Hachioji Ginkgo Festival 2026: Dates, Highlights, and Access

Hachioji Ginkgo Festival: November 21 - 22, 2026

The Hachioji Ginkgo Festival is held every autumn in Tokyo's Hachioji City, showcasing the golden yellow color of the foliage along the main avenue in Hachioji.

This year, the Hachioji Ginkgo Festival will take place on November 21 - 22, featuring about 12 venues. A variety of events are planned, including food stalls, parades, and regional product exhibitions.

Hachioji is the home of Mount Takao, one of the most popular hiking spots in Tokyo. Consider enjoying the autumn foliage both in the city and on Mount Takao.

Hachioji: Home to One of Japan's Three Great Tree-Lined Avenues

Photo by Pixta

About 770 ginkgo trees are planted along the approximately 4-kilometer road leading from Takao Station towards Nishi Hachioji Station, creating a beautiful tree-lined avenue that is considered one of Japan's three great avenues.

This ginkgo avenue has a historical background, having been planted in 1929 during the construction of the Taisho Emperor's mausoleum near Takao Station. It is also designated as a natural monument of Hachioji.

Every autumn, about 400,000 visitors gather for the historic Hachioji Ginkgo Festival to celebrate the peak of the yellow ginkgo leaves.

Hachioji Ginkgo Festival: Event Details

Dates: November 21 and 22, 2026
Hours: 9:00 - 16:30 *On the 17th, until 16:00
Location: Hachioji City (from Koshu Kaido Oiwake Intersection to Kobito Seki, around Ryounan Park, etc.)
Organizer: Hachioji Ginkgo Festival Executive Committee
Official Website: https://www.ichou-festa.org/

Highlights of the Hachioji Ginkgo Festival 2026

In 2026, the Hachioji Ginkgo Festival celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Koshu Kaido Ginkgo Avenue.

Planted between 1927 and 1929 to commemorate Emperor Taisho’s passing, these trees are a designated Natural Monument and local landmark. The emperor's passing also led to the reconstruction of JR Takao Station, whose historic North Exit building was originally built as a temporary structure for his funeral train.

To mark the milestone, neighborhood associations, JR Takao Station, and the Sobu National Highway Office are uniting under the slogan, "Along the Golden Ginkgo Avenue – Take On New Challenges!", looking forward to the next century.

During the event period, a variety of activities will take place at 12 different venues. Here are some of the most popular events.

Checkpoint Orienteering

This is a stamp rally event where participants walk approximately 5.5 kilometers (about 8,000 steps) from Oiwake Checkpoint, located at Koshu Kaido Oiwake Intersection, to Kobotoke Checkpoint Ruins.

Participants can purchase a travel pass for 600 yen, which they use to get stamps at each checkpoint. Collecting six or more stamps allows participants to enter a lottery, and collecting all 12 stamps earns a special prize known as the Perfect Award (Completion Award).

Marching Band Parade

Every year, the Hachioji Ginkgo Festival features a parade. Spectacular performances are expected against the backdrop of the ginkgo tree-lined streets.

Date and Time: November 21 (Saturday)
1. Parade from 1:15 PM to 1:40 PM (*route: Takao Station toward the approach to the mausoleum)
2. Standstill performance at Minami Asakawa Bridge around 1:45 PM

Access: How to Get to the Hachioji Ginkgo Festival

Picture from the official website

The 12 venues are set up along the route from Koshu Kaido Oiwake Intersection to Ryonan Park and around the Kobotoke Checkpoint Ruins area.

Nearest Stations by Train

Koshu Kaido Oiwake Intersection: 10 minutes on foot from JR Nishi Hachioji Station
Ryonan Park and Kobotoke Checkpoint Ruins area: 13 to 25 minutes on foot from JR Takao Station

Sections Closed to Vehicle Traffic

Date and Time: November 21 (Saturday) and 22 (Sunday) from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Section: Tama Mausoleum Approach (from Tama Mausoleum Entrance Intersection to in front of Kondo Internal Medicine Clinic)

There is no event-specific parking available, so we recommend using public transportation.