Special Viewing of Senso-ji’s Scenic Denboin Garden and Emado Ran Until November 3: Large Votive Paintings by Kuniyoshi and Others, a Sea-of-Clouds Effect and “Kinryu Yakai” at Night

The “Senso-ji Scenic Denboin Garden / Emado Special Viewing” at Senso-ji (Taito-ku, Tokyo) took place for just five days, from Friday, October 30 to Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (national holiday). The normally closed Denboin Garden, a designated Place of Scenic Beauty, and the Emado, which houses about 50 large votive paintings by Utagawa Kuniyoshi and others, were open from 9:00 to 21:00 (the Emado until 16:00). A sea-of-clouds effect was staged in the garden, and at night “Kinryu Yakai” presented illumination and dance. It was held at the same time as the projection mapping on the Main Hall and Hozomon Gate; tickets were for a specified date, and advance tickets cost 2,300 yen for adults.

*Disclosure: The special viewing of Senso-ji’s Denboin Garden and Emado and the special night viewing “Kinryu Yakai” are events planned and produced by HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE (About us).

The Denboin Garden and the Emado: what can be seen?

The Denboin Garden is a Place of Scenic Beauty that is not normally open to the public. During the event it opens from 9:00, with last entry at 20:30. The Denboin itself is currently undergoing restoration.

The Emado houses about 50 large votive paintings, including works by historical artists such as Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Hasegawa Settan and Hemmi (Kano) Kazunobu. It is open only during the day, from 9:00 to 16:00 (last entry 15:30), so to see the large votive paintings you need to visit by late afternoon.

An announcement on October 18 confirmed that the first scroll of the temple treasure “Senso-ji Kanbun Engi Scroll” (1662, Kanbun 2, by Kano Ujinobu, six scrolls in all) would be shown in the original at the Emado. It depicts scenes such as the moment in 628 (the 36th year of Empress Suiko’s reign) when a statue of Kannon was caught in the net of the brothers Hinokuma no Hamanari and Takenari. In addition, a reproduction of the portion corresponding to the “Kannon Sutra” in the National Treasure “Lotus Sutra (with the Opening and Closing Sutras)” (the Senso-ji Sutra) can be seen up close without a display case. Viewing hours are the same as the Emado, 9:00 to 16:00 (last entry 15:30). Details are in our article on the decision to display the Kanbun Engi Scroll.

At the Emado, visitors can listen to an audio guide on their own smartphones. Earphones are required, and playback through speakers is not allowed. There is no Wi-Fi at the venue, data charges are borne by the user, and devices and chargers are not lent.

The sea-of-clouds effect and “Kinryu Yakai” at night

A sea-of-clouds effect is staged in the garden both day and night, about once every 30 minutes for about 10 minutes, between 9:00 and 20:30.

During the night-only “Kinryu Yakai,” the garden is illuminated from 17:00 to 21:00. Outside the Emado, an original dance (about 5 minutes) inspired by the “Golden Dragon Dance” is performed seven times, every 30 minutes from 17:00 to 20:00, by “Hanabi,” a Japanese-style jazz dance team formed by director MIWA.

Tickets are valid for both day and night, and re-entry is permitted on the designated day only. Visitors can, for example, see the Emado during the day and return in the evening for Kinryu Yakai.

Tickets, prices and sales periods

Prices (tax included) are as follows. Preschool children are free; elementary school students and older need a ticket.

• Special viewing ticket: adults (high school students and older) 2,300 yen in advance, 2,500 yen on the day; elementary and junior high school students 800 yen in advance, 1,000 yen on the day

• Special viewing ticket with votive painting catalogue: adults 3,800 yen in advance, 4,000 yen on the day; elementary and junior high school students 2,300 yen in advance, 2,500 yen on the day (includes the catalogue “Votive Paintings of Senso-ji”; limited quantity)

• Discount ticket for people with disabilities: adults 2,100 yen, elementary and junior high school students 600 yen (same in advance and on the day; for holders of disability certificates and similar and one companion; Mirairo ID accepted)

Advance tickets were on sale from 10:00 on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 to 23:59 on Thursday, October 29. Same-day tickets are sold from 0:00 on Friday, October 30 to 20:30 on Tuesday, November 3 (national holiday), only in the numbers remaining after advance sales. Refunds and changes of ticket type are not possible after purchase.

Main sales outlets include asoview!, Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, JTB’s activity and leisure ticket booking, and Webket. Tickets can also be bought at 7-Eleven (P-code 662-266) and at Lawson and Ministop (L-code 35833). Tickets with the catalogue are sold through Ticket Pia, asoview! and JTB, and discount tickets for people with disabilities only through JTB or Webket.

During the event, same-day tickets are also sold from 9:00 to 20:30 each day at the reception near the Okuyama Gate on the north side of the Denboin Garden. Noting that quantities are limited and that crowds are expected on weekends and holidays, the organizer recommends buying in advance.

The premium special viewing and a special tour of the Denboin, an Important Cultural Property

The premium special viewing, held only on Friday, October 30, was a program in which participants joined a special prayer service (about 20 minutes, praying for the safety of the household) in Senso-ji’s Main Hall from 13:00. It came with a small wooden tag and Kannon incense not normally sold, and participants received a special viewing ticket after the service. The price was 12,000 yen (tax included, advance only), for 30 people on a first-come, first-served basis. Junior high school students and younger (including preschool children) could not take part.

On Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, the “Important Cultural Property Senso-ji Denboin Conservation and Repair Work Special Tour Program” is held twice a day, at 10:00 and 13:00. Large-scale conservation and repair work has been under way at the Denboin for about 10 years since 2016, and participants tour normally closed cultural properties under repair, such as the guest hall, the entrance and the study hall. The tour takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, for 10 people per session, at 5,000 yen (tax included, advance only). According to the organizer, the tour program has reached capacity and applications have closed.

The guide is Takumi Tamura, construction chief at the design and supervision office for the guest hall and entrance of the Important Cultural Property Senso-ji Denboin, run by the Japanese Association for Conservation of Architectural Monuments. Because work is in progress, there may be noise and vibration, and the areas toured and the route may change. Junior high school students and younger cannot take part, and special viewing tickets are sold separately.

Both programs are sold only through JTB’s activity and leisure ticket booking and Webket. The sales deadlines are 23:59 on Thursday, October 29 for the premium special viewing and 0:00 on Sunday, November 1 for the special tour.

Notes on photography and accessibility, and access

Photography is allowed in the Denboin Garden but prohibited in the Emado. Even in the garden, auxiliary equipment such as tripods and selfie sticks cannot be used.

The garden has gravel and stepping stones, and the Emado has many stairs and steps. There are no barrier-free facilities such as ramps, and since the staff do not hold caregiving qualifications, they cannot provide physical assistance. Pets are not allowed in order to protect the cultural properties, and visitors may be asked to show proof of age.

Reception is near the Okuyama Gate on the north side of the Denboin Garden in the Senso-ji precincts, about a 5-minute walk from Asakusa Station (Tobu Skytree Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Tsukuba Express, and Exit A4 of the Toei Asakusa Line). Senso-ji has no parking. Crowds in the surrounding area may make getting to the reception take time, so visitors are advised to allow plenty of time.

Frequently asked questions

Are there same-day tickets?

Yes. During the event, same-day tickets are sold from 9:00 to 20:30 each day at the reception near the Okuyama Gate on the north side of the Denboin Garden. Web tickets can also be bought until 20:30 on the day. However, the number sold each day is limited, and same-day tickets are only those remaining after advance sales.

Do I need separate tickets for day and night?

No. Tickets are for a specified date and valid for both day and night, with re-entry permitted on that day. The Emado is open until 16:00 (last entry 15:30), and “Kinryu Yakai” takes place from 17:00 to 21:00.

Can I take photos?

Photography is allowed in the Denboin Garden but prohibited in the Emado. In the Denboin Garden, auxiliary equipment such as tripods and selfie sticks cannot be used.

Editor’s perspective

On the same nights, projection mapping inspired by the large votive paintings and the illustrated scroll “Kanbun Engi” is projected onto the Main Hall and Hozomon Gate. A distinctive feature of this program is that visitors can see the actual large votive paintings and the first scroll of the “Kanbun Engi Scroll” in the Emado during the day, then watch footage based on them at night.

Another notable point is that the cultural properties themselves are made the subject of public viewing and explanation, including the Denboin tour guided by the construction chief of the conservation work. On the other hand, there are no barrier-free facilities, so check the conditions underfoot in advance.

On the final day, Tuesday, November 3 (national holiday), the “White Heron Dance,” which according to Senso-ji revives a dance depicted in the “Senso-ji Engi” (Kanbun Engi), will also be performed at 11:30 and 14:40 in the plaza on the west side in front of the Main Hall (according to the Asakusa Tourism Federation). The schedule of events in Asakusa is introduced in our roundup of Asakusa events and festivals in November.

Overview

Name: Senso-ji Scenic Denboin Garden / Emado Special Viewing
Dates: Friday, October 30 – Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (national holiday)
Hours: 9:00–21:00 (last entry to the Denboin Garden 20:30; the Emado 9:00–16:00, last entry 15:30)
Venue: Senso-ji, Denboin Garden and Emado (reception near the Okuyama Gate on the north side of the Denboin Garden)
Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Admission: Adults (high school students and older) 2,300 yen in advance, 2,500 yen on the day; elementary and junior high school students 800 yen in advance, 1,000 yen on the day; and other ticket types (tax included). Free for preschool children
Organizer: Asakusa Culture & Lights Executive Committee
Planning and production: HITOHATA, INC.
Special cooperation: JTB Corp.
Official website: https://www.asakusaculturelights.com/
*Information as of October 31, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: main visual (Senso-ji, Scenic Denboin Garden) (from a press release by HITOHATA, INC.)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on press releases from HITOHATA, INC. (September 2, October 7, October 18 and October 28, 2026) and information on the official website (viewed October 31, 2026).

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team

A note from the publisher

*Disclosure: The special viewing of Senso-ji’s Denboin Garden and Emado and the special night viewing “Kinryu Yakai” are events planned and produced by HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE (About us).

The latest information on events produced by HITOHATA, INC. is available at HITOHATA, INC.’s event information. Inquiries about planning projection mapping on cultural properties, government buildings and other urban buildings are accepted through the company’s contact form.