Photo/Illutration Maple leaves bearing fall colors can been seen lit up along with Byodoin temple's Phoenix Hall in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, on Nov. 14. (Kenta Sujino)

UJI, Kyoto Prefecture—Byodoin temple will open its centuries-old garden to visitors for special nighttime viewing with seasonal illuminations for the first time in three years.

The illumination event had been canceled for the past two years due to the pandemic, but the temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, had received a flood of inquiries about the event. It is asking visitors to register in advance and has put in place a limit of 1,000 people per day.

“I want visitors to touch this piece of history and feel Buddha’s light,” said Monsho Kamii, chief priest of the temple.

Officials showed off the brightly lit garden to the media on Nov. 14 before it opens to the public this weekend.

The LED lights helped create a stately scene there. They illuminated some 200 maple trees, whose leaves have started to show their fall colors. 

Phoenix Hall and the golden Amida Nyorai statue were also elegantly reflected in the pond. 

This year marks the 970th anniversary of the founding of the temple by Fujiwara no Yorimichi (992-1074) during the Heian Period (794-1185).

The nighttime viewing will be held only on weekends and holidays from Nov. 19 through Dec. 4, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Last admission is at 8:15 p.m.

The admission fee is 1,000 yen ($7) for junior high school students and up. Elementary school students and under can enter free of charge.

Visitors who enter the garden in the daytime cannot stay there for the illumination.

Nighttime viewers must apply in advance through the temple’s website (https://www.byodoin.or.jp/en/news/cat2/970-1119124/).

Related News