To-ji & Kiyomizu-dera Autumn Night Illumination|A Magical Kyoto Evening with JR Central’s Special Early Entry
I recently visited the night illuminations at To-ji and Kiyomizu-dera.
At To-ji, I used JR Central’s Special Early Entry for the nighttime admission, and it was absolutely worth the extra 800 yen—far fewer people and plenty of time to capture the beautiful reflection of the Five-storied Pagoda.
Kiyomizu-dera was glowing with its famous blue “Kannon Beam,” and even though the autumn leaves were past their peak, the scenery was still stunning.
This article covers my experience at both temples, along with the full 2025 illumination details.