Ruriko-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.
Maples surrounding the Ruri-no-niwa garden blaze red and are famously mirrored on the polished black tables and floor of the second-floor study hall, creating the celebrated 'upside-down' reflection.
Key Facts
| Typical peak | Late November to early December |
|---|---|
| Best months | November–December |
| Location | Kyoto, Kyoto |
| Nearest station | Yase-Hieizanguchi Station (Eizan Railway) |
| Admission | Autumn special viewing admission is about 2,000 yen for adults; the temple opens only during a limited autumn viewing period and peak dates are typically reservation-based/ticketed rather than walk-up. Confirm current rates and the reservation system on the official site. |
| Night light-up | No autumn night light-up |
| Official site | https://rurikoin.komyoji.com/ |
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Highlights
- The signature 'reverse maple' (sakasa-momiji) reflection on lacquered study-hall tables and floor
- Moss gardens Ruri-no-niwa and Garyo-no-niwa set off by crimson maples
- A hidden Yase mountainside temple open to the public only for limited seasonal viewings
Where to See the Autumn Leaves
Second-floor Study Hall (Shoin) (Paid)
The upper study room whose glossy tables and floor mirror the maples outside, producing Ruriko-in's famous reflection photos.
Inside the temple, reached along the guided viewing route after entry.
Ruri-no-niwa Garden (Paid)
A moss garden of vivid green carpeted ground beneath the maple canopy, viewed from the halls.
Viewed from the ground-floor rooms along the temple's set route.
Getting There
From Kyoto Station take the Karasuma subway to Kokusaikaikan or a JR/keihan route to Demachiyanagi, then the Eizan Railway to Yase-Hieizanguchi Station; the temple is about a 13-minute walk from there.
Crowd & Timing Tips
- The temple opens only for a special autumn viewing period each year and peak dates require an advance-reservation/ticketed slot, so book ahead once dates are announced
- Peak-week weekends sell out fastest; a weekday slot is easier and less crowded inside the study hall
About Ruriko-in Temple
The current villa-style buildings and gardens date to the early Showa era and the temple became widely known for its autumn table reflections.
See more autumn-leaf spots: Kansai Autumn Leaves 2026 · Japan Autumn Leaves Guide 2026