Where to See Ginkgo Trees in Tokyo: Best Golden Avenues

Koshu Kaido Ginkgo Avenue in Hachioji offers one of Tokyo’s longest stretches of ginkgo-lined urban scenery, extending for several kilometers along the historic Koshu Kaido road. Hundreds of mature ginkgo trees line both sides of the avenue, creating an impressive sequence of golden streets through western Tokyo. The trees were originally planted in 1929 in connection with the construction of the Tama Imperial Mausoleum, giving the avenue a historical character beyond its seasonal appeal.

The scenery is particularly striking in mid to late November, when the foliage turns yellow and fallen leaves begin covering sections of the roadside. Unlike a single pedestrian promenade, the ginkgo trees follow an active roadway, allowing visitors to explore different sections around Hachioji and Takao. Pedestrian overpasses at several points provide elevated perspectives over the rows of trees, while the sidewalks offer closer views beneath the autumn canopy. There is no admission fee, making it easy to include in an autumn visit to western Tokyo.

Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue is one of Tokyo’s most celebrated ginkgo-lined streets, known for its striking symmetry and distinctive rows of carefully shaped trees. The avenue leads toward the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, creating a long perspective framed by historic architecture and the surrounding sports district. While the trees provide a lush green canopy through the warmer months, the avenue is at its most distinctive in autumn, typically from mid-November to early December, when the leaves turn vivid shades of yellow and gold.

During peak foliage, the combination of golden branches overhead and fallen leaves along the pavement creates a particularly photogenic setting. It is also one of Tokyo’s most popular seasonal viewing areas, so early morning is recommended for photography and a quieter walk. Its central location and easy access from Aoyama make the avenue a convenient place to experience Tokyo’s ginkgo season without leaving the city center.

The University of Tokyo’s Hongo Campus is home to one of Tokyo’s most atmospheric ginkgo avenues, where rows of mature trees extend from the Main Gate toward the distinctive Yasuda Auditorium. In late autumn, the leaves turn brilliant yellow, creating a golden canopy above the campus paths while fallen foliage carpets the ground. The combination of ginkgo trees, red-brick academic buildings, and historic campus architecture gives this location a character quite different from Tokyo’s parks and public boulevards.

Ginkgo has a particularly strong connection with the university, appearing as a longstanding symbol associated with the campus. Visitors can also find a large historic ginkgo tree near the Faculty of Engineering area, alongside several other pockets of autumn color around Hongo. The foliage is generally most attractive from late November into early December. The campus is an active educational environment, so visitors should explore quietly, respect restricted areas, and avoid disrupting students and university activities while taking photographs.

Showa Kinen Park is one of Tokyo’s most impressive places for autumn ginkgo scenery, with spacious grounds in Tachikawa offering a very different experience from the city’s urban avenues. Its best-known autumn feature is the Ginkgo Avenue near the Tachikawa entrance, where two rows of neatly shaped trees form a symmetrical golden corridor. Another ginkgo-lined area around the park’s canal provides additional autumn views, while fallen leaves gradually create a bright yellow carpet beneath the trees.

The ginkgo season generally reaches its best color in November, alongside other autumn foliage across the park. With broad walking paths, cycling routes, open lawns, seasonal gardens, and a traditional Japanese garden, visitors can easily combine ginkgo viewing with a longer day outdoors. The park’s scale also provides plenty of opportunities for photography, although the most famous ginkgo avenues can become busy during peak autumn weekends.

Gyoko-dori Avenue provides a distinctive ginkgo-lined perspective in the heart of central Tokyo, extending from the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station toward the Imperial Palace. Its broad central promenade is framed by rows of ginkgo trees, while the restored red-brick Tokyo Station building creates an elegant architectural backdrop. In autumn, the foliage turns yellow and adds warm seasonal color to one of the capital’s most formal urban landscapes.

Unlike Tokyo’s denser tree tunnels, Gyoko-dori combines golden ginkgo foliage with historic and modern architecture, making it particularly appealing for street and cityscape photography. Visitors can photograph the trees with Tokyo Station in one direction and the Marunouchi skyline in the other, with especially atmospheric views around sunset and after the station is illuminated. The avenue is centrally located, free to visit, and easy to combine with Marunouchi, the Imperial Palace area, or an evening walk around Tokyo Station.

Yasukuni Shrine offers a broad ginkgo-lined approach in central Tokyo, where mature trees add vivid seasonal color to the shrine’s spacious grounds. During autumn, the ginkgo foliage along the main approach turns brilliant yellow, creating a striking contrast with the large torii gates, stone lanterns, and traditional shrine architecture. The long, open approach gives the autumn scenery a more monumental character than Tokyo’s narrower residential ginkgo streets.

The shrine is primarily a religious and historically significant site, commemorating those who died in service to Japan since the mid-19th century, and visitors should approach it with awareness of its complex and controversial modern history. For travelers focusing on seasonal scenery, the ginkgo trees are generally most attractive from late November into early December. The grounds are free to enter and can also be combined with nearby autumn locations such as the Imperial Palace area and Kitanomaru Park.

Komazawa Olympic Park combines autumn ginkgo scenery with the architectural legacy of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, offering a spacious seasonal setting in Setagaya. Mature ginkgo trees line several of the park’s broad paths and roads, turning vivid yellow as autumn reaches its peak. The golden foliage works particularly well with the park’s distinctive Olympic-era structures, including the Memorial Tower, creating a setting that feels quite different from Tokyo’s traditional gardens and residential avenues.

The park’s extensive grounds make it well suited to a relaxed autumn walk or photography session, with plenty of space to explore beyond the main tree-lined sections. Visitors can also use the cycling and jogging courses or stop at the open plazas and recreational areas while viewing the foliage. Ginkgo colors are generally at their best from late November into early December. Entry to the park itself is free, and its quieter neighborhood setting makes it a useful alternative to central Tokyo’s busiest autumn spots.

Hikarigaoka Park offers one of northern Tokyo’s most impressive ginkgo-lined walks, with mature trees adding vivid autumn color to the spacious park and surrounding Hikarigaoka district. The broad paths and open layout create long perspectives beneath the yellow foliage, while fallen leaves gradually form a golden carpet underfoot. Compared with the highly visited ginkgo avenues in central Tokyo, the setting has a more relaxed, neighborhood atmosphere that makes it particularly pleasant for an autumn stroll.

The park itself provides plenty to explore alongside the seasonal scenery, including large lawns, sports facilities, playgrounds, and wooded areas, making it suitable for visitors who want to spend more time outdoors rather than simply stop for photographs. Ginkgo foliage is generally most attractive from mid to late November, with other deciduous trees adding further autumn color across the grounds. Entry is free, and the spacious paths provide good opportunities for casual photography, walking, and enjoying Tokyo’s autumn landscape at a slower pace.

Seijo Gakuen-mae Ginkgo Avenue offers a quieter view of Tokyo’s autumn ginkgo scenery in the refined residential neighborhood of Seijo, Setagaya. Tall ginkgo trees line the street near the main gate of Seijo Gakuen, forming a compact tree-lined corridor that turns vivid yellow from late November to early December. Because the road is relatively narrow, the trees on either side feel particularly close, creating the impression of being surrounded by a golden canopy when the foliage reaches its peak.

The avenue is recognized as Setagaya 100 Scenic Views (Setagaya Hyakkei) No. 51, reflecting its place in the local streetscape. Although the main ginkgo-lined section is relatively short, additional large ginkgo trees can be seen along the same street, complementing the well-kept residential surroundings. The avenue is free to visit and about a six-minute walk from Seijo-gakuen-mae Station, making it a pleasant choice for travelers looking for a less crowded, neighborhood-scale autumn scene.

Yoyogi Park, located in Tokyo's vibrant Shibuya district, is a sprawling green oasis featuring mature trees, serene lakes, and fountains. This free public park offers extensive walking paths, picnic areas, and seasonal flower displays, making it perfect for nature lovers and urban escapists.Yoyogi Park offers a spacious and informal setting for ginkgo viewing in central Tokyo, with mature trees scattered among its broad lawns, wooded areas, and walking paths. In autumn, sections of the park take on vivid shades of yellow as the ginkgo leaves change color, complementing the reds and oranges of other deciduous trees. Rather than a single tightly framed avenue, the park provides a more natural, open environment where visitors can enjoy Tokyo’s seasonal colors while exploring at their own pace.

Its location beside Harajuku and Meiji Jingu makes Yoyogi Park particularly convenient for adding autumn foliage to a day of sightseeing in Shibuya and Harajuku. The large lawns also make it suitable for picnics and relaxed walks, while the combination of trees and open spaces provides varied photography opportunities. Ginkgo foliage is generally most attractive from late November into early December. Entry is free, making the park an easy and accessible stop during Tokyo’s autumn season.