JR Tokai launched the “Let’s go to Kyoto! campaign, and began accepting reservations for special sightseeing experience plans on April 23 on a special website.
In recent years, due to congestion caused by recovering demand and the intense summer heat in Kyoto, there has been growing interest in “time-zone diversified tourism,” in which tourists avoid daytime sightseeing and engage in activities during the morning and evening hours. Among these, the night-time economy, which makes use of the hours between sunset and sunrise, has become a keyword that is attracting attention, with the domestic market estimated to be worth approximately 10 trillion yen.
Against this backdrop, the new campaign utilizes nighttime hours to expand content that allows visitors to deeply experience the charms of Kyoto while avoiding crowds and heat. TV commercials featuring Seirenin Monzeki, Shisendo Jozanji Temple, and Shimogamo Shrine, all of which are beautiful in their early summer greenery, will be aired from April 25 to May 22.
As a special event linked to the campaign, Seiren-in Monzeki will hold a special nighttime lighting event. The period is from July 17 to August 23 (except August 13-16). The fee is 1,200 yen for adults and 800 yen for children with EX Travel Advance Reservations, and 1,500 yen for adults and 1,000 yen for children with same-day ticket sales at the counter.
A special dinner is also planned in collaboration with “Living Auberge,” a food experience production brand, for the first time. The restaurant will be rented out to a small number of people, including the Kadoden Hall of Seirenin Monzeki, and will offer “Bungetsu Shikkyoku no Kyo Kaiseki” served by the third generation owner of Kinobue, a long-established ryotei restaurant in Kyoto that has won a Michelin star. This event will be held for three days from July 10 to 12.
Hogonin Temple in Arashiyama will hold a special nighttime private viewing for the first time during the summer season. Visitors can enjoy “Reflection of Blue Maple Leaves” (reverse maple leaves) from the Shoin, which is normally closed to the public, for a total of 10 days on weekends from May 23 to June 21. The fee is 2,200 yen for an EX travel destination reservation.
In addition, special red seals drawn by illustrator Hinano will be awarded. Six temples, including Seiren-in Monzeki, have designs featuring blue maples and flowers, and they will be available starting May 8. Seiren-in Monzeki will also offer a set of original red seal stamp books.
© Source travel watch