Hogon-in Shishiku Garden (Arashiyama)
This season's opening
Hogon-in Autumn Special Opening
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:45)
- Admission
- Garden ¥700 (children ¥300); main-hall paintings ¥500 extra (children ¥300); combined ticket with Kogen-ji ¥1,000
- Booking
- No booking
Hogon-in's Shishiku garden, a stroll garden borrowing Arashiyama and attributed to Sakugen Shuryo, plus Noriko Tamura's main-hall paintings.
The paintings may be off view on ceremony days. The temple site has not yet posted autumn details; dates were confirmed on the city tourism site.
Hogon-in Evening Illumination
- Hours
- 17:30–20:30 (last entry 20:00)
- Admission
- ¥1,000 (separate from the daytime ticket)
- Booking
- No booking
The Shishiku garden's stroll path at night under lit maples.
Arashiyama empties at night. Saganoya near JR Saga-Arashiyama Station serves until 21:00 (closed Wednesdays); Bar Thule Doux across Togetsukyo opens at 20:00.
About the garden
A Tenryu-ji sub-temple whose garden is attributed to Sakugen Shuryo, a Zen monk who twice sailed to Ming China. It borrows the hills of Arashiyama and treats moss as a sea, with named rocks such as the Lion Rock along the path. The gate is shut except during spring and autumn openings.
Where to stand
The moss stands for a sea of suffering, so read it as water and the scattered rocks as islands and creatures as you walk. At the Lion Rock, look up toward Arashiyama and decide together where the garden ends. The main hall shows Noriko Tamura's sliding-door paintings during the opening.
Practical notes
Open only in special seasons: autumn 2026 is Oct 3–Dec 6, 9:00–17:00 (garden ¥700), with evening illumination Nov 13–Dec 6, 17:30–20:30 (¥1,000, separate ticket). A combined daytime ticket with neighbouring Kogen-ji is ¥1,000. The main-hall paintings may be off view during ceremonies.
Tea and food nearby
Small places within walking distance. Check their opening days against the garden's.
- ☾ Open after the evening viewing12 min walk🍽 FoodSaganoya (local diner)
An 80-year-old diner beside JR Saga-Arashiyama Station. A short step off the tourist strip, it still serves set meals after the evening illumination.
- ☾ Open after the evening viewing12 min walk🍶 BarBar Thule Doux
A proper cocktail bar near Hankyu Arashiyama Station, across Togetsukyo: one drink after the illumination. Smoking is allowed at every seat.
20:00–03:00Closed: No closing day listed (Tabelog and Gurunavi show it open daily, 20:00–03:00)Details ↗ - 2 min walk🍡 SweetsOimatsu Arashiyama (Japanese sweets)
The Arashiyama branch of a confectioner founded in 1908, with a tea room at the back; in the same block as Hogon-in, so easy before or after the garden.
Order：Hon-warabi mochi (bracken-starch jelly)