Miyagi Prefecture Matsushima Rikyu, a tourism complex located in Matsushima, one of Japan's three most scenic spots, will host the "Matsushima Rikyu Autumn Leaves Illumination 2025" from November 5 (Wednesday).
As autumn deepens, over 100 Japanese maple and mountain maple trees coloring the gardens and mountains of Matsushima Rikyu turn brilliant red, creating the most beautiful scenery of the year. After sunset, this magnificent view reflects on Japan's only remaining ten-sided three-story pagoda and the garden's water surface, creating an even more fantastical world. Adding to this spectacular view, projection mapping brings additional splendor.
This year introduces new attractions, including the "Wagasa Light Folding Screen" - a colorful array of Japanese umbrellas reflected in water mirrors - and the opportunity to taste Japan's number one imoni (taro stew). The event is packed with new highlights. Enjoy a special moment coloring the autumn night with breathtaking scenery.
Event Details
| Event Name | Matsushima Rikyu Autumn Leaves Illumination 2025 |
| Dates | November 5 (Wednesday) to November 24 (Holiday), 2025 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM (Last entry 8:45 PM) |
| URL | https://rikyu-m.com/koyo/ |
| Location | Miyagi Prefecture Matsushima Rikyu |
| Admission | Adults ¥1,300 (junior high school and above), Children ¥650 (elementary school students), Free for children under elementary school age |
| Advance Tickets | Discounted advance tickets available at: https://bit.ly/koyo-lightup |
| Access | By train: 1-minute walk from JR Senseki Line Matsushima Kaigan Station By car: Use adjacent prefectural parking lots #4 and #5 (paid) (Details at https://rikyu-m.com/access/) |
| Notes | Held rain or shine, pets allowed |
Highlights
Highlight 1: The Spectacular View of Autumn Leaves and Japan's Only Ten-Sided Three-Story Pagoda
Miyagi Prefecture Matsushima Rikyu, certified as an Inspiring Destination at the 2023 JAPAN TRAVEL AWARDS, features Japan's only ten-sided three-story pagoda as its symbol. This unique structure, illuminated alongside vibrant autumn foliage, becomes even more striking. Please enjoy this special world created by illuminated autumn leaves.
Highlight 2: A World of Reflections in the Water Basin Modeled After Matsushima Bay
Colorful autumn leaves reflect in the water basin modeled after Matsushima Bay, creating a fantastical world. This illumination, which received the Illumination Popularization Award from the Illuminating Engineering Institute of Japan in 2020, invites visitors into an elegant realm.
Highlight 3: Projection Mapping Adding Color to the Beautiful Scenery
With the concept of "Traveling through time and space: Matsushima's four seasons and history," the ten-sided three-story pagoda transforms into a time machine of light. Visitors become crew members of this time travel, embarking on a grand journey from the formation of geological layers thousands of years ago, through the Heian period when poets loved Matsushima, and into the future. Experience this special journey available only here while feeling Japan's beautiful four seasons that remain unchanged through the ages.
[New Spot] Highlight 4: Colorful Wagasa Light Folding Screen Spreading Across Water Mirrors
The fantastical presentation of colorful Japanese umbrellas adorning an entire wall resembles a folding screen painted with light. The illuminated wagasa beautifully reflect on the quiet water surface of the heart-shaped pool, which was designated as a "Lovers' Sanctuary" in 2022, creating two special worlds of reality and reflection.
Highlight 5: Taste Japan's Two-Time Champion Imoni at Matsushima Rikyu!
"Imoni JAPAN" won first place for two consecutive years, 2023 and 2024, at the Kitchen Car Gourmet Championship, where over 100 kitchen cars from across the country gather and visitors vote to determine the best gourmet. The Japan's number one imoni supervised by Imoni JAPAN will appear at Matsushima Rikyu for a limited time.
This imoni is a bowl packed with the dedication unique to a taro specialty shop. It uses generous amounts of melt-in-your-mouth taro and carefully selected domestic beef. The secret sauce passed down since the company's founding brings out the maximum umami of the ingredients.
Please savor this profound taste worthy of the title of Japan's number one.
Photo Contest Announcement
2024 Grand Prize Winner
A photo contest will be held in conjunction with the Matsushima Rikyu Autumn Leaves Illumination 2025.
Capture the beauty of the fantastical autumn leaf illumination and the ten-sided three-story pagoda "Retsuru Tower"! Please also share moments with family and friends.
Photo Contest Details
| Entry Period | November 5 (Wednesday) to November 24 (Holiday), 2025 |
| Entry Method | Post on Instagram with the hashtag #松島離宮紅葉 |
| Eligibility | Open to everyone |
| Judging Method | Awards will be determined by a panel of judges through strict evaluation |
| Results Announcement | Results will be announced on Miyagi Prefecture Matsushima Rikyu's official Instagram by December 8 (Monday), 2025 |
Photo Contest Prizes
| Grand Prize (¥20,000 reward) | Awarded to the photo that most movingly captures the beauty of the autumn leaf illumination and garden scenery |
| Retsuru Tower Prize (¥10,000 reward) | Awarded to works featuring dynamic compositions with Japan's only ten-sided three-story pagoda "Retsuru Tower" as the background, expressed together with autumn leaves |
| Best Movie Prize (¥10,000 reward) | Awarded to short video format works with attractive and innovative editing and expressiveness |
| Heartful Scene Prize (¥10,000 reward) | Awarded to works conveying warm memories such as smiling moments with family and friends or special scenes with loved ones |
For more details, please check the official website.
Simultaneously Held: Enjoy Matsushima Autumn Leaves × Sake Festival During Daytime
From November 5 (Wednesday), the "1st Matsushima Autumn Leaves × Sake Festival" will be held at Miyagi Prefecture Matsushima Rikyu.
This event inherits the excitement of the "Matsushima Oyster × Kan-zake Festival" held in February 2025, which attracted 30,000 visitors with great acclaim, and expands in scale. Meeting your expectations, you can fully enjoy Miyagi's autumn gourmet and sake under the colorful autumn leaves.
The lineup includes imoni supervised by Imoni JAPAN, which won first place for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024 at the Kitchen Car Gourmet Championship, upcoming seasonal oysters, and Miyagi's local specialty harako meshi (salmon roe rice). You can also compare and taste all 15 varieties of carefully selected Miyagi sake, including "hiyaoroshi" available only during this season.
Please enjoy the blissful time woven by autumn flavors, sake, and autumn leaves until the evening's illumination!
About Miyagi Prefecture Matsushima Rikyu
Miyagi Prefecture Matsushima Rikyu is a tourism complex that opened in 2020 on the site of the former Marine Pia Matsushima Aquarium, located one minute on foot from JR Matsushima Kaigan Station. The facility offers various experiences to enjoy Matsushima, including seafood gourmet, souvenirs, traditional craft experiences, a rooftop observation deck overlooking Matsushima Bay, and a garden modeled after over 260 islands.
Miyagi Prefecture Matsushima Rikyu Website: https://rikyu-m.com/
Please enjoy the fantastical autumn night of Matsushima, where autumn leaves and light interweave, at the "Matsushima Rikyu Autumn Leaves Illumination 2025"!
