Kyoto’s Nijo Castle to be transformed as it hosts autumn-exclusive digital art exhibition
A new nighttime art exhibition by the creative company NAKED, INC. is coming to the World Heritage Site, Nijo Castle, in Kyoto.
The event, “NAKED meets Nijo Castle 2025: Moon Viewing (Kangetsu),” is an autumn-exclusive art show that will blend modern digital art with traditional Japanese culture to recreate the elegant moon-viewing parties of the Edo period.
The castle, which was once a stage for the opulent culture of the Shogunate, has a long history of “Fuga,” or traditional elegance, which included enjoying tea, poetry, and Noh performances under the light of the moon.
This new event will bring that history to life through projection mapping, light installations, and collaborations with traditional Japanese arts.
A key highlight of the event is a collaboration with the “Ikenobo” school of ikebana (traditional flower arrangement).
This partnership is a tribute to Emperor Go-Mizunoo, who loved Nijo Castle and was a patron of the Ikenobo school.
The collaboration will feature traditional ikebana art fused with NAKED’s modern art technology, creating a unique, five-senses experience.
A limited, premium event will also be held in the Honmaru Palace area.
This special experience will feature a projection-mapped recreation of a pre-recorded Noh performance, “Tōru,” allowing visitors to experience the ethereal, moon-themed dance in a fantastical new way.
Other art installations throughout the castle grounds will include:
- Karamon Gate (Important Cultural Property)
A projection mapping show that opens the “door” to the moon-viewing party.
- Ninomaru Palace (National Treasure)
A “moonlight” light-up of the palace entrance and a projection mapping show that recreates an Edo-era banquet.
- Ninomaru Garden (Special Place of Scenic Beauty)
A light-up set to the sounds of water and autumn insects.
- Inner Moat
A fantastical projection mapping show that interacts with the surface of the water.
- Seiryu-en Garden
A light-up that evokes the feeling of autumn with seasonal scents.
- Kitchen Front Garden
An interactive art piece where touching a water basin will create the sounds of traditional Japanese instruments.
The “NAKED meets Nijo Castle 2025: Moon Viewing” is scheduled to be held from Friday, the 31st of October, to Sunday, the 7th of December.
The event will run from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, with last admission at 9:00 PM.
Regular tickets are priced as follows:
- Monday – Thursday: Adults ¥2,000 (approx. $13.50 USD / £10.80 GBP) / Children ¥1,200
- Friday – Sunday & Holidays: Adults ¥2,400 (approx. $16.25 USD / £13.00 GBP) / Children ¥1,600
Early bird tickets, which provide a discount on admission, are also available for purchase until the 30th of October.
More details can be found on the official website.
Event Details
| calendar_month DATE | Oct 31 2025 - Dec 07 2025 |
|---|---|
| schedule TIME | 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm |
| payments Cost | from ¥1200 |
| info Website | Official Website |
| location_on Location | Nijo Castle |
|---|---|
| map Area | Kyoto |
| category CATEGORY | Castles Cultural Illumination |
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