Doshisha University Christmas Illumination

Before you go

An annual Christmas event run by Doshisha University's Center for Christian Culture. The lighting ceremony takes place on the evening of 20 November in Sanktas Court, the courtyard north of the west gate on the Imadegawa campus; the illumination then stays lit nightly until Christmas Day. Both the ceremony and the illuminations are open to the public, and the official page lists no ticketing or reservation.

Getting there

Address: Imadegawa-dori Karasuma Higashi-iru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto (602-8580). The ceremony takes place around the Himalayan cedar in Sanktas Court, north of the west gate. There is no parking on campus; the university asks visitors to use public transport.

Crowds

The ceremony lasts only about 30 minutes — arrive early if you want to see the lighting moment. It goes ahead in rain; severe weather may cancel it, so check official notices before heading out.

Good for

For people who enjoy Christmas illuminations, historic campus architecture and evening strolls. No Japanese needed to enjoy it.

How it differs

Unlike shrine or shopping-district winter illuminations, this is a campus Christmas event centred on a living cedar tree and organised by the university's Christian culture centre. The lighting moment happens only at the 20 November ceremony; on other evenings you can see the lights but there is no ceremony.

The Himalayan cedar has served as the Imadegawa campus Christmas tree since 2014; the university describes it as a well-loved winter sight in Kyoto. It stands in Sanktas Court, framed by the Shoei-kan, Doshisha Chapel and Ryoshin-kan. A sister ceremony is held at the Kyotanabe campus on Monday 30 November 2026 at 16:45, with illuminations there running until 4 January 2027.