Festival & seasonal event in Kyoto
Autumn Special Opening: Night Viewing at Kurodani Konkai Komyo-ji
Maples reflected in the pond of the Shiun Garden, with the main hall, gate, bell tower and approach lit up. Live koto and shinobue performances three times each night. Last entry 8:00 PM.
- Dates
- Nov 13 (Fri) – Dec 6 (Sun)
- Hours
- 17:30 – 20:30
- Venue
- Kurodani Konkai Komyo-ji Temple
- Nearest station
- Keage
- Admission
- Main hall, Ohojo and Shiun Garden: adults ¥1,000, elementary ¥500; Eishoin: adults ¥800, elementary ¥400; both: adults ¥1,600, elementary ¥800
About this event
A second landscape of autumn leaves appears on the surface of the pond at Konkai Komyo-ji. The illuminated Shiun Garden is known for its reflected maple foliage. Lighting also highlights the main hall, temple gate, bell tower and approach paths. Traditional Japanese instruments, including koto and shinobue flute, are performed live three times each evening. The illumination also extends to Eishoin, which is opening for evening viewing for the first time. The temple is closely associated with Honen, founder of the Jodo school, and with the Aizu domain during the final years of the shogunate.
Highlights
- Reflected autumn foliage in Shiun Garden
- Illuminated temple gate and main hall
- Three live traditional music performances nightly
- First evening illumination at Eishoin
- Kibi Kannon and Monju Bosatsu statues
- Good for
- For travellers interested in autumn scenery, Japanese music and samurai-era history.
Good to know before you go
- Music begins at 17:45, 18:30 and 19:30, with each performance lasting 20 minutes.
- The premium guided admission option requires advance booking.
- Official listings differ on the premium plan's operating days; check the reservation page.
Pochikichi's story cornerWhy is Konkai Komyo-ji associated with the origins of the Shinsengumi?
The temple traces its beginnings to 1175, when Honen established a small religious retreat here at the age of 43. According to temple tradition, purple clouds and radiant light appeared across the hillside.
Centuries later, Matsudaira Katamori, lord of the Aizu domain and Kyoto's military commissioner, established his headquarters at the temple. This historical connection explains the site's association with the Shinsengumi.
The hillside also carries a religious meaning. Many of its more than 10,000 gravestones face west, towards the direction traditionally associated with the Buddhist Pure Land.
The name Shiun, or purple clouds, recalls the temple's founding legend. The garden's light evokes both religious history and the political events of late Edo-period Kyoto.
Sources: Konkai Komyo-ji: About the Temple (Japanese), Kyoto Prefecture Tourism Federation: Konkai Komyo-ji (Japanese)
Long ago, around hereWas Kurodani Hill once an Aizu military headquarters?
Honen established a religious retreat here in 1175, laying the foundations of the temple.
During the final years of the Edo period, Matsudaira Katamori used the complex as the headquarters of the Aizu domain's security operations in Kyoto. The site became closely connected with the Shinsengumi.
The temple remains a place of Buddhist worship. As you walk its grounds, notice the westward views and the buildings that witnessed these different chapters of history.
Sources: Konkai Komyo-ji: Temple History (Japanese), Kyoto Prefecture Tourism Federation: Konkai Komyo-ji (Japanese)
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FAQ
- What is Autumn Special Opening: Night Viewing at Kurodani Konkai Komyo-ji?
- A second landscape of autumn leaves appears on the surface of the pond at Konkai Komyo-ji. The illuminated Shiun Garden is known for its reflected maple foliage. Lighting also highlights the main hall, temple gate, bell tower and approach paths. Traditional Japanese instruments, including koto and shinobue flute, are performed live three times each evening. The illumination also extends to Eishoin, which is opening for evening viewing for the first time. The temple is closely associated with Honen, founder of the Jodo school, and with the Aizu domain during the final years of the shogunate.
- When is Autumn Special Opening: Night Viewing at Kurodani Konkai Komyo-ji?
- From Nov 13 (Fri) to Dec 6 (Sun), 2026.
- What are the opening hours?
- 17:30 – 20:30
- How much does it cost?
- Main hall, Ohojo and Shiun Garden: adults ¥1,000, elementary ¥500; Eishoin: adults ¥800, elementary ¥400; both: adults ¥1,600, elementary ¥800
- Where is it and what is the nearest station?
- Kurodani Konkai Komyo-ji Temple. The nearest station is Keage.
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