Manpuku-ji Night Illumination & Light Art 2026

Next date: Today (Fri, Oct 30) Open (17:00–21:00)
Dates & time: Oct 30 (Fri) · 31 (Sat) · Nov 6 (Fri) · 7 (Sat) · 8 (Sun) · 13 (Fri), 2026 +37 more 17:00〜21:00
Price & booking: Night admission: adults ¥1,000, junior high and high school students ¥500, elementary school age and under free. Multilingual audio guide app ¥1,000 extra The temple's notice does not mention reservations for the night viewing itself. The fucha bento and the tea gathering are reservation-only; book at least 4 days ahead on the booking site.
Venue & access: Manpuku-ji Temple, Gokasho, Uji 5 minutes on foot from Obaku Station on the JR Nara Line or the Keihan Uji Line. Parking available

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Why You Should Visit

Manpuku-ji, head temple of the Obaku Zen school founded in 1661 by the Chinese monk Ingen, opens its grounds after dark with a light art installation. The temple is built in Ming-dynasty Chinese style and has three National Treasure buildings and twenty Important Cultural Properties; the lighting avoids loud colours and instead brings out the forms, timber and shadows of the halls and statues. In its second year the show, themed "Where Zen meets the Dragon of Light," reaches deeper into the complex and runs on set days, mostly Fridays to Sundays, from October to February. Pair it with a fucha vegetarian bento or a sencha tea gathering in the National Treasure Hatto hall (both by reservation) for an evening in Uji.

Schedule

10月

日月火水木金土 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

11月

日月火水木金土 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

12月

日月火水木金土 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

2027年1月

日月火水木金土 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

2月

日月火水木金土 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Official opening (opening talk from 18:00) Open (17:00–21:00) は祝日

Programs

Timetable & Map

NOTE

Lighting design

Architect Koji Yamanaka (GENETO) and Munich-based lighting designer Frank Vetter (DAY & LIGHT)

Night sencha gatherings (booking required)

On Saturdays during the period (except 5 Dec and 2 Jan) from 19:00, the Obaku Baisaryu school hosts sencha in the illuminated Hatto hall (National Treasure). Special session ¥8,000 (tea and sweets), taster session ¥2,000 (tea)

*October 10 was an invitation-only preview; public opening from October 11. December 4–6 are not opening days

History Heritage Culture Art Photo Spots Illumination Winter Date Limited Time

出典: PR TIMES（一般社団法人文化観光推進協議会）

Kobe · Gluten-free

All Kyoto light-ups & night viewings →

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FAQ

Is it held every night?

No. It runs only on set days, mostly Fridays to Sundays, from October to February, always from 17:00 to 21:00.

How much is it for children?

Free for elementary school age and under; ¥500 for junior high and high school students.

Can I drive there?

Yes, the temple has parking. By train it is a 5-minute walk from Obaku Station (JR or Keihan).