KyochikaKyotoKYOCHIKA KYOTO← Tokyo
See more events
Festival & seasonal eventNov 7 (Sat) – Dec 6 (Sun)

Eizan Railway Autumn Slow Run & Illumination (Momiji Tunnel)

KC
Ichihara
Momiji Tunnel, Eizan Railway Kurama Line (between Ichihara and Ninose)
Dates
Nov 7 (Sat) – Dec 6 (Sun)
Hours
16:30 – 21:00 (details on the official site)
Price
Regular Eizan Railway fare only (no reservation)
Where
Momiji Tunnel, Eizan Railway Kurama Line (between Ichihara and Ninose) (Ichihara)
Pochikichi
Here's the highlight

About 280 maples along a 250 m stretch, seen from the window

Good to know

Open until21:00from 16:30
PriceRegular Eizan Railway fare only (no rese

On the Kurama Line between Ichihara and Ninose stations, about 280 Japanese maples line roughly 250 m of track. Trains slow down through this 'maple tunnel', and after dark it is lit up: catch trains leaving Demachiyanagi from about 4:30 PM or Kurama from about 4:49 PM. The period may be extended depending on the foliage.

Dates
Nov 7 (Sat) – Dec 6 (Sun)
Hours
16:30 – 21:00 (details on the official site)
Venue
Momiji Tunnel, Eizan Railway Kurama Line (between Ichihara and Ninose)
Nearest station
Ichihara
Admission
Regular Eizan Railway fare only (no reservation)

About this event

The Momiji Tunnel is autumn foliage you can only see from inside a train. On the Eizan Railway Kurama Line between Ichihara and Ninose, about 280 Japanese and full-moon maples crowd both sides of a roughly 250 m stretch of track. During this season, trains slow down through the section, and after sunset the whole tunnel is illuminated. According to the railway, the leaves turn from green to yellow and orange in early November and deepen to crimson by late November. It is about 20 minutes from Demachiyanagi on a Kurama-bound train. The panoramic 'Kirara' train gets crowded, but regular cars pass through the same stretch.

Highlights

  • About 280 maples along a 250 m stretch, seen from the window
  • Trains slow down only in this section
  • Illuminated after dark, from about 4:30 PM departures at Demachiyanagi
  • Deep crimson by late November, says the railway
  • Visible from the 'Kirara' panoramic train or regular cars
Good for
Anyone heading to Kibune or Kurama who wants to see autumn leaves at night too.

Good to know before you go

  • A regular ticket is all you need; no reservation.
  • It can only be seen from inside the train, not from outside.
  • The 'Kirara' train gets crowded, and times can change for inspections.
  • The period may be extended depending on the foliage.

Next stop: book for later today PR

Experiences near here you can book on Klook.

Yuzen DyeingYuzen dyeing in a historic machiya→Kintsugi WorkshopKintsugi repair experience→

Ad: Klook affiliate links.

🍜 Where to eat after

Restaurants near here on Google Maps→

Many restaurants in Kyoto take reservations, and some are cash only. Check the restaurant page before you go.

FAQ

What is Eizan Railway Autumn Slow Run & Illumination (Momiji Tunnel)?
The Momiji Tunnel is autumn foliage you can only see from inside a train. On the Eizan Railway Kurama Line between Ichihara and Ninose, about 280 Japanese and full-moon maples crowd both sides of a roughly 250 m stretch of track. During this season, trains slow down through the section, and after sunset the whole tunnel is illuminated. According to the railway, the leaves turn from green to yellow and orange in early November and deepen to crimson by late November. It is about 20 minutes from Demachiyanagi on a Kurama-bound train. The panoramic 'Kirara' train gets crowded, but regular cars pass through the same stretch.
When is Eizan Railway Autumn Slow Run & Illumination (Momiji Tunnel)?
From Nov 7 (Sat) to Dec 6 (Sun), 2026.
What are the opening hours?
16:30 – 21:00 (details on the official site)
How much does it cost?
Regular Eizan Railway fare only (no reservation)
Where is it and what is the nearest station?
Momiji Tunnel, Eizan Railway Kurama Line (between Ichihara and Ninose). The nearest station is Ichihara.

More in Kyoto

  • Festival & seasonal event

    Satoyama Culture Festival: Meet the World's Trees in a Forest Like a Botanical Garden at Kamigamo Experimental Station

    Kamigamo Experimental Station, Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University (Kitayama Sta.)

    Nov 14 (Sat) 10:00 – 16:00 (details on the official site)

    Free admission (some booths are paid)

    A family forest-education day at a Kyoto University research forest with about 750 tree species. Hands-on booths include shrine-carpenter work, a forestry shooting game and Kitayama cedar magnet making. Forest walks (15 people each) need advance booking.

    Details →
  • Festival & seasonal event

    Myomanji Temple Year-End Bell Ringing

    Myomanji Temple (Iwakura Sta.)

    Dec 31 (Thu) 15:00 – 17:00

    Check the official website for prices

    An early evening year-end bell-ringing ceremony held instead of the traditional midnight New Year's Eve ringing. The first 108 participants who make an offering receive an Anchin and Kiyohime bell amulet.

    Details →
  • Nov 25 (Wed) – Dec 25 (Fri) 17:00 – 23:00

    Free viewing

    A festive Christmas courtyard installation celebrating the hotel's 40th anniversary. A symbolic Christmas tree and illuminations decorate the circular courtyard designed by architect Togo Murano.

    Details →
  • Festival & seasonal event

    Countdown & New Year — Welcome 2027 with Lights of Good Fortune at The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike

    The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike (Kokusaikaikan Sta.)

    Dec 31 (Thu) – Jan 31 (Sun) 17:00 – 23:00

    Free illumination viewing

    Good-luck decorations carrying visitors' wishes adorn the courtyard's symbolic tree. A New Year's Eve countdown is planned, along with decoration-making experiences over two days through New Year's Day.

    Details →
  • Festival & seasonal event

    Kifune Shrine Autumn Leaves Illumination

    Kifune Shrine, main approach to the Main Shrine (Kibuneguchi Sta.)

    Nov 7 (Sat) – Nov 24 (Tue) Lit from sunset until 8:30 PM

    Free

    The autumn leaves along the main approach to Kifune Shrine's Main Shrine are lit up from sunset. Admission is free; the amulet office is open 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

    Details →
  • Oct 31 (Sat) – Dec 6 (Sun) Reception 9:30 to 16:00

    Adults 1,000 yen, junior high and high school students 500 yen (elementary age and under free with a guardian)

    Opened to the public for the first time in this autumn's special openings: exhibits and commentary on the history of the tea ceremony and its tea gatherings, plus a chance to step inside a small tea room. 5 minutes on foot from Kitayama Station on the Karasuma subway line.

    Details →

See all events in Kyoto → · This page in Japanese

Every Thursday we post picks for the Tokyo weekend on Instagram at @kyochika.tokyo. Add this site to your home screen to open it like an app.

We list events we could confirm on the official page or official Instagram of the venue or organiser. Details can change, tickets sell out and venues close, so check the official page before you go. Distances are straight-line and travel times are rough estimates. Photos show the venue or its surroundings, not the event itself. Titles and descriptions are our own translations from Japanese. This site contains affiliate links (ads).