Autumn ZEN NIGHT TOKYO will open the garden of Tokyo National Museum in Tokyo at night from October 14 to December 6, 2026. The event combines autumn illumination, sound art and Zen-inspired experiences in a historic garden setting.
For travelers planning an evening cultural route in Ueno, the event extends the garden’s usual opening hours beyond 5 p.m. The program runs mainly from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with later closing times on selected Fridays, Saturdays and special dates.
Advance admission is ¥3,600 (tax included) for general visitors, ¥2,600 for university students and ¥2,200 for high school students. Same-day tickets cost ¥4,200, ¥3,200 and ¥2,800 respectively, and include admission to the special Daitokuji exhibition.
About ZEN NIGHT TOKYO
Momiji Chaya
The autumn garden includes Momiji Chaya, an outdoor tea stand where guests can enjoy warm matcha and matcha lattes while viewing the illuminated foliage. Event admission starts at ¥2,200 (tax included) for high school students.
Autumn Garden Atmosphere
Lighting and sound installations transform the Tokyo National Museum garden after dark, with advance admission priced from ¥2,200 to ¥3,600 (tax included), depending on the ticket category.
Tenmoku Garden
Tenmoku Garden appears near the Kujo-kan teahouse as a dry landscape inspired by the Milky Way. Advance tickets cost ¥3,600 for general visitors, ¥2,600 for university students and ¥2,200 for high school students (tax included).
Hyakki Yako
The Hyakki Yako path uses 3,000 red spider lilies to create an atmospheric autumn night walk. Same-day admission is ¥4,200 for general visitors, ¥3,200 for university students and ¥2,800 for high school students (tax included).
Zen Meditation Sessions
Special meditation programs led by Daitokuji priests are planned as reservation-only experiences during the event. Standard advance admission to ZEN NIGHT TOKYO is ¥3,600 for general visitors (tax included).
The experience uses light, sound, silence and nature to create an immersive night walk through the museum garden. Visitors can encounter a lit autumn landscape, a large cloud-sea installation, walking meditation and a brainwave meditation program using VIE’s neurotechnology. The event is held alongside the 700th-anniversary exhibition “Daitokuji: Japan’s Unparalleled Zen Garden.”
Highlights
- Autumn foliage lighting and a reflective view across Suigetsu Pond.
- Momiji Chaya, an outdoor tea stand serving warm matcha and matcha lattes.
- Tenmoku Garden, a dry landscape installation designed to evoke the Milky Way.
- Hyakki Yako, a night path lined with 3,000 red spider lilies.
- Advance tickets cost ¥3,600 for general visitors, ¥2,600 for university students and ¥2,200 for high school students (tax included).
- Same-day tickets cost ¥4,200, ¥3,200 and ¥2,800 respectively (tax included).
Menu / Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | ZEN NIGHT TOKYO |
| Menu / items | Autumn garden illumination; immersive sound art; walking meditation; brainwave meditation; special Zen meditation sessions; matcha; matcha latte |
| Period | October 14, 2026 (Wed) – December 6, 2026 (Sun); closed Mondays except November 2, November 23 and November 30, plus November 24 |
| Location | Tokyo National Museum Garden, Ueno, Tokyo |
| Address | Ueno Park, Taito City, Tokyo |
| Price | Advance: general ¥3,600, university students ¥2,600, high school students ¥2,200; same-day: general ¥4,200, university students ¥3,200, high school students ¥2,800 (tax included) |
| Official website | Official website |
Before you buy
- When can I attend ZEN NIGHT TOKYO?
- The event runs from October 14 to December 6, 2026. It is generally open from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with later closing on selected dates.
- How much is ZEN NIGHT TOKYO?
- Advance tickets cost ¥3,600 for general visitors, ¥2,600 for university students and ¥2,200 for high school students. Same-day tickets cost ¥4,200, ¥3,200 and ¥2,800 respectively (tax included).
- What does the ticket include?
- The ticket includes admission to the 700th-anniversary Daitokuji special exhibition at Tokyo National Museum.
