The ‘Miyagi Prefecture Matsushima Detached Palace’ will be hosting the ‘Miyagi Prefecture Matsushima Detached Palace: Autumn Foliage Illumination 2026’ from Saturday 24 October.
As autumn deepens, over 100 Iroha maple and Japanese maple trees, which adorn the gardens and mountains of Matsushima Rikyu, turn a vivid crimson, creating the most beautiful scene of the year. Once the sun sets, this spectacle is reflected on the surface of the garden pond, alongside Japan’s only surviving decagonal three-storey pagoda, creating an even more enchanting world. In addition to this breathtaking scenery, projection mapping adds further splendour to the display.
This year, the ‘Light Screen of Japanese Umbrellas’—a light display featuring colourful Japanese umbrellas spread across the water’s surface, designed to resemble folding screens—has been upgraded to a new version. Furthermore, the ‘Pink Maple of Happiness’, a quest to find a special maple tree hidden within the gardens, will also make its debut.
Please enjoy a special moment that illuminates the autumn night amidst this breathtaking scenery.
Miyagi Prefecture Matsushima Rikyu Autumn Foliage Illumination 2026 – Event Overview
| Dates: |
Saturday 24 October 2026 to 23 November 2026 (public holiday) |
| Times: |
16:30–21:00 (last admission at 20:45) |
| Admission: |
Adults: 1,300 yen (secondary school pupils and above); free for primary school pupils and younger |
＞Click here for advance tickets
A spectacular view created by the autumn foliage and Japan’s only decagonal three-storey pagoda
Matsushima Rikyu in Miyagi Prefecture was recognised as a ‘Place of Inspiration’ at the 2023 ‘JAPAN TRAVEL AWARDS’. Its symbol—Japan’s only decagonal three-storey pagoda—and the vibrant autumn foliage are illuminated by spotlights, further enhancing their beauty. Please do enjoy this special world created by the autumn foliage bathed in light.
A World of Reflections in a Water Feature Modelled on Matsushima Bay
Vibrant autumn foliage is reflected in a water feature modelled on Matsushima Bay, creating a fantastical world. This light display, which received the Lighting Promotion Award from the Illuminating Engineering Society of Japan in 2020, invites visitors into an elegant world.
Projection mapping that adds colour to the beautiful scenery
Based on the concept of ‘Travelling through time and space: the four seasons and history of Matsushima’, the decagonal three-storey pagoda is transformed into a time machine of light. Visitors become members of the time-travel crew, embarking on a magnificent journey that takes them from the formation of geological strata dating back thousands of years, to the Heian-period Matsushima beloved by poets, and on to the future. Whilst experiencing the beauty of Japan’s four seasons—unchanged through the ages—please enjoy this special journey that can only be experienced here.
The Changing Faces of Autumn Depicted Through Colourful Japanese Umbrellas
This enchanting display of colourful Japanese umbrellas is brought to life even more vividly by the illuminations, and is beautifully reflected in the surface of the heart-shaped pool—a feature that earned the site its designation as a ‘Lovers’ Sanctuary’ in 2022. This year, the changing faces of Matsushima’s autumn scenery are depicted through these colourful Japanese umbrellas. Come and enjoy the enchanting autumn illuminations unique to Matsushima.
Matsushima Rikyu, Miyagi Prefecture
This tourist complex opened in 2020 on the site of the former Marinepia Matsushima Aquarium, just a one-minute walk from JR Matsushima-Kaigan Station. We offer a variety of experiences to help you enjoy Matsushima, including seafood cuisine, souvenirs, traditional craft workshops, a rooftop observation deck with panoramic views of Matsushima Bay, and a garden modelled on the more than 260 islands in the bay.
