Photo: Ninagawa Mika
KYOTO NIPPON FESTIVAL 2026 — a festival dedicated to showcasing Japan's beauty and culture to the world from Kyoto — is running at Kitano Tenmangu, the head shrine of all Tenmangu shrines across Japan, from February 1 (Sunday) to May 24 (Sunday), 2026. Now in its 10th year, the festival brings together artist Ninagawa Mika and creative team EiM — which includes Miyata Hiroaki, who also served as a theme project producer for Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai — alongside specialists from a range of fields.
Photo: Ninagawa Mika
Hana-no-niwa (Flower Garden): "Garden of Light and Flowers" Installation
The outdoor art installation titled "Garden of Light and Flowers" is on display in the shrine's plum garden, Hana-no-niwa (Flower Garden). More than 1,200 crystals are suspended from the plum trees throughout the garden, presenting a different appearance as the seasons shift and the light changes throughout the day.
The work was conceived in reference to the line "Plum blossoms resemble shining stars" (梅花似照星) from a Chinese poem composed by Sugawara no Michizane at the age of eleven. The vivid plum blossoms and crystals meld and resonate with one another to create a singular scene. The landscape shifts from one moment to the next and offers something to appreciate both under daylight and in the atmospheric nighttime setting.
Photo: Ninagawa Mika
The plum garden's teahouse serves tea and confectioneries during visits, allowing guests to appreciate the beauty of Japan's seasonal changes at a relaxed pace. Because the garden moves through the long arc from bare branches to full bloom to fresh green — and changes hour by hour with the shifting light — each visit offers a distinct experience. Nature, visitor, and artwork resonate together, awakening an awareness of the vitality within the garden and revealing a quiet radiance in fleeting moments.
Photo: Ninagawa Mika
Photo: Ninagawa Mika
Immersive Theater: "The Grand Tea Gathering of Hana-yoi"
From March 20 onward, an immersive theater production — the first of its kind ever held at Kitano Tenmangu — will begin performances at the Fugetsu-den Hall. Ninagawa Mika with EiM handles the production design, while dance company DAZZLE provides the performances. The work unfolds three-dimensionally throughout the space, responding to its historical character.
Audience members explore the venue on foot, encountering wordless storytelling and close-range physical performance through all five senses. The production evokes the legendary tea ceremony held by Toyotomi Hideyoshi at Kitano Tenmangu four centuries ago, imagining the "mythical second day" that never took place. With space, artwork, performance, and audience all converging, it becomes a wholly immersive experience that exists only in the memory of those present.
Festival Overview
KYOTO NIPPON FESTIVAL 2026 — A Garden Where Flowers Bloom Beyond Time
- Installations "Garden of Light and Flowers" and "Zansho": February 1 (Sunday) to May 24 (Sunday), 2026 (closed on certain days)
- Immersive Theater "The Grand Tea Gathering of Hana-yoi": Starting March 20 (Friday, Public Holiday) to May 24 (Sunday), 2026 (closed on certain days); approx. 70 minutes per performance
- Hours: 9:00 AM open / 8:30 PM closing (8:00 PM last entry)
- Venue: Kitano Tenmangu (Bakurocho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture)
- Organized by: KYOTO NIPPON FESTIVAL Executive Committee / Kyoto Shimbun / Kitano Tenmangu
- Sponsored by: JTB / e+
- Official Website: https://kyoto-nippon-festival.com/
Tickets
Advance tickets are on sale. See the official website for full pricing details.
Installation Ticket
Grants access to Hana-no-niwa (Flower Garden) (February 1 to May 24) and the historic Odoi green maple garden "Ao-momiji" (April 1 to May 24). This ticket does not include the Immersive Theater at Fugetsu-den Hall. Admission includes a tea and confectionery, to be collected at the garden teahouse on the day of the visit. Same-day tickets can also be purchased at the venue.
Children's pricing applies to elementary school students (ages 6 to 12); middle school students and older are charged the adult rate. Visitors with a disability certificate may purchase a discounted ticket at the venue for themselves and one caregiver. Children of preschool age are admitted free of charge.
Installation Ticket + Immersive Theater
Grants access to Hana-no-niwa (Flower Garden) (February 1 to May 24), Ao-momiji (April 1 to May 24), and the Immersive Theater at Fugetsu-den Hall at a designated date and time (March 20 to May 24). Premium ticket holders gain early entry, plus viewing of special performance scenes and a limited tea-ceremony experience with select characters.
Tickets are available on e+: https://eplus.jp/sf/word/0000173156
Same-day tickets at the venue are priced at ¥1,000 above the e+ rate.
Weekday:
Saturdays and Holidays:
