On Friday, October 23, 2026, a moon-viewing event called "Shoseien Jusanya" (渉成園十三夜) will be held at Shoseien (渉成園), a detached precinct of Higashi Honganji in Kyoto. THE THOUSAND KYOTO, the Keihan Group's flagship hotel in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, will serve its custom drinks and pecan nut chocolate at the event.
The drink lineup totals four types, including an original cocktail and mocktail created by the hotel's sommelier. They use a plum syrup made from plums harvested at Shoseien by hotel staff in May this year. To go with the drinks, the hotel will also offer its "Pecan Nut Chocolat" (ピーカンナッツショコラ), sold inside the hotel, as a finger sweet.
THE THOUSAND KYOTO has taken part since 2022 in the Ohigashi-san Monzen Mirai Project (おひがしさん門前未来プロジェクト), which works to discover the appeal of the area around Higashi Honganji, not far from the hotel, and to build up the local community. As a member of the project, the hotel will help liven up this event.
About Shoseien Jusanya
Located about a 10-minute walk northeast of the hotel, Shoseien is a garden designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty. Although it stands right in front of Kyoto Station, it covers a vast 10,600 tsubo and features a wide variety of trees and plants along with waterside scenery.
In the late Edo period, the scholar of Chinese classics Rai San'yo praised the elegance of the buildings and scenery within Shoseien in his writings as the "Thirteen Views of Shoseien" (渉成園十三景). The moon-viewing event "Shoseien Jusanya" is held every autumn in reference to this.
The event centers on Ingetsuchi Pond (印月池), named for the way it reflects the moonlight rising over Higashiyama on its surface. Visitors can stroll freely through the garden by moonlight, a different scene from the daytime. Drink and food menus from THE THOUSAND KYOTO and from the nearby hotels Hotel Kanra Kyoto (ホテル カンラ 京都) and Dusit Thani Kyoto (デュシタニ京都) are also available, offering a chance to enjoy both the "moon" and "food."
A quiet garden makes a fitting place to look up at the moon on a long autumn night.
Event Details
- Event name: Shoseien Jusanya (渉成園十三夜)
- Date and time: Friday, October 23, 2026, 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM (last entry 8:00 PM)
- Venue: Shoseien (also known as Kikokutei, 枳殻邸), a detached precinct of Higashi Honganji
- Garden maintenance donation: Adults ¥1,000, junior high and high school students ¥500 (free for elementary school students and younger)
- Details:
What to Expect
- A moonlit garden stroll in Shoseien at night, when it is normally closed to the public
- Light meals, drinks, and more inspired by the "Thirteen Views of Shoseien"
- Sales locations: the garden and the grand hall "Rofutei" (閬風亭) in Shoseien (Kikokutei)
- Sales and cooperation: THE THOUSAND KYOTO / Dusit Thani Kyoto / Hotel Kanra Kyoto (in Japanese alphabetical order by company name)
- A tea gathering in the tea house "Roan" (蘆菴), which is not normally open to the public and is specially reserved for the event
Planning and production: Ueyakato Zoen Co., Ltd. (植彌加藤造園株式会社), Nature and Culture Services Department
Rofutei (閬風亭)
Roan (蘆菴)
THE THOUSAND KYOTO Menu
Alcoholic Drinks
- Sosho (爽渉) - ¥1,000: An elegant drink based on a homemade syrup made with Shoseien plums and the Kyoto dry gin "Ki no TEA" (季の TEA). The sweet-tart plum and the mellow tea flavor of Ki no TEA blend pleasantly, while wasabi added as a hidden touch gives a refreshing accent that sharpens the whole drink.
- Japanese whisky - ¥1,200: Japanese whisky selected by THE THOUSAND KYOTO's sommelier, served the way you like it.
Sosho (爽渉)
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
- Meihua (梅花), mocktail - ¥700: A beautiful amber-colored mocktail in which a homemade syrup made with Shoseien plums blends exquisitely with the mellow, milky flavor of Kinsen (金萱) oolong tea.
- Ippodo Tea hojicha (一保堂茶舗 ほうじ茶) - ¥600: A warm hojicha made by roasting the stem portions of sencha, with a toasty aroma and a light finish.
Meihua (梅花)
Finger Sweets
- Pecan Nut Chocolat (ピーカンナッツショコラ) - ¥400: A chocolate with a light, delicate texture and a refined sweetness that also goes well with whisky. It is also sold at the hotel's online shop.
THE THOUSAND KYOTO official online shop
Pecan Nut Chocolat (ピーカンナッツショコラ)
Notes
- Drinks are served in takeout cups.
- Displayed prices include consumption tax.
- Payment is by cash only.
- Menu items may change depending on supply.
- Times and other details may change without notice. Please check the official website for details.
- All photos are for illustration purposes.
