Kyoto in December: Autumn Leaves, Temple Hours, and Packing

We operate the Maiko & Zen Kyoto experience mentioned in this guide.

Kyoto in December at a Glance

December is the month when Kyoto's temples move from their autumn schedules to winter ones, so a good plan starts with closing times rather than a list of sights. Practical details below come from official temple, city, and tourism pages checked in October 2026. Every date here is a starting point: temple schedules and year-end timetables change from year to year, so confirm the one you need before you go.

The sections below cover the schedule changes, one day each in three areas, a half day south of the center, and what to bring. Our Kyoto itinerary covers a longer trip.

What Changes in Kyoto in December

Tofuku-ji changes its schedule on December 7. Through December 6, the autumn hours still hold: Tsutenkyo Bridge welcomes visitors from 8:30 am and the Hojo gardens from 9:00 am, both until 4:00 pm, and the gates shut at 4:30 pm. Until December 6, adults pay 1,000 yen for Tsutenkyo and Kaisando, and no combined ticket with the Hojo gardens is on sale. From December 7, the temple is open from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, with ticket sales ending at 3:30 pm and the gates closing at 4:00 pm. After the autumn period, Tsutenkyo and Kaisando cost 600 yen for adults. From November 1, 2026, an adult ticket for the Hojo gardens is 600 yen. The Treasure Tour is suspended from October 25 to December 16. Our Tofuku-ji guide covers the rest of the temple.

Shorter winter hours apply at other large temples too; from November 16, Sanjusangendo is open 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, admits its last visitors 30 minutes before closing, and opens every day of the year. On December 1, Ginkaku-ji changes to 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Ryoan-ji is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm from December 1, with the gates closing at 5:00 pm. From December to February, Sennyu-ji is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and shuts its gate at 4:30 pm. Kinkaku-ji keeps its hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm every day. Put the sight you care about most in the middle of your day.

Many temples, shrines, and gardens also hold special illumination and opening events between October and December. Each place lists its own dates, so check the official page for the one you plan to visit.

The end of the month brings its own changes. Nijo-jo Castle is closed from December 29 to 31. For the 2025-26 year-end, Kyoto's city transportation bureau announced that city buses would run the holiday schedule from December 28 to January 4, and that the subway would run its Saturday and holiday schedule from December 27 to January 4. The dates for this year are announced separately, so check the bureau's page before you plan around New Year's.

Three Days, Three Areas

Each of these days stays in one area, so you spend less of your day on transfers.

East Kyoto. Since Kiyomizu-dera usually opens at 6:00 am and stays open until 6:00 pm, it makes an easy first stop. From Kyoto Station, take Kyoto City Bus 206 or 100 to Gojozaka, then walk about 10 minutes. Sanjusangendo is a walk of about 18 minutes from Kyoto Station, or a ride on City Bus 106, which runs all year; adults pay 600 yen. If you add Ginkaku-ji, adult admission is 1,000 yen. See the Sanjusangendo guide for how to visit.

North Kyoto. Ryoan-ji and Kinkaku-ji make a natural pair, with the stone garden of Ryoan-ji first and the pond of Kinkaku-ji second. Adult admission is 600 yen at Ryoan-ji and 500 yen at Kinkaku-ji. At Kinkaku-ji, get off the Kyoto City Bus at Kinkakuji-michi. Our guide to Zen gardens in Kyoto helps you decide which gardens to see.

Arashiyama. For Tenryu-ji, walk 13 minutes from Saga-Arashiyama Station on the JR Sagano Line, or about 5 minutes from Arashiyama Station on the Keifuku Arashiyama Line. The garden is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, with last entry at 4:50 pm. The garden costs adults 500 yen, and entering the main halls adds 300 yen. Arashiyama is also known for its bamboo grove, a pleasant stroll between visits.

A South Kyoto Half-Day in December

One rail line links the southern stops. The JR Nara Line runs from Kyoto Station to Tofukuji Station in about 3 minutes, and from there the temple is about 10 minutes on foot. One more stop down the line, about 2 to 3 minutes by local train, is Inari Station for Fushimi Inari Taisha. Fushimi Inari is right next to JR Inari Station.

Other routes reach the same stops. Tofuku-ji is about 10 minutes on foot from Keihan Tofukuji Station, and Kyoto City Bus 88 or 208 from Kyoto Station takes about 15 minutes, followed by about 4 minutes on foot. At Tofuku-ji, the Hojo gardens were designed by Mirei Shigemori in 1939, and the Sanmon gate is a National Treasure. From Tsutenkyo Bridge, the autumn leaves and fresh green of the Sengyokukan ravine are the highlight. For the mountain walk at Fushimi Inari, see our Fushimi Inari hike guide.

Winter ticket sales at Tofuku-ji end at 3:30 pm, so visit the temple before an afternoon session rather than after it. Our guide to maiko experiences in Kyoto compares the formats if you want to look first.

Our Session at Ikka-in

We operate Maiko & Zen Kyoto, a session at Ikka-in, a sub-temple of Tofuku-ji that is rarely open to the public, where a maiko dances in the temple hall with no stage between you, then takes time for your questions and for photos together.

The session lasts 90 minutes and starts at 2:00 pm or 3:30 pm, with a small group, sencha, and a sweet. The price is 23,000 yen per person, and children aged 6 and over pay the same price.

Clothes and Gear for Cold Temple Visits

Dress in warm layers that are easy to add and remove, since temple visits mean a lot of walking and standing outdoors. Bring gloves and a small umbrella or light rain jacket, and pick comfortable shoes you can slip off quickly, because you may need to take them off in some temple buildings.

Plan meals around your visit to Tofuku-ji: the temple asks visitors not to eat or drink on the grounds or use tripods, and once you leave you cannot re-enter. Carry water and a small bag.

A single city bus ride costs 230 yen for adults. A Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass costs 1,100 yen for adults, but seasonal routes are excluded from its valid area, for example Kyoto Bus routes 51, 90 and 95.

See a maiko dance at a Zen temple. We operate Maiko & Zen Kyoto, a 90-minute session at Ikka-in, a sub-temple of Tofuku-ji, where a maiko dances in the same temple hall with no stage between you, then takes time for your questions and photos. See current session times and prices.

Frequently asked questions