vol.81:The Autumn Foliage Illumination in Kyoto, 2019

According the weather news on November 6th, it said that the autumn colors starts around November 15th in the Northern area in Kyoto City, and November 23rd in Arashiyama area, which is not out of the ordinary.

This time, we’d like to share about the autumn spots in Kyoto especially the night illumination.

Sagano Romantic Train (Trolley Train)

Sagano Romantic Train is one of the attractions to do in the Arashiyama area is to take the scenic train towards Kameoka. The train runs along the Hozugawa River and makes its way through the magical mountains at a relatively slow pace, allowing you to enjoy the scenery.The length of the tracks is about 7 kilometers and the journey in each direction takes about 25 minutes.

Term:
Until the early December,2019
17:09 Torroko Sagano Station leave
Fee:
620 yen (one-way)
Access:
5-minute walk from JR Saga Arashiyama

Daikakuji


Daikakuji is located in the Arashiyama area.
Crimson Water Mirror, Illuminations of Osawa-no-ike pond, has been held from November 8th to December 1st.
Fantastic lights brilliantly illuminate the autumn leaves of the vast area around Osawa-no-ike pond.

Term:
November 8th ~December 1st,2019
17:30~20:30 ( Close reception 20:00) **Day-night doubleheader
Admission Fee:
500 yen per an adult / 300 yen for 6 -18 year old
Access:
1-minute walk from “Daikakuji” bus stop on the Kyoto City Bus #28,91 at Kyoto Station
15-minute walk from “Saga Arashiyama” St. on JR Sagano line
20-minute walk from “Randen Saga” St. on Keifuku line

Hogoin Temple


The garden inside the Hogonin Temple is a pond stroll style garden known as ‘Shishiku no Niwa’ (its mean Lion’s Roar Garden) that incorporates the surrounding scenery into its design. It is frequently used for the Kyoto advertisements and gets popular.The garden opens for a limited time so don’t miss this chance to see.

Term:
November 8th ~December 1st,2019
17:30~20:30 ( Close reception 20:00) *Day-night doubleheader
Admission Fee:
600 yen per an adult / 300 yen for 6 -15 year old
Access:
10-minute walk from “Saga Arashiyama” St. on the JR line
10-minute walk from “ Arashiyama” St. on the Hankyu line
3-minute walk from “Arashiyama” St. on the Randen line

Kodaiji Temple

Kodaiji has the most popular garden in Kyoto created by famous gardener Kobori Enshu. During the illumination event, it holds the exhibition of Luca Galileo, an Italic violinist and modern artist. The twelve slide doors and prints drawn by him are displayed.

Term:
October 25th~December 15th,2019
Sunset~22:00 ( Close reception 21:30) *Day-night doubleheader
Admission Fee:
600 yen per an adult / 300 yen for 6 -15 year old
Access:
10-minute walk from “Saga Arashiyama” St. on the JR line

Shorenin Temple


Shoren-in temple is one of the five Monzeki temples of the Tendai sect in Kyoto; the head priests at these temples originally belonged to the imperial family.
The garden includes a hillside, and trees, plants, boulders and water have been artfully organised to provide harmony and contrast at the same time.

Term:
October 25th~December 15th,2019
18:00~22:00 ( Close reception 21:30) *Day-night doubleheader
Admission Fee:
800 yen per an adult / 400 yen for 6 -15 year old
Access:
5-minute walk from “Higashiyama” St. on the Subway Tozai line

Shogunzuka Seiryuden Temple


This temple is located on the Higashiyama Mt. and the view from this observation deck is really great. Not many people know about this spot but those who wants to avoid crowds is worth visiting. It’s not convenient location and able to enter for the limited time.

Term:
October 25th~December 15th,2019
17:00~21:30( Close reception 21:00) *Day-night doubleheader
Admission Fee:
500 yen per an adult / 400 yen for 15-18 year old / 200 yen for 6-15 year old
Access:
5-minute taxi from “Keage” St. on the Subway Tozai line
30-minute walk from Shorenin (Trail way)

Eikando Temple


This relatively small sized temple/garden has left a permanent impression in your heart. It is just serene and peaceful and the beauty of the garden took your breath away. The gardens are magnificent with two arched bridge and the autumn colors are spectacular in the height of the season.

Term:
November 6th~December 4th,2019
17:30~21:00( Close reception 20:30) *Day-night doubleheader
Admission Fee:
600 yen for older than 15-year old
Access:
3-minute walk from “Nanzenji Eikandomichi” Bus stop on the city bus #5 at Kyoto St.
15-minute walk from “Keage” St. on the Subway Tozai line

Kiyomizudera Temple


During the illumination event, the beam of light illuminates to the night sky. This light express the mercy of Kannon. Though the Kiyomizu stage is under construction, the hidden temple, Jojuin temple, is open in the limited time.

Term:
November 16th~December 1st,2019
17:30~21:00( Close reception) *Day-night doubleheader
Admission Fee:
400 yen per an adult / 200 yen for 6-15 year old
600 yen charged if you enter the Jojyuin Garden, November 18th to December 1st.
Access:
10-minute walk from “Gojo-zaka” Bus stop on the city bus #206,100 at Kyoto St.

Nanzenji Tenjuan


It’s a sub-temple complex on the Nanzenji grounds and the most popular autumn leaves spot in Kyoto. You can enter the shoin room that is usually close and see the magical scenery from there. Spectacular scenery enable you to take your time to enjoy strolling and soaking in the beauty.

Term:
November 15th~ November 30th,2019
17:30~21:00( Close reception 20:45) *Day-night doubleheader
Admission Fee:
600 yen per an adult / 500 yen for 15-18 year old / 400 yen for 6-15 year old
Access:
10-minute walk from “Keage” St. on the Subway Tozai line

Kifune Autumn Leaves Lantern


It is located deep in mountains, slightly far from the city, but the peaceful and sacred atmosphere of the shrine would have never existed if it wasn’t. Special illumination for the autumn leaves enlight the Kifune area and Kifune Shrine. Eizan train passes through the famous Maple tunnel and it will slow down for about 90 seconds all the passengers to enjoy the special night view of Autumn foliage.

Term:
November2nd~ November 24th,2019
Sunset~20:30
Admission Fee:
Free
Access:
Take off from “Kifuneguchi” St. on the Eizan Railway

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine


It is less populated and feel more local than being the usual tourist attraction that other shrines and temples become. This shrine offered a perfect location to relax outside a busy city and also offers amazing photo opportunities. Historical site Odoi (earth wall) above the Kamiya river is called “Momiji en”(Maple garden) and known for the beautiful autumn leaves spot.

Term:
November 9th~December 8th,2019
Sunset ~20:00
Admission Fee:
1,000 yen per an adult / 500 yen for a child
Access:
In front of “Kitano Tenmangu Shrine” bus stop on the Kyoto City Bus #50,101 at Kyoto Station
5-minute walk from “Hakubai cho” St. on Keifuku line

Toji Temple


One of the iconic sight-seeing place in Kyoto always appears on ads , postcards. Quiet place with beautiful scenery, with Ancient Buddhist Tower made of wood and Sculpture of Japanese Buddhist fellowship. The popular photo spot is at the Hyotan pond that has a reflection of the tower. Less crowded around 21:00.

Term:
October 26th~December 8th,2019
18:30~21:30( Close reception 21:00) *Day-night doubleheader
Admission Fee:
1,000 yen per an adult / 500yen for younger than 12-year old
Access:
15-minute walk from “Kyoto ” St. of the JR line

Daigoji Temple


Daigoji Temple is famous with the beautiful cherry blossoms in Spring and also provides the breathtaking scenery in fall.
The composition of Bentendo is just stunning; the pond, the vermillion bridge and temple building set against a background of trees and foliage.

Term:
November 15th~December 1st,2019
18:00~20:50( Close reception 21:00) *Day-night doubleheader
Admission Fee:
1,000 yen except but the younger than 6-year old
Access:
10-minute walk from “Daigo ” St. of the Subway Tozai line

Do you need more information?

You should receive such local information of Kyoto by an application “KoI APP”.
With this application, even if you don’t have Wi-Fi, you can find nearby stores and so on.
You can install the application from the following URL.

Android app「KoI Service」

iPhone app「KoI Service」

Related articles

  1. Vol.171:The Wind Chime Festival held in the temple in Kyoto

  2. vol.132:Special Autumn Visit, Ruriko-in Temple

  3. vol.66:Kyo no Tanabata, Star Festival in Kyoto 2019

  4. vol.28:“The door only opened once every 60 years” ~Shown a Buddhist Sutra written by Emperor Saga at Daikaku-ji~

  5. vol.17:A lot of festivals in Kyoto in October

  6. vol.86:Great Temples For Joya no Kane on New year’s eve Kyoto

  1. Vol.180:Blue maple in Kyoto

    2024.04.01

  2. Vol.179:Uji City, associated with Murasaki Shikibu

    2024.03.01

  3. Vol.178:Weeping plum and camellia festival

    2024.02.01

  4. Vol.177:Zodiac tapestry

    2024.01.01

  5. Vol.176:Next year’s zodiac sign is the year of the drago…

    2023.12.01