Festivals & local events

Koishikawa Korakuen Culture Day Special Opening (Karamon Gate and Tokujindo)

Japanese title: 小石川後楽園文化の日の特別公開（唐門・得仁堂）

Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens (Korakuen Sta.)

On Nov 3 only, the restored Karamon gate opens and the interior of the Edo-period Tokujindo hall can be viewed (10:00-16:00). Volunteer garden tours at 11:00 and 14:00.

Date: Nov 3 (Tue, holiday)
Time: 09:00–17:00
Price: Adults ¥300 / 65+ ¥150 (free for elementary age and under, and junior high students living or studying in Tokyo)
Venue: Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens
Nearest station: Korakuen Sta.

Check closed days and last admission on the official page before you go.

Check the official page (Japanese)Open in Google Maps

About this event

One day each year, visitors can pass through Koishikawa Korakuen's reconstructed Karamon gate and follow a route once reserved for distinguished guests. For Culture Day, the historic garden opens the gate, restored in 2020, and offers a rare look inside Tokujindo, an Edo-period building normally closed to public viewing. The Karamon entrance allows visitors to experience the historic approach through the garden along Kisoji, recalling the route used during the feudal era. Tokujindo is associated with the Confucian figures Boyi and Shuqi, whose story influenced Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the second lord of the Mito Tokugawa family. Although their statues are no longer housed there, the building itself survives from the Edo period. Volunteer guides stationed at both locations explain their historical significance, while garden walking tours provide further context. As one of Tokyo's oldest surviving daimyo gardens and a nationally designated Special Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty, Koishikawa Korakuen offers a particularly meaningful Culture Day visit.

Highlights

Walk through Karamon, opened to visitors only once a year.
Follow the historic garden route once used by distinguished guests.
View the normally closed interior of Tokujindo from outside.
Hear volunteer explanations of the garden's surviving Edo-period structures.
Explore one of Tokyo's oldest surviving daimyo gardens.

Good for: Japanese history enthusiasts, architecture lovers and travellers interested in Edo-period gardens will especially appreciate this rare opening.

Good to know

Tokujindo can only be viewed from outside; visitors cannot enter the building.
Volunteer guides and garden tours are cancelled in rain.
Tripods, monopods, selfie sticks, gimbals, sketching equipment and folding chairs are restricted on Culture Day.
The garden expects many visitors, and restrictions are intended to prevent accidents in crowded areas.

Summarized from the official page and press materials.

Why are Karamon and Tokujindo opened only on Culture Day?

Koishikawa Korakuen is among the oldest surviving daimyo gardens in Tokyo and is recognised nationally for both its historical and scenic significance. Its Karamon gate formerly served as an entrance for people of elevated status. Restored in 2020, it allows visitors to appreciate the approach used in an earlier era when opened for the annual Culture Day programme. The special route offers a different perspective on the garden's historic design.

Tokujindo is another rare survivor of the Edo period, alongside the garden's Engetsukyo bridge. The building was formerly associated with statues of Boyi and Shuqi, figures from Chinese historical literature whose moral example influenced Tokugawa Mitsukuni. The statues are no longer installed, but the structure preserves an important connection with the garden's intellectual history. So take advantage of this once-yearly opportunity to see both the restored entrance and the normally inaccessible building interior.

Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association — Culture Day Special Opening (Japanese) · Koishikawa Korakuen — Official Garden Information (Japanese)

Distance from major stations

From Korakuen: 0.3 km, about 5 min on foot
From Suidobashi: 0.5 km, about 8 min on foot
From Iidabashi: 0.6 km, about 9 min on foot
From Hongo-sanchome: 1.0 km, about 16 min on foot

Distances are straight-line; times are rough estimates.

Other events nearby

Hokkaido Fair 2026 (Tokyo Dome Hotel, Super Dining Lilassa)Tokyo Dome Hotel 3F Super Dining "Lilassa" (Suidobashi Sta.) · 0.3 km, about 4 min on foot from here · Oct 1 (Thu) – Feb 28 (Sun)
Contemporary Chinese Lacquer Painting: Panda World (Japan-China Friendship Center Art Museum)Japan-China Friendship Center Art Museum (Iidabashi Sta.) · 0.3 km, about 5 min on foot from here · Oct 10 (Sat) – Nov 8 (Sun)
Hashigo-zake in TOKYO DOME CITY 2026 AutumnTokyo Dome City (participating shops & Central Park lawn) (Suidobashi Sta.) · 0.3 km, about 5 min on foot from here · Oct 30 (Fri) – Nov 3 (Tue, holiday)
Contemporary Japanese Packaging 2026Printing Museum, Tokyo – P&P Gallery (Edogawabashi Sta.) · 0.9 km, about 15 min on foot from here · Oct 17 (Sat) – Jan 17 (Sun)
Fun Handmade Craft Corner, Autumn Season (Science Museum, Tokyo)Science Museum 3F lobby (by the stairs) (Takebashi Sta.) · 1.7 km, about 15 min by train from here · Oct 17 (Sat) – Nov 29 (Sun)
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Food and cafes nearby

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Tours and tickets nearby

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FAQ

What is Koishikawa Korakuen Culture Day Special Opening (Karamon Gate and Tokujindo)?: One day each year, visitors can pass through Koishikawa Korakuen's reconstructed Karamon gate and follow a route once reserved for distinguished guests. For Culture Day, the historic garden opens the gate, restored in 2020, and offers a rare look inside Tokujindo, an Edo-period building normally closed to public viewing. The Karamon entrance allows visitors to experience the historic approach through the garden along Kisoji, recalling the route used during the feudal era. Tokujindo is associated with the Confucian figures Boyi and Shuqi, whose story influenced Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the second lord of the Mito Tokugawa family. Although their statues are no longer housed there, the building itself survives from the Edo period. Volunteer guides stationed at both locations explain their historical significance, while garden walking tours provide further context. As one of Tokyo's oldest surviving daimyo gardens and a nationally designated Special Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty, Koishikawa Korakuen offers a particularly meaningful Culture Day visit.
When is Koishikawa Korakuen Culture Day Special Opening (Karamon Gate and Tokujindo)?: Nov 3 (Tue, holiday)
What are the opening hours of Koishikawa Korakuen Culture Day Special Opening (Karamon Gate and Tokujindo)?: 09:00–17:00 Check the official page for closed days and last admission.
How much does Koishikawa Korakuen Culture Day Special Opening (Karamon Gate and Tokujindo) cost?: Adults ¥300 / 65+ ¥150 (free for elementary age and under, and junior high students living or studying in Tokyo)
Where is Koishikawa Korakuen Culture Day Special Opening (Karamon Gate and Tokujindo) and what is the nearest station?: It is held at Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens. The nearest station is Korakuen Sta..

Checked against the official page on October 28, 2026. Titles and descriptions are our own translations.

We list events we could confirm on the official page or official Instagram of the venue or organiser. Details can change, tickets sell out and venues close, so check the official page before you go. Distances are straight-line and travel times are rough estimates. Photos show the venue or its surroundings, not the event itself. Titles and descriptions are our own translations from Japanese. This site contains affiliate links (ads).