
Advance and same-day tickets cost the same. On-site payment is by cash or PayPay. The garden closes once at 17:00 to prepare for the illumination, and since there is no waiting area in or around the garden, the organizers ask visitors to return after 17:30.
Conditions for lantern-making and for the photography day when tripods are allowed
From December 4 (Fri) to 6 (Sun), from 13:30 to 17:00, the "Mejiro Garden Craft Day" will be held, where visitors make lanterns. The fee starts from 1,000 yen, registration is on the day, and the event ends when materials run out.
On November 20 (Fri), the day before the opening, a "Pre-Opening Photographer Service Day" will be held. It runs from 17:30 to 21:00 (last admission 20:30), and the fee is 1,000 yen including admission. It requires advance registration, is first come, first served, and is limited to 100 people. On this day only, tripods, which cannot be used during the regular illumination period, are allowed.
TERASU 2026 dates, fees, and access
- Name: Autumn Garden Illumination TERASU 2026
- Period: Saturday, November 21 to Sunday, December 6, 2026
- Hours: 17:30 to 21:00 (last admission 20:30)
- Venue: Toshima City Mejiro Garden
- Address: 3-20-18 Mejiro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
- Admission: Adults 500 yen, elementary school students 300 yen, free for children not yet in elementary school. Elementary school students and younger must be accompanied by a guardian
- Reservations and how to join: For the dates and times above, buy a timed-entry ticket through "teket." The reservation page and the latest information on each program are posted on the Mejiro Garden "Autumn Foliage Illumination 2026" information page
- Access: 5 minutes on foot from JR Mejiro Station, 15 minutes on foot from JR Ikebukuro Station. There is no parking lot, and the bicycle parking area is closed during the illumination hours
* The announcement does not state whether the prices include tax. The organizers may cancel the event in case of bad weather or similar conditions. If the organizers cancel, a refund of the admission fee requires a request within 7 days of the event date.
Image: courtesy of Odako Co., Ltd.
