Hachioji · Autumn
The Hachioji Ichō Festival and its ginkgo avenue
For a few weeks each November, four kilometres of the old Kōshū Kaidō highway in Hachioji turn bright gold. About 770 ginkgo trees line the road from Oiwake to Takao, and on one weekend the city throws a festival underneath them. It's my favourite autumn day in Hachioji, and hardly any visitors to Tokyo know it exists.
By Luke, local guide since 2013Updated 5 min read
- Festival
- 21–22 Nov 2026
- Hours
- 9:00–16:30 (Sun to 16:00)
- Trees
- About 770 ginkgo
- Stations
- Nishi-Hachiōji, Takao
What it is
The ginkgo trees along the Kōshū Kaidō were planted in 1929 to mark the building of the mausoleum of Emperor Taishō, at the Takao end of the road. They're now a protected natural monument of Hachioji, and the avenue is approaching its hundredth year.
The 47th Hachioji Ichō Matsuri (いちょう祭り, ginkgo festival) runs on 21 and 22 November 2026, from 9:00 to 16:30 on Saturday and 9:00 to 16:00 on Sunday. Entry is free. Plans for this year include events marking the avenue's centenary.
Getting there
Take the JR Chūō Line to Nishi-Hachiōji, a short walk from the Oiwake crossing where the avenue begins, or to Takao at the other end. Walking the whole avenue takes about an hour. There's no parking for the festival, so come by train.
What's on
- Food and craft stalls along the avenue and at the festival venues, including Ryōnan Park and the approach to the imperial mausoleum.
- Checkpoint orienteering (9:00–15:30): collect stamps along the route with a tsūkō tegata, a travel pass modelled on the ones Edo-period travellers carried through the checkpoints on this road.
- A prize draw at the main tent, open until the festival closes each day.
When the ginkgo turn gold
The avenue is usually at its golden best from mid to late November, which is why the festival falls when it does. Individual trees turn at different speeds, so even a week either side is worth the trip. One warning: ripe ginkgo fruit smells strongly when it's crushed underfoot. The nuts inside, ginnan, are a delicacy, roasted with salt.
Make a day of it
- Morning on Mount Takao for the maples (see my autumn leaves guide), then the avenue in the afternoon. Takao Station is between the two.
- The Musashi Imperial Graveyard, a quiet cedar-lined approach to the tombs of the Taishō and Shōwa emperors, about 15 minutes' walk from Takao Station.
- Dinner in Hachioji: try the city's own ramen, with chopped raw onion. More ideas in things to do in Hachioji.
Private tour · 5 hoursHachioji in SeasonMy autumn tour ends on this avenue, after the maple trails on Takao.From ¥12,000 per person
Private tour · 5 hoursSamurai & Silk: Hidden HistoryThe history behind the road: the castle, the imperial mausoleum and the silk town.From ¥12,000 per personQuestions people ask
When is the Hachioji Ginkgo Festival in 2026?
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November 2026, from 9:00 to 16:30 on Saturday and 9:00 to 16:00 on Sunday.
How do I get to the Hachioji Ginkgo Festival?
Take the JR Chūō Line to Nishi-Hachiōji or Takao. The avenue runs along the Kōshū Kaidō between them. There's no festival parking.
Is the Hachioji Ginkgo Festival free?
Yes, entry is free. The checkpoint orienteering uses a travel pass (tsūkō tegata); check the official festival information for details.
How many ginkgo trees are there?
About 770, planted in 1929 along roughly four kilometres of the Kōshū Kaidō.