Sanuki Manno Park in Manno-cho, Kagawa Prefecture, is hosting "Aki Irodori Festa 2026" from Saturday, September 12 to Sunday, October 25, 2026 — a lineup of autumn outing events built around two flower highlights: 6,000 kochia turning Hanameguri no Oka (Flower-Touring Hill) shades of crimson, and 170,000 cosmos across six varieties blooming in relay throughout the park.
Photogenic Flower Fields Bring the Park Into Autumn Color
A Sea of Kochia Turns Hanameguri no Oka Crimson
Hanameguri no Oka is home to 6,000 kochia plants during the Aki Irodori Festa period. The hillside is expected to reach its deepest crimson in mid-October (in a previous year, that color was photographed on October 25).
Kochia undergo a dramatic shift in color from September through late October. While the crimson seen from mid-October onward is the headline sight, the more delicate, subtle tones visible through September are worth a visit in their own right.
The muted, nuanced colors of kochia also suit portrait photography, so it's worth returning at different points in the season to see the changing palette.
Past seasons
Early to mid-September: a soft, dusty green that's easy on the eyes (photographed September 24 in a previous year).
Late September to early October: a blush of color, like cheeks flushed pink (photographed October 6 in a previous year).
Bloom timing follows a general yearly pattern — check the park's official website or social media for the latest color updates.
A Relay of Cosmos Swaying in the Autumn Breeze
Take a relaxed stroll surrounded by cosmos swaying in the autumn breeze.
From early September through late October, six varieties of cosmos — 170,000 plants in total — bloom in relay, handing off from one variety to the next. Right now, the vivid, vitamin-toned "Lemon Bright" cosmos, set against the autumn sky, is already at its peak.
In Seiryu no Tani (Blue Dragon Valley), three varieties — Lemon Bright, Campus Orange, and Campus Yellow — dye the valley gold against the backdrop of Shoryu no Taki (Rising Dragon Falls).
Enjoying cosmos with a waterfall backdrop is something unique to Sanuki Manno Park. Normally the falls are released once every hour, making that moment the best time for a dramatic photo — though as of September 11, due to a fourth-stage water-intake restriction on the Kagawa Yōsui (Kagawa Canal), the release is currently limited to a single run at 12:00 PM (noon).
Along Karyu no Michi (Flower Dragon Path), three more varieties — Sensation, Cupcake, and Akatsuki — bloom in cosmos's classic red, pink, and white.
Past seasons
Staff recommend photographing Seiryu no Tani with Shoryu no Taki in the background.
Along Karyu no Michi, the path running through the flower field makes for photos that look as though you're buried in blooms.
Bloom timing follows a general yearly pattern — check the park's official website or social media for the latest color updates.
A Lineup of Events for the Autumn Outing Season
Sports, culture, art — however you like to spend the season, Sanuki Manno Park is hosting an event nearly every weekend throughout the autumn outing season.
Air Adventure Park: September 19 (Sat) to September 23 (Wed, holiday)
Water Balloon: Sundays and holidays from September 20 (Sun) through October 25 (Sun)
Outdoor Park in Sanuki Manno Park: October 10 (Sat) and 11 (Sun)
Norimono Festa 2026 (はたらくクルマとつながる未来): October 18 (Sun)
Karin Matsuri: October 25 (Sun)
Happy Halloween: October 31 (Sat)
For full details on each event, including downloadable flyers, see the Aki Irodori Festa 2026 special page or the "Events" page on the park's official website.
Free Shuttle Bus (Weekends and Holidays Only)
A free shuttle bus will run on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from September 12 to October 25, making it easy to get to the park without a car.
Pick-up/Drop-off Points: Kotoden Kotohira Station and JR Kotohira Station ⇔ Sanuki Manno Park
Visitor Information
Sanuki Manno Park is Shikoku's only national government-managed park, spanning 350 hectares. It sits on a hillside overlooking Man'no-ike (Manno Pond), one of Japan's largest agricultural reservoirs, and draws on the rich nature around the pond along with the cultural heritage of Shikoku as the birthplace of Kūkai. Built around the theme "Conversations with People, Encounters with Nature and the Universe," the park broke ground in 1984 and fully opened in April 2013.
Address: 4243-12 Yoshino, Manno-cho, Nakatado-gun, Kagawa Prefecture 766-0023
Opening Hours: September 1–October 31: 9:30 AM–5:00 PM; From November 1: 9:30 AM–4:30 PM. Hours for other periods are posted on the official website.
Free Admission Days (parking fee still required): October 11 (Sun) and October 25 (Sun) are free-admission days; on September 21 (Mon, national holiday), admission is free for visitors aged 65 and older in honor of Respect for the Aged Day.
Closed: The park is open daily from September 11 through October 31, 2026. Starting in November, it closes every Tuesday — except that if a Tuesday falls on a public holiday, the park stays open that day and closes the following Wednesday instead (and if a Wednesday is a holiday, the preceding Tuesday stays open). Closure days outside this period are posted on the official website. The park may also close temporarily during severe weather warnings such as flooding or storms.
Getting There by Car:
- From Hiroshima/Okayama: Seto-Chuo Expressway, approx. 35 min from Sakaide IC
- From Ehime/Kochi: Takamatsu Expressway, approx. 25 min from Zentsuji IC
- From Tokushima: Tokushima Expressway, approx. 40 min from Mima IC
Getting There by Train:
- JR: Approx. 15 min by taxi from JR Kotohira Station
- Kotoden: Approx. 15 min by taxi from Kotoden Kotohira or Okada Station
Official Website: https://sanukimannopark.jp/
