When you walk into Miyama Kayabuki no Sato in Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture, you will see layers of thatched roofs, mountains and traditional settlements that are still inhabited. In winter, there is a chance to see the snow-covered eaves; the annual "Miyama Winter Lantern Festival" allows the thatched houses to glow with warm lights in the night.
The 2027 Miyama Winter Lantern Festival is scheduled to be held from January 30 to February 6. Even if it doesn’t snow, you can still enjoy the night view of lights and settlements. For travelers who want to extend from Kyoto city to the Kansai countryside, the most worthwhile arrangements in advance are night transfers and activity reservations.
Miyama Winter Lantern Festival 2027: Dates & Highlights
The Miyama Winter Lantern Festival is an annual winter illumination in the Kita settlement. The 2027 event is its 22nd edition. Key details are listed below.
- Event date: January 30 (Saturday) to February 6 (Saturday), 2027, a total of 8 days.
- Lighting time: From 17:00 to 19:00 every day, about 20 thatched houses and settlement lanterns create a night scene.
- Warm food stalls: Every day from 15:00 to 19:00, there are expected to be about 5 to 8 stalls. The actual dishes will be announced on site.
- Cultural experience: Chii Hachiman Shrine’s mochi and red bean soup; and a Japanese dance on February 3rd.
- Admission fee: Settlement lighting is free; experience, food, transportation and parking are extra.
- Fireworks: There will be no winter fireworks events in 2027.
Why was the name changed from "Snow Lantern Festival" to "Winter Lantern Festival"?
The past event name was "Miyama Kayabuki no SatoSnow Lantern Festival". Due to the lack of snow in recent years, the organizers have changed the name to the "Winter Lantern Festival" starting in 2026, allowing tourists to focus on the winter settlements and light and shadow, rather than expecting to see thick snow. Whether it snows and whether there is enough snow to make snow lanterns still depends on the weather that year.
Therefore, travelers searching for "Miyama snow scene" can look forward to the beauty of the roof after snow, but they should not regard white snow as a guarantee for booking a trip. Even if there is no snow, the lanterns lined up along the streets, the outline of thatched roofs and the night view of the mountain village are still the protagonists of the event.
Kayabuki no Sato: A Living Thatched-Roof Village
Kayabuki no Sato occupies the Kita settlement of Miyama in Nantan. Around 39 of its approximately 50 homes retain thatched roofs, with some houses dating back roughly 150–220 years. The village was designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1993, and residents continue to maintain its landscape and living environment.
Miyama’s Kitayama-style houses differ from the gassho-zukuri buildings of Shirakawa-go. Their layouts and thatched roofs developed around local life and climate, and belong to a landscape of fields and wooded mountains.
This remains a living village. Stay on public paths and designated areas, do not enter private homes, courtyards or farmland, and keep noise low, especially after dark.
Lanterns, Warm Food & Cultural Activities
About 80 street lights and 200 LED lanterns
During the event, about 80 street lights and about 200 LED lanterns in the settlement were lit up, and about 20 thatched houses were illuminated simultaneously. Compared with large urban lighting fixtures, this place is more suitable for appreciating the soft and quiet contrast between the eaves, mountain color, window light and the street.
Warm food stalls from 15:00
Food stalls are planned with warm dishes using local ingredients. Eating before the illuminations leaves time to enjoy the shift from dusk to night. Stalls accept cash only; convenient ATMs and electronic-money top-ups are not available locally, so prepare suitable yen denominations.
Chii Hachiman Shrine | Mochi and red bean soup
Mochi-making and red bean soup are planned throughout the festival, generally from 17:15 to 18:15. On February 3, the session changes to 17:00–17:45. The usual participation fee is ¥300 per person, with limited availability. A Japanese dance performance is planned for February 3, 17:45–18:05; that day’s ¥500 fee includes the performance and mochi experience. Allow time for walking and queues.
Daylight, Dusk & Evening Views
- During the day: The hierarchy of roofs, fields and mountains is clear, which is suitable for understanding the traditional architecture of northern settlements.
- Dusk: There is still a faint light in the sky, and lanterns are lit one after another. You can take pictures of the details of the roof and the warm lights at the same time.
- Night: 17:00–19:00 is the official lighting period. The outline of the eaves and the light and shadow on the street are more obvious. Low temperature and ice also need to be paid more attention to.
For photography, allow time for the transition from dusk to darkness. Snow can contrast with the warm lights on the roofs; without snow, the buildings’ lines are easier to see. Respect private property and designated viewing areas.
Miyama Through the Seasons
The Winter Lantern Festival is a limited event, but Kayabuki no Sato is worth visiting not only in winter. In spring, you can enjoy the new greenery and flowers and trees in the mountain villages; in summer, there are fields, streams and deep green mountain forests; in autumn, you can see thatched roofs, red leaves and persimmon trees. Travelers who like traditional architecture or rural landscapes can choose different Miyama expressions according to the season.
Planning for Your Travel Companions
- Couples: It’s best to arrive before dusk, watch the lanterns light up slowly, and then finish with hot food and the night view of the countryside.
- family family: Making mochi and lanterns are attractive to children; however, low temperatures, slippery roads, and open ditches require care, and it is best to avoid staying too late.
- Photography enthusiasts: It can focus on roof details, dusk sky and night light and shadow. Drone photography is prohibited in the park, and some residences and land are not open to the public.
- Seniors and travelers with reduced mobility: Mainly in a gentle and easy-to-stay area. Snow or ice may make it difficult for wheelchairs and walkers to pass, so you should confirm the actual road conditions.
- Friends or small group: It is suitable to leave time for leisure activities, meals and cultural experiences. If there are many people traveling together, unified transportation arrangements are often more worry-free than transferring separately.
Transport & Reservations: Confirm the Return Journey
Miyama is located in a mountainous area north of the center of Kyoto. Unlike the temple attractions in urban Kyoto, moving at night in winter requires additional arrangements. Keihan Kyoto Transportation's "Kyoto Miyama Line" direct bus will not operate in 2027; general public transportation must take JR to Hiyoshi Station, and then transfer to the Nantan City bus to "Kaya (Kayabuki no Sato)" station.
Pay special attention to the last city bus: The official last shift time for return journeys varies by week, including 18:25 on weekdays, 17:01 on Saturdays, and 16:54 on Sundays and national holidays, which are not completely compatible with the 17:00–19:00 lighting period. Therefore, if you want to see the whole night view, it is not suitable to rely on ordinary buses to arrange a day trip.
The Miyama Tourism Association has announced a day-trip bus tour departing from Kyoto Station during the 2027 event, priced at 12,000 yen per person, including round-trip transfers from Kyoto Station, local tour guides, and a 1,500 yen ticket that can be used at the venue. If you wish to make flexible arrangements based on the number of people traveling with you, accommodation location and other Kansai attractions, you can also inquire about customized travel services in advance.
The event parking lot requires all vehicles to be reserved and paid in advance. According to the organizer's announcement, the event co-operation fee for regular cars and large taxis is 1,500 yen per taxi, and 10,000 yen per taxi for sightseeing buses; there is no on-site payment or direct entry without reservation. This reservation restriction also affects chartered cars, taxis and group vehicle arrangements, and should be processed together before confirming transfers.
The temperature may drop below zero at night, so it is recommended to prepare warm jackets, gloves and non-slip shoes; there are no luggage storage or coin lockers in the venue. Passengers with children or large luggage are best to adjust their equipment and stay pace before departure.
Miyama Winter Lantern Festival: Frequently Asked Questions
When will the 2027 Miyama Winter Lantern Festival be held?
From January 30 to February 6, 2027, a total of 8 days; the lights will be lit from 17:00 to 19:00 every day, and the warm food stalls are expected to start at 15:00.
Is it guaranteed to see snow at the Miyama Winter Lantern Festival?
Not necessarily. Due to insufficient snow in recent years, the event has been renamed from "Snow Lantern Festival" to "Winter Lantern Festival" in 2026. Whether it snows or not does not affect the general lighting arrangement, but it may still be adjusted or canceled in case of severe weather.
Do I need tickets for the Winter Lantern Festival? Are there any fireworks?
It is free to enter the settlement to enjoy the lighting, but the mochi experience, meals and transportation are extra. The organizer has announced that there will be no winter fireworks events in 2027.
What is the difference between Miyama Kayabuki no Sato and Shirakawago?
Both have traditional thatched roofs, but the settlement history, architectural form and surrounding geography are different. Miyama is famous for its Kitayama-style private houses and the living scenery of Kyoto's mountain villages. It is not a smaller version of the Gassho-zukuri settlement in Shirakawago.
Is it suitable for children or elders to participate?
Arrangements can be made based on the fitness of the travellers, but the temperature is low at night in winter and some parts of the ground may be slippery. Parents, children and elderly travelers are advised to confirm pick-up, warmth and stay time in advance to avoid catching the bus in the dark.
Include Miyama in Your Winter Kansai Visit
What is truly rare at the Miyama Winter Lantern Festival is not just the snowy scenery, but the preserved thatched cottages that show another expression when lit up at night for only eight days a year. If you want to connect Miyama with other winter attractions in Kyoto and Kansai, it is recommended to first decide the time of day you want to visit and the needs of your companions, and then confirm feasible transfer arrangements.
If you want to reduce the burden of transportation and reservations in winter mountainous areas, TUKISUMI can help discuss customized travel arrangements in Kansai based on travel date, number of people, accommodation location and interests. You can also refer to the site’s Kansai seasonal travel themes with Family and special experiences, looking for other scenery suitable for fellow travelers.
Inquire about Kansai customized toursOfficial information: Miyama Winter Lantern Festival · Kyoto Miyama Tourism Association.