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03KYOTO NOW / CULTURAL INDEX

Only here for a while

Festivals, rituals and seasonal moments worth planning around.

Kyoto autumn leaves & illuminations 2026

02Date index

Kyoto Now

Only While You’re Here

Dates are in Japan time. Schedules may change; check event details before visiting.

Default event search: Nov 4, 2026 – Dec 4, 2026
  1. 01Date index

    Nov 4 — Dec 428 scheduled datesScheduled today

    Seika Yamaga 140th Anniversary Exhibition

    Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art

    Nearest station: Subway Higashiyama · 8 min walk

    Time: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM

    Official site
    See scheduled dates

    A textile retrospective bringing rockets and Tokyo Tower into traditional craft.

  2. Nov 4 — Nov 8Closing soon

    Dreamlike Arashiyama Moonlight Path

    Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

    Nearest station: JR Saga-Arashiyama · 10 min walk / Randen Arashiyama · 10 min walk / Hankyu Arashiyama · 15 min walk

    Time: 6:00–9:00 PM

    Official site

    Around 1 km of bamboo paths lit by handcrafted lanterns and immersive art installations.

Limited events

Kyoto Now

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Seasonal calendar

27 / JST
  1. Seika Yamaga 140th Anniversary Exhibition

    Seasonal moment

    A 140th-anniversary retrospective of textile artist Seika Yamaga, weaving rockets and Tokyo Tower into traditional craft.

    Opening hours
    10:00 AM–6:00 PM
    Address
    Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
    Nearest station
    Subway Higashiyama · 8 min walk
    Admission
    Adults ¥1,800; university/vocational/high-school students ¥1,300; junior-high students and younger free. Advance sales ended.
    Reservation
    No mandatory timed reservation is stated. Advance sales ended Sep 18; use current admission tickets.
    Official site
  2. Dreamlike Arashiyama Moonlight Path

    Seasonal moment

    Around 1 km of bamboo forest paths glow with handcrafted bamboo lanterns and art installations, creating a dreamlike autumn night walk through Arashiyama.

    Opening hours
    6:00–9:00 PM
    Address
    Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
    Nearest station
    JR Saga-Arashiyama · 10 min walk / Randen Arashiyama · 10 min walk / Hankyu Arashiyama · 15 min walk
    Admission
    ¥1,500 same-day admission; ¥2,000 online reservation with entry guaranteed. Children 12 and under are free.
    Reservation
    Online reservation is recommended for guaranteed entry. Same-day tickets are sold in cash at the bamboo grove ticket counter from 5:50 PM.
    Official site
  3. Seasonal moment

    A defined autumn access period provides a quieter Buddhist-sculpture stop beyond the main Nara Park route.

    Opening hours
    9:00 AM–5:00 PM; reception by 4:00 PM
    Address
    Daian-ji, Nara City
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    Adult ¥800 in total: base admission ¥600 plus the October–November special-opening surcharge ¥200. High-school pupils and younger: ¥500 total.
    Reservation
    The official announcement does not state a reservation requirement or deadline.
    Official site
  4. Zen and Ghibli

    Seasonal moment

    A Ghibli exhibition that uses Zen as a way to look at works including The Boy and the Heron.

    Opening hours
    10:00 AM–6:00 PM
    Address
    Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum, Higashiyama Cube
    Nearest station
    Subway Higashiyama · 8 min walk
    Admission
    Same-day: adults/university ¥1,900; middle/high-school ¥1,500; elementary-school ¥1,100; preschool children free. ¥3,200 advance pair ticket ended Oct 2.
    Reservation
    The official FAQ lists same-day venue tickets. Pair-ticket presale ended Oct 2 at 23:59; priority reservations may be introduced if crowded.
    Official site
  5. Seasonal moment

    See the mossy Na-chu garden attributed to Sen no Rikyu and normally restricted interiors.

    Opening hours
    10:00 AM–3:45 PM (last reception)
    Address
    Oubai-in, Daitokuji Temple
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    Adults ¥1,000; middle/high-school ¥500; elementary-school and younger free with guardian. Cash only.
    Reservation
    Official notices list no booking channel or deadline; confirm with organizer before group visits.
    Official site
  6. Kobe Illuminage 2026 — Starlight Dream

    Seasonal moment

    The 2026 Starlight Dream theme includes heart tunnels, a butterfly swing and illuminated palace scenes.

    Opening hours
    5:00–10:00 PM; lights 5:30–9:30 PM, last entry 9:30 PM
    Address
    Kobe Fruit Flower Park Osawa, Kita Ward, Kobe
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    Standard adult ¥2,000; child ages 1 through elementary school ¥1,000; pet ¥500. Priority tickets: adult ¥3,000, child ¥2,000. These prices do not cover Dec 31.
    Reservation
    Standard same-day tickets are sold at the venue. Official partner ticket links are listed by the organizer; sales periods differ by channel and current inventory is unverified.
    Official site
  7. Expo '70 Park Autumn Rose Festa 2026

    Seasonal moment

    The garden contains around 250 varieties and 2,400 rose plants; actual flowering varies with conditions.

    Opening hours
    9:30 AM–5:00 PM; park last entry 4:30 PM
    Address
    Peace Rose Garden, Expo '70 Commemorative Park, Suita, Osaka Prefecture
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    No separate festival admission; park entry is ¥450 per adult, free for junior-high pupils and younger. Special programmes may cost extra.
    Reservation
    The official announcement does not state a reservation requirement or deadline.
    Official site
  8. The 78th Shosoin Exhibition

    Seasonal moment

    A tightly timed opportunity to see treasures normally conserved in Shosoin; reserve an entry slot around a Nara temple itinerary.

    Opening hours
    8:00 AM–6:00 PM; Fri/Sat/Sun/public holidays until 8:00 PM; last entry one hour earlier
    Address
    Nara National Museum, Nara City
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    Adult ¥2,000; late-entry adult ¥1,500 (after 4:00 PM Mon–Thu, 5:00 PM Fri/Sat/Sun/public holidays). Conditional venue sales add ¥200 per ticket.
    Reservation
    Normally a timed ticket must be purchased in advance, except eligible free visitors. Online sales run until the chosen entry slot begins, or sell out earlier. Same-day venue tickets exist only if slots remain. Lecture and special-tenugui ticket packages are sold out; normal ticket inventory has not been checked.
    Official site
  9. Tōrin-in: Bontō Lantern Night

    Seasonal moment

    Some 800 candles sit on hand-made Bontō tiles and old roof tiles, lighting the white sand and moss garden at night.

    Opening hours
    6:00–8:30 PM (last reception 8:00 PM)
    Address
    Tōrin-in, a subtemple of Myoshin-ji
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    ¥800 admission; an optional tea seating with a sweet is ¥600 extra.
    Reservation
    The current official listing does not specify a reservation requirement, booking channel or deadline.
    Official site
  10. Seasonal moment

    About 350 maples line Hideyoshi's historic rampart; the Kamiya River and vermilion Uguisu Bridge frame the scenery.

    Opening hours
    Day 9 AM–4 PM; light-up dusk–8 PM
    Address
    Odoi Historic Earthen Rampart, Kitano Tenmangu
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    Adults/middle-school and older ¥1,500; children ¥700; preschool free. Includes a Hideyoshi tea-gathering sweet.
    Reservation
    The official event page does not list a booking channel or deadline.
    Official site
  11. Seasonal moment

    Visitors can enter an inner passage normally reserved for monks and view the main statue of Shō-Kannon. A maple festival nearby offers food and a free prize drawing.

    Opening hours
    9:00 AM–4:00 PM; inner sanctum 10:00 AM–3:30 PM
    Address
    Yokawa area, Enryaku-ji, Mount Hiei
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    The special inner-sanctum viewing has no added fee; the standard Enryaku-ji pilgrimage admission of ¥1,000 still applies.
    Reservation
    The current official event listing does not state a reservation requirement, booking channel or deadline.
    Official site
  12. Myoren-ji: Marugoto Museum

    Seasonal moment

    The 16-Arhat dry garden features the Gagyūishi stone; the event also displays Tōhaku-school screens and contemporary art, with a separate illuminated evening visit.

    Opening hours
    Day 10:00 AM–4:30 PM (last 4:00 PM); night 6:00–8:30 PM (last 8:00 PM)
    Address
    Myoren-ji Temple, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    ¥800 for daytime; ¥1,000 for a combined day-and-evening ticket. Elementary school children and younger, and visitors with a disability certificate, are free.
    Reservation
    The current organizer announcement does not state a reservation requirement or booking deadline.
    Official site