- The Ministry of Finance will issue a 1,000-yen silver coin commemorating the 2027 International Horticultural Expo (GREEN×EXPO 2027). The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced it on 11 September 2026.
- Design: The obverse, titled “Tunku Tunku and plants,” shows the official mascot Tunku Tunku with six plants native to Japan that are planned for planting at the Expo: Japanese lily of the valley, ominaeshi (Patrinia), kawara-nadeshiko (a wild pink), sanshō-bara (a wild rose), kikyō (balloon flower) and yamayuri (golden-rayed lily). The reverse shows the official Expo logo. Both sides are coloured in multiple colours.
- Specifications: pure silver, 31.1 grams, 40 millimetres in diameter, with slanted reeding on the edge.
- Mintage and price: 40,000 coins, sold at 33,500 yen including tax. Because it uses precious metal and special minting techniques, the cost of making it exceeds its face value, which makes it a “premium” commemorative coin.
- How to buy: The coin is sold only by the Japan Mint and cannot be exchanged at banks or other financial institutions. Applications are planned for about three weeks from 2 December 2026, with shipping from around late March 2027. Details of how to apply will be published on the Japan Mint website after 17:00 on 1 December.
- The announcement does not say what happens if applications exceed the mintage.
About the design
On the obverse, Tunku Tunku sits inside a round frame, ringed by the flowers of the six plants, with the characters for “Japan” above and “1,000 yen” below. The ministry lists ten colours for this side: white, black, blue-violet, pink, red-violet, red, orange, yellow, yellow-green and green. The reverse places the official logo in the centre, with the exposition’s Japanese name, “1000 YEN” and the year of issue around the rim, in eight colours: blue-green, light blue, blue, pink, red-violet, orange, yellow and green.
Our take
33,500 yen for a face value of 1,000: 33.5 times. Pure silver, 31.1 grams, ten colours on the obverse. Nobody will spend it. This is the price of a keepsake.
Forty thousand coins against the organiser’s forecast of more than ten million paying visitors, which we cite in our visitor guide, comes to one coin per 250 visitors. Lottery or first come first served if demand runs over? The announcement does not say. The Japan Mint’s notice on the evening of 1 December should.
The calendar: applications from 2 December for about three weeks, shipping from around late March 2027, opening day 19 March. The coin will not be in anyone’s pocket on the first day. For something to carry on day one, licensed merchandise is the surer buy.
The six plants on the obverse are native species due to be planted at the Expo. Lily of the valley flowers in spring, golden-rayed lily and balloon flower in summer, so whichever month you visit, one of them should be in bloom somewhere on the grounds. Coin in hand, go and find it.
Tips for visitors
- Sales and application details will be published on the Japan Mint website after 17:00 on 1 December 2026, with applications open for about three weeks from 2 December. Check in early December.
- For something to carry on opening day, licensed goods from the official pop-up stores arrive sooner.
- The six plants are due to be planted at the venue. Our visitor guide covers what to see and how to plan a day.
Our take
This is a keepsake: 33,500 yen for a coin with a face value of 1,000 yen. Shipping starts in late March 2027, after opening day, so it will not be in your pocket on 19 March. Applications run for about three weeks from 2 December, and the release does not say what happens if demand exceeds the 40,000 coins.