Meiji Jingu Outer Garden

Meiji Jingu Outer Garden, known in Japanese as Meiji Jingu Gaien, is a sprawling public park in the Aoyama district of central Tokyo, best known for its breathtaking ginkgo tree-lined avenue that transforms into a tunnel of brilliant gold every autumn. While the adjacent Meiji Jingu Inner Garden is a forested sanctuary centered on the famous Meiji Shrine, the Outer Garden takes a different character — it is an open, civic space home to sports facilities, the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, and one of Tokyo's most iconic seasonal landscapes.

The star attraction is the Icho Namiki, a 300-meter-long avenue flanked by four rows of approximately 150 ginkgo trees that were planted in the 1920s. From mid-November to early December, the leaves turn a vivid golden yellow, creating one of the most photographed autumn scenes in all of Japan. The avenue leads up to the stately Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, a Western-style stone building housing murals depicting the life of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. During peak foliage season, the Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival brings food stalls and craft vendors to the area, typically running from mid-November through early December. In 2026, an evening illumination event lights up the golden canopy from late November, adding a magical atmosphere after dark.

The Outer Garden is completely free to enter and open around the clock, making it a flexible addition to any Tokyo itinerary. The ginkgo avenue is at its most spectacular between mid-November and late November, though exact timing varies by year. Even outside autumn, the park is a pleasant green space for a walk or jog, popular with locals.

This spot is ideal for couples, photographers, and anyone visiting Tokyo in autumn. Plan to spend 30 minutes to an hour strolling the avenue, longer if you explore the festival stalls or visit the Picture Gallery. The nearest station is Gaienmae on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line (three-minute walk), with Aoyama-Itchome Station on the Ginza, Hanzomon, and Oedo Lines also within easy reach. The fashionable Omotesando shopping street and Meiji Shrine are both a short walk away, making it easy to combine several highlights in one afternoon.