Higashiyama Hanatouro

Overview

Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro was a nighttime walking event held annually in early March in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto City, along the foothills of the eastern mountains. Approximately 2,400 traditional paper-covered lanterns (andon) lined a roughly 4.6-kilometer promenade stretching from Shoren-in Temple to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. These lanterns, crafted from Kyoto's traditional arts and crafts such as Kiyomizu pottery, Kitayama cedar, Kyo bamboo, stonework, and metalwork, illuminated the early spring streets with a warm, gentle glow.

The event was conceived to create a new nighttime attraction for the Higashiyama area, which traditionally saw fewer visitors after sunset compared to daytime. Because most temples and shrines close their gates in the evening, nighttime walks were largely limited to the Gion district and its surroundings. Although the event lasted only about ten days each year, it drew over one million visitors annually and became a beloved herald of early spring in Kyoto. It is important to note that the Higashiyama Hanatouro concluded with its 2021 edition and is now regarded as a historical event.

History and Origins

The first Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro was held in March 2003. It was launched by the Kyoto Hanatouro Promotion Council to create a new nighttime attraction for Kyoto. From the outset, the event emphasized collaboration with local traditional craft producers, temples and shrines, and art universities, focusing on creating an atmosphere of Kyoto's unique elegance, or "miyabi."

The chosen route through the Higashiyama foothills passes a dense concentration of historically significant sites, including Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Chion-in Temple, Yasaka Shrine, and Kodai-ji Temple. While these sites are bustling with visitors during the day, they traditionally close in the evening. The Hanatouro event encouraged participating temples and shrines to offer special nighttime viewings and illuminations, revealing the hidden beauty of Kyoto after dark to a wider audience for the first time.

In December 2005, a sister event, the Arashiyama Hanatouro, was inaugurated in the Saga-Arashiyama district. Both events became pillars of Kyoto's winter and early spring tourism. The highest recorded attendance for the Higashiyama Hanatouro was 1.374 million visitors.

However, it was decided that the 2021 edition would be the final one, marking the 20th anniversary since the event's inception. The Arashiyama Hanatouro also ended with its December 2021 edition. As such, the entire "Kyoto Hanatouro" series has concluded. The final edition ran from March 4 to 13, 2022. Kyoto Prefecture and the Kyoto City Tourism Association explained that the original aims, attracting visitors in the off season and promoting night and overnight tourism, had been achieved, with seasonal gaps in visitor numbers narrowing and privately run illumination events taking root. While the event no longer takes place, its legacy remains an important chapter in Kyoto's modern tourism history.

Highlights

Bamboo Lanterns at the Mysterious Stream (Take-akari Yugen no Kawa) Inside Maruyama Park, the shallow Giyokawa stream was lined with approximately 1,000 lanterns made of green bamboo. These lanterns, utilizing the natural texture of the bamboo, cast flickering reflections on the water surface. On clear nights it created a mystical, otherworldly atmosphere that transported visitors into a dreamlike realm.

Hanabutai (Flower Stage) A special stage called the "Hanabutai" was set up at Kodai-ji Park along Nene-no-michi path. Traditional performing arts of Kyoto, including traditional Japanese music and dance, were performed here. It offered visitors a chance to encounter traditional Kyoto performing arts up close.

University City Kyoto: Traditional Lantern Exhibition Inside Maruyama Park, students from Kyoto's art universities and junior colleges displayed their original works. With the theme of "traditional light," these contemporary interpretations of lanterns and objects showcased the fusion of traditional crafts and young creativity. This exhibition served as a practical outlet for students and highlighted Kyoto's identity as a "university city."

Hanatouro Literary Figure Corridor At the Aokusu-no-niwa garden on the north side of Shoren-in Temple, panels introducing the works and lives of ten artists associated with the Higashiyama area were displayed. The Higashiyama foothills have long been a haven for literati and artists, and this corridor offered visitors a chance to deepen their understanding of the cultural background of the area.

Hanamachi Hanatouro Rickshaw Procession During the event period, maiko and geiko from Kyoto's five hanamachi rode in rickshaws through the Gion district, in front of Minamiza Theater, and around Maruyama Park. This parade served as a promotional spectacle for the event, with the elegant kimono-clad women and traditional rickshaws creating a picturesque scene against the early spring cityscape. Visitors could unexpectedly encounter these living cultural treasures.

Oekaki Andon (Drawing Lantern) Workshop At Kodai-ji Park, visitors participated in a hands-on workshop to create their own miniature andon lanterns. Participants freely drew designs on palm-sized lantern frames, which were then illuminated. The completed lanterns could be taken home as souvenirs, making this a particularly popular activity for families and couples, adding an interactive and memorable element to the event.

Special Nighttime Viewings and Illuminations at Participating Temples and Shrines Temples and shrines such as Shoren-in, Chion-in, Yasaka Shrine, Kodai-ji, Entoku-in, Kiyomizu-dera, and Hokan-ji offered special nighttime viewings and illuminations. The gardens and architecture were artistically lit, revealing a completely different atmosphere from daytime. At Kiyomizu-dera, the first nighttime special viewing after the completion of the major Heisei-era renovation in December 2020 attracted significant attention.

Event Information and Access

• Timing: The event was held for about ten days in early March, with lanterns lit from 18:00 to 21:30. It ended with the 2021 fiscal year, and the final edition ran from March 4 to 13, 2022.
• Location: Higashiyama district, Kyoto City. The promenade stretches approximately 4.6 kilometers from Shoren-in Temple in the north, through Maruyama Park, Yasaka Shrine, Nene-no-michi path, Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka slopes, to Kiyomizu-dera Temple in the south.
• Admission: Walking the promenade was free. Separate admission fees applied to the special nighttime viewings and illuminations at participating temples and shrines.
• Access (Public Transportation): About a 5-minute walk from Higashiyama Station on the Tozai Subway Line to Shoren-in at the northern end. About a 5-minute walk from Gion-shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line to Yasaka Shrine. For Kiyomizu-dera at the southern end, take a city bus to the Kiyomizu-michi or Gojozaka stop and walk about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Access (Private Vehicle): Parking is limited in the area, and traffic restrictions and congestion are expected during the event. Use of public transportation is strongly recommended.
• Contact: The project has ended. For information on successor initiatives and other illuminations in the area, refer to the Kyoto City Tourism Association or Kyoto Prefecture tourism information.

Surrounding Area

The Higashiyama Hanatouro promenade passes through an area dense with Kyoto's most iconic temples and shrines. At the northern end, Shoren-in Temple, one of the three monzeki (temples headed by imperial or noble blood) of the Tendai sect, enshrines Shijokokun Yorai, a figure deeply associated with light. During the Hanatouro it opened its halls at night and illuminated its front garden. South of Shoren-in lies Chion-in Temple, the head temple of the Jodo sect, where the national treasure Sanmon gate and Miedo hall are illuminated, creating an imposing sight against the night sky.

Maruyama Park, located east of Gion, was the central hub of the Higashiyama Hanatouro. Famous for its weeping cherry tree (Gion Shidarezakura), the park was transformed into a wonderland of lights and flowers during the event. The Giyokawa stream hosted the "Bamboo Lanterns at the Mysterious Stream," while Kodai-ji Park hosted the Hanabutai stage and the Oekaki Andon workshop. South of the park stands Yasaka Shrine, where the dance stage hosted ceremonial dances by maiko and geiko.

At the southern terminus of the promenade lies Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto). The major Heisei-era renovation, which included rethatching the roof of the main hall, was completed in 2020. The nighttime illumination during Hanatouro allowed visitors to appreciate the architectural beauty of the structures themselves, unadorned by seasonal foliage. The return route passes through the stone-paved slopes of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, which are beautifully lit by the andon lanterns. Nene-no-michi path was the first street in Kyoto to have its overhead power lines removed, in 1998.

Related Information

• Arashiyama Hanatouro: A sister event held annually in December in the Saga-Arashiyama district. It concluded with its December 2021 edition.
• Kyoto Hanatouro Promotion Council: The organizer of both the Higashiyama and Arashiyama events, with the Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro Executive Committee serving as the managing body. From fiscal 2022 it shifted to a successor project that lends andon lanterns and lighting equipment to local groups and private operators.
• Participating Temples and Shrines: Shoren-in Temple (Tendai sect), Chion-in Temple (Jodo sect), Yasaka Shrine (Shinto), Kodai-ji Temple (Rinzai sect, Keninji school), Entoku-in (sub-temple of Kodai-ji), Kiyomizu-dera Temple (Kitahosso sect), Hokan-ji Temple (Rinzai sect, Keninji school).
• Kyoto's Five Hanamachi (Geisha Districts): Gion Kobu, Gion Higashi, Miyagawa-cho, Pontocho, and Kamishichiken. Maiko and geiko from these districts participated in the rickshaw procession and ceremonial dances during Hanatouro.
• Collaboration with Traditional Crafts: The production of the andon lanterns involved various Kyoto traditional crafts, including Kiyomizu pottery (bases), Kitayama cedar (frames), Kyo bamboo (bamboo lanterns), stonework (foundations), and metalwork (fittings).
• Kyoto Ikebana Association: Responsible for the "Ikebana Promenade" within the Hanatouro event. Ikebana flower arrangements were displayed at various points along the route, creating a visual harmony between light and flowers.
• Traffic Regulations: During the event period, pedestrian-priority traffic regulations were enforced in the Higashiyama area, often restricting vehicle access. Special shuttle buses and crowd dispersal measures were implemented.

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