National Treasure Architecture,
Over 1000 Maple Trees,
and the Illuminated Scenes of Ishiyamadera Engi Emaki
An Unforgettable Night at Ishiyamadera Temple
＜Mid-to-late November 2026＞
Ishiyamadera Temple has long been known as a famous autumn foliage destination.
The temple is home to many historic structures, including the Main Hall, Shiga Prefecture's oldest wooden building, and the Tahoto Pagoda, Japan's oldest multi-story pagoda (both National Treasures), as well as the Todaimon Gate (Important Cultural Property) and Nio statues that mark the entrance to this autumn wonderland.
These National Treasure architectures are illuminated together with the autumn leaves at their peak throughout the temple grounds.
The temple grounds feature over 1,000 maple trees, most of which are Iroha Momiji (Japanese maple) with delicate leaves. Each leaf displays a beautiful gradation from red at the tip to orange, yellow, and yellow-green toward the base, creating a spectacular autumn display. The Iroha Momiji has long been synonymous with autumn foliage in Japan. Its flower language is "precious memories." Murasaki Shikibu and countless other pilgrims to Ishiyamadera must have enjoyed these autumn leaves as well.
Event Overview Open to Public
| Period | Mid-to-late November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM (Last entry 8:30 PM) *Visitors who enter between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM must exit by the 4:30 PM closing time. *A full circuit of the grounds takes approximately one hour. Please allow sufficient time for your visit. |
| Venue | Ishiyamadera Temple Grounds (Access Information) |
| Admission Fee |
General 800 yen / Junior & Senior High School Students 600 yen / Elementary School Students 300 yen (5:30 PM - 9:00 PM)
|
| Organizer | Ishiyamadera Temple (Head Temple) / Ishiyama Tourism Association |
