Showa Kinen Park is the most beautiful in autumn, with the maple and ginkgo trees blushing in fiery red and yellow. The Ginkgo trees are the first to turn and you can see two boulevards of the golden yellow trees as soon as you enter the park’s Tachikawa gate. The momiji and kaede trees, however, present their signature vermillion hues a bit later towards the end of November.
During this season, the park stays open after dark, with special light-ups taking place at the Gingko Tree Avenue (near the futsal and basketball courts) and the traditional Japanese Garden from 4.30pm until 8.30pm.
While you can enjoy the light-ups at the Gingko Tree Avenue with just the park's regular admission fee (¥450, free for junior high school students and younger), you need an extra ticket to enter the Japanese Garden (advance ticket ¥1,100, primary and junior high school students ¥600; same-day tickets sold at Komorebi House close to the Japanese Garden ¥1,300, ¥700). However, between October 28 and November 2, you can enter the Japanese Garden with just the park's regular admission fee.
Tickets are available on the website.
Note that during 4.30pm and 9pm, you can only use the Nishi-Tachikawa gate to enter the park. On Saturday, Sunday and holidays, however, the Sunagawa gate will stay open as well.