HOME Tohoku Miyagi Other Surrounding Areas Of Miyagi This Park in Japan Turns 6,000 Glowing Kochia Bushes and Fireworks into a Real-Life Autumn Fairytale

This Park in Japan Turns 6,000 Glowing Kochia Bushes and Fireworks into a Real-Life Autumn Fairytale

• Written by: Alice Lee

Date published: 6 October 2026

Autumn nights offer more than evening maple viewing. Traditional lantern-lit scenery has a charm all its own! At Michinoku Lake Park in Miyagi, the only national government park in the Tohoku region, the fourth edition of the evening illumination event Michinoku Furusato Akari (Michinoku Furusato Aki Akari) is coming this fall.

The event runs on just five weekend and holiday days in early October! The park’s south area turns into a world of interwoven light, with a field of kochia that changes color to music, plus historic Tohoku farmhouses paired with modern projection mapping. Here are the highlights, photo spots, and fireworks schedule. Autumn evenings are cool, so bring warm layers and enjoy a romantic night stroll!

(Top image: Japan Park Foundation (Parks Japan.F))

Fluffy and adorable by day, kochia take on a completely different, magical look at night! About 6,000 kochia plants grow in the park's Terraced Fields (Dandan Batake) area. During the event, they are lit with brilliant LED lights synced to live music, and watching the round bushes shift through colors with the melody is a dazzling visual feast.

Right next to the terraced fields, the Furusato Village (Furusato Mura) area is another big highlight. Four traditional Tohoku farmhouses have been relocated here, and projection mapping and signature lighting give the retro buildings a modern, artistic touch.

Beyond the still illuminations, the festival is packed with activities that make you feel like you've stepped into a traditional Japanese autumn celebration!

・Event dates: October 3–4 and 10–12, 2026 (5 days)
・Illumination hours: 5–8:30 PM (last entry at 8 PM)
・Locations: South Area entrance, Terraced Fields (kochia), Furusato Village (farmhouses, festival plaza)
・Admission: Please check the park's official website for admission fees.

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Written by:

Alice Lee

A native of Taiwan, she has lived in Japan for 10 years and holds JLPT N1 certification. She enjoys reading Japanese novels and has experience as a guide at a tourist information center, as well as writing for travel media. She enjoys visiting shrines and once walked an hour each way for a single visit. She also explores sites tied to Sengoku period warlords and enjoys hiking. Interested in lesser-known destinations, she is dedicated to uncovering hidden spots. Her travels span many regions, and she enjoys bringing home local souvenirs to taste and share with friends and family.

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