NAKED GARDEN NIGHTS Higashi Honganji 2026

Dates & time: October 31, 2026 (Sat) - December 6, 2026 (Sun) 18:00–22:00 (last entry 21:00; the Higashi Honganji area closes at 21:20, Shosei-en Garden at 22:00)
Price & booking: Mon–Thu ¥2,100 (junior high and older) / ¥1,500 (elementary); Fri–Sun & holidays ¥2,300 / ¥1,700. Preschoolers free. Mobile tickets: EX Tabisaki Yoyaku (JR Central), asoview!, Rakuten Travel Experiences. Convenience-store pickup: Lawson Ticket, 7Ticket, e+, Ticket Pia.
Venue & access: Higashi Honganji Temple & Shosei-en Garden (Kikoku-tei) About 7 minutes' walk north from JR Kyoto Station. There is no event parking, so come by public transport.

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There are 12 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Higashi Honganji Temple & Shosei-en Garden (Kikoku-tei), 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.

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Why You Should Visit

An evening light-up that links two sites a short walk from Kyoto Station: Higashi Honganji, head temple of the Shinshu Otani-ha school of Buddhism, and Shosei-en, its garden and a Nationally Designated Place of Scenic Beauty. Produced by the Tokyo-based creative studio NAKED, the route starts in front of the Founder's Hall, where layers of small lights form a giant lotus, then follows a lantern-lined street to the garden. There you walk through a series of scenes, including a large moon glowing over Ingetsu Pond and a view of the Kyoto skyline across a bridge framed by autumn maples, with a welcome drink offered at the garden entrance. With admission until 21:00, it fits neatly after a day of sightseeing or around dinner near the station.

NOTE

Higashi Honganji area

PURIFYING BREATH (Chozu pavilion): light plays on water pouring from the dragon-shaped purification fountain
LIGHT IN BLOOM (Founder's Hall / Goeido): layers of small lights form a huge lotus in the dark
THE MIST BECKONS (Founder's Hall): mist and shifting light connect the Founder's Hall and the Amida Hall
NAKED Distance Lantern®: art lanterns that cast patterns of light at your feet (rental ¥500)
GUIDING LANTERNS (Shomen-dori street): follow a row of lanterns and a lotus fountain to the garden

Shosei-en Garden area

OPENING SIP (main entrance): welcome drink, alcoholic or non-alcoholic
GARDEN OF THE MOON (Ingetsu Pond): a large moon rises over the pond while autumn scenes play across the water
AN EVENING TO SAVOR (Rofu-tei): sake and obanzai (Kyoto home-style dishes) in the garden's largest reception hall
LIGHT ACROSS TIME (Shinsetsu Bridge): autumn maples and the modern city beyond, linked by floating water-lily lights
SONG OF THE STREAM (Rinchi-tei): the pavilion reflected on the water, with the sound of a stream

EX Tabisaki Yoyaku only: CELESTIAL GAZE on the Goeido-mon gate

The upper floor of the temple's main gate looks out over the Amida Hall, the Founder's Hall and the city at night; inside, the unfinished ceiling painting of dancing celestial maidens planned by painter Takeuchi Seiho is recreated in light
18:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30)
Ticket: Mon–Thu ¥2,300 (junior high and older) / ¥1,700 (elementary); Fri–Sun & holidays ¥2,500 / ¥1,900
Stairs only: not accessible to wheelchair users or anyone who has difficulty with stairs

Combo tickets

NIWA set with matcha and two ohagi rice cakes at NIWA in Kyoto Station Building: adults ¥2,900
Nidec Kyoto Tower observation deck set: adults ¥2,800

Good to know

The only entrance is at Higashi Honganji; you cannot enter from the Shosei-en side
On Nov 6–8 and Nov 25 the Higashi Honganji area is closed and only the garden is open
No re-entry
Held in rain; may be cancelled in severe weather (announced on the official site and X @garden_nights)
Entry may be restricted when crowded, and admission can close before 21:00 depending on the queue
No tripods or monopods. No pets (guide dogs allowed)
Some attractions inside cost extra

Enquiries

Kyodo Information +81-570-200-888 (12:00–17:00, weekdays; Japanese). Please do not contact the temple or garden directly

Buying tickets

Tickets are not date-specific and can be used on any day of the run
Early-bird tickets (on sale until 23:59 on Oct 30) are ¥200 cheaper
Nov 6–8 and Nov 25 are garden-only days with lower prices (regular ¥1,600 Mon–Thu, ¥1,800 Fri–Sun & holidays for junior high and older)
EX Tabisaki Yoyaku sells admission ¥300 below the regular price, plus the only tickets that include the Goeido-mon gate's upper floor; purchasing there requires a membership in JR Central's EX services (Express Reservation or smartEX)
No changes or refunds after purchase unless the organizer cancels

Autumn Leaves Night View Culture Art History Heritage Date

出典: PR TIMES（東海旅客鉄道株式会社）

Kobe · Gluten-free

Kyoto & Kansai autumn leaves map →

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FAQ

Are tickets for a specific date?

No. Tickets are valid on any day of the event. If you hold a Mon–Thu ticket and visit on a Friday, weekend or holiday, you pay the difference at the counter; the difference is not refunded the other way round.

Are there days when the Higashi Honganji area is closed?

Yes. On November 6–8 and November 25 only Shosei-en Garden is open. Those four days use cheaper special-day tickets, which are not valid on other days.

Can I go up the Goeido-mon gate with a regular ticket?

No. The gate's upper floor is open only to holders of the special ticket sold on EX Tabisaki Yoyaku, which requires an Express Reservation or smartEX membership. Access is by stairs only, so it is not wheelchair accessible.

Does it go ahead in the rain?

Yes, it runs in the rain, though some displays may change depending on the weather. Any cancellation for severe weather is announced on the official website and the official X account.