NAKED GARDEN NIGHTS Higashi Honganji 2026

Essentials

location

Higashi Honganji Temple & Shosei-en Garden (Kikoku-tei)

period

October 31, 2026 (Sat) - December 6, 2026 (Sun)

Time

18:00–22:00 (last entry 21:00; the Higashi Honganji area closes at 21:20, Shosei-en Garden at 22:00)

cost

Regular tickets: Mon–Thu ¥2,100 (junior high and older) / ¥1,500 (elementary school); Fri–Sun & holidays ¥2,300 / ¥1,700. Early-bird tickets (on sale until 23:59 on Oct 30) are ¥200 cheaper. Free for preschoolers. 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).

Links

• Official Website
• X

Kobe · Gluten-free

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

access

About 7 minutes' walk north from JR Kyoto Station. There is no event parking, so come by public transport.

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.

TICKETS / REGISTRATION

Tickets are not date-specific and can be used on any day of the run. You can buy mobile tickets from EX Tabisaki Yoyaku (JR Central), asoview! or Rakuten Travel Experiences, or tickets for pickup at Japanese convenience stores from Lawson Ticket, 7Ticket, e+ and Ticket Pia. 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.

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

TAGS

Autumn Leaves Night View Culture Art History Heritage Date

出典: PR TIMES（東海旅客鉄道株式会社）