The historical Kitano Tenmangu Shrine features one of Kyoto’s most sprawling plum gardens, home to around 2,000 ume trees. This year, as the shrine hosts the 10th anniversary of the Kyoto Nippon Festival, the seasonal blooms are looking even more striking than usual.
For this milestone occasion, the festival has enlisted some of Japan’s leading creative talents for its contemporary art-led cultural programme. Multidisciplinary artist Mika Ninagawa, known for her large-scale immersive works, has transformed the shrine’s famed plum garden into a site-specific installation. Using light and colour to create a dreamlike atmosphere, 'Three Gardens of Snow, Moon and Flowers' (9am–8.30pm) celebrates the beauty of the changing season as the plum blossoms begin to bloom.
Tickets are now on sale. Installation-only admission is ¥3,500 for adults and ¥2,000 for children.
Note: the installation may close on certain days. Check the event website for the latest updates.