For autumn leaves and evening lights in Kobe in November, first choose the day of the week. Suma Rikyu Park planned an autumn-leaf event and Lumière 2026 from November 7 to December 6, 2026. Opening until 8 p.m. was limited to Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays during that period. Assuming the same night view would be available on a weekday could disrupt an itinerary.
The cover was edited from a November 30, 2008 autumn photograph of Suma Rikyu Park. It does not show the park’s actual foliage or night illuminations in 2026.
Plan evening viewing for Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays
Autumn-leaf areas included the botanical garden’s Maple Path and Japanese garden, while Lumière was planned around the main garden’s Fountain Plaza. To see trees by day and lights at night, allow time to move between the areas and rest. Confirmation of an operating period does not establish peak foliage or current appearance on a particular date.
| Event period | November 7–December 6, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays | 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; last admission 7:30 p.m. |
| Other open days | 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; last admission 4:30 p.m. |
| Closures and special openings | Closed Thursdays except public holidays; special openings November 19 and 26 |
| Regular admission | JPY 400 for visitors aged 15+ excluding junior-high students; JPY 200 for elementary and junior-high students |
| Access from Tsukimiyama Station | About 10 minutes northwest to the main garden’s main gate / about 10 minutes northeast to the botanical garden’s east gate |
Last admission on extended-opening days was 7:30 p.m.; on other open days it was 4:30 p.m. Although normally closed Thursdays, November 19 and 26 were special opening dates. Those two exceptions were not announcements of extended evening hours; treat them as daytime visits.
Check both age and school grade for admission
Regular admission was JPY 400 for visitors aged 15+ except junior-high students, and JPY 200 for elementary and junior-high students. A 15-year-old junior-high student should not be budgeted at the adult price based only on age. Do not assume local-resident reductions in official guidance apply to overseas visitors; the original cautions South Korea-based travelers on this point.
Choose the entrance before leaving Tsukimiyama Station
From Sanyo Railway Tsukimiyama Station, the source gives about 10 minutes northwest to the main garden’s main gate or northeast to the botanical garden’s east gate. Direction depends on the entrance. Decide whether to see Fountain Plaza or the botanical garden first, and add walking time inside the park separately from station access.
For an evening visit, check last admission and return transport as well as closing time. Arriving at the admission cutoff leaves little viewing time. Prepare from the advance event notice, then check the park’s latest operating and flower/foliage information shortly before visiting.
3 Minute Travel’s advice
To combine leaves and lights, begin by considering a Saturday, Sunday, or public-holiday afternoon. Allow time to see the botanical garden by day before moving to the main garden. Remember that 7:30 p.m. is the last admission time, not a suggested starting time.
For a Thursday itinerary, first check whether it is November 19 or 26. The special opening changes the closure date, not the announced 8 p.m. operating days. Match the day and cutoffs before booking accommodation or dinner.
Calculate return travel and the walk inside separately. The approximately ten-minute station approach does not include viewing time. Consider your companions’ walking pace and breaks, and check return trains before leaving.
Sources and photo information
- Suma Rikyu Park official event notice — Published October 5, 2026. Event period, extended hours, special openings, and areas.
- Suma Rikyu Park official visitor information — Regular hours, closure days, and age/school-grade admission rules.
- Suma Rikyu Park official rail and bus access — Directions and walking estimates from Tsukimiyama Station to the main gate and botanical garden east gate.
Original photograph: 663highland, Kobe Suma Rikyu Park15n4592.jpg , November 30, 2008, Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 2.5 . The original was adapted into a square cover with Korean text and a date. The cover date denotes the original report’s reference date.
Official-source check in the original: October 26, 2026, Korea/Japan Standard Time. This report summarizes planned operation and conditions; it is not an on-site visit account.