Go on a magical autumn leaves hunt ! 2016 Kyoto Maple Viewing “Complete Guide to Night Illuminations”

Reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Compiled Report

As autumn arrives, Japan’s annual maple leaf season, which moves from north to south, has quietly begun in Hokkaido. Kyoto has always been a popular city for maple viewing. In addition to admiring the brilliantly red leaves under the sunlight during the day, the night view of the maple leaves — transformed by illumination into a completely different, magical beauty — is also a highlight not to be missed. Below is a list of the illumination times for 21 “Kyoto Maple Viewing Night Light-Ups.” Consider adding them to your maple-chasing plans this year !

▲ The night illumination at Kiyomizu-dera Temple is very popular. (Photo / From Kiyomizu-dera’s Facebook page)

1. Kiyomizu-dera Temple　
Illumination Dates : November 12 – December 4
Time : 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Admission : 400 yen

2. Kiyomizu-dera Seiryu-en Garden　
Illumination Dates : November 18 – December 4
Time : 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Admission : 600 yen

3. Kiyomizu-dera Kōdai-ji Temple　
Illumination Dates : October 21 – December 11
Time : Sunset – 8:30 PM
Admission : 600 yen

4. Entsu-ji Temple　
Illumination Dates : October 21 – December 11
Time : 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Admission : 500 yen

▲ Night view of maple leaves at Eikan-do. (Photo / From Eikan-do’s official website)

5. Eikan-do Temple　
Illumination Dates : November 8 – December 4
Time : 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Admission : 600 yen

▲ Illumination at Shoren-in Temple. (Photo / From Shoren-in’s official website)

6. Shoren-in Temple　
Illumination Dates : October 28 – December 4
Time : 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Admission: 800 yen

▲Shoren-in Monzeki General's Mound Seiryuden. (Photo / from the official website of Shoren-in Monzeki)

7. General's Mound Seiryuden　
Illumination dates: October 28 to December 4
Time: 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Admission: 500 yen

8. Tensho-an　
Illumination dates: November 15 to November 30
Time: 5:00 PM to 8:45 PM
Admission: 500 yen

9. Former Saga Imperial Palace Head Temple Daikaku-ji　
Illumination dates: November 11 to December 4
Time: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Admission: 500 yen

▲Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. (Photo / from the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine Facebook page)

10. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine Maple Garden　
Illumination dates: November 12 to December 4
Time: Sunset to 8:00 PM
Admission: 700 yen (includes tea and wagashi)

▲To-ji Temple Night Illumination. (Photo / from the To-ji Temple official website)

11. To-ji Temple　
Illumination dates: October 28 to December 4
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Admission: 800 yen

12. Chion-in　
Illumination dates: November 3 to December 4
Time: 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Admission: 800 yen

13. Hosshoji　
Illumination dates: November 11 to December 4
Time: 5:30 PM to 8:15 PM
Admission: 600 yen

▲Maple leaves along the Arashiyama Train Line are illuminated. (Photo / Reporter Cai Wenjun)

14. Sagano Romantic Train (Arashiyama Train)　
Illumination dates: October 15 to December 4
Time: 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Ticket: 620 yen one way

▲The S Ryogetsu train offers views of abundant red leaves. (Photo / Provided by S Ryogetsu, Photo by Kimura Yasuhiro)