GREEN EXPO 2027 Guide: Dates, Tickets & What to Expect

This GREEN EXPO 2027 guide covers dates, confirmed ticket prices, shuttle buses, parking, and the booking order you need to follow. GREEN×EXPO 2027 runs from 19 March to 26 September 2027 at the former Kamiseya Communications Facility in Yokohama — 192 days, 100 hectares, and Japan's first A1-class horticultural exposition since 1990. Entry requires a timed-entry reservation on top of your advance ticket (from ¥4,900 adult); both the reservation system and shuttle booking open on 18 September 2026 — they are separate systems, so book entry first, then transport.

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What GREEN×EXPO 2027 Is — and Why Gardeners Care

GREEN×EXPO 2027 is the 2027 International Horticultural Exposition, officially titled "The World Horticultural Exhibition YOKOHAMA 2027." It runs from 19 March to 26 September 2027 — 192 days — at the former Kamiseya Communications Facility in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. The theme is Scenery of the Future for Happiness.

For anyone serious about horticulture, the scale matters: this is Japan's first A1-class international exposition since the International Garden and Greenery Exposition in Osaka in 1990 — 37 years ago. The A1 designation is the highest category issued by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), reserved for events of global scope. Around 70 countries and international organisations are expected to participate, with 15 million visitors anticipated over the run.

If you've been tracking horticultural expos and wondering whether to book Japan, the short answer is: this is the one.

Dates and Season: When to Go

The expo opens 19 March 2027 and closes 26 September 2027. That means two clearly distinct peaks:

• Spring (late March to May): Cherry blossoms at the venue overlap with the opening weeks. Japan's peak travel season — book early, expect crowds, and note that this is when Japan's accommodation fills fastest.
• Autumn (September): Cooler temperatures and autumn foliage in the closing weeks. A strong second window for those who missed spring.
• Summer (June to August): Yokohama summers are humid and warm. The expo will be open, but the heat is a real factor for a 100-hectare outdoor site. Plan for early starts, shade, and hydration.

For first-timers, late April or early May (after Golden Week) or early September offer the best weather-and-crowd balance. Large expos typically see lighter attendance in their opening weeks — book accommodation early to lock in spring dates before Shin-Yokohama fills up.

Where the Venue Is — and the Key Practical Implication

The venue is the former Kamiseya Communications Facility, a 242-hectare site in Yokohama's Asahi and Seya Wards that was previously a U.S. military installation. Years of restricted access have left the land in an unusually natural state — farmland, grassland, river headwaters, and valley terrain across roughly 100 hectares of the actual expo footprint.

The key practical implication: there are almost no hotels anywhere near the venue. The former military site and surrounding Seya Ward are suburban and residential. You won't find anything like a hotel district within walking distance. This isn't a reason to worry — it's just the piece of information that shapes every other decision in your planning. You'll pick a base 20–40 minutes away by train and commute in. The full base-choice guide walks through all four options (Shin-Yokohama, Machida, Yokohama Station, or Tokyo via through-service) with specific hotel recommendations.

Shuttle buses to the venue are confirmed (announced 17 July 2026) from four stations: Seya and Mitsukyo (Sotetsu Main Line), Tokaichiba (JR Yokohama Line), and Minami-machida Grandberry Park (Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line). Journey times run 10–25 minutes. Shuttle booking opened on 18 September 2026 via a separate system from entry reservations. Check expo2027yokohama.or.jp for the booking link once live.

Tickets: What's Confirmed and What to Watch

Ticket sales began on 19 March 2026 — exactly one year before the opening. Here is what is officially confirmed as of July 2026:

All prices are per person. Prices are confirmed from official sources as of July 2026 and may change; verify current pricing at expo2027yokohama.or.jp/en/tickets-index/.

Purchasing a ticket is only the first step. The expo operates a date and time reservation system: your advance ticket purchase must be paired with a timed-entry slot reservation. The reservation system opened on 18 September 2026 (announced 17 July 2026 by the expo association) — six months before opening day. This is when the booking rush for cherry-blossom-season dates in late March and April 2027 will begin. The entry slots are booked through the ticket site at ticket.expo2027yokohama.or.jp.

The practical takeaway: buy an advance ticket now to lock in the ¥4,900 adult price, then reserve your entry time slot as soon as your dates are firm — that system has been open since 18 September 2026.

Shuttle Buses: Fares, Booking, and the Four Stations

Shuttle buses are confirmed between four stations and the expo venue, and booking opened on 18 September 2026 — the same day as timed-entry reservations, but through a separate system at cs.shuttle-bus.expo2027yokohama.or.jp. Book your entry slot first, then your shuttle — and do both the same day. When we checked the booking site on 18 September 2026, the day it opened, the first Saturday-morning departures were already full on many dates. The shuttle seat, not the entry slot, is the scarce item.

• Seya Station (Sotetsu Main Line) — approximately 2 km from the venue, roughly 10 min
• Mitsukyo Station (Sotetsu Main Line) — approximately 4 km, roughly 15 min
• Minami-machida Grandberry Park Station (Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line) — approximately 4 km, roughly 20 min
• Tokaichiba Station (JR Yokohama Line) — approximately 6 km, roughly 25 min

Shuttle fare (one way, confirmed as of July 2026): ¥200 for adults, ¥100 for children aged 1–11. Disability discount: ¥100 adult / ¥50 child. You must book the outbound and return journeys separately. On peak days public transport (the four station shuttles plus direct buses) is planned to carry up to 44,000 passengers — about 42% of projected daily attendance.

The rest of the rules only became visible when the system opened, and they shape how early you can commit (all checked on the booking site in September 2026):

• One booking covers one direction. On any given day you can hold one outbound and one return booking, for up to 40 passengers each.
• Fares on the booking site: ¥200 per adult and ¥100 per child aged 1–11, each way. Under-1s ride free, and up to two pre-school children (aged 1–5) travel free with each guardian aged 6 or over. Passengers travelling free do not need a reservation.
• Payment is by credit card. Book more than 180 days ahead and the seat is held provisionally: you pay between 180 and 31 days before travel, or the booking cancels itself. Inside 180 days you pay as you book — for the opening week in March 2027, that switch falls in late September 2026.
• Booking closes 5 min before the meeting time at your station.
• Cancellation is free until 17:00 the day before. After that you forfeit 50% up to 5 min before the meeting time, and cancellation is not possible once that point passes.
• You board by showing a QR code on your phone; a screenshot or a printout is accepted.
• Strollers: the route-bus type takes them unfolded, though you may have to wait for one; on the touring-coach type they go folded into the luggage hold.

The association is also arranging direct buses to the venue from Shin-Yokohama Station, Yokohama Station, the Minato Mirai and Kannai area, and Haneda Airport. Operators, timetables, fares and the booking method were still being settled when we checked the association's access page in September 2026. If you are choosing a base, that list is worth watching: a direct bus from Shin-Yokohama or Haneda would remove the train-plus-shuttle transfer entirely.

Driving and Parking: Confirmed Details

Driving to GREEN×EXPO 2027 is possible but not the easy option. Seya Ward's local roads are narrow and will face real congestion on busy expo days — the highways may flow but the last few kilometres will not. Public transport is the recommended approach for most visitors.

That said, the expo association has confirmed parking details (announced 17 July 2026):

• Two car parks (north and west sides of the venue), total approximately 6,200 spaces
• Weekday rate: ¥5,000
• Weekends, public holidays, and busy-season dates: ¥7,000. Busy season is 19 designated days: 29 April; 2, 3, 23, 29 and 30 May; 6 and 13 June; 14 and 15 August; and 4, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25 and 26 September 2027
• Parking is also reservation-only; booking opens 18 September 2026 through a separate system from both entry reservations and shuttle reservations
• Peak-day car arrivals are expected to reach 32,000 — plan accordingly

Park-and-ride (busy season only): ¥3,000 per car including the shuttle. Three sites — Sagamiono multi-storey car park (approx. 8 km), AEON Mall Yamato, and Ito-Yokado Yamato Tsuruma (approx. 4 km) — total around 700 spaces. Drivers from Tokyo should expect to use the Yokohama-Machida IC (Tomei Expressway); the association plans signage to spread traffic. Direct buses to the venue are planned from Shin-Yokohama Station, Yokohama Station, the Minato Mirai/Kannai area and Haneda Airport; operators, timetables and fares were still being arranged as of September 2026, and we will update this guide when they are published.

How Planning Maps to Booking: The Right Order of Operations

For GREEN×EXPO 2027, there are more separate booking steps than a typical expo — follow this order:

1. Decide your base — Shin-Yokohama for most visitors; Machida for families; Yokohama Station/Minato Mirai only if combining with Yokohama sightseeing; Tokyo (Shibuya, Meguro, Shinjuku) for a Tokyo-hub strategy. See the base-choice guide.
2. Book accommodation — spring dates (late March–May 2027) fall inside Japan's peak season. Shin-Yokohama options include the Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Yokohama Station (reopening December 2026), Shin-Yokohama Prince, and Shin-Yokohama Kokusai Hotel. These fill during high season.
3. Book flights and transport — shinkansen Tokyo–Shin-Yokohama (approx. ¥1,380 unreserved / ¥2,800–¥3,010 reserved) also sell out for Golden Week.
4. Buy your advance ticket — at ticket.expo2027yokohama.or.jp/en/. Advance price saves ¥600 per adult versus the door price.
5. Reserve your timed entry slot — the system opened on 18 September 2026. Spring dates fill fast.
6. Reserve shuttle or parking — separate system, also from 18 September 2026. The association's site guides you from entry booking to transport booking.

As of September 2026 — What's Confirmed and What's Still Pending

Confirmed (announced 17 July 2026 by the expo association): timed-entry reservation system opening 18 September 2026; shuttle buses from Seya, Mitsukyo, Minami-machida Grandberry Park, and Tokaichiba (fares ¥200 / ¥100 adult/child); venue car parks (6,200+ spaces, ¥5,000 weekday / ¥7,000 peak); park-and-ride for busy season (3 sites, ¥3,000 including shuttle).

Announced since: opening hours of 9:30–21:30 with last entry at 21:00 (27 August 2026). Still pending as of September 2026: operators, timetables and fares for the direct buses from Shin-Yokohama, Yokohama, Minato Mirai/Kannai and Haneda Airport. This guide will be updated as announcements are made. Check expo2027yokohama.or.jp for the latest.

Where to Base Yourself: Quick Pointer

For the full breakdown — including specific hotel picks, access times, and the family-friendly Machida option — read the Where to Stay for GREEN×EXPO 2027 guide. For how to reach the venue from Tokyo and Haneda Airport, see the access and transport guide.

The short version of the base decision:

All prices are per room per night and vary by season and day of the week. Check rates for your specific dates.

Of the four confirmed shuttle stations (as of July 2026), Minami-machida Grandberry Park and Tokaichiba are the most useful anchors for accommodation planning — they connect the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line and JR Yokohama Line to the venue, covering the two main traveller corridors from Tokyo and Shin-Yokohama respectively (checked July 2026).

Went to (or skipped) Osaka 2025? Our GREEN EXPO 2027 vs Expo 2025 Osaka comparison breaks down what carries over — and what will feel completely different.

Trip Essentials for Yokohama

Things worth booking before you land, all in English:

• eSIM — Airalo's Japan eSIM: install it at home and data works as soon as you switch off airplane mode at Haneda. Comparing providers? See our Japan eSIM guide.
• Airport transfer — Welcome Pickups runs fixed-price door-to-door pickups from Haneda; Klook sells the airport bus and train tickets if you'd rather ride.
• Luggage storage — arriving before check-in? Radical Storage takes bags at shops near Yokohama Station for a flat daily rate.
• Tickets and day trips — Klook covers Yokohama attractions and Tokyo day-trip tickets; booking ahead skips the ticket-window line.

The full GREEN×EXPO 2027 planner

This guide is the free version. If you want the whole trip decided — the dated-entry ticket system explained step by step, the 19 peak days to avoid, where to stay compared honestly, the counter-flow train trick that gets you a seat, shuttles and parking, and how to survive a Japanese August at an open-air venue — that is The GREEN×EXPO 2027 Yokohama Planner (10 chapters, from US$9.99, with a mobile version and a cost worksheet). One date decides the rest: 18 September 2026, when entry-time, shuttle and parking reservations all open. Buy once and every update until the Expo closes is free.

FAQ: GREEN×EXPO 2027 Tickets, Shuttles, and Planning

Do I need to reserve the shuttle bus separately from my ticket?

Yes. Entry tickets, timed-entry slot reservations, and shuttle bus reservations are all separate steps in separate systems. The expo association advises completing your entry reservation first, then moving to the shuttle booking. All three reservation systems opened on 18 September 2026, and Saturday-morning shuttle departures were the first to fill (checked that day). If the departure you want is gone, the association's access page lists walking from Seya Station as an option: about 30 minutes, no reservation. Shuttle fares are ¥200 one way for adults, ¥100 for children aged 1–11.

Can I change my reserved date and time?

Yes, up to three times. Per the expo association's 17 July 2026 announcement, you can change your timed-entry reservation as many as three times across the expo period. If you cannot attend a reserved slot, you can rebook a later date, and if you miss even your third rescheduled slot, you can still enter on the day itself when same-day reservation slots are available. The reservation itself is free, and only the ticket is paid.

Is GREEN×EXPO 2027 worth visiting?

If you have any interest in horticulture, landscape design, or large-scale garden exhibitions, yes. A1-class horticultural expos happen rarely — the last one in Japan was 37 years ago in Osaka. The 100-hectare scale means the experience is substantively different from a local garden show.

How long should I spend at the expo?

Most visitors plan for a full day (6–8 hours on site). The venue footprint is large enough that a half-day visit won't cover most of it. If you're particularly interested in international pavilions, add a second day.

Is it suitable for children?

Children under 4 enter free. The outdoor, green-focused environment is generally easier for kids than museum-style expos. That said, it's a large walking site, so strollers or carrying capacity are worth thinking through. For the family planning angle — where to stay, what to pack, and the least stressful routing — see the GREEN×EXPO 2027 with kids guide.

Can I buy tickets at the gate?

Not reliably. From opening day the standard one-day ticket (¥5,500 for adults) replaces the early-bird price, but whether tickets will be sold at the venue itself is still under consideration (September 2026). Given the timed-entry reservation system, walk-up entry on peak dates may be limited. Advance purchase at ¥4,900 is both cheaper and more reliable, especially for spring dates.

Information audit: Last fact-checked July 2026 · Prices checked July 2026 (all rates are "from" floors that vary by season) · Shuttle fares, parking rates, and reservation dates reflect the expo association announcement of 17 July 2026 · How this guide was researched: hotel facilities, prices and access details are verified against official and primary sources; we have not personally stayed at every property listed. The author commuted to work in Yokohama for many years · How this site verifies information: About NipponStays.

Information audit: Last fact-checked September 2026 · Prices checked September 2026 (all rates are “from” floors that vary by season) · How this guide was researched: hotel facilities, prices and access details are verified against official and primary sources; we have not personally stayed at every property listed. The author commuted to work in Yokohama for many years. The author ate at Katsuretsuan (Sotetsu Joinus, Yokohama Station west side) in July 2026 and photographed the GREEN×EXPO 2027 countdown inside the station and the Yokohama Bay Sheraton exterior · How this site verifies information: About NipponStays.