Eikando (Zenrin-ji) in eastern Kyoto has been called "Momiji no Eikando" — Eikando of the maples — for centuries, and its evening light-up is the one Kyoto night viewing that people plan whole trips around. It is also the one that catches visitors out, because three rules work differently from what most people expect. This guide covers the 2026 dates and fees, those three rules, and how to time your visit. Everything below was checked on Eikando's official website on 27 October 2026.
The short version: the 2026 light-up runs November 20 to December 6, with entry from 17:30 to 20:30 for ¥1,000. Tickets are sold only at the gate on the day. If you visit in the daytime you will be asked to leave before the evening session — you cannot stay on. And tripods are banned.
Dates, hours and fees (2026)
| Session | Dates | Hours | Fee (adult) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evening light-up | Nov 20 – Dec 6 | 17:30–20:30 last entry, gates close 21:00 | ¥1,000 (junior high and above) |
| Daytime + temple treasure exhibition | Nov 11 – Dec 6 | 9:00–16:00 last entry, gates close 17:00 | ¥1,500 (university students ¥1,000, junior/senior high ¥800) |
| Normal daytime (rest of the year) | Outside the special period | 9:00–16:00 last entry | ¥1,000 |
If you can only choose one session, the evening is cheaper and is what most people come for. The daytime ticket is the better choice if you want to see the halls and the treasure exhibition, or if you want the maples in natural light for photos.
Three rules that catch visitors out
- No advance tickets. Eikando says it does not sell advance tickets for either the exhibition or the light-up. Tickets are bought at the gate on the day and are valid only that day — there is no reservation to make, and no online ticket to look for.
- Day and night are separate (changeover system). The daytime session and the evening light-up are run as separate sessions, so you cannot stay from the afternoon into the evening. Day visitors leave by 17:00; the evening session opens at 17:30 with a new ticket.
- No tripods or monopods. Both are banned anywhere in the grounds, to prevent falls and protect the moss. Selfie sticks are not allowed inside the halls and are discouraged in the garden when it is busy. You cannot photograph cultural properties inside the halls.
Two smaller things: bring a bag for your shoes (a shoe bag or a plastic shopping bag), because you take them off inside the halls; and you cannot eat, drink or smoke anywhere in the grounds.
When to arrive
Eikando itself warns that it expects very large crowds during the period, especially in the second half of November, and that it may bring the last entry time forward on busy evenings to manage the crowd. It does not publish wait times, so we cannot give you a number of minutes — but the calendar tells you most of what you need.
- Avoid November 21–23 if you can. In 2026 that is a Saturday, Sunday and the Labor Thanksgiving Day holiday on Monday — a three-day weekend for Japanese visitors, in the busiest part of the season.
- Weekdays are your best chance, and the closer to December 6 the more likely the leaves are past their best but the crowds thinner.
- Don't aim for the last entry. Because Eikando may close entry early on crowded evenings, arriving near 20:30 is a gamble. Aim for the first hour, or the middle of the evening on a weekday.
- If you visit by day too, plan the gap. Day visitors leave by 17:00 and the evening opens at 17:30. Use the time for dinner nearby rather than standing at the gate.
Getting there
| From | How | Time to walk |
|---|---|---|
| Keage Station (Tozai subway line) | Walk north past Nanzen-ji | About 15 minutes |
| Kyoto Station, Sanjo or Kawaramachi | City bus 5 to Nanzenji-Eikandomichi | 3 minutes from the stop |
| Jingu-Marutamachi Station (Keihan) | City bus 204 or 93 to Higashi-Tennocho | 8 minutes from the stop |
There is no parking for cars during the special period; the nearest is the Okazaki Park car park, about 20 minutes on foot. A taxi to the area works well after the light-up if you are heading back to Kyoto Station or Gion.
If the queue is too long: two backups nearby
If you arrive and the line is longer than you are willing to wait, you do not have to give up on a night viewing. Kodaiji, in Higashiyama near Gion, runs its light-up from October 23 to December 13 with last entry at 21:30, and it is not a changeover system — you can arrive in the afternoon and stay into the evening. Its fee is ¥800, the same day and night. It is about 15 minutes from Eikando by taxi. Closer by, Konkai Komyoji (Kurodani), a short walk north, is listed by the Kyoto city tourism site with an evening viewing from November 13 to December 6.
For a side-by-side view of the 2026 light-ups — Kiyomizu-dera, Kitano Tenmangu, Tofuku-ji and more — see our Kyoto autumn temples and shrines guide, and for when the colors peak across the country, the autumn foliage map.
When is the Eikando light-up in 2026?
From November 20 to December 6, 2026. Entry is from 17:30 to 20:30, and the gates close at 21:00.
How much is the Eikando night light-up?
¥1,000 for junior high school students and above. The daytime session with the temple treasure exhibition (November 11 to December 6) is ¥1,500 for adults.
Can I buy Eikando light-up tickets in advance?
No. Eikando does not sell advance tickets for the light-up or the exhibition. Tickets are sold at the gate on the day and are valid only that day.
Can I stay at Eikando from the daytime into the evening light-up?
No. The daytime and evening sessions are separate, so day visitors must leave by 17:00 and buy a new ticket for the evening session, which opens at 17:30.
Can I bring a tripod to Eikando?
No. Tripods and monopods are banned throughout the grounds. Selfie sticks are not allowed inside the halls and are discouraged in the garden when it is crowded.
When is Eikando least crowded during the light-up?
Eikando expects the biggest crowds in the second half of November. Weekdays are better than weekends, and November 21–23, 2026 is a three-day weekend in Japan. Eikando does not publish wait times.
