I’m Risu, a blogger who wants to enjoy sightseeing in Kyoto without spending a lot of money!
This time, I went on a date to see the illuminated autumn leaves at Toji Temple, so I’d like to share what it was like!
Kyoto is famous for its autumn leaves in the fall, but the illuminated autumn leaves at Toji Temple are particularly impressive!
Details of the event are here ↓
(The light-up event costs 1000 yen per person to visit. Enjoying this magnificent view for only 1000 yen is the best value for money!)
| Official site | Toji Temple |
|---|---|
| Event Schedule | November 1, 2023 (Wed) – December 10, 2023 (Sun) |
| Time | Time: 18:00-21:30 (reception open until 21:00) |
| Admission fee | Adults 1000 yen Children 500 yen (junior high school students and above) |
| Parking Fee | Large buses 2000 yen Passenger cars 1000 yen Motorcycles 200 yen Bicycles free |
| Location | 1 Kujo-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Access | 10 minutes walk from Toji Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line |
- The autumn leaves are simply beautiful!
- The atmosphere is romantic and perfect for a date
- The five-story pagoda is also beautiful and can be viewed
- There is a teahouse so you can enjoy rice dumplings instead of flowers (autumn leaves)
- All this for just 1000 yen per person is a bargain!
The fascinating history and culture of Toji Temple
Toji Temple is a national treasure located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, and was founded in the Heian period.
The historical architecture harmonizes with the beautiful garden, and its beauty is truly that of a traditional Japanese temple.
The autumn leaves are of course beautiful, but the five-story pagoda is also a spectacular sight!
Event Outline
Toji Temple’s autumn foliage illuminations usually take place from mid-November to early December!
We recommend you check the official website for the latest and most accurate schedule before visiting.
By the way, here is the outline of the 2023 event:
Summary of this year’s (2023) event
Period
November 1st (Wed) – December 10th (Sun)
Time
18:00 – 21:30
(reception open until 21:00)
Admission fee
Adults 1000 yen
Children 500 yen (junior high school students and younger)
Access and congestion
Toji Temple is located in Kyoto city and has easy transportation access!
It is a 10-minute walk from the nearest station, and there is a car park and bicycle parking lot.
However, it gets very crowded during the autumn leaves illumination period, so if you want to avoid the crowds, we recommend visiting on a weekday or late at night.
(The writer was there from 7pm to 8:30pm on a Sunday, but the number of people started to thin out around 8pm!)
It was generally crowded until around 8pm.
There were a few popular photo spots, but the line for the most popular one was about 10 minutes!
It was generally crowded until around 8pm.
There were a few popular photo spots, but the line for the most popular one was about 10 minutes!
Access
Location
1 Kujo-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Nearest station
10-minute walk from Toji Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line
Parking
Large buses 2,000 yen, passenger cars 1,000 yen
Bicycle parking
Motorcycles 200 yen, bicycles free
The beauty of autumn leaves
The illuminated garden has a tranquil and elegant atmosphere, almost like being in a dream!
Here are some photos!
A cup of tea in a traditional tea room
A teahouse will also be set up at Toji Temple during the light-up event!
You can enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves while sipping matcha here.
However, it is best to go early as it may get very busy or sell out depending on the time of day!
(The writer went around 8pm, and many items were already sold out by this time…)
Other facilities
There is also a sales area selling amulets, prayer beads, souvenirs, etc.
There are several types of fortune slips available, and you can also write a votive plaque on them.
You can also visit the Kondo and Kodo Halls, which are home to many important cultural properties such as Buddhist statues, for free. (Photography is not permitted inside the halls.)
There are also vending machines, benches and restrooms.
Notes on clothing and belongings
The autumn leaves light-up event takes place at night, so it’s very cold!
Be sure to dress warmly and take precautions against the cold.
Also, if you want to take photos, it’s useful to have a tripod! And be sure to charge your camera and smartphone!
summary
The illuminated autumn leaves at Toji Temple are the perfect opportunity to experience autumn in Japan!
Spending a magical evening in this beautiful place where history and nature coexist in harmony was a wonderful and memorable experience.
If you visit, be sure to keep the above points in mind and enjoy a comfortable autumn evening!
| Official site | Toji Temple |
|---|---|
| Event Schedule | November 1, 2023 (Wed) – December 10, 2023 (Sun) |
| Time | Time: 18:00-21:30 (reception open until 21:00) |
| Admission fee | Adults 1000 yen Children 500 yen (junior high school students and above) |
| Parking Fee | Large buses 2000 yen Passenger cars 1000 yen Motorcycles 200 yen Bicycles free |
| Location | 1 Kujo-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Access | 10 minutes walk from Toji Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line |