1Toji Temple (Kyoogokokuji Temple)

At night, the five-story pagoda, a national treasure, is lit up beautifully. The combination of the autumn leaves and the pagoda is a spectacular sight.

This temple boasts the tallest wooden tower in Japan and is home to a five-story pagoda (a national treasure) that can be said to be a symbol of Kyoto. Conveniently located within walking distance of Kyoto Station, it is one of the most popular tourist spots in the city.

Its cultural value as the only remaining remnant of Heian-kyo in Kyoto was recognized, and in 1994 it was registered as a World Heritage Site as part of the "Cultural Monuments of Ancient Kyoto."

There are about 250 maple trees planted within the spacious grounds, and in late autumn you can see the historic buildings and autumn leaves collaborating. In particular, the contrast between the autumn leaves around the gourd pond in the center of the strolling garden and the five-story pagoda is a must-see.

Every year from November to mid-December, the autumn leaves are illuminated and special nighttime viewings of the Kondo and Lecture Hall are held. The five-story pagoda, illuminated by light, looks stunning as it floats in the darkness. The illuminated leaves are reflected on the surface of the pond, making for a fantastical photo.

[Start of coloring] Usually mid-November
[Best time to see] Usually from late November to early December
[Types of autumn leaves] Japanese maple, maple, ginkgo, cherry blossom

Autumn leaves illuminated and special night viewing of the Kondo and Kodo halls
Period: November 1st (Sat) to December 14th (Sun) 2025
Hours: 18:00-21:30 (last admission 21:00)
Admission fee: Adults and high school students 1,000 yen, junior high school students and younger 500 yen
Location: Toji Temple grounds

Toji Temple (Kyoogokokuji Temple)

• 1 Kujo-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture MAP
• About a 10-minute walk from Toji Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line
  Approximately 15 minutes' walk from JR Kyoto Station
• 5:00-17:00 (Kondo and Lecture Hall: 8:00-16:30 reception closes)
• Free (fees apply for the Kondo and Kodo halls)
• 075-691-3325
• Available (600 yen for 2 hours)
• For more information on OMO3 Kyoto Toji by Hoshino Resorts World Heritage Site Toji Temple Autumn Foliage Illumination Walk, click here
  
  

2Tofukuji Temple

Looking down from Minabashi Bridge at the approximately 2,000 autumn leaves that adorn the valley

It is the head temple of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism, Tofukuji school, which has 25 sub-temples within its grounds, and is the largest Zen temple in Japan with seven halls. There are many highlights, such as the Zen hall and Tosu, which are examples of medieval Zen architecture, and the Sanmon gate, the oldest and largest in Japan, is designated as a national treasure.

The Sengyokukan valley that cuts across the temple grounds from east to west is a popular tourist attraction. At the height of the autumn foliage season, approximately 2,000 maple trees, including the Tsuten maple that the temple's founder, Enji, brought back from Song China, all take on a vibrant color.

Particularly popular are the views from Gaunkyo, Tsutenkyo, and Engetsukyo, known as the Three Famous Bridges of Tofukuji Temple. The view of Tsutenkyo from Gaunkyo across the crimson Sengyokukan Gorge is particularly spectacular.

Every year from late November to early December, a special nighttime viewing is held, where you can look down on the illuminated autumn leaves from Tsutenkyo Bridge.

[Start of coloring] Early November every year
[Best time to see] Mid-November to late November
[Types of autumn leaves] Japanese maple, Japanese maple, etc.

▼2025 Tofukuji Temple Nighttime Private Visit
Period: Wednesday, November 19, 2025 to Sunday, December 7, 2025
Time: 17:30-19:30 (last admission 19:00)
Price: 2,800 yen (reservations required through JR Central's "EX Travel Destination Reservations")
Location: Tofukuji Temple Tsutenkyo area, lecture hall

Tofukuji Temple

• 15-778 Honmachi, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 10 minutes walk from Tofukuji Station on the Keihan Railway
  Approximately 10 minutes' walk from JR Tofukuji Station
• Take a city bus from JR Kyoto Station, get off at the "Tofukuji" bus stop, and walk for about 4 minutes
• 9:00-16:00 (gates close at 16:30) *From December 8th to March 31st, the hours are until 15:30 (gates close at 16:00)
• Tofukuji Temple Honbo Garden (Hojo): 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students
  Tsutenkyo Bridge and Kaisando Hall: 600 yen for adults, 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students (1,000 yen for adults, 500 yen for elementary and junior high school students from November 15th to December 7th)
  Joint admission ticket: 1,000 yen for adults, 500 yen for elementary and junior high school students (not available from November 15th to December 7th)
• 075-561-0087
• Available (Parking on the south side of the Zen hall in the Tofukuji temple grounds or Tofukuji temple north Parking)

3Eikando (Zenrinji Temple)

One of Kyoto's leading autumn foliage spots, known since ancient times as "Eikando of Autumn Maples"

This temple is located at the foot of Mount Wakaoji, one of the 36 peaks of Higashiyama that line the east side of Kyoto city. Approximately 3,000 maple trees are planted within the temple grounds, and it is a famous spot for viewing autumn leaves, representing Kyoto, and has been referred to by many famous people since ancient times as "Eikando of Maple Leaves in Autumn."

In particular, the maple trees planted on the slope on the east side of the Goei-do Hall have long been known as "Iwagaki maples."

The Tahoto Pagoda, the highest point on the temple grounds, is enveloped in the colorful autumn colors, creating a truly Kyoto-esque scene. From the pagoda, you can also enjoy a view of the city of Kyoto, colored by the autumn leaves.

The autumn leaves are also lit up at night from mid-November to early December every year, allowing you to enjoy the fantastical scenery illuminated by the light.

[Start of coloring] Usually mid-November
[Best time to see] Mid-November to early December
[Types of autumn leaves] Japanese maple, Japanese maple, Japanese sugar maple, ginkgo, etc.

Eikando Temple - Autumn leaves illuminated at night
Period: (Sat) November 15th, 2025 to (Wed), December 10th, 2025
Time: 17:30-21:00 (reception closes at 20:30)
Admission fee: 700 yen for junior high school students and above
Location: Garden, near Amida Hall and Tahoto Pagoda
Note: A special temple treasure exhibition will be held during the day from November 11th (Tue) to December 10th (Wed), 2025. There is a daytime/nighttime rotation system, so continuous admission is not possible.
*During the temple treasure exhibition, daytime admission fee is 1, 000 yen

Eikando (Zenrinji Temple)

• 48 Eikandocho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 15 minutes on foot from Keage Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway
• 9:00-17:00 (last admission 16:00)
• Adults: 600 yen, Elementary, Junior High, and High School Students: 400 yen
• 075-761-0007

4Former Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa

A panoramic view of Higashiyama, dyed in autumn colors, from the observation tower on the third floor of the main building

Located south of the World Heritage Site "Shimogamo Shrine", it is the former villa of the wealthy merchant Mitsui family. It was used as a worship rest area for the "Akinareisha" that enshrined the ancestors Property of the Mitsui family. The structure of the large-scale villa residence that was built up to the Taisho period is well preserved, and in 2011 it was designated as an important cultural property of the country.

It has been open to the public since 2016, and visitors can explore the first floor of the main house, which was built in the Meiji period, the Taisho period entrance building, and the garden. Inside the mansion, you can enjoy a cafe menu including shiratama zenzai (rice cake with rice cakes) and seasonal fresh sweets with matcha green tea while admiring the garden.

Late autumn is a popular season for admiring the beautiful scenery of autumn leaves, moss, and the pond. Every year from late November to early December, a special autumn opening is held, during which the observation towers on the second and third floors of the main building, which are normally closed to the public, are opened to the public. From the second floor of the main building, you can look down on the gardens colored with autumn leaves, and from the observation tower on the third floor of the main building, you can look out over Higashiyama, which is dyed in the colors of autumn.

[Start of coloring] Usually late November
[Best time to see] Late November to mid-December *Maple leaves turn red from early December
[Types of autumn leaves] Maple, bark, ginkgo, zelkova, hackberry

▼Former Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa Autumn Special Opening
Period: Thursday, November 20th, 2025 to Sunday, December 7th, 2025 *Excluding Wednesdays
Hours: 9:15-16:30 (opens at 9:00, closes at 17:00) *Advance reservations are given priority
Admission fees: 1,100 yen for adults, 800 yen for middle and high school students, 600 yen for elementary school students
Location: 1st floor of the main building, 2nd floor of the main building, 3rd floor gazebo of the main building, entrance building, garden
Note: Advance reservations are given priority (same-day tickets are also available). Reservations can be made through the official Kyoto Tourism website, "Kyoto Tourism NAVI." The cafe will be closed during this period to ensure proper traffic flow for visitors.

Former Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa

• 58-2 Miyagawacho, Shimogamo, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City MAP
• Approximately 5 minutes on foot from Demachiyanagi Station on the Keihan or Eizan Electric Railway
• Take a city bus from JR Kyoto Station, get off at Kawaramachi Imadegawa or Aoibashi Nishizume bus stop, then walk for about 5 minutes
• 9:00-17:00 (reception closes at 16:30)
• Wednesdays (open if Wednesday is a national holiday, closed the following day), December 29th to December 31st
• Adults: 500 yen (600 yen on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays), Junior and senior high school students: 300 yen, Elementary school students: 200 yen
• 075-366-4321

5Murin-an

The autumn foliage scenery that Aritomo Yamagata gazed upon is right before your eyes

This villa was built in 1896 (Meiji 29) by Yamagata Aritomo, a politician active during the Meiji and Taisho periods.

It is one of the few Property in the Nanzenji area that is open to the public all year round, and visitors can tour the garden, main house, Western-style building, and more. The naturalistic garden, which makes use of the Higashiyama mountain range as a backdrop, is considered a masterpiece of modern Japanese gardens by Ogawa Jihei VII, a landscape gardener from the Meiji to Showa periods, and was designated a national place of scenic beauty in 1951 (Showa 26). The stream that flows through the center of the garden, drawn from the Lake Biwa Canal, is truly elegant.

As autumn deepens, the trees in the garden turn a vibrant red and yellow, creating a particularly beautiful sight. At the garden cafe in the main building, you can enjoy matcha, coffee, sparkling wine, and other drinks while gazing at the garden's brocade beauty, which Yamagata Aritomo adored during his lifetime.

Additionally, on weekends from mid- to late November, a special nighttime event called the "Twilight Garden Party" is held. In addition to being able to stroll through the illuminated gardens, you can also enjoy commentary from the garden concierge and a cafe menu.

[Start of coloring] Late October every year
[Best time to see] Mid-November to early December
[Types of autumn leaves] Japanese maple, Japanese maple, Japanese plum

▼Special Nighttime Opening of Autumn Foliage Twilight Garden Party 2025
Dates: November 15th (Sat), 16th (Sun), 22nd (Sat), 23rd (National Holiday), 24th (Mon, substitute holiday)
Time: ① 17:30-19:30 ② 19:30-21:30 *Two sessions, full rotation system, capacity 30 people per session (reservations required, first come first served)
Price: 4,500 yen (includes a guided tour and cafe menu including matcha and sparkling wine)
Location: Garden, 1st and 2nd floors of the main house, Western-style building
URL: https://murin-an.jp/events/event-20251115-24/

Murinan

• 31 Kusakawacho, Nanzenji, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 7 minutes walk from Keage Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway
• Take a city bus from JR Kyoto Station, get off at "Jingumichi" or "Okazaki Park, Museum, Heian Shrine", then walk for about 10 minutes
• April to September: 9:00-18:00 (closes at 17:30)
  October to March: 9:00-17:00 (closes at 16:30)
  *Reservations are given priority. Admission is limited to one hour, and there is a limit on the number of people allowed.
• December 29th - December 31st
• Normal admission is 600 yen for adults, and on busy days it is 900 to 1,500 yen for adults. *Please check the website for details. *Free for children under elementary school age.
• 075-771-3909
• The 28th of every month is "Garden Day" and admission is free for those under 35.

6Kodaiji Temple

The autumn illuminations and the projection mapping in the dry landscape garden are must-sees

This Zen temple was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's wife, Kita no Mandokoro (Nene), to commemorate his passing. The temple grounds are dotted with important cultural properties of Japan, such as the Moon Viewing Platform, the Kaisan-do Hall, and two teahouses, Kasatei and Shigure-tei.

Another highlight is the Kodaiji Garden (Historic Site of Scenic Beauty), a strolling garden with a pond said to have been created by Kobori Enshu. With Higashiyama as a backdrop, the garden is planted with around 1,000 Japanese maples and mountain maples, and in the autumn foliage season the entire garden is bathed in red and yellow.

A special autumn viewing is held every year from late October to mid-December, and many tourists flock to catch a glimpse of the gardens bathed in a brilliant hues of color. The autumn leaves reflected on the surface of the Garyu Pond, over which the Garyu Corridor hangs, are particularly popular. During this period, the closing time is extended until night. In addition to the autumn leaves illuminated by the gentle light, the magnificent projection mapping in the dry landscape garden in front of the Hojo, Hashintei, is a must-see.

[Start of coloring] Early November every year
[Best time to see] Mid-November to early December
[Types of autumn leaves] Japanese maple, Japanese maple, sweetgum, maple, Enkianthus campanulatus, etc.

▼Kodaiji Temple Autumn Special Opening
Period: Friday, October 24th, 2025 to Sunday, December 14th, 2025
Time: 9:00-22:00 (reception closes at 21:30, lighting begins at 17:00)
Admission fee: Same as regular admission fee *There is no daytime or nighttime admission system, but once you leave the exit, you cannot re-enter the mountain with the same ticket.
Location: Various locations within the temple grounds

Kodaiji Temple

• 526 Kodaiji Shimogawaracho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 10 minutes walk from Keihan Railway Gion-Shijo Station
• Take a city bus from JR Kyoto Station, get off at Higashiyama Yasui bus stop, then walk for about 7 minutes
• 9:00-17:30 (reception closes at 17:00)
• Adults: 600 yen, Junior and Senior High School Students: 250 yen *Up to five children under elementary school age accompanied by one adult guardian are exempt (children under elementary school age cannot visit alone)
• 075-561-9966
• Paid