ZEN NIGHT TOKYO
Oct 14, 2026 at 5:45pm ~ Dec 06, 2026 at 9:00pm
A special Exhibition at “Daitoku-ji Temple”: Special Nighttime Event “ZEN NIGHT TOKYO”.
This autumn, the Tokyo National Museum opens its gardens after dark for ZEN NIGHT TOKYO. The nighttime event accompanies a special exhibition of treasures from Daitoku-ji, a Zen temple in Kyoto. The gardens normally close at 5 p.m.
First, the event features illuminated autumn foliage and a sea-of-clouds installation. In addition, VIE’s patented “neuromusic,” a technology that supports brain function, powers the sound and light effects. Beyond the visuals, visitors can try walking meditation as they stroll through the garden. Alternatively, they can try brainwave meditation, which tracks their brainwaves.
Nearby, the Tenmoku Garden is a karesansui (dry landscape garden) that evokes the Milky Way at night. It sits in front of Kujōkan, a teahouse relocated from the former Kujō family residence. For a deeper experience, Daitoku-ji monks lead zazen (seated meditation) sessions, available with special tickets.
ZEN NIGHT TOKYO is the fourth event in the ZEN NIGHT series. Previous editions took place at Kennin-ji in Kyoto, Kenchō-ji in Kamakura and Tōfuku-ji in Kyoto. This year, the series comes to Tokyo for the first time.
The Exhibition
Held in the Heiseikan wing from Oct 14 through Dec 6, the exhibition is Daitoku-ji’s first in Tokyo. It’s the temple’s first major exhibition in 41 years. The exhibition celebrates the 700th anniversary of the temple’s founding. It offers a chance to encounter the temple’s art and cultural heritage outside Kyoto.
Two National Treasures are on view from Oct 14 to Nov 8. One is Muqi’s painting of Guanyin, monkeys and cranes. The other is a yōhen tenmoku (a rare tea bowl with an iridescent glaze) from Ryōkō-in.
The exhibition recreates the normally off-limits interior of Daitoku-ji’s Sanmon (main temple gate). This includes its vivid ceiling paintings and other works by Hasegawa Tōhaku. For the first time, visitors can see the gate’s principal statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. It sits alongside a statue of Sen no Rikyū.
Tickets
Every ZEN NIGHT TOKYO ticket includes admission to the Daitoku-ji exhibition.
After Oct 13, visitors can only buy tickets on-site.
Tickets: ¥3,600 in advance / ¥4,200 on-site
(College students ¥2,600/¥3,200, high school students ¥2,200/¥2,800)
Already have an exhibition ticket? From Oct 14, you can buy a ZEN NIGHT TOKYO-only ticket.
For tickets and full details, visit the official ZEN NIGHT TOKYO website.
Hours
ZEN NIGHT TOKYO usually runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. However, extended hours run until 9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Nov 1, 2 and 22, and until 9:30 p.m. on Nov 13. In all cases, last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Finally, the event closes on Mondays (except Nov 2, 23 and 30) and on Nov 24.
Information
Start: Oct 14th 2026 at 5:45pm
End: Dec 6th 2026 at 9:00pm
¥3,600
