This temple is nicknamed the “bell-flower temple” for its moss garden has a large number of purple and white Chinese bell flowers blooming in early autumn. The well-known “inverted bell” window shape comes in fact from the shape of these flowers.

Our comment

This is definitely not a large temple. It has one main moss garden of the “Karesansui” type (dry landscape). A beautiful moss covers the grounds, with satsuki rhododendrons and a few rocks here and there. A few trees nicely lock the perspective to make the place more… Zen. This garden can usually only be seen in early autumn. The photo with the “inverted bell” window, the stone lantern and the flowers is considered a classic.

The Temple is located about 7-min. walk from JR Nara Line or Keihan Train Tofukuji Station.

You can also take Kyoto City Bus #208 and get off at Tofukuji;

Tel: 075-561-5239;

Website:  www.tentokuin.jp/tera/

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/g8erPQzJPCq

Unryū-in is a sub-temple of the large Sennyū-ji Temple, located just north of Tofukuji Temple in the Southern part of the Higashiyama District. Founded in 1372, it was rebuilt after its destruction in the Ōnin War. The Hondō of 1646 is an Important Cultural Property. The Hōjō or abbot’s quarters also date from the Edo period. 

Our comment: 

This is a small, intimate temple. The light-up of this garden, as seen from inside the special shôji (paper doors) is beautiful. Not one of the larger and more famous temples, but a great option if you don’t want to be in the middle of the crowd.  

The Temple is located about 15 min. walk from JR Nara Line or Keihan Train Tofukuji Station.

You can also take Kyoto City Bus #208 and get off at Tofukuji;

Tel: 075-561-5239;

Website:  www.tentokuin.jp/tera/

See directions from Tofukuji Station to Unryuin ( https://goo.gl/maps/rjjGccaRBu92 ) in Google Maps.

There is no real need to present this temple as it is, without a doubt, the most popular one in Kyoto.  Go to our other web page for more information: https://mykyotomachiya.com/kiyomizu-dera/

Our comment:

During the peak tourist season, the access road to this temple becomes crowded beyond imagination. We highly suggest you go there late, say around 8 PM to avoid the crowd.

We also recommend you arrive via the Chawan-Zaka street, from the south of the temple, instead of the more popular Matsubara Dori or Kiyomizu-Zaka you reach if you follow the Ninen=Zaka / Sannei-Zaka route…

The temple is about 10 min walk from Gojo-zaka or Kiyomizu-michi Bus Stop, Kyoto City Bus 100 or 206 from Kyoto Station.

Tel: 075-551-1234

Website:  http://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/

See directions from Gojo-Zaka or Kiyomizu-michi bus stop to the temple, following the Gojo-zaka street, then taking a right at the Chawan-Zaka street up to the temple:  ( https://goo.gl/maps/xkF1zTF6bW12 ) in Google Maps.

Chion-In massive Sanmon gate is located just north of the Maruyama Park. The Temple and the garden are located behind it at the foot of Kachōzan, one of the mountains in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. This is a very large temple complex with numerous buildings that make up the Chion-in, the head temple of the Jōdo Shū (Pure Land Sect).

The Sanmon (Main Gate) (National Treasure) is illuminated in the evening and is one of the largest wooden tower gates in existence in Japan. It is magnificent.

Our comment: 

While this is, without a doubt, a beautiful temple with a nice light-up, with limited time available, we prefer to concentrate on Shoren-In which is located just a few minutes away. One suggestion is to arrive either on foot or by taxi in front of this Sanmon gate, enjoy the awesome view, and then walk on to the next temple going north.

By Bus: The temple is about 5 min walk from Chion-in-mae Bus Stop, Kyoto City Bus #206 from Kyoto Station (or from many of our machiya).

By train, Keihan Railway:  Chion-in is a ten minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station.

Tel: 075-531-2111

Website: http://www.chion-in.or.jp/e/

See directions from Chion-In Mae Bus Stop (#206) ( https://goo.gl/maps/dV2QRBS4dTE2 ) in Google Maps.

The Shoren-in temple holds special night visits and light shows every year in spring and autumn. The scenic light show is artistically elaborated with various lighting implements. At the light show, you will be able to see the relics of the graceful and elegant history of the temple. The circular pond garden, which is known for its elegance, is magnificently lit up.
During the show, one can also visit the interiors of the temple, followed by a leisurely walk in the lit-up garden.

From their web site:  At night, during the light show, the place appears to transform into a mysterious world—trees and flowers fading in the darkness, the five grand camphor trees (national natural monuments) majestically lit up, and a mandala of light, projected on the moss garden.  It appears as if the pure and sacred land comes to life.

Our comment: 

This is probably one of the best light-up we’ve seen in Kyoto.  It is extremely well done, without the excesses of Kodai-Ji Temple (which are also enjoyable and fun in their own way). The temple is not very large and if you’re lucky enough to not have too many visitors at the same time you are there, it is a great way to finish the evening.

Like for the other light-up, we suggest going there about one hour before the closing time to avoid the eventual crowd. 

By bus:  3 min walk from Jingu-michi Bus Stop, Kyoto City Bus #5, #46, or #100 from Kyoto Station
By Subway: 5 min walk from Higashiyama Station, Tozai subway line

Tel: 075-561-2345

Website: http://www.shorenin.com/english/index.html

See directions from Jingu-Michi Bus Stop ( https://goo.gl/maps/Mmo5x6Ku3wM2 ) or from Chion-In Sanmon gate in Google Maps.

Entokuin was built by Nene, the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, to mourn for her husband’s death in 1605. It is a sub-temple of Kodai-ji Temple, which sits just up the hill across Nene-no-Michi. Its garden is one of Kyoto’s finest.

The light-up ticket can be purchased together with the one for Kodai-ji.  Both light-ups are different in style and scale, and both are nice. 

For more information about Kodai-Ji, check out our other web page: https://mykyotomachiya.com/kodai-ji-temple/

Our comment: 

While Kodai-Ji Temple, its garden, and its light-up are big in scale and extremely popular (and crowded), Entoku-In is smaller and quieter, hence can be more enjoyable.  The former offers a Disneyworld-like light show, a large garden to walk around, and a beautifully lit bamboo grove.  The latter is a more intimate, smaller, and quieter place, with one of Kyoto’s most beautiful gardens.  In addition, the place is full of beautiful paintings.   

By bus: 5 min walk from Higashiyama Yasui Bus Stop, Kyoto City Bus #206 from Kyoto Station or several of our machiya.

Tel: 075-525-0101

Website: http://www.kodaiji.com/entoku-in/pdf/entokuin_e.pdf

See directions from Higashiyama Yasui Bus Stop ( https://goo.gl/maps/HiRVHvAD6FE2 ) in Google Maps.

Kodai-ji Temple, located between Kiyomizu Temple and Maruyama Park, is one of the finest temples in the Southern Higashiyama Area.  It features a beautiful garden designed by Japan’s most famous garden designers (Kobori Enshu) and a tea house designed by the founder of the tea ceremony (Sen no Rikyu). Kodai-ji Temple hosts one of the most beautiful and fun nighttime illuminations held at the temple in the spring and fall. It is not a mere light-up, but a real Sound and Light show!

In addition, the illuminated bamboo grove here is also worth coming around.

For more information about Kodai-Ji, check out our other web pages:

https://mykyotomachiya.com/kodai-ji-temple/

and

https://mykyotomachiya.com/kodai-ji-temple-light-up/

 

Our comment: 

The light-up at the Kodai-Ji Temple is definitely one of the best in Kyoto. They have been doing it for a long time and it shows. Also, the scale goes beyond what is shown in most temples. Here, it is a real Sound and Light performance in addition to the usual lighting of the garden and the bamboo grove. A very pleasant experience. Be prepared to be in the middle of a large number of people as it is a very popular spot.

By bus: 5 min walk from Higashiyama Yasui Bus Stop, Kyoto City Bus #206 from Kyoto Station, or several of our machiya.

Tel: 075-525-0101

Website: http://www.kodaiji.com

See directions from Higashiyama Yasui Bus Stop ( https://goo.gl/maps/QZ2fSCFbVeq6LrzP8) in Google Maps.

Tenju-an is one of Nanzen-ji Temple’s Sub-temples in Northern Higashiyama. Its garden is superb, and it’s normal it has become one of the most visited gardens in the city, mainly during the Autumn.

Our comment: 

This absolutely is one of our all-time favorite gardens — it is spectacular in daylight during the Kôyô (Autumn) season, and again, it is an amazing spectacle by night with the light-up. We highly recommend a daytime visit as well as a night-time one. Expect a totally different atmosphere with the illuminated leaves against the night sky.

By subway: 5 min walk from Keage Station, Tozai subway line

By Bus: about 10 min from Heian Jingu Shrine (Bus #100)

Tel:  075-771-0744

See directions from Keage Subway station ( https://goo.gl/maps/FuuAshNS1HJ2 ) in Google Maps.

Eikando, formally known as Zenrin-ji Temple, belongs to the Jodo sect of Japanese Buddhism. Located just north of the large temple complex of Nanzen-ji, Eikando is a prime site for its autumn foliage colors. Needless to say, its evening illumination taking place in November is one of the most popular of them all.

Our comment: 

Probably our main recommendation for light up during the Autumn or Kôyô season or in other words – if you only visit one spot, this is the one! The place is extremely popular during this period and it is not rare to see a very long line of people waiting to get in right at the beginning of the night opening. The pond garden is rather large so the place can accommodate a lot of people, though. As with other places, we suggest you go there about one hour before closing time to avoid the crowd. 

The temple is located just north of of the Nanzen-Ji temple and can easily be reached on foot from there.

Tel: 075-761-0007

Website: http://www.eikando.or.jp/English/index_eng.html

See location ( https://goo.gl/maps/uGqPcRJZdtC2 ) in Google Maps.

Hôgon-In is another one of our favorite gardens, mainly during the Fall. It is a sub-temple of Tenryu-ji temple in Arashiyama (on the west part of the city). The temple’s large zen garden, called “the garden of the lion’s roar”, is only open to the public in spring and autumn.

Our comment: 

Another spectacular garden when lit up. Our expectations were pretty high, and we have not been disappointed. This is the garden where we’ve seen the most incredible red colors during the day, and the place is amazing by night with the proper illumination and atmosphere.

The temple is located in Arashiyama, right next to the famous Tenryu-Ji Temple. It is about 15min walk from JR Saga Arashiyama Train Station

Tel: 075-861-0091

See location ( https://goo.gl/maps/T1zH44AuWer ) in Google Maps.  

There is no real need to present the Toji Temple — it is one of the UNESCO sites and a landmark of Kyoto, with the tallest five-story Pagoda in Japan, its beautiful statues, its monthly flea market, and its gorgeous garden.

Our comment: 

The Fall light up of this garden is definitely on the same level as the one in April with the cherry blossoms, and it is magnificent. The garden is pretty large and we are not bothered by the presence of other people.  It is also one of the rare places in Kyoto allowing the usage of a tripod for night photography (I hope this won’t change). Highly recommended!

The temple is located south of the Kyoto station. It can be reached by train (about 5 min walk from Kintetsu Line Toji Station) or by bus (#207) from several of our machiya. 

Tel: 075-691-3325

Website: http://www.toji.or.jp/en/index.html

See location (https://goo.gl/maps/5ao65auKC7n ) in Google Maps.  

Kitano-Tenmangu Shrine is a large Shinto shrine that is very popular among students because of the belief that it can help in boosting exam scores. The shrine is famous for its plum garden which is one of the first ones to bloom in February or early March. 

Our comment: 

With the area along the river reflecting on the water, this illumination is well set and is quite different from the other illuminated gardens. I felt a more natural setting and loved the area around the red bridge. Too bad the shrine is quite far from other places.  

The shrine is located north of the Kyoto station, not far from Kinkaku-Ji, the Golden Pavilion.  It can be reached by bus #50 or #101 from Kyoto Station to Kitano-Tenmangu-mae Bus Stop.  

Tel: 075-461-0005

Website: http://kitanotenmangu.or.jp/top_en.php

See location (https://goo.gl/maps/9FUxnByKmsm ) in Google Maps.  

The Eizan Line train is a 30-minute scenic train trip out of Kyoto. This is the train one takes to go to Kurama and Kibune. During this short period in the Fall, part of the path is illuminated while the train goes by. It’s quite short, but it’s beautiful.

Kibune Shrine is a beautiful shrine in the mountain. The stairs leading to it are particularly nice, mainly when they are illuminated. The village is a good place for a quiet dinner in one of the numerous restaurants.

Our comment: 

You can combine this train ride with a visit to the Kibune Shrine which offers a light-up during the same period. It’s a good opportunity to spend a nice evening out of the city looking at something different. Alternatively, you could go there earlier and visit Kurama Onsen, do the hike between Kurama and Kibune, enjoy the illumination of the shrine, and return by one of the last trains offering the light up.

It’s actually pretty easy to catch this train and go to Kibune. You could even combine this with a hike going from Kurama to Kibune. Take the Eizan Line train that leaves from Demachiyanagi Station in Kyoto (which is, in turn, at the northern end of the Keihan Line, the line that runs along the Kamo-gawa River in Kyoto – you can easily get on this line at Tofukuji station, Shichijo station or Kiyomizu-Gojo station from one of our machiya). Ride it all the way to the Kibune-guchi stop (the one before the terminus, Kurama) and get on the bus waiting there to go to the village to visit the Shrine.

Board the same train line at Kibune-guchi Station and take it back to Demachiyanagi Station. 

Tel: 075-702-8111

See location (https://goo.gl/maps/hvDD44YDzBL2 ) in Google Maps.