Rikugien Garden and a Sushi Class in One Day

Rikugien is a large landscape garden in Bunkyo, in the north of central Tokyo. It was laid out at the start of the 18th century around a pond, small hills and winding paths, and it is one of the city's best-known traditional landscape gardens. It is also a short train ride from Asakusa, which makes it an easy partner for a hands-on sushi class on the same day.

This guide covers the route, opening hours, the autumn evening light-up for 2026 and two simple ways to order the day.

A quick introduction to Rikugien

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association, which manages the garden, Rikugien was built in 1702 by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, a trusted retainer of the shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. In the Meiji period it became a residence of Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of Mitsubishi, and the Iwasaki family donated it to the City of Tokyo in 1938.

The layout is a classic stroll garden: you walk a circuit around the central pond, and the view changes as you go, with islands, bridges, pines and small hills. A relaxed loop takes about an hour, longer if you stop at the teahouse or simply sit by the water.

Getting from Asakusa to Rikugien

The nearest station is Komagome, on the JR Yamanote Line and the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line. The park association lists the walk from Komagome Station to the garden as about 7 minutes. Sengoku Station on the Toei Mita Line is about 10 minutes away on foot.

From Asakusa, a simple route is:

1. Tokyo Metro Ginza Line from Asakusa to Ueno, three stops.
2. JR Yamanote Line from Ueno to Komagome, heading north via Nippori.
3. Walk to the garden entrance.

Allow roughly 40 to 50 minutes door to door, including transfers and the walk. If you are staying in Ikebukuro, Komagome is only a few stops away on the same Yamanote Line; our guide to Ikebukuro and a sushi class in one day covers that base. If you have a few hours to spare, Nippori is on the way; our guide to Yanaka and a sushi class in one day covers the old streets near that station.

For the final walk to our studio, use Exit 7 of the Ginza Line's Asakusa Station; the published walk from there is about two minutes. Our guide to getting from Asakusa Station to the sushi class covers every line and exit. If you are also visiting Ueno on the way, see our guide to Ueno and a sushi class in one day.

Opening hours and admission

These are the regular details published by the park association when we checked in November 2026:

• Hours: 9:00 to 17:00, last entry 16:30.
• Closed: over the year end, 29 December to 1 January.
• Admission: ¥300 for adults, ¥150 for visitors aged 65 and over. Primary school children and younger enter free.

Check the official site for your exact date before you go, as special events can change the arrangements.

The autumn light-up in 2026

Rikugien is one of Tokyo's best-known spots for autumn colour. In 2026 the garden holds a special evening opening, the "Niwa-momiji no Rikugien" night viewing, from 25 November to 6 December. The official announcement gives these details:

• Hours: 18:00 to 20:30, last entry 19:30. The garden closes at 17:00 and reopens at 18:00 for the evening.
• Tickets: an evening ticket is required. Advance tickets are ¥1,000 online only; tickets on the day are ¥1,200, online or in cash at the main gate counter. Primary school children and younger enter free.
• Limits: the number of tickets sold per day is capped, so buying online in advance is recommended.
• What to expect: lights across the garden's autumn-leaf areas, projections on an old storehouse and a bamboo grove, and matcha with Japanese sweets at the teahouses.

The best colour depends on the weather each year, so the leaves may be early or late. Treat the dates as the event window, not a guarantee of peak colour.

Plan A: sushi at midday, garden in the afternoon

This works for most of the year.

• Morning: Senso-ji and Nakamise Street, about five minutes on foot from our studio.
• Midday: the signature sushi and matcha class. You make nigiri and maki, share a sake toast, eat what you made and whisk your own matcha, all in about 90 minutes.
• Afternoon: train to Komagome and an unhurried walk around Rikugien. Arrive with enough time before the 16:30 last entry.

Please arrive at the studio 10 minutes before your start time to store belongings and wash your hands. Because you eat what you make, keep breakfast light; our guide to planning meals around a sushi class explains why.

Plan B: sushi in the afternoon, light-up in the evening

During the 2026 light-up, you can reverse the day.

• Morning: a slow start, or another Asakusa sight such as the riverside.
• Afternoon: the sushi class in Asakusa.
• Evening: train to Komagome for the night viewing, entering before the 19:30 last entry.

Two things to remember. First, the daytime and evening openings are separate, so a daytime ticket does not cover the light-up. Second, daily ticket numbers are limited, so buying online in advance is the safer choice; check the official event page for same-day sales. If you prefer an early start, the morning onigiri class begins at 8:00 and lasts about 60 minutes, which leaves the whole afternoon free.

Tips for the day

• Matcha twice? You whisk your own bowl in class, and the garden's teahouse serves matcha with sweets. If you want to understand the difference between making it and being served it, read our guide to a matcha workshop or tea ceremony in Tokyo.
• Wear good shoes. The garden paths include gravel and gentle slopes.
• Dress for the evening. Late November and early December evenings in Tokyo can feel cold, especially beside water.
• Bags. If you are moving hotels, you can store luggage at our studio during the class; mention it when you book.

Book the fixed point first

The garden is flexible; the class has a set start time. Choose your day, check the light-up dates if you are visiting in late November or early December, then pick a session in the Asakusa sushi making class with matcha calendar and build the rest of the day around it.