The 29th Sobue Ginkgo Yellow Leaf Festival (第29回そぶえイチョウ黄葉まつり) will be held from Saturday, November 21 to Sunday, November 29, 2026, at Sobue Ginnan Park (祖父江ぎんなんパーク) and Yusenji Temple (祐専寺) in Inazawa, a city known as a destination for yellow autumn leaves in western Aichi Prefecture. Visitors can enjoy about 10,000 ginkgo trees in their autumn colors.
Inazawa has long been one of Japan's leading ginkgo nut producing areas. In late autumn, about 10,000 ginkgo trees in the Yamazaki district of Sobue Town turn color and cover the town in gold. Within Aichi Prefecture, it is known as the yellow-leaf destination in the west, alongside the autumn foliage of Korankei (香嵐渓) in the east.
During the festival, a variety of programs are planned, including stage events, a ginkgo sketching contest, and sales of local specialties such as ginkgo nuts. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, ginkgo nuts grown in Sobue Town are available for tasting. From Saturday, November 21 to Saturday, November 28, the ginkgo trees are also lit up in the evening from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Visitors can see, taste, and experience the charm of the ginkgo trees that Sobue Town takes pride in.
Sobue Ginnan Park Venue
Surrounded by ginkgo trees, this is the main venue of the festival. The ginkgo trees are lit up at night.
To See
- Ginkgo tree lighting: November 21 (Sat) to 28 (Sat), 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Yosakoi Naruko dance (よさこい鳴子踊り): November 22 (Sun), 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
- Inappy Interaction Stage (いなッピーふれあいステージ):
- November 28 (Sat), 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
- November 29 (Sun), 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
- Yamazaki Jizo Taiko drumming (山崎地蔵太鼓): November 29 (Sun), 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
To Taste and Buy
- Ginkgo nut tasting: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays during the festival
- Local product sales
To Experience
- Opening ceremony and mochi throwing: November 21 (Sat), 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
- Fire ladder truck ride: November 23 (Mon, national holiday), 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Yusenji Temple Venue
Set in the calm atmosphere of the temple, this venue offers a kayo song show, a matcha corner, and more.
To See
- Kayo song show (歌謡ショー): November 21 (Sat) and November 23 (Mon, national holiday)
- Various stage events
To Taste and Buy
- Matcha corner: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays during the festival
- Local product sales
Events at Both Venues
Visitors can capture the yellow-leaf scenery in drawings, photographs, haiku, and other works as a memento of the festival. The stamp rally takes visitors around both venues.
- Ginkgo sketching contest: November 21 (Sat) to 29 (Sun)
- Photo contest: November 21 (Sat) to 29 (Sun)
- Haiku contest: November 21 (Sat) to 29 (Sun)
- Stamp rally: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays during the festival
Registration for each event is handled at the headquarters at the Sobue Ginnan Park venue. For the details of each program's schedule, please check the official websites.
Event Details
Event name: The 29th Sobue Ginkgo Yellow Leaf Festival (第29回そぶえイチョウ黄葉まつり)
Dates and hours: November 21 (Sat) to 29 (Sun), 2026
- Weekdays: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- The ginkgo tree lighting runs from November 21 (Sat) to 28 (Sat), 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM, at Sobue Ginnan Park only.
Venues: Sobue Ginnan Park (祖父江ぎんなんパーク) and Yusenji Temple (祐専寺), Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture
Admission: Free
Access: A short walk from Yamazaki Station on the Meitetsu Bisai Line
Free shuttle bus: On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays during the festival, a free shuttle bus runs to Yusenji Temple.
- Departure points: Zenkoji (善光寺), Sobue Town Gymnasium (祖父江町体育館), and Aikoku Alpha Corporation (アイコクアルファ株式会社)
- Aikoku Alpha Corporation is a departure point only on November 21 (Sat), 22 (Sun), 28 (Sat), and 29 (Sun).
Parking: Temporary parking lots are available.
Organizer: Sobue Ginkgo Yellow Leaf Festival Executive Committee (そぶえイチョウ黄葉まつり実行委員会)
Sponsors: Inazawa City, Sobue Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry (祖父江町商工会)
Supporters: Inazawa City Tourism Association (稲沢市観光協会), Chunichi Shimbun (中日新聞社), Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd. (名古屋鉄道株式会社)
Official websites:
Note: Heavy crowds are expected around the venues. Visitors are encouraged to take the Meitetsu train, which avoids traffic congestion. The nearest station is Yamazaki Station on the Meitetsu Bisai Line. For details, please check the official websites.
