Kyoto’s Nijo Castle is already one of the city’s top cherry blossom viewing spots, with roughly 500 trees. But the evening illuminations, which occur nightly between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., are truly something else. For the past few years, they’ve been directed by the Tokyo-based art collective Naked.
What happens
The event’s showpiece is a colorful projection mapping over the castle’s already spectacular Karamon gate. There are also interactive displays and a nighttime cherry blossom tea ceremony. More details here.
Tickets
Daytime admission is between 8.45 a.m. and 4 p.m. and tickets cost adult/child ¥1,300/¥300–¥400.
Evening admission is between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. and tickets cost adult/child ¥1,600/¥1,000 Monday through Thursday and adult/child ¥2,000/¥1,400 Friday through Sunday if purchased in advance; tickets purchased at the door cost an extra ¥200. Tickets are limited so we recommend purchasing in advance.
For more ideas of places to visit in Kyoto during cherry blossom season, check out our guide to Kyoto’s top sakura spots.
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- 357 m from Nijōjō-mae Station Tōzai Line (T14)
- 0.6 km from Nijō Station Tōzai Line (T15)Sagano Line (E4)
- 1.1 km from Marutamachi Station Karasuma Line (K7)
