Moon-Viewing Evenings 2026

Dates & time: September 25, 2026 (Fri) - September 27, 2026 (Sun) 17:30–21:00（受付終了20:30）※昼夜入替制
Price & booking: 700 yen adults, 300 yen students; payable again even if you visited during the day. The special ticket — boat ride, matcha at the Godaido seats and admission — is 7,000 yen per person General entry needs no booking. The 7,000-yen special ticket was allocated by lottery, applications closing 24 July — already shut as of 1 August 2026. A cancellation waiting list opens at the exchange desk from 17:30 each day.
Venue & access: Osawa Pond, Daikakuji About 20 min on foot from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, or take city bus 91 from in front of the station to the Daikakuji stop (about 6 min, 230 yen); bus 28 from Kyoto Station takes about 54 min. The temple asks visitors to use public transport.

There are 1 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Osawa Pond, Daikakuji, and 1 public restrooms within 8 minutes. The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

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Why You Should Visit

A rite tracing back to Emperor Saga, who floated boats on Osawa Pond to view the moon with courtiers and poets. The pond is counted among Japan's three great moon-viewing sites, and you can watch both the moon in the sky and its reflection on the water. For three nights from the mid-autumn moon on 25 September, the Osawa Pond area opens from 17:30 to 21:00. Anyone can enter and stroll; holders of the special ticket also ride the dragon-and-phoenix boats and take matcha at the Godaido moon-viewing seats.

NOTE

The special ticket, 7,000 yen

Covers the dragon-and-phoenix boat ride on Osawa Pond, matcha at the Godaido seats and admission
Boarding falls between roughly 18:00 and 20:00, but you cannot choose the time
Allocated by lottery rather than first-come, up to four people per group
Applications ran 6–24 July and have closed; a cancellation list opens at 17:30 each day

Notes

The temple hall area is closed during the event
Admission is charged again for the evening even if you visited during the day
The boat ride and matcha may be called off in bad weather, with no refund
The whole event may be cancelled without notice in severe weather

*Parts of the temple's top page still carry older information; the event page (700 yen for adults) is the current one.

History Heritage Night View Date Limited Time

出典: 大覚寺公式サイト行事ページ（日時・料金・内容）／同特別チケット申込要領（抽選・キャンセル待ち）

Kobe · Gluten-free

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FAQ

Is it worth going without the boat?

Yes. Without the special ticket you still enter the Osawa Pond area for 700 yen and can walk the shore watching the moon and its reflection. The boat ride and the Godaido matcha are what the special ticket adds.

Is the evening free if I visited during the day?

No. Day and evening are separate sessions, so the 700-yen admission applies again in the evening.