Nijo-jo Castle Light Up – Summer Festival in 2025

Experience history reimagined at the summer digital art event at Nijo Castle. This magical evening puts a modern twist on the timeless Japanese tradition of “yuzusumi,” or enjoying the cool evening. Witness national treasures like the Ninomaru Palace and the Karamon Gate illuminated by breathtaking lights.

Online ticket purchase

NAKED meets Nijo Castle 2025: Evening Cool Breeze

Highlights & What to Expect

Digital Art & Projection Mapping

Experience the magical illumination of national treasures and important cultural properties, including the Ninomaru Palace, the Karamon Gate, and the Ninomaru Garden. One highlight is the dynamic projection mapping of fireworks on the stone walls of the inner moat, accompanied by the soothing sounds of wind chimes and a Milky Way–themed light display.

Interactive Content: Kawato no NIWA

A new area called “Kawato no NIWA” debuts. Drawing inspiration from Kyoto’s summer traditions of riverside dining platforms and “sasabune” (small bamboo leaf boats), this area showcases nostalgic interactive art. Enjoy a digital riverside experience, play with virtual sasabune boats, and see illuminations designed to look like twinkling fireflies.

Food Stalls and Festival Games

There will be a variety of food stalls offering treats like shaved ice and Japanese sake. You can also try classic festival games like shooting galleries and candle scooping (additional fee required).

Light Illumination in Garden

The Ninomaru Garden, a nationally designated “Special Place of Scenic Beauty,” is the setting for this light-up event. Against the backdrop of the magnificent Ninomaru Palace, the garden’s trees and pond are illuminated with colorful lights, creating a magical world that is completely different from how it appears during the day. Themed “Garden of Festive Breath,” the display uses vibrant lights to express the garden’s inherent life and dynamism. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty born from the fusion of a historic space and modern illumination.

Seiryuen Garden: A Cool Evening Breeze and the Twinkle of Fireflies

In the Seiryuen Garden, enjoy a light-up display themed “A Night of Cool Breezes.” This display is perfect for a summer evening. Countless fine particles of light pour down through the lush trees, creating a refreshing sparkle that evokes the image of dancing fireflies. As you stroll along the paths, take in the serene atmosphere created by the interplay of light and nature.

Event Schedule & Hours

Open Hours & Holiday

• Dates: Friday, July 25th to Sunday, August 24th, 2025.
  • The event is open every day during this period.
• Hours: 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM (Last admission at 9:20 PM).
  • This is a special nighttime event, and entry is separate from the regular daytime admission to the castle.
• Weather: The event will proceed in the rain but may be canceled in the case of severe weather.
  • Please check the official X (formerly Twitter) account for any cancellation announcements.

Admission Fee & Ticket Purchase

Although you can buy tickets on-site, it is highly recommended that you purchase them online in advance to avoid waiting in line.

• Purchase tickets online:

Online ticket purchase

NAKED meets Nijo Castle 2025: Evening Cool Breeze

Ticket Types & Prices:

• Preschool-aged children enter for free.
• Admission is half-price for individuals with a disability certificate and one caregiver.

Visitor Guidelines

Please be aware of the following instructions before entering the castle grounds.

• During the light-up event, the viewing areas are restricted. Entry to the National Treasure Ninomaru Palace interior and the Honmaru area is not permitted. Please note that this differs from the regular daytime admission route.
• The use of monopods and tripods is prohibited within the castle grounds.
• Pets are not allowed.

Tips for Avoiding Crowds

Here are advices on how to avoid crowds at Nijo Castle:

• To avoid the biggest crowds, it’s best to visit on a weekday as weekends and public holidays are especially busy.
• The castle tends to be less crowded later in the day, closer to closing time.
• If you plan on buying a same-day ticket, we recommend arriving by around 8:30 PM to account for potential lines.

Location & Access

• Address: 541 Nijojocho, Nijo-dori Horikawa Nishiiru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
• Reception: Please enter through the East gate.

Access by Public Transportation:

• By Subway: A short walk from Nijojo-mae Station on the Tozai subway line.
• By Bus: Take the city bus to the “Nijojo-mae” stop.
• By JR Train: A 17-minute walk from JR Nijo Station.
• Taxi-5-10 minutes from JR Kyoto station

Daytime Infomation

・Day time

Entrance fee

*Daytime tickets cannot be used for nighttime admission. Visitors must exit the castle by 6:00 PM for nighttime illumination preparations.

Closed days
・Nijo-jo castle
December 29 to 31

・Ninomaru-goten Palace
Every Tuesday in January, July, August, and December, January 1 to 3, and December 26 to 28

※When any of the above-mentioned days fall on a public holiday, Ninomaru-goten Palace will be closed the following day instead.

Entrance fee

※Entrance fee is free for children younger than elementary school age.

History

Nijo Castle was built in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period. It served as the Kyoto residence for the Tokugawa shoguns and symbolized their power and prestige, strategically located near the Imperial Palace.

The castle is most famous as the site where the last shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, formally returned authority to the Emperor in 1867, marking the end of the shogunate and the start of the Meiji Restoration. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is renowned for its ornate palaces, beautiful gardens, and distinctive “nightingale floors.”

Links & Resources

・Nijo-jo castle offcial website （English text）

・NAKED meets Nijojo castle in 2025(English text)