Shinjuku Gyoen hosts chrysanthemums from 1 November 2026
Published on 10/21/2026 at 21:02 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSChrysanthemum displays and access
- The Ministry of the Environment will stage the exhibition from 1 November to 15 November 2026.
- Seven Uwaya beds and two alley beds will be arranged in the Japanese Garden.
- The garden tradition moved to Shinjuku Gyoen in 1929 after beginning at Akasaka Palace in 1878.
- Tokyo Metro links the garden with Shinjuku-Gyoemmae Station and its three gates.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden will host the Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemum Exhibition from 1 to 15 November 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. The exhibition continues a floral tradition linked to the Imperial Family and gives visitors a fixed autumn programme in the Japanese Garden.
Chrysanthemum exhibition runs from 1 to 15 November
The Ministry of the Environment announced the exhibition on 6 October 2026. It will run from Sunday 1 November to Sunday 15 November 2026, with the Japanese Garden as its venue. The garden calendar confirms that the site will open every day during the period, including Mondays, when it normally has a weekly closing day.
The display uses seven flower beds under shelters called Uwaya, together with two alley beds. Different chrysanthemum varieties are arranged in a prescribed style intended to work with the surrounding garden landscape. A visitor information exhibition about the flowers will also be held at the Art Gallery on the first floor of the Information Center outside Shinjuku Gate from 27 October to 15 November 2026. The Ministry announcement gives the exhibition dates, venue and display format.
Seven Uwaya beds connect the show with garden history
The exhibition is tied to a longer history than the 2026 programme alone. The first chrysanthemum exhibition for the Imperial Family was held at Akasaka Palace in 1878 by the Imperial Household Ministry. The event moved to Shinjuku Gyoen in 1929, and the garden continued the tradition after opening to the public as a National Garden in 1949.
This history explains why the Japanese Garden is central to the November programme. The exhibition is not a separate hall show: the beds are placed within the landscape, and the route links the trained flowers with the garden’s existing paths and scenery. The official calendar also lists the 38th Orchid Exhibition for 17 to 23 November 2026, after the chrysanthemum display has ended, but it is a separate event in the greenhouse.
November dates alter the garden’s Monday rule
The 2026 exhibition creates a practical difference for visitors from Western Europe. The garden’s normal Monday closure does not apply between 1 and 15 November, so the Japanese Garden can be visited on the two Mondays within that period. From Monday 16 November, the calendar again lists a closed day before the orchid exhibition begins on 17 November.
The Ministry states that the garden grounds are open from 9am to 4.30pm during the exhibition, with the gate closing to new visitors at 4pm. The separate Art Gallery display outside Shinjuku Gate is presented as an introduction to the chrysanthemum exhibition, while the seven Uwaya beds remain in the Japanese Garden.
Visiting Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemum Exhibition takes place from 1 November to 15 November 2026 in the Japanese Garden.
- The garden remains open on Mondays during the exhibition, but the calendar lists Monday 16 November 2026 as a closed day.
- Shinjuku Gate is a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Shinjuku-Gyoemmae Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line; Sendagaya Gate is a 5-minute walk from Sendagaya Station on the JR Sobu Line. The official access guide lists routes to all three entrances.
- Japan’s official language is Japanese and its national currency is the Japanese yen.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
When does the chrysanthemum exhibition take place at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden?
The exhibition runs from 1 November to 15 November 2026 in the Japanese Garden, with daily opening during the period.
Why is Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden open on Mondays in November?
The usual Monday closure is suspended during the Chrysanthemum Exhibition from 1 November to 15 November 2026.
Where is Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and how do you get there?
The garden is in Tokyo. Shinjuku Gate is reached from Exit 1 of Shinjuku-Gyoemmae Station, while Sendagaya Gate is near Sendagaya Station.
