Kyō no Fuyu no Tabi

A winter campaign that opens closed cultural properties

Kyō no Fuyu no Tabi is a campaign that Kyoto City and the Kyoto City Tourism Association hold every year from January to March. It began in January 1967 (Shōwa 42) and reached its 60th edition in 2026 (Reiwa 8). At its center, the Special Opening of Normally Closed Cultural Properties shows, for a limited time, gardens, Buddhist statues, sliding-door paintings, buildings, and other things that usually cannot be visited, and each participating temple and shrine also takes part as an organizer.

The places opened are chosen around a theme each time from temples, shrines, and other sites in Kyoto City, so which places are open changes from year to year.

An example theme and line-up (60th edition)

The 60th edition (2026) ran from January 1 to March 22 as a destination campaign in cooperation with the six JR Group companies, with special openings at 15 places from January 9 to March 18. The theme was places associated with Toyotomi Hidenaga and Hideyoshi, tied to the NHK historical drama "Toyotomi Kyōdai!" (The Toyotomi Brothers!). The line-up included Daikō-in (Kita Ward), a subtemple of Daitoku-ji and Hidenaga's family temple; a special visit to Nishi Hongan-ji, where a monk guides visitors through the National Treasure shoin; the National Treasure five-story pagoda of Tō-ji and Hiunkaku of Nishi Hongan-ji (exterior only); the Important Cultural Property Hattō and sutra repository of Daitoku-ji; the bell tower and Ōshinden of Higashi Hongan-ji; and Hōkō-ji's temple bell (an Important Cultural Property) bearing the inscription "Kokka Ankō." It was the first time Daitoku-ji's sutra repository had been opened in Kyō no Fuyu no Tabi.

Fees and children

Admission is paid separately at each place opened. Fees differ by place; for the 60th edition (2026), the basic fee was 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for elementary school students. Some places are free for elementary school students accompanied by a parent or guardian, or for high school students and younger. On the other hand, some places charge a combined fee that includes the regularly open areas, and some, such as reservation-only special visits guided by a monk, cost more.

Some editions also include a stamp rally around the places opened, and special courses of the "Okoshi Bus" scheduled sightseeing bus that visit the places opened for a single price covering fare, admission, and a meal.

The autumn "Kyoto Special Opening of Normally Closed Cultural Properties" and the summer trip

The similarly named "Kyoto Special Opening of Normally Closed Cultural Properties" is a separate program begun in 1965 (Shōwa 40) by the Kyoto Furubunka Hozon Kyōkai (Kyoto Association for the Preservation of Old Culture), a public interest incorporated foundation. It is held every autumn, and since 1999 (Heisei 11) also in spring, and admission fees go toward the conservation, repair, and upkeep of cultural properties.

In summer, Kyoto City and the Kyoto City Tourism Association hold "Kyō no Natsu no Tabi" (Kyoto Summer Trip). Apart from these programs, temples and shrines also hold special openings at times they set themselves; one example is the opening of Jingo-ji's National Treasure portraits identified as Minamoto no Yoritomo and Taira no Shigemori from May 1 to 5.

Announcements, hours, and visiting rules

The places, fees, and closure days are announced the previous autumn (for the 60th edition, on November 21, 2025).

Even during the opening period, there are days and times when visits are not possible because of Buddhist services, bad weather, and so on, so check the official announcements for closures and changes. Opening hours differ by place; for the 60th edition, the basic hours were 10:00 to 16:30 (reception until 16:00). Individual visitors generally do not need reservations, but some places accept reservations only, and groups of 15 or more are asked to reserve.

Many openings involve going inside buildings, and to protect the cultural properties you cannot go in barefoot. Wear socks or similar and bring a bag for your shoes. Photography may also be refused.