Nara Toukaae Festival 2026: Candles, Tickets & Guide
Kansai · NaraIllumination
For ten nights every August, more than 20,000 candles are set out across Nara Park, turning the temple approaches and pond edges into fields of small flames.
Overview
Nara Tokae is a volunteer-run candle event staged across roughly nine separate sites in and around Nara Park. The name refers to the flower-shaped bead of wax that forms at a burning wick; folk belief holds that a well-formed one is a sign of good luck.
Despite the setting, this is a modern addition to Nara’s calendar rather than an ancient rite — it began in 1999. What it offers is a rare chance to walk the park after dark, when the deer have settled and the pagodas are lit from below by nothing but candlelight.
When and Where
The 2026 edition ran from 5 to 14 August, with candles lit each evening from 19:00 to 21:30. The dates are fixed annually, so 5–14 August is a safe assumption for future years, though the organisers confirm them each spring.
Not every venue opens every night. The Todai-ji site ran only on 13 and 14 August, and the Kasuga Taisha approach only on 14 August, which makes the final two evenings the ones with the widest coverage. Core venues include Sarusawa Pond, Ukimido, Kofuku-ji and the grounds of the Nara National Museum.
Getting There
From Kyoto, the Kintetsu Kyoto Line reaches Kintetsu Nara in about 35 to 45 minutes; from Osaka-Namba the Kintetsu Nara Line takes roughly 40 minutes. Kintetsu Nara Station is a 5 to 10 minute walk from the western venues, while JR Nara is about 20 minutes on foot.
Nara Kotsu city loop buses run to the Todaiji Daibutsuden / Kasuga Taisha-mae stop, about five minutes from the eastern sites. Organisers ask visitors to come by public transport, as the area becomes very congested during the event.
Admission
Viewing is free. Visitors can also take part directly through the ikkyaku itto scheme at the Ukishima area of Ukigumo Enchi, where you place and light a candle of your own and make a wish; a small fee applies, and reception runs from 19:00 to 21:00. Light rain does not stop the event, but heavy weather can.
Tips for Visitors
Arrive before sunset so you can find your bearings while the paths are still visible, then let the light fade around you — the transition is the best part. Sarusawa Pond gives the classic shot, with the five-storey pagoda of Kofuku-ji reflected above a curve of candles. Wear shoes you can walk a few kilometres in: the venues are spread out, and moving between them on foot is the whole experience. Deer remain in the park after dark, so keep food packed away.
Access and Map
| Dates | 5–14 August (2026 edition ran 5–14 August); lit 19:00–21:30 nightly |
|---|---|
| Venue | Nara Park and surrounding sites — around nine venues including Sarusawa Pond, Ukimido, Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji |
| Address | Kasuganocho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture 630-8212 |
| Access | Kintetsu Nara Station 5–10 min walk to the western venues; JR Nara about 20 min walk |
| Admission | Free to view; small fee for the personal candle-lighting experience |
| Official site | Nara Tokae official site |
Source: Nara City Tourism Association
Image: Photo: Karuchiru / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
