The Ogikubo Three Gardens — Ogigaiso Park (including the Ogigaiso Exhibition Hall), Otaguro Park, and Kadokawa Garden — will hold a participatory Tanabata event from July 2 to 7, 2026.
Event Overview
Timed to coincide with Tanabata on July 7, visitors can write their wishes on leaves of the Tarayo tree and hang them on bamboo. Also known as the "postcard tree" or "letter tree," the Tarayo is a distinctive species — tracing a pointed object such as a bamboo pen across the back of a leaf causes letters to appear. During the event period, bamboo cut from Otaguro Park and "Tarayo tanzaku" wish strips will be available at each of the three gardens for visitors to try this seasonal experience.
Stamp Rally with Prizes
A concurrent stamp rally invites visitors to tour all three gardens. Each garden offers its own stamp featuring Suginami City mascots "Namisuke" and "Nami," and the first 100 people to collect all three stamps will receive a prize.
Stamp card shown is from the previous year's event.
Details
Event name: Ogikubo Three Gardens Tanabata Tour
Dates: Thursday, July 2 – Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM)
Venues: Ogikubo Three Gardens (Ogigaiso Park*, Ogigaiso Exhibition Hall, Otaguro Park, Kadokawa Garden)
Closed: Wednesdays
*Ogigaiso Park only: admission ¥300 (elementary and middle school students ¥150; children before school age free)
Seasonal Café Menu at Ogigaiso Exhibition Hall
The ground floor of the Ogigaiso Exhibition Hall houses a café offering sweets and drinks from well-known shops in Suginami Ward.
Seasonal Shaved Ice (Matcha / Strawberry)
Two seasonal shaved ice flavours are available this summer. The matcha variety uses syrup made with matcha from Tokyo Handa-en Chapo (Asagaya), paired with Toraya's anko paste. The strawberry variety uses jam from Tora-jirushi Kashiya (Narita Higashi, Suginami Ward), offering a rich fruit flavour. Both come with house-made mochi and can be enjoyed indoors or at the outdoor benches and lawn area.
Available: Thursday, July 2, 2026 – Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Price: Matcha ¥900 / Strawberry ¥950 (tax included)
About the Ogikubo Three Gardens
The Ogikubo Three Gardens are parks developed by Suginami Ward on the former residences of notable figures who lived in present-day Ogikubo Nichome and Sanchome from the early to mid-Showa era. Items and works once beloved by each former resident can still be found at each garden.
Ogigaiso Park
Otaguro Park
Kadokawa Garden
- Ogigaiso Park — Former residences of Tatsukichi Irisawa (physician) and Fumimaro Konoe (statesman)
- Otaguro Park — Former residence of Motoo Otaguro (music critic)
- Kadokawa Garden — Former residence of Gen'yoshi Kadokawa (founder of Kadokawa Shoten; haiku poet)
