Autumn light-up 2026
Seeing Nijo Castle at night is possible only during the seasonal light-up. The Nijo Castle light show in autumn 2026 is called NAKED meets Nijo-jo Castle 2026 and runs from 23 October to 5 December. The evenings are open from 18:00 to 22:00, with the last entry at 21:00, and the route differs from the daytime visit.
Regular admission from high school age is 2,000 JPY from Monday to Thursday and 2,400 JPY on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and on national days off. Children up to and including junior high school enter free when accompanied by an adult. The festival around the light-up runs until 6 December. For daytime planning see the opening hours page.
Our pick: entry to the seasonal light-up
A guided tour with admission to the evening light-up during its limited season.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Nijo Castle tour with the seasonal light-up
An evening visit during the limited light-up season, with live price and availability.
Separate tickets for day and evening
The daytime ticket is not an evening ticket.
Day and evening are sold separately. If you visit the castle in the afternoon and want to return after dark, you need an evening ticket as well. The evening route is not the daytime route, so allow time for it instead of treating it as an add-on to your day visit.
Students from high school up and residents of Kyoto receive a cashback of 500 JPY with proof on site, and commuting to Kyoto is not enough. Early-bird tickets for this autumn were sold until 22 October 2026, so the regular rate above is the one that applies now. Check the ticket page for the daytime fees.
The event itself runs until 5 December, while the festival around it continues until 6 December. For the evenings, the shorter period counts. Daytime entry is shortened on 6 December 2026, as explained on the opening hours page, so plan your evenings by the light-up dates and book day and evening separately if you want both.
Spring: Sakura Matsuri
Cherry blossom evenings, pattern for the next season.
The spring evenings are called the Sakura Matsuri. In 2026 they ran from 19 March to 19 April with the same hours, 18:00 to 22:00. Regular evening tickets cost 2,800 JPY from Monday to Thursday and 3,000 JPY on weekends and national days off, and special days cost 3,200 JPY. This season is over, and you can use it as a pattern for the next one: spring and autumn have different organisers and different prices. Dates for the next spring season are announced by the city of Kyoto, so look for the notice before you plan.
Festival programme
The autumn programme around the light-up includes a stamp rally with the autumn leaves, a market of regional specialities, music and stage performances and cultural events from the Kan'ei period. Some of these activities charge a participation fee on top of the ticket. They are not a fixed part of a visit. Shirakawa-go in Gifu is known for its winter light-up evenings, when the gassho houses glow in the snow.
Seeing the castle after dark
The evening tour that we list includes admission to the seasonal light-up, an English-speaking guide, photography stops and historical commentary, but not transport to the meeting point, food or drinks. Plan your way to and from the castle with the access guide and check the last trains and buses for the evening. The light-up is a good match for the gardens, which are described in the garden guide.
FAQ
When is the Nijo Castle light-up in 2026?
The autumn light-up runs from 23 October to 5 December 2026, in the evening from 18:00 to 22:00.
Does my daytime ticket include the evening?
No. The evening has its own ticket, and the route is different.
How much is the autumn light-up ticket?
From high school age it is 2,000 JPY from Monday to Thursday and 2,400 JPY on Fridays, at weekends and on national days off.
Do children pay for the light-up?
Children up to and including junior high school enter free with an adult.
Is the spring light-up on now?
No. The spring 2026 Sakura Matsuri has ended. The next spring dates are announced by the city.