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Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji & Kitano

Northwest Kyoto: Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji, Ninna-ji and Kitano Tenmangu, with Daitoku-ji to the east. Recent events and places open any time are below.

Autumn leaves season

10/2012/13

Darker = more of the places here are in their usual peak window (Kyoto City Tourism Association). This is a usual-year guide, not this year’s colour.

  • 9/18–12/6Jukō-in 460th-anniversary opening(9:30–15:30, ¥1,000)
  • 10/3–12/15Kōrin-in special opening(10:00–16:30, ¥800; until 15 Dec)
  • 10/9–12/6Ōbai-in autumn opening(10:00–15:45, ¥1,000; closed 28 Oct)
  • 10/10–11/30Sōken-in autumn opening(10:00–16:00, ¥800; closed 4, 5, 21, 22 Nov)
  • 10/24–12/13Ninna-ji illumination(Fri, Sat, Sun and holidays, 18:30–21:00, ¥2,800; closed 8 and 28 Nov)
  • 10/31–12/6Kitano Tenmangū Momiji-en(Night illumination from 13 Nov, ¥1,500)

After dark

Eat (dietary-friendly, open in the evening)

  • 大徳寺一久Shojin ryori · Vegetarian · until 18:00
  • AjiroShojin ryori · Vegetarian · until 19:00
  • 京料理 花ごころ(妙心寺派花園会館)Vegetarian · until 21:00

Events & experiences

Markets

  • Oct 25–Dec 25Kitano Tenmangu Flea Market (Tenjin-san)Kitano Tenmangu
  • Nov 1–Jan 1Imamiya Shrine Handicraft Flea MarketImamiya Shrine
  • Jan 25Kitano Tenmangu Hatsu-Tenjin (First Tenjin Market of the Year)Kitano Tenmangu

Festivals

  • Until Nov 30Shichi-Go-San at Kitano TenmanguKitano Tenmangu
  • Oct 24–Dec 13EveningNinna-ji Temple Autumn Night ViewingNinna-ji
  • Nov 21–Nov 24Umeshu Matsuri in Kyoto 2026 (Plum Wine Festival)Kitano Tenmangu
  • Dec 7–Dec 8Jodo-e and Daikon-daki at Senbon Shaka-do (Daihoon-ji)Daihoon-ji Temple (Senbon Shakado)
  • Dec 31EveningKitano Tenmangu: Joyasai and Kiribisai (New Year's Eve)Kitano Tenmangu
  • Jan 1–Jan 3Kitano Tenmangu Shrine: New Year Visit (Hatsumode)Kitano Tenmangu
1 more
  • Feb 25Kitano Tenmangu Baika-sai (Plum Festival)Kitano Tenmangu

Exhibitions

  • Until Nov 30The Hiroshima Panels: A Space to Think Together About the FutureKyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University
  • Until Nov 30Daitoku-ji Soken-in: Autumn Special OpeningSoken-in (Daitoku-ji)
  • Until Dec 6Momiji Garden at the Historic Midoi EarthworkKitano Tenmangu
  • Until Dec 6Daitokuji Jukoin 460th Anniversary Special OpeningJukoin (Daitoku-ji)
  • Until Dec 6Daitoku-ji Obai-in: Autumn Special OpeningObai-in (Daitoku-ji)
  • Until Dec 6Autumn Special Viewing & Illumination at Kitano TenmanguKitano Tenmangu
1 more
  • Until Dec 15Daitoku-ji Korin-in: Autumn Special OpeningKorin-in (Daitoku-ji)

Experiences

  • Dec 4–Dec 13EveningNinna-ji Autumn Leaves Unkai Light-upNinna-ji
  • Nov 8–Jan 8Myōshin-ji Ichizankai Monthly ZazenMyoshin-ji Daihojo
  • Nov 10–Jan 10Taishu Zendo Zazen Sessions at Myoshin-jiMyoshin-ji
  • Jan 2–Jan 4Fudehajime-sai and Tenmagaki (New Year calligraphy before the deity)Kitano Tenmangu
  • Any timeDaisen-in Private Zazen (Daitoku-ji)
  • Any timeCamellia Garden Teahouse Private Tea Ceremony
7 more
  • Any timeShared Tea Ceremony Session at Tea Ceremony Koto
  • Any timeHitotsubu no Zen (Candy Zen) at Taizo-in, Myoshin-ji
  • Any timeTaizoin Zen Meditation for International Groups
  • Any timeTea Ceremony Experience at Tondaya, Nishijin Museum of Living
  • Any timeHanazono Kaikan (Myoshin-ji Temple Lodging)
  • Any timeKissako Zen and Tea Experience (Shunkoin)
  • Any timeThe Way of Zen Special Zen Temple Experience (Shunkoin)

Before you go

12/29–01/03
City buses run on a holiday timetable over New Year. ↗