Three places stand out for autumn leaves (紅葉, koyo) around Hiroshima: Shukkeien Garden in the city, the island of Miyajima, and Sandankyo Gorge in the mountains. This guide compares their usual peak times, entry costs, and how to reach them. Peak times are typical ranges from official pages, and the colors change with each year’s weather. Night light-up dates are not yet posted for 2026, so this page lists only events whose 2026 dates we could confirm.
In short
- Sandankyo Gorge colors first: late October to late November. Miyajima’s Momijidani Park follows in mid to late November. Shukkeien Garden peaks from late November to early December.
- Shukkeien costs ¥350 for adults. Elementary to high school students are free. Its parking has only 29 spaces, and the garden asks visitors to avoid coming by car.
- For Miyajima, leave your car at Miyajimaguchi. An adult round trip on the Matsudai ferry is ¥400, plus a ¥100 visitor tax, so ¥500 in total.
- Sandankyo has closed sections of the trail. Read the gorge’s official notice before you go.
Checked with official pages on October 5, 2026.
“Not stated” means the official pages we checked do not give that item.
1. Shukkeien Garden (縮景園), Hiroshima City
Run by Hiroshima Prefecture’s art museum
From September 16 to March 15 the garden is open 9:00–17:00, with last entry at 16:30. It closes from December 29 to 31. Admission is ¥350 for general visitors and ¥150 for university students. High school students and younger are free (from April 2025). Visitors aged 65 and over are free with proof of age, and November 3 (Culture Day) is free for everyone. A combined ticket with the Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum is ¥660 for general visitors.
The garden lists the autumn leaf peak as late November to early December. Its 2026 event calendar shows a chrysanthemum exhibition from October 31 to November 8, a chrysanthemum-viewing tea ceremony on November 3 and a maple tea ceremony on November 15. It lists no autumn night opening for 2026 yet. Check the garden’s event page for night hours.
- Parking: 29 spaces opposite the entrance. Cars pay ¥400 for the first hour, then ¥200 for each extra 30 minutes. The garden asks you to avoid coming by car if you can.
- By bus: from the Shinkansen exit of JR Hiroshima Station, get off at the Prefectural Art Museum stop (県立美術館前, shown as 縮景園前 on the access page).
- By tram: from the south exit of JR Hiroshima Station, change at Hatchobori (八丁堀) to the Hakushima Line and get off at Shukkeien-mae (縮景園前).
Address: 2-11 Kaminoboricho, Naka Ward, Hiroshima. Phone: 082-221-3620 (in Japanese). Google Maps
2. Miyajima (宮島), Hatsukaichi City
Miyajima Tourist Association and Hatsukaichi City
Momijidani Park (紅葉谷公園) is the main leaf-viewing spot. The Miyajima Tourist Association says it has about 700 maples, and that mid to late November is the time of year when the leaves are beautiful. The association’s 2022 autumn guide says the park is free and about a 15-minute walk from Miyajima Pier. It also lists Daisho-in Temple, Omoto Park, Kibiya-dani Park and the steps of Imaise Shrine as other autumn spots.
2.1 How do I get there, and what does it cost?
Two companies run the ferry from Miyajimaguchi Pier: JR West Miyajima Ferry (JR西日本宮島フェリー) and Miyajima Matsudai Steamship (宮島松大汽船). The crossing takes about 10 minutes. Matsudai’s fare is ¥400 round trip for adults (middle school and up) and ¥200 for children (elementary school). Each person also pays a ¥100 Miyajima visitor tax when entering the island. The ferry company collects it with the fare. Preschool children are exempt, and a yearly payment option costs ¥500 according to Hatsukaichi City. An adult round trip on Matsudai therefore costs ¥500 in total (our sum of the two official figures). We did not confirm JR West Miyajima Ferry’s fares.
Note
The tourist association says Miyajima is very unsuitable for car sightseeing. Park at Miyajimaguchi and cross by ferry on foot.
2.2 Is there an evening light-up?
Yes, for the shrine. The tourist association says the Great Torii gate, the Itsukushima Shrine buildings, the five-story pagoda and the Tahoto pagoda are lit from 30 minutes after sunset until 11 p.m. It runs basically every day, but it may not happen on days with shrine ceremonies. You cannot enter Itsukushima Shrine during the light-up. We found no 2026 announcement of an autumn light-up at Momijidani Park or Daisho-in. The association’s notice of September 28, 2026 says a “Miyajima Night Market” (宮島夜市) is planned for Saturday, November 21, 2026.
Miyajima Tourist Association (宮島観光協会): 0829-44-2011 (in Japanese). Google Maps (Momijidani Park)
3. Sandankyo Gorge (三段峡), Akiota Town
Akiota Town
Sandankyo is a gorge in Yamagata District, Hiroshima Prefecture. The gorge’s FAQ says late October to late November is the peak for autumn leaves. The Kurobuchi ferry (黒淵渡舟) runs with two boats in leaf season. You can board without a reservation while it is operating, and its running status is posted on the gorge’s website.
- Getting to Kurobuchi: you cannot drive close to it. It takes about 50 minutes on foot from the main entrance lot or the Minashi (水梨) lot. The shuttle bus between the two entrances ended in March 2021.
- Parking: the Minashi lot is paid. We could not find the fee on the official pages.
- Toilets and drinks: there are toilets only at Kurobuchi, Minashi and Yoshigahara, and no vending machines. Bring your own drinks.
- Light and wildlife: the gorge sets early because it is deep, and the site asks you to start back early. Bears and wild boar live in the area. If you meet one, stay calm and quietly move away.
- Winter: ferries, toilets and the food service stop from December to March.
Important
Some trail sections are closed. The gorge’s notice of July 10, 2026 lists the section between Sandandaki and Shimo-Mochinoki as closed with no reopening date. It also says the section between Kurobuchi and Minashiguchi cannot be used on weekdays from August 17 until further notice, though weekends and holidays are open. On weekdays this section sits between the Minashi lot and Kurobuchi, so check how the notice affects your route. The notice also says to stay out of closed sections because they are dangerous. We found no newer notice on October 5, 2026, so check the emergency notices page before you go.
Address: Akiota Town, Yamagata District, Hiroshima Prefecture. Google Maps
4. Which one should I choose?
- A short visit in the city: Shukkeien. It is reachable by tram or bus from Hiroshima Station.
- A World Heritage island: Miyajima. The park is free, and the ferry and tax are ¥500 round trip for an adult on Matsudai. The tourist association’s 2022 guide says November is the busiest month and recommends weekday mornings.
- Hiking among mountain colors: Sandankyo, from late October. Plan for trail closures and the long walk to Kurobuchi.
5. Common questions
Common questions
Is there any cost besides the Miyajima ferry fare?
Yes. Hatsukaichi City collects a ¥100 visitor tax per person per entry, added to the ferry fare. Preschool children are exempt.
Do children pay at Shukkeien?
Elementary, junior high and high school students are free. University students pay ¥150, and general visitors pay ¥350.
Do I need a reservation for the Kurobuchi ferry at Sandankyo?
No, not while it is running. Check the gorge’s website for running status.
When is Shukkeien closed?
December 29 to 31.
Sources (checked October 2026)
- Shukkeien (Japanese): admission, seasons, events, parking, access
- Miyajima Tourist Association (Japanese): Momijidani Park, light-up, access, autumn guide (August 2022), news
- Miyajima Matsudai Steamship fares and Hatsukaichi City: Miyajima visitor tax (Japanese)
- Sandankyo (Japanese): FAQ, hiking guide, notice of July 10, 2026
Fees, hours and event dates can change, so check the official page before you go.
