Rikugien Gardens Autumn Illumination 2016

Crowd at dusk viewing an Autumn Illumination of glowing trees reflecting in a Japanese garden pond. — *The building crowd waits for the Rikugien’s lights to go on.*

Rikugien Gardens Autumn Illumination is a magical autumn wonderland. Beautiful hues and ethereal reflections bounce off the tranquil pond and trees. The atmosphere is enchanting. But here’s the catch. It’s one of Tokyo’s most popular events. The crowds are as thick as the foliage. So, how do you get your photos without losing your cool? Here is my experience.

Glowing red maple tree and crowds of people at the Rikugien Gardens Autumn Illumination at dusk.

2016 was my first time there for this event. These photos are from that visit. The night scene knocked me off my feet. Whoever organized the lights did an excellent job. The trees and pond were alive with colors and reflections.

Reflections of glowing trees on a calm pond during the Rikugien Gardens Autumn Illumination at night. — *The lights go on at the pond for Rikugien Gardens Autumn Illumination 2016.*

Dealing with event crowds

It was a pity the crowd was huge. That required you to make a decision. You could wait for people to move so you could take your pictures. That took time. Or you could move on but risk missing a photo opportunity.

Red maple leaves glowing against a dark night background at the Rikugien Gardens Autumn Illumination.

Timing your visit

There was another alternative, though. It paid to go later in the night. As the temperature dropped, the number of people did too. That can be a good tactic at Rikugien Garden’s Autumn Night Light Festival!

Vendor grills skewers of dango over glowing charcoal at a food stall during an Autumn Illumination. — *To keep warm at this event, stop at the food trucks.*

Night photography at Autumn Illumination

Anyway, the pond area was the worst for crowds. Usually, it takes a minute to get to it from the entrance, but not for this event. When the crowd was at its peak, it took about five minutes, which was conservative.

The grounds were thick with people. With many stopping to take pictures or enjoy the view, minimal movement occurred. It was a human traffic jam. Security told everyone to keep moving, but that didn’t happen. It was understandable. Everyone wanted to enjoy the autumn leaves under the lights leisurely so they delayed moving as long as possible.

Red maple leaves glowing against a dark sky and city lights during an Autumn Illumination.

Low light gear challenges

On this occasion, I learned something. For this type of event, a tripod was necessary. My Pentax K-3 was a nice camera, but not for low-light usage. It was tough shooting handheld under mixed and poor lighting conditions. I had to use a very high ISO, which resulted in a lot of noise. At home, even Topaz noise reduction software (which I ceased using several years later in 2019) didn’t help.

Glowing red maple tree and wooden bridge reflected in a calm pond during a night Autumn Illumination.

Considering how crowded the Rikugien Gardens Autumn Night Light Festival was, I shouldn’t complain too much. I would like to see wider paths, though. They might make the flow of people better. I’m not sure if that would be possible as the park is small.

Overall, I had a good time. It wasn’t the perfect night, but I got some pictures to share with the world. By the way, I have a complete article about the Rikugien Gardens light up, if you want to learn more. Please leave your questions and comments below.