Eikando Temple Autumn Leaves — photo by Martin Falbisoner via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Eikando Temple Autumn Leaves 2026 Confirmed
永観堂(禅林寺)の紅葉 — Kyoto (Kansai)
Last updated: Sat, September 12, 2026
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- Typical peak
- Sun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30, 2026
- Time
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Venue
- Eikando (Zenrin-ji) Temple, Sakyo, Kyoto
- Illumination
- Evening viewing alongside the temple treasures exhibition, typically early November to early December (in 2025: Nov 15 – Dec 10), 5:30pm–9:00pm with last entry at 8:30pm.
- Scale
- ~3,000 maple trees
- Tickets
- ¥1,000 for adults, ¥800 for university and vocational students, ¥600 for junior and senior high school, ¥200 for elementary school. Reception 9:00am–4:00pm, gates close 5:00pm. The autumn evening viewing is ticketed separately.
- Official site
- www.eikando.or.jp
Kyoto has ranked Eikando's maples first since poetry anthologies of the Heian period — the temple's nickname is simply "Eikando of the maples." About 3,000 trees pack its hillside grounds, coloring from mid- to late November around ponds, covered stairways, and a two-story pagoda with city views. The autumn night illumination, held alongside the temple's treasure exhibition, runs roughly early November to early December, 5:30pm to 9:00pm (entry until 8:30pm), turning the Hojo pond into a mirror of red.
Background
Founded in 863 as Zenrin-ji by Shinsho, a disciple of Kukai, the temple took its popular name from the beloved 11th-century abbot Eikan. It heads the Seizan Zenrin-ji branch of Jodo (Pure Land) Buddhism. Its most treasured statue is the Mikaeri Amida — a rare Amida looking back over his shoulder.
Getting there
From Kyoto Station, City Bus 5 to the Nanzenji-Eikando-michi stop takes about 35 minutes; the temple is a 3-minute walk. Faster in traffic season: the Karasuma subway to Karasuma-Oike, transfer to the Tozai Line to Keage Station, then walk 15 minutes north past Nanzen-ji.
Tips
- During the autumn treasure exhibition the daytime admission rises to ¥1,000, and day and night sessions are fully separate — everyone is cleared out before the illumination, so you cannot wait inside for dusk.
- The night session queue forms well before the 5:30pm opening; either line up 30-45 minutes early or arrive after 7:30pm when the first wave has moved through.
- Tripods are not allowed at the illumination, so plan on handheld shots — the pond reflection near the Hojo works well braced on the railing.
- Nanzen-ji, with its huge sanmon gate and brick aqueduct among the maples, is a free-to-roam 10-minute walk south — do it in daylight before your Eikando night ticket.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the best time to see Eikando Temple Autumn Leaves?
- Autumn color here usually peaks Nov 15 – Nov 30. Color depends on how cold the nights have been, and peak can land a week either side of the usual window, so check a foliage forecast about a week out.
Maintained by Tetsu Yamamoto · Last verified against the official source: Sat, September 12, 2026