Kenrokuen Autumn Light-Up 2026: Free Night Entry to a Great Garden
Autumn colour and yukitsuri – the rope cones that protect the pines from wet Hokuriku snow – are lit at the same time, which happens only in November.
Overview
Kenrokuen is one of the three great gardens of Japan and the former outer garden of Kanazawa Castle. The prefecture runs a seasonal light-up programme, Shiki Monogatari, across the garden, Kanazawa Castle Park and Gyokusen-inmaru Garden.
The autumn edition is the best-value night in Kanazawa: entry to Kenrokuen is free during the light-up hours, and the garden’s roughly 340 maples are at their peak against the pines.
When and where
The 2026 autumn light-up runs on 7, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 November, following an earlier run from 19 to 22 September. Entry is free while the lights are on; the garden closes briefly beforehand for setup.
Yukitsuri work on around 800 trees begins on 1 November, so the ropes are in place for the November nights.
Getting there
From Kanazawa Station, the Kenrokuen Shuttle or a Hokuriku Railroad bus reaches the Kenrokuen-shita / Kanazawa-jo stop in about 10 minutes, then it is a three-minute walk. The Kanazawa Loop Bus also serves the area. Paid car parks are nearby but fill on light-up nights.
What to expect
A short, self-guided walk rather than a big event.
- Free night entry to Kenrokuen during light-up hours
- Around 340 maples lit alongside the pines
- Yukitsuri rope cones on some 800 trees, Kanazawa’s winter emblem
- Kanazawa Castle Park and Gyokusen-inmaru Garden lit on the same nights
- Special dinner plans at the garden’s teahouses, by reservation
Tickets and admission
Free during the light-up. Daytime entry to Kenrokuen is paid as usual. Weather can cause cancellation or a date change, so check the official site the same day.
Tips for visitors
Go on a weeknight if you can – the Saturday sessions are busy with tour groups. Enter from the Kenrokuen-shita side and walk up to Kasumigaike pond first, while the crowd is still spreading out. Bring a coat: November evenings in Kanazawa are damp and colder than the forecast suggests.
Access and map
| Dates | 7, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Kenrokuen, Kanazawa Castle Park, Gyokusen-inmaru Garden, Kanazawa |
| Access | Bus to Kenrokuen-shita / Kanazawa-jo, 3 minutes on foot |
| Admission | Free during light-up hours |
| Official site | Kanazawa Tourist Association |
Source: Kanazawa Tourist Association
Image: Photo: zoosan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
