Evening Special Viewing Illumination at Shiromine-ji from November 13: Second Edition After Two Years, with Activities in the Important Cultural Property Guest Hall

“Evening Special Viewing Illumination 2026” will be held at Shiromine-ji (Sakaide, Kagawa Prefecture), Temple No. 81 of the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage. The dates are Friday, November 13 – Sunday, November 15, Friday, November 20 – Monday, November 23 (national holiday) and Friday, November 27 – Sunday, November 29, 2026, with lights on from 17:30 to 21:00. Autumn leaves and the buildings in the grounds are illuminated, and the treasure hall, which normally requires advance booking, is specially opened. The Sakaide City Tourism Association announced the event on October 8.

This year, two activities on the theme of “wishes and prayers” are also offered in the guest hall, an Important Cultural Property that is normally off-limits. It is the second edition, held two years after the first in 2024.

What has changed since the first edition in 2024

According to the Sakaide City Tourism Association’s press materials of October 17, 2024, the first edition was organized by the association with the cooperation of the cities of Sakaide and Takamatsu and others. It was held at two pilgrimage temples, Shiromine-ji and Negoro-ji in Takamatsu, illuminating the autumn leaves from 18:00 to 21:00 on Friday, November 15 – Sunday, November 17 and Friday, November 22 – Sunday, November 24, 2024. Shiromine-ji opened its guest hall (an Important Cultural Property), and Negoro-ji its statues of the Five Great Wisdom Kings (a Prefectural Cultural Property).

In 2026, the event is held at Shiromine-ji, organized by Banri Ikku Co., Ltd. of Takamatsu and supported by the City of Sakaide and the Sakaide City Tourism Association. The Shiromine-ji Illumination Office, which handles inquiries, is located within JTB’s Takamatsu branch. The lights now come on at 17:30 rather than 18:00 as last time, and the dates have expanded to three weekends and a national holiday in November.

Two activities in the guest hall and a special opening of the treasure hall

Two activities are held in the guest hall. In “A Wish on a Leaf of Light” (¥500), visitors write their wishes on glowing leaves and display them in the grounds at night. In “Making an Amulet with Someone in Mind” (¥1,000), visitors choose a pattern and handmake an amulet carrying words for someone dear to them. The leaves bearing wishes are ritually burned after the event. The amulets can be taken home and given to loved ones.

Each activity generally requires advance booking, online only; if places are available on the day, visitors can also sign up on site. During the event, the treasure hall, which normally requires advance booking, is specially opened, with admission included in the special viewing ticket. Warm food and sweets are also planned, and the tea house serves Goshikidai honey tea and tea sweets made with Sakaide’s “three kintoki” local specialties.

Cultural-property buildings and autumn-leaf grounds opened at night

According to the 2024 press materials, nine of Shiromine-ji’s buildings, including the Main Hall and the Tonshojiden, are nationally designated cultural properties. This year’s press materials say the trees in the grounds take on color in autumn, with autumn leaves framing buildings such as the Main Hall and the Tonshojiden. The event combines evening visits with the opening of the normally off-limits guest hall and the reservation-only treasure hall, plus paid activities.

The background to events that light castles, temples and shrines at night is covered in our article on why illuminations and projection mapping at cultural properties are proliferating, and considerations when staging light at cultural properties in our article on projection mapping at cultural properties and the care it requires. Events around the country this autumn and winter are introduced in our roundup of projection mapping and light events nationwide, and winter light events in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions in our roundup of illuminations and light events in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions.

Editor’s perspective

The evening viewing that the tourism association started at two pilgrimage temples is being held for the second time under a new setup: organized by a private company, supported by the city and the association, with its office at a travel agency branch. The question is whether this format, combining the treasure hall opening and paid activities, can turn the nighttime opening of cultural properties from a one-off into an ongoing undertaking.

Tickets, admission and access

The special viewing ticket costs ¥1,500, including treasure hall admission; elementary school children and younger are free. Tickets can be bought online, and paper tickets are also scheduled to go on sale at the Sakaide City Tourist Information Center inside JR Sakaide Station (9:00–17:00), with the start date to be announced once decided. Last entry is 20:45. Temporary parking will be set up nearby but is limited, and visitors are asked to carpool.

Overview

Name: Evening Special Viewing Illumination 2026
Dates: Friday, November 13 – Sunday, November 15; Friday, November 20 – Monday, November 23 (national holiday); Friday, November 27 – Sunday, November 29, 2026
Hours: 17:30–21:00 (last entry 20:45)
Venue: Shiromine-ji (Temple No. 81 of the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage)
Address: 2635 Oumicho, Sakaide, Kagawa
Admission: Special viewing ticket ¥1,500 (including treasure hall admission); elementary school children and younger free. Guest-hall activities charged separately (¥500, ¥1,000)
Organizer: Banri Ikku Co., Ltd.
Supported by: City of Sakaide; Sakaide City Tourism Association
Inquiries: Shiromine-ji Illumination Office (within JTB Takamatsu Branch) 087-811-7923
*Information as of October 21, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: The illuminated grounds of Shiromine-ji at night (photo courtesy of Shikoku Camera Club) (from the Sakaide City Tourism Association’s press release)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on the Sakaide City Tourism Association’s press materials (October 8, 2026, and October 17, 2024).

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team