Mukojima-Hyakkaen Moon-Viewing Festival: Lanterns, Autumn Flowers and the Harvest Moon

Sep 24

3 min read

This year, Jugoya, the night of the harvest moon, falls on September 25.

Last year, on October 5, I visited the Moon-Viewing Festival (Tsukimi no Kai) at Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden. It was the first evening of the festival. At dusk there was a small offering ceremony, and the sounds of a bamboo flute and a koto drifted through the garden.

Lantern-lit entrance gate of Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden at dusk during the Moon-Viewing Festival — The garden gate at dusk, lit with paper lanterns

As the sun goes down, paper lanterns (andon) light up all around the garden. Each one is painted with a haiku or a waka poem and a seasonal picture, a fitting touch for a garden founded by Edo-era poets and artists.

Paper andon lantern painted with a haiku and a picture at Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden — A paper lantern painted with a poem and a picture

Stepping stones lined with small lanterns and glowing shoji screens at Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden at night — Small lanterns along the stepping stones, with the soft glow of shoji screens

Mukojima-Hyakkaen was created in the late Edo period by an antique dealer, Sahara Kiku-u, together with his poet and artist friends. Unlike the great feudal lords' gardens, it has no large pond or artificial hills. Instead, it is planted with the flowers of Japanese poetry, including the Seven Flowers of Autumn.

Lantern-lit bush clover tunnel at Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden at night — The bush clover (hagi) tunnel, lit by lanterns

Bush clover, pampas grass, kudzu, pinks, patrinia, boneset and Chinese bellflower. They are not showy, but watching them sway in the wind, you can feel the season changing.

Aster tataricus (shion) flowers lit up at night at Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden — Aster tataricus (shion) glowing in the lantern light

Gourd trellis and festival visitors at Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden at night — The gourd trellis, busy with visitors after dark

Lantern-lit bamboo path at Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden at night — A bamboo path glowing in the lantern light

Pond and stepping stones at Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden at night with reflected lights — Stepping stones across the pond, reflecting the lights

In Japan, people have admired the autumn moon for centuries. Families decorate with pampas grass (susuki) and offer rice dumplings, taro, pumpkins and other autumn produce to give thanks for the harvest. In the days before electric light, the moon must have looked even more mysterious and beautiful.

Tsukimi offerings of pampas grass, pumpkin and autumn produce under the full moon at Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden — Offerings of pampas grass and autumn produce, with the full moon in the clouds

When the moon finally appeared through a gap in the clouds, you could hear small cheers around the garden. People hundreds of years ago must have waited for the moon in just the same way.

Red umbrella decorations and a wooden bench at Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden — Red umbrella decorations and a bench: a quiet spot to wait for the moon

Illuminated Tokyo Skytree and the moon behind clouds, seen from Kototoi Bridge — From Kototoi Bridge: Tokyo Skytree and the moon peeking through the clouds

On the way home, I looked up from Kototoi Bridge over the Sumida River. Right beside the illuminated Tokyo Skytree, the moon kept slipping in and out of the clouds. In a garden loved by Edo-era poets or next to the symbol of modern Tokyo, the moon is the same.

Moon-Viewing Festival 2026: Dates and Program

The details below are from the official Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association page. Plans can change with the weather, so please check before you go.

Dates: September 24 (Thu) to 26 (Sat), 2026
Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (last entry 8:30 p.m.)
Painted lanterns: lit every evening from 5:50 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Koto music: every evening, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Offering ceremony: September 24, 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tea ceremony: September 25 and 26, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. (1,500 yen per sitting, plus admission)
Shinnai street performance: September 25, from 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Admission: 150 yen (70 yen for ages 65 and over)

Official page (Japanese): https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/mukojima-hyakkaen/news/2026/2026_9_24_26.html

Getting There

About 8 minutes on foot from Higashi-Mukojima Station (Tobu Skytree Line), or about 13 minutes from Keisei-Hikifune Station (Keisei Oshiage Line). From the "Hyakkaen-mae" stop on the Toei bus (Sato 22), it is a 2-3 minute walk.

FAQ

When is the 2026 Moon-Viewing Festival at Mukojima-Hyakkaen?

From September 24 to 26, 2026. The garden stays open until 9 p.m. during the festival (last entry 8:30 p.m.).

How much does it cost?

Just the regular admission: 150 yen, or 70 yen for ages 65 and over. The tea ceremony is an extra 1,500 yen per sitting.

When is the harvest moon (Jugoya) in 2026?

September 25 (Friday), the second day of the festival.

What time should I go?

Around 5:30 p.m. You can walk the garden in the last of the daylight, then watch the lanterns light up at 5:50 p.m.

Can international visitors enjoy it?

Yes. You only need the regular admission ticket, and the lanterns, the koto music and the moon need no translation.

At bikeTKgardens, we explore Tokyo's Japanese gardens by e-bike and share seasonal traditions like this along the way. Our Autumn Japanese Gardens & Foliage Tour is now open for booking.

To book or ask a question, please contact us through our website or by email: https://www.biketkgardens.com/book-online

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