Bunkyo City Higo-Hosokawa Garden Fall Light-up Event: Higo Akari 文京区立 肥後細川庭園 秋の紅葉ライトアップ －ひごあかりー

Once a part of the Kumamoto Domain in the Edo period (1603-1868), Bunkyo City's Higo Hosokawa Garden will be decorated with wondrous lights as part of an event this fall.

Aside from the garden's beautiful maple, hackberry and wax trees, you can also see one of Japan's traditional tree preservation techniques: "yukitsuri," where ropes are skillfully tied around trees to protect them from the snow. The trees will be adorned with more than 140 LED lights, creating a dream-like wonderland.

Hand-carved bamboo lampshades from Kumamoto Prefecture will light the garden's paths. This is to mark the partial reopening of Kumamoto Castle grounds to the public on October 5th. The castle and grounds were badly damaged in a series of strong earthquakes in 2016.

Finally, don't miss the paper cup lanterns decorated by the young students of Sekiguchidaimachi Elementary School, which supports the reconstruction and restoration efforts in Kumamoto.

Note: This event is sponsored in part by the Autumn Illuminations Model Business Grant, a program run jointly by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Convention and Visitors Bureau.