By KENSAKU NISHIDA/ Staff Writer
November 27, 2023 at 07:30 JST
The garden in front of the Hojo hall of Kodaiji temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward is lit up on Oct. 19 during a special nighttime viewing event themed on scenes from the four seasons. (Kensaku Nishida)
KYOTO--A spectacular light show at historic Kodaiji temple here transforms the garden in front of the Hojo main hall into an otherworldly and mystical space.
The autumn nighttime attraction is being held to build momentum for celebrations next year to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of Kita no Mandokoro (1549-1624), the widow of renowned warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), who built the temple in Higashiyama Ward.
The event is aimed at depicting “scenes” to express her feelings against the backdrop of the changing of the four seasons.
The light show features projection mapping and around 2,100 LED lights embedded in the white sand of the Zen garden to create rapidly changing images, while stereoscopic sound livens up the mood.
“The light show is presented in a gorgeous manner, slightly different from previous events,” said Jochu Okumura, a high-ranking priest of the temple. “I hope visitors will watch the changing seasons and their changing lives and feel something.”
The event, which will run until Dec. 10, starts at 5 p.m. and closes at 9:30 p.m.
Admission is 600 yen ($4) for adults.
For inquiries, visit Kodaiji’s official website at (https://www.kodaiji.com/e_index.html).
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