The Sogi Park Momiji Festival (曽木公園もみじ祭り) is set to return in autumn 2026 at Sogi Park in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture. The festival is known for "Sakasa Momiji" (逆さもみじ), the scene of autumn leaves reflected on the surface of the pond. The illumination began in 1999 with local volunteers and was held for 25 years with the support of resident volunteers, but it came to an end in 2023 amid difficulties in continuing operations due to population decline and an aging community.
Voyagers Co., Ltd. (株式会社ボイジャーズ, based in the Higashi-Mino area of Gifu) and Ishiguro Shoji Co., Ltd. (石黒商事株式会社, the designated manager of Baden Park SOGI) are co-organizing the revival together with local people, the first since 2023. The festival is planned for Saturday, November 14 to Sunday, November 29, 2026. Night parking reservations for the Sakasa Momiji illumination opened at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
A New Operating Structure That Honors the Past
The organizers are preparing the revival by carrying on the efforts and the spirit of hospitality (おもてなしの心) of the local people who have long protected this scenery and welcomed visitors.
Taking to heart the roles local residents have played and the great effort involved, Ishiguro Shoji and Voyagers have taken the lead in exploring, together with local people, a way to hold the festival again. To start, the focus will be on daytime autumn-leaf viewing, and the Sakasa Momiji illumination will be limited to three days, aiming for a manageable scale and structure.
Built on Cooperation in Operating Baden Park SOGI
Voyagers works with Ishiguro Shoji Co., Ltd., the designated manager of Baden Park SOGI (バーデンパークSOGI), a health promotion facility in Toki City, and regularly takes part in facility operations through event planning and employee recruitment. Building on this relationship, the two companies are co-organizing the Momiji Festival with the cooperation of volunteers from Sogi-cho.
Fully Reservation-Based Parking and Consideration for the Neighborhood
The Sakasa Momiji illumination will be limited to three days, and the night parking lot will be fully reservation-based. Visitors arriving by car must reserve in advance. By managing the number of vehicles accepted, the organizers aim to curb congestion and roadside parking on surrounding roads and to minimize the impact on residents' daily lives. Reservations opened at 1:00 PM on October 21 (Wed). The parking location, capacity, and entry times will be announced in stages on the official website.
During the daytime, the focus will be on autumn-leaf viewing, and food trucks and merchandise vendors are also planned.
Comment from Ryotaro Shibata (柴田涼太郎), President of Voyagers
The Momiji Festival at Sogi Park is an event that local people have protected and nurtured over many years. I also feel it is a treasure of this town as a local tourism resource. While cherishing that history and the feelings of those who have welcomed visitors, we are working on the revival together with Ishiguro Shoji Co., Ltd.
To value both the enjoyment of the beautiful scenery and consideration for local life, we limited the illumination to three days this time, set "small restart" as the theme, and made the night parking lot fully reservation-based. We would like to keep consulting with local people and create a form of the event that can be continued without strain.
Why is Voyagers reviving the Momiji Festival? Our club aims to be an organization that is loved and needed by the community, and there are things that only a sports club can do. We work every day with the aim of making this town stronger. We believe the success of this event will strongly lift the pride of the town, and we want to polish the treasure that local people have nurtured, with a strong sense of mission.
Event Details
Name and Venue:
Sogi Park Momiji Festival / Sogi Park (Sogi-cho, Toki City, Gifu Prefecture)
Dates:
November 14 (Sat) to November 29 (Sun), 2026, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Night Event:
Sakasa Momiji illumination (night parking is fully reservation-based)
November 21 (Sat) to November 23 (Mon, national holiday), 2026, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Admission and Cooperation Fee:
Free during the daytime
Evening: ¥500 per person
Visitors using the paid parking lot do not need to pay the cooperation fee separately.
Parking:
Free on weekdays
Paid on weekends and national holidays (¥2,000 per vehicle)
Evening: fully reservation-based and paid (¥2,000 per vehicle)
Reservations opened at 1:00 PM on October 21 (Wed).
Organizers:
Voyagers Co., Ltd. (株式会社ボイジャーズ) and Ishiguro Shoji Co., Ltd. (石黒商事株式会社)
Cooperation: volunteers from Sogi-cho / Support: Toki City
Official Website:
https://sogi-momiji.com/
