Images are for illustrative purposes only
Announcements
For the latest updates, please check our official website and X.
ZEN NIGHT TOKYO
A special night immersed in Zen amid the autumn leaves of the Tokyo National Museum garden.
Walk in meditation along the pond of a traditional Japanese garden ablaze with autumn colour, enveloped in neuro music that calms the brain. Alongside the beautifully illuminated foliage, a vast sea of cloud rises over the pond, "Brainwave Zazen" — a meditation session performed while measuring brainwaves — and a sound corridor, "Hyakki Yado," ablaze with 3,000 blooming red spider lilies, unfold — a sound art night in which you can experience the world of Zen through sound and silence, light and shadow.
Held concurrently with the Special Exhibition Celebrating the 700th Anniversary of the Temple's Founding, "Daitokuji: A Zen Temple Beyond Compare," showing at Heiseikan, Tokyo National Museum, this event opens the Museum Garden — normally closed at 17:00 — for a special night viewing.
Celebrating the 700th Anniversary of the Temple's Founding
Special Exhibition: "Daitokuji: A Zen Temple Beyond Compare" — Held Concurrently
The Zen treasures of Daitokuji, Kyoto, gather at Heiseikan, Tokyo National Museum, from October 14 to December 6 — the first Daitokuji Exhibition in Tokyo, and the first in 41 years. Alongside numerous treasures such as Mokkei's National Treasure "Kannon, Monkeys and Cranes" (Daitokuji collection; on view Oct 14 – Nov 8) and the National Treasure "Yohen Tenmoku" tea bowl (Ryoko-in collection; on view Oct 14 – Nov 8), the exhibition recreates the normally non-public interior of the Sanmon gate — its ceiling still vividly painted by Hasegawa Tohaku — and unveils its principal image and a statue of Sen no Rikyu for the first time.
"Daitokuji: A Zen Temple Beyond Compare" Official Website (external site)
* The ZEN NIGHT TOKYO ticket price includes admission to the special exhibition "Daitokuji: A Zen Temple Beyond Compare."
Images are for illustrative purposes only
A water mirror for the autumn moon and foliage
Suigetsu-ike Pond
This Japanese garden, once part of the former Kan'ei-ji Temple, reflects the autumn moon and foliage on its water surface. Gazing into the mirror-like pond, it feels as if your own inner landscape is reflected back at you.
Images are for illustrative purposes only
A cup of tea beside the autumn-coloured pond
Momiji Chaya
An open-air teahouse beside the pond, aglow with autumn colour, offering warm matcha and matcha lattes. Menu details coming soon.
Images are for illustrative purposes only
A Milky Way in stone, glowing in the dark
Tenmoku Garden
In front of "Kujokan," a teahouse relocated from Duke Kujo's residence, appears "Tenmoku Garden" — a dry landscape garden depicting a Milky Way glowing in the darkness.
Images are for illustrative purposes only
Spider lilies bloom where spirits linger
Hyakki Yado
The path behind the pond, where teahouses such as "Tengoan," associated with the great tea master Kobori Enshu, stand quietly, is set aglow on autumn nights with 3,000 red spider lilies, evoking the presence of yokai from Japanese folklore.
Images are for illustrative purposes only
Mindful Sound Scape that soothes your brain
Neuro Music
Neuromusic, scientifically proven music that soothes the brain, developed by Neuro tech startup VIE, is placed throughout the venue. Walking through the garden and admiring the art installations while listening to music will lead you to a mindful state.
Images are for illustrative purposes only
A meditative space of sound and light woven by brainwaves
Brainwave Zazen
At "Kujokan," once belonging to Duke Kujo, wear a brainwave sensor and experience an immersive meditation space where your mental state is visualized in real time through sound and imagery. The digital patterns and brainwave sounds create a tranquil environment for deep relaxation and self-reflection. * This experience requires a "Brainwave Zazen Ticket," available from the official ticket site (date/time-designated / duration: approx. 30 min / capacity: 20 per session).
* Some exhibits in this event may include flashing lights. If you have photosensitivity, a history of seizures, loss of consciousness, or epilepsy, please consult a physician before participating.
Special Programs
Special Zazen Session Led by Daitokuji Monks
Kujokan
At "Kujokan," once belonging to Duke Kujo, a Daitokuji monk guides a zazen meditation session. A plan is also available that includes a Shojin Ryori (Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine) meal afterward at "TOHAKU CHAKAN," the restaurant inside "Okyokan." (20 participants per session)
▼ Special Zazen Session Led by Daitokuji Monks
Nov 5 (Thu) 17:45–18:45 Instructor: Rev. Ryosho Yamato (Head Priest, Daisen-in)
▼ Special Zazen Session Led by Daitokuji Monks - with Shojin Ryori (Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine) -
Nov 13 (Fri) 17:45–20:15 / 19:00–21:30 Instructor: Rev. Soshō Yamada (Head Priest, Shinju-an)
* This experience requires a "Special Zazen Session Led by Daitokuji Monks Ticket," available from the official ticket site (Capacity: 20 per session).
Past
Sound Art Nights
ZEN NIGHT TOFUKUJI
Tofukuji Temple
Held at Tofukuji amid fresh summer greenery. A sound art night of sound, silence, light and shadow, featuring "Neuro Music Zazen" — a sound zazen experience in Japan's oldest and largest Zen meditation hall.
ZEN NIGHT WALK KAMAKURA
Kenchoji Temple
Held at Kenchoji, the top-ranked temple of Kamakura's Five Mountains. Walk through autumn foliage accompanied by neuro music — a sound art night of sound, silence, light and shadow.
ZEN NIGHT WALK KYOTO
Kenninji Temple
Held at Kenninji, Kyoto's oldest Zen temple. An immersive art experience of light and sound, touching the essence of Zen.
FAQ
Price
All tickets include a ZEN NIGHT TOKYO admission ticket and an admission ticket to the Special Exhibition Celebrating the 700th Anniversary of the Temple's Founding, "Daitokuji: A Zen Temple Beyond Compare."
| Ticket Type | High School Student | University Student | Adult | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Ticket | Advance | ¥2,200 | ¥2,600 | ¥3,600 |
| Regular | ¥2,800 | ¥3,200 | ¥4,200 | |
| Brainwave Zazen Ticket [Date/time-designated] | ¥5,600 | |||
| Special Zazen Session Led by Daitokuji Monks Ticket [Nov 5 (Thu), from 17:45] | ¥17,300 | |||
| Special Zazen Session Led by Daitokuji Monks + Shojin Ryori (Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine) Ticket [Nov 13 (Fri), from 17:45 / 19:00] | ¥32,300 | |||
Sales period Advance tickets: Aug 7 (Fri) – Oct 13 (Tue) Regular tickets: Oct 14 (Wed) – Dec 6 (Sun)
* All prices include tax.
* Admission is free for junior high school students and younger, and for one caregiver accompanying a person with a disability.
* Zazen program pricing is uniform for all ages (a fee applies even for junior high school students and younger, and for one caregiver accompanying a person with a disability).
* Preschool-age children may not participate in the zazen programs.
* Access to the zazen program venue, Kujokan, is by a steep staircase without handrails. Wheelchairs cannot be brought inside Kujokan.
If you already hold a ticket to the Daitokuji Exhibition, from Oct 14 (Wed) you can purchase a ZEN NIGHT TOKYO admission-only ticket. You will need to present your Daitokuji Exhibition ticket (a used stub is acceptable) upon entry to ZEN NIGHT TOKYO.
ZEN NIGHT TOKYO
Overview
Name
ZEN NIGHT TOKYO
Dates
Wednesday, October 14 – Sunday, December 6, 2026 * Closed: Mondays (open on November 2, 23 and 30) and November 24
Venue
Museum Garden, Tokyo National Museum
Hours
17:30–19:30 Open until 21:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and on November 1, 2 and 22; until 21:30 on November 13. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
Organizer
Tokyo National Museum, Nikkei Inc., VIE
Support
Japan Cultural Expo, FY2026 (Japan Arts Council / Agency for Cultural Affairs)
Contact
Email: info@vie.style
Phone (Hello Dial): 050-5541-8600 (9:00–20:00 JST)
Please contact us by email except in urgent cases.
Access
The former Kan'ei-ji Temple's Japanese garden is dotted with five historic teahouses around its central pond. To commemorate the concurrent Special Exhibition Celebrating the 700th Anniversary of the Temple's Founding, "Daitokuji: A Zen Temple Beyond Compare," the Museum Garden — normally closed at 17:00 — opens for a special night viewing.
Tokyo National Museum 13-9 Uenokoen, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8712
Tokyo National Museum Official Website (external site)
With the mission of “Live Connected, Feel the life”, we use neurotechnology and music to update people’s sensibilities and contribute to their well-being. We create products that support people around the world to live a life full of sensibility, develop services that lead people to the optimal state, and also contribute to the development of future medical ICT and digital therapeutics.