When is the Chishaku-in autumn light-up?

It runs from November 7 to December 6, 2026.

What time does the event open and close?

Opening hours are 17:00–21:00, with last admission at 20:40.

How much is admission?

Adult admission is ¥1,500 including tax. Elementary-school-age children and younger enter free.

Does a priority ticket eliminate all waiting?

No. It lets you bypass the on-site ticket counter and use dedicated reception, but entry may still involve a wait when the venue is busy.

Do I need an account to book through EX Travel Reservations?

Yes. EX Express Reservation or Smart EX membership is required to purchase through the service.

Can I buy a ticket at the temple?

Yes. General admission tickets are sold at the on-site ticket counter on the day.

When does premium seating start, and what does it cost?

Premium seating is scheduled to start on November 14, 2026. The ticket costs ¥6,500 including tax, food and drinks, with sittings at 17:00–18:30 and 19:00–20:30.

Does the free shuttle run every day?

No. It runs on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the event, between Kyoto Station’s Hachijo Exit and Chishaku-in.

Kyoto Chishaku-in Autumn Light-Up: Tickets and Free Bus

Name: Chisan Autumn Leaves Light-up
Start: 2026-11-07T17:00:00+09:00
End: 2026-12-06T21:00:00+09:00
Location: Chishaku-in Temple

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Key takeawaysChishaku-in Temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama lights up its autumn foliage from November 7 to December 6, 2026, with drifting mist and around 3,000 bamboo lights. Hours run 17:00–21:00, and adult admission is ¥1,500, while elementary-school-age children and younger enter free. A free shuttle links Kyoto Station’s Hachijo Exit with the temple on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Updated November 5, 2026

A temple visit after dark can be the final stop on a Kyoto sightseeing day. Chisan Autumn Leaves Light-up (智山紅葉月) runs from November 7 to December 6, 2026 at Chishaku-in Temple (総本山智積院), pairing illuminated autumn foliage with drifting mist and around 3,000 bamboo lights.

Admission is ¥1,500 for adults, while elementary-school-age children and younger enter free. Advance priority tickets let you bypass the on-site ticket counter, and a free shuttle connects the temple with Kyoto Station on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the event.

Check priority admission tickets

Dates, hours and admission

Event	Chisan Autumn Leaves Light-up
Dates	November 7–December 6, 2026
Hours	17:00–21:00; last admission at 20:40
Venue	Chishaku-in Temple, Higashiyama, Kyoto
Address	964 Higashikawara-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 605-0951, Japan
Admission	Adults: ¥1,500, tax included Elementary-school-age children and younger: free
Organizer / production and operations	Blayn Co., Ltd. (ブレイン株式会社), responsible for overall creative direction and operations
Supported by	JR Central and Kyoto City Tourism Association

Chisan Autumn Leaves Light-up poster showing a temple hall, autumn foliage and bamboo lights — Image: Central Japan Railway Company, via its PR TIMES press release. All supplied images are illustrative.

The event takes place in the grounds of Chishaku-in, the head temple of the Chisan school of Shingon Buddhism. For event updates, use the official Chisan Autumn Leaves Light-up website.

How priority tickets work

JR Central sells priority admission through EX Travel Reservations (ＥＸ旅先予約). With an advance reservation, you can use a dedicated reception point to enter the paid area without joining the queue at the ticket counter.

Priority admission does not guarantee immediate entry. You may still need to wait when the venue is busy.

Purchasing through this service requires EX Express Reservation or Smart EX membership.
Sales may close once the planned ticket allocation is reached.
General admission tickets are also sold at the venue on the day.

The advance option is useful if you already know which evening you want to visit and would prefer to arrange admission before arriving. The official ticket listing provides the available plans.

For a separate future rail trip, our EX Hayatoku New Year Shinkansen sale guide covers that offer’s fares and booking deadlines. It is a separate promotion from this temple admission ticket.

What to see after dark

Mist along the approach and illuminated autumn leaves

The long approach to the temple and the area around the bell tower combine foliage lighting with a mist-generated sea of clouds. Lanterns and softly lit leaves form part of the evening scene, with the temple buildings providing the backdrop.

Lantern-lined temple approach with drifting mist and an illuminated hall in the distance — Image: Central Japan Railway Company, via its PR TIMES press release. Illustrative image.

Chishaku-in bell tower surrounded by autumn leaves beside a path lined with bamboo lights — Image: Central Japan Railway Company, via its PR TIMES press release. Illustrative image.

Around 3,000 bamboo lights

Bamboo lighting extends through the grounds, complementing the foliage and the main hall. Near the hall, the Goma Dojo area has a photo spot where visitors can stand among the lights.

A field of glowing bamboo lights across the temple grounds with the main hall behind — Image: Central Japan Railway Company, via its PR TIMES press release. Illustrative image.

The creative team also worked on Arashiyama Tsuki Toro and Toji Tsuki Kairo. Here, the setting brings together the temple’s long paths, bell tower and main hall, giving each part of the grounds a different view after sunset.

Autumn foliage and bamboo lights along a temple path with the main hall to the right — Image: Central Japan Railway Company, via its PR TIMES press release. Illustrative image.

Leaf colour and peak foliage depend on the weather. The supplied images show illustrative scenes rather than a guarantee of conditions on your chosen date.

Premium seating with food and drinks

If you would like to sit down for food and drinks as part of the evening, a premium-seat priority admission ticket is also planned. Service is scheduled to begin on November 14, later than the light-up itself.

Illustrative premium-seat refreshments with matcha, Mont Blanc dessert, Japanese sweets and tea on a red lacquered tray — Image: Central Japan Railway Company, via its PR TIMES press release. Example refreshments; illustrative image.

Scheduled start	November 14, 2026
First sitting	17:00–18:30
Second sitting	19:00–20:30
Ticket price	¥6,500, including tax, food and drinks

The standard ticket suits a visit focused on walking through the illuminated grounds. The premium option adds reserved seating with food and drinks; the photograph shows an example of the refreshments.

View admission and premium-seat plans

Free shuttle and other access options

From Kyoto Station on weekends and public holidays

A free shuttle runs between JR Kyoto Station’s Hachijo Exit and Chishaku-in on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the event. Board at the sightseeing bus boarding area in front of Avanti.

Shuttle operating-day calendar and map of the Kyoto Station boarding point in front of Avanti — Image: Central Japan Railway Company, via its PR TIMES press release. Shuttle calendar and boarding-point guide.

Outbound and return shuttle timetable between Kyoto Station and Chishaku-in Temple — Image: Central Japan Railway Company, via its PR TIMES press release. Shuttle timetable.

Check the official shuttle timetable and boarding information when planning your arrival and return journey.

Public transport alternatives

From JR Kyoto Station: approximately 20 minutes by bus and on foot combined.
From Higashiyama Nanajo bus stop: approximately three minutes on foot.
From Shichijo Station on the Keihan Railway: approximately 10 minutes on foot.

The event asks visitors to use public transport. Use the officially linked venue map to locate the temple.

If this evening visit is part of a longer holiday around Japan, our Yuchelin three-star onsen overview offers ideas for a hot-spring stop. For accommodation-focused inspiration, see the separate guide to Michelin Key hot-spring stays in Japan.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Chishaku-in autumn light-up?: It runs from November 7 to December 6, 2026.
What time does the event open and close?: Opening hours are 17:00–21:00, with last admission at 20:40.
How much is admission?: Adult admission is ¥1,500 including tax. Elementary-school-age children and younger enter free.
Does a priority ticket eliminate all waiting?: No. It lets you bypass the on-site ticket counter and use dedicated reception, but entry may still involve a wait when the venue is busy.
Do I need an account to book through EX Travel Reservations?: Yes. EX Express Reservation or Smart EX membership is required to purchase through the service.
Can I buy a ticket at the temple?: Yes. General admission tickets are sold at the on-site ticket counter on the day.
When does premium seating start, and what does it cost?: Premium seating is scheduled to start on November 14, 2026. The ticket costs ¥6,500 including tax, food and drinks, with sittings at 17:00–18:30 and 19:00–20:30.
Does the free shuttle run every day?: No. It runs on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the event, between Kyoto Station’s Hachijo Exit and Chishaku-in.

Event details may change. Before travelling, check the official event page and the shuttle information for your visit.

Check tickets for your Kyoto visit

Source: JR Central’s November 4, 2026 press release. Venue address also confirmed in Chishaku-in’s official venue document.