Kifune Shrine Autumn Leaves 2026 Confirmed

貴船神社の紅葉 — Kyoto (Kansai)

Kifune Shrine's image is the lantern-lined stone stairway climbing between vermilion posts under a canopy of maples — one of Kyoto's defining photographs. The shrine sits in a cool mountain valley north of the city, so its leaves turn early, peaking from roughly November 10 to late November. During the Kifune Momiji Lantern festival, typically early to late November, the entire valley lights up from sunset to about 8:30pm: the shrine, the inn-lined Kibune road, and the Eizan Railway's "maple tunnel," where trains slow and dim their interior lights as they pass through the glowing trees.

Background

Kifune Shrine is the head shrine of some 450 shrines to Takaokami-no-kami, the god of water and rain; emperors once sent horses here to pray for rain or its end, a custom said to have inspired the ema votive tablet. Its origins are ancient, with legend tracing them back some 1,600 years.

Getting there

Take the Keihan Line to Demachiyanagi (or City Bus 17 from Kyoto Station), then the Eizan Railway toward Kurama, about 27 minutes to Kibuneguchi Station. From there, Kyoto Bus 33 runs up the valley in 5 minutes, or it's a 25-30 minute streamside walk. Allow about 90 minutes from Kyoto Station.

Tips

• The shrine itself is free — the whole valley costs nothing to see, making it one of the best-value night foliage experiences in Kyoto.
• Evening trains and the tiny valley bus are seriously crowded during the lantern festival; ride up before 4:00pm, see the valley in daylight, then stay for the lighting rather than arriving after dark.
• Don't drive — parking in the valley is nearly nonexistent and the single road jams solid on illumination evenings.
• Sit on the left side of the Eizan train heading toward Kibuneguchi for the maple tunnel, and combine the trip with Kurama-dera, one stop further, connected to Kibune by a two-hour mountain hiking trail.

Last verified against the official source: Mon, July 6, 2026