Why You Should Visit
Ninnaji, a UNESCO World Heritage temple in northwest Kyoto, lights up its autumn maples after dark, with artificial mist spreading a "sea of clouds" through the grounds so the National Treasure Kondo hall seems to float above it. This year's edition adds a sound installation billed as the "528Hz Healing Sound Garden." It runs on Fridays, weekends and holidays from late October to mid-December, so you can catch the foliage at different stages across seven weeks. Admission is ¥2,800 for adults and free for high school students and younger. A good pick if you know Ninnaji for its spring Omuro cherry blossoms and want to see its autumn night side.
Essentials
- location
- Ninnaji Temple
- period
- October 24, 2026 (Sat) - December 13, 2026 (Sun)
- Time
- Fridays, weekends and public holidays, 18:30–21:00 (entry 18:00–20:30; on Nov 20 entry opens at 18:30)
No light-up on Nov 8 (Sun) and Nov 28 (Sat) - cost
- Adults ¥2,800 / free for high school students and younger
- Links
- Kobe · Gluten-free
- access
- About 3 minutes on foot from Omuro-Ninnaji Station on the Randen (Keifuku) Kitano Line. By car, about 40 minutes from the Kyoto-minami interchange on the Meishin Expressway; there is a coin-operated car park on the east side of the temple.
- NOTE
Highlights
- Illuminated autumn foliage with an artificial-mist "sea of clouds" around the Kondo hall
- A sound garden using 528Hz tones
Special goshuin stamp: "Amida Nyorai and Autumn Leaves"
- Available on light-up nights (Fri, weekends, holidays)
- 18:30–20:30
- ¥700 each
- At the nokyosho office in front of the Kondo (pre-written only)
Stay plan with light-up admission
- Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto sells a Ninnaji light-up stay plan
- Stay dates match the light-up nights (Fri, weekends and holidays from 24 Oct to 13 Dec, excluding 8 and 28 Nov)
- From ¥27,660 per room for two, including breakfast, light-up tickets, tax and service; also includes a 20% dinner discount at the hotel restaurants
* The light-up may be cancelled on some nights for religious services; cancellations are posted on the Ninnaji website
Basque cheesecakeBaked with rice flour, no wheat. Whole 12cm, serves 2-3¥4,700 incl. shipping (Japan only)There are 1 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Ninnaji Temple, and 3 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.
FAQ
Is the light-up held every night?
Do children need to pay?
What time is last entry?
Calendar
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