Festival & seasonal event in Kyoto
Countdown & New Year — Welcome 2027 with Lights of Good Fortune at The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike
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.
- Dates
- Dec 31 (Thu) – Jan 31 (Sun)
- Hours
- 17:00 – 23:00
- Venue
- The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike
- Nearest station
- Kokusaikaikan
- Admission
- Free illumination viewing
About this event
A symbolic tree in a hotel courtyard becomes a place for sharing hopes for the coming year. The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike's New Year illumination features Fukumusubi ornaments, each carrying a personal wish. Visitors can take part in an ornament-making workshop on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The decorations are then added to the tree, gradually creating a display of wishes from different people. A countdown event also takes place in the courtyard on New Year's Eve. Surrounded by architect Togo Murano's circular building, the installation offers a contemporary way to welcome the new year through the idea of human connection.
Highlights
- Fukumusubi wish ornaments decorating the symbolic tree
- Ornament-making workshops on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
- A New Year's Eve countdown gathering
- Lighting framed by Togo Murano's circular architecture
- Good for
- Families making New Year memories and international visitors spending the holiday in Kyoto.
Good to know before you go
- The ornament workshop has a separate participation fee.
- The countdown event is free to attend.
- Fukumusubi ornaments for the countdown are limited in number and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pochikichi's story cornerHow do circles and human connections become a New Year tradition?
Two meanings of the Japanese word en come together in this courtyard. One refers to the circular architecture designed by Togo Murano. The other means the bonds connecting people, communities and places.
The hotel opened in 1986 and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026. Its Circle of En installation uses materials such as timber, bamboo and kimono fabric to create seasonal decorations while emphasizing the value of reuse.
For New Year, visitors add Fukumusubi ornaments carrying their personal wishes. The same courtyard that hosted Christmas decorations becomes a place for thinking about the year ahead.
Kyoto's New Year celebrations are often associated with shrines and temples, but here contemporary architecture becomes the setting for a shared ritual. So when viewing the Fukumusubi lights, look at the symbolic tree where individual wishes come together.
Sources: The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike: Circle of En (Japanese), The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike: 40th Anniversary Architecture Feature (Japanese)
Long ago, around hereWhat kind of hotel was built at Takaragaike?
A hotel opened in the green surroundings of Takaragaike in 1986. Architect Togo Murano had visited the site in late 1983, imagining a building that would harmonize with the surrounding landscape.
Murano died before its completion, but his students continued his work. The circular hotel building, curved interiors and traditional sukiya-style teahouse in the garden all reflect his architectural vision.
Standing beside the Kyoto International Conference Center, the hotel has helped welcome visitors from around the world. So when walking through Takaragaike, look at the architecture that reflects Kyoto's development as a center of international exchange.
Sources: Togo Murano and 40 Years of The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike (Japanese), The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike Official Website (Japanese)
FAQ
- What is Countdown & New Year — Welcome 2027 with Lights of Good Fortune at The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike?
- A symbolic tree in a hotel courtyard becomes a place for sharing hopes for the coming year. The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike's New Year illumination features Fukumusubi ornaments, each carrying a personal wish. Visitors can take part in an ornament-making workshop on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The decorations are then added to the tree, gradually creating a display of wishes from different people. A countdown event also takes place in the courtyard on New Year's Eve. Surrounded by architect Togo Murano's circular building, the installation offers a contemporary way to welcome the new year through the idea of human connection.
- When is Countdown & New Year — Welcome 2027 with Lights of Good Fortune at The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike?
- From Dec 31 (Thu) to Jan 31 (Sun), 2027.
- What are the opening hours?
- 17:00 – 23:00
- How much does it cost?
- Free illumination viewing
- Where is it and what is the nearest station?
- The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike. The nearest station is Kokusaikaikan.
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