Kodai-ji Autumn Light-up 2026

Why You Should Visit

Kodai-ji was founded in 1606 by Nene, the widow of the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi, to pray for his memory, and each autumn it stays open late for a fall-foliage night illumination (light-up) of its gardens. From late October to mid-December the lights come on at 17:00 and the temple remains open until 22:00. The visitor route leads through a pond garden attributed to the landscape designer Kobori Enshu, past the Otamaya mausoleum where Hideyoshi and Nene are enshrined (famous for its gold lacquer work), and up into the bamboo grove at the back of the garden. It is a walk-in visit with no reservations or timed slots, and the price is the same day or night. There is no clearing of the grounds at dusk, so you can go in around 16:30 and watch the autumn leaves change as the illumination comes up. Kodai-ji sits on Nene-no-michi, the stone-paved lane between Gion and Kiyomizu-dera, which makes it an easy stop on an evening walk through the old town.

Essentials

location

Kodai-ji Temple

period

October 23, 2026 (Fri) - December 13, 2026 (Sun)

Time

9:00–22:00 (last entry 21:30; lights on from 17:00)

cost

Adults ¥800 / junior-high and high-school students ¥400 (same price day and night). Elementary-school age and under free when accompanied by an adult. Combined ticket with Entoku-in ¥1,200

Links

Official Website

Kobe · Gluten-free

Basque cheesecakeBaked with rice flour, no wheat. Whole 12cm, serves 2-3¥4,700 incl. shipping (Japan only)

access

From JR Kyoto Station, take city bus 206 (about 15 min) to Higashiyama-Yasui, then walk about 7 minutes east. By car, the Kodai-ji car park charges ¥600 for the first hour and ¥300 per extra 30 minutes.

There are 8 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Kodai-ji Temple, and 6 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.

NOTE

Visitor route

Pond garden attributed to Kobori Enshu
Kaisando hall and Otamaya mausoleum (Important Cultural Properties; the Otamaya is known for its "Kodai-ji maki-e" gold lacquer)
Bamboo grove (inside the garden, so Kodai-ji admission is required)

Day and night

No clearing of the grounds: you can enter in the daytime and stay after the lights come on
Once you leave through the exit, the same ticket cannot be used to re-enter

Combined ticket with Entoku-in

Entoku-in also holds an evening light-up on Oct 23 - Dec 10 and Dec 13, with last entry at 21:30 (closes 22:00)
It is a sub-temple a few minutes' walk from Kodai-ji, so you can see both in one evening
Entoku-in is closed all day on Dec 11 and 12

Children

At least one adult is required for every five children of elementary-school age

FAQ

Do I need a reservation?

The official site gives no advance booking for individual visitors; you buy your ticket at the gate on the day. Last entry is 21:30.

Can I go in before dark and stay for the illumination?

Yes. There is no clearing of the grounds and the ticket price is the same day and night. Just note that once you walk out through the exit, you cannot re-enter on the same ticket.

Is Entoku-in open at night too?

Yes. Entoku-in also holds an evening light-up on Oct 23 - Dec 10 and Dec 13: lights on at 17:00, last entry 21:30 (closes 22:00). The combined Kodai-ji and Entoku-in ticket (¥1,200) covers both. Entoku-in is closed all day on Dec 11 and 12.

Calendar

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