Hogon-in Temple Autumn Leaves 2026
Last updated: July 28, 2026. Typical viewing times and details below are compiled from official park, temple, city and tourism-association websites (linked at the end of this page). The dates of annual night light-ups are set each year — check the official site before you travel.
A canopy of maples covers the Shishiku-no-niwa (Lion's Roar Garden), where crimson and gold leaves contrast with green moss and the great Lion Rock beneath Arashiyama.
Key Facts
| Typical peak | Mid-November to early December |
|---|---|
| Best months | November–December |
| Location | Kyoto, Kyoto |
| Nearest station | Randen (Keifuku) Arashiyama Station (~3-5 min walk); JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (~10 min walk) |
| Admission | Garden 700 yen (adults), 300 yen (children); the main hall special viewing is an extra 500 yen (adults)/300 yen (children); the night light-up is a separate ticket (about 1,000 yen). Confirm current rates on the official site. |
| Night light-up | Nightly during peak foliage, roughly mid-November to early December, from about 17:30 in the evening (exact 2026 dates set each year — confirm on the official site) |
| Official site | https://hogonin.jp/ |
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Highlights
- Shishiku-no-niwa stroll garden with the Lion Rock and Arashiyama borrowed scenery
- A sub-temple of Tenryu-ji, normally closed and opened only for the special autumn viewing
- Evening light-up illuminates the crimson maples over the garden
Where to See the Autumn Leaves
Shishiku-no-niwa (daytime special viewing) (Paid)
A circuit landscape garden featured in the Edo-period garden gazetteer 'Miyako Rinsen Meisho Zue', with moss, giant rocks and maples that canopy the grounds.
Enter during the autumn special opening (roughly early October to mid-December); garden admission required.
Evening light-up (yakan tokubetsu haikan) (Paid)
During peak foliage the garden is illuminated at night, the maples glowing crimson above the moss and Lion Rock.
Separate evening admission; typically opens ~17:30 during the light-up period.
Getting There
From Kyoto Station take the JR Sagano (Sanin) Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station (about 15 min) and walk ~10 minutes; or take the Randen (Keifuku) Arashiyama Line to Arashiyama Station, ~3-5 min walk. It sits just south-west of Tenryu-ji.
Crowd & Timing Tips
- Because it opens only in autumn (and spring), it is busy on peak weekends — go early on a weekday
- The night light-up is a separate ticket from daytime entry, so plan which session you want in advance
Autumn Illumination
Nightly during peak foliage, roughly mid-November to early December, from about 17:30 in the evening The exact 2026 dates are announced each year, so confirm them on the official site before planning an evening visit.
About Hogon-in Temple
A sub-temple of Tenryu-ji founded in 1461 with ties to the Muromachi shogunal deputy Hosokawa Yoriyuki; its garden is normally closed and opens for special seasonal viewings.
See more autumn-leaf spots: Kansai Autumn Leaves 2026 · Japan Autumn Leaves Guide 2026