Latest news with #LightCyclesKyoto
Yomiuri Shimbun
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Botanical Garden Hosts Nighttime Immersive Event in Kyoto
Old & New video KYOTO — The Kyoto Botanical Gardens in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, is holding an event called 'Light Cycles Kyoto,' in which its Conservatory greenhouse is filled with sound and dynamic lights at night. The immersive event allows visitors to experience the fascination of plants at night. This is the second time the facility has held such an event. When it held a similar event from October to December last year to celebrate its 100th anniversary, the number of annual visitors in the fiscal year exceeded 900,000 for the first time in 30 years. The current event will continue for a much longer period, from May to the end of March next Ryuzo Suzuki / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior PhotographerThe lighting in the greenhouse makes it look like people are either standing in the light of the rising sun or the setting facility is the oldest public botanical gardens in Japan. The greenhouse has existed since its opening, but the current one, which opened in 1992, is the third generation. The greenhouse has a distinctive shape that evokes the silhouette of Kinkakuji temple reflected on a pond and the Kitayama mountain range. About 25,000 plants of about 4,500 species are displayed indoors. As the pathway is a circuit with no steps, the scenery changes in succession, allowing visitors to appreciate various forms of vegetation as they make their rounds. With biodiversity as the keyword for the event, the greenhouse is divided into four zones and suffused with light and sound. Visitors can enjoy the fantastic sights and smells of a wide variety of plants at Ryuzo Suzuki / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior PhotographerThe Orchids & Bromeliads Garden room creates a mysterious atmosphere with sound and event is cosponsored by Kyoto Prefecture, the organizing committee and Mitsui Fudosan Co. The gardens opened a century ago thanks to donations from the Mitsui family, a wealthy merchant family. The company still has links with the family and strongly supports the significance of the current event, which aims to pass on the attraction of the botanical gardens to future Ryuzo Suzuki / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior PhotographerThe Dry Tropics Garden room is illuminated at to organizers, the event is an attempt to show respect for nature and to examine the relationship between people and nature. Moment Factory, a company headquartered in Canada, took charge of the event's planning and production. The organizers say it intends to 'visualize the voices' of plants at night, which are different from during the daytime, and create an opportunity for the next generation to develop a deeper connection with Ryuzo Suzuki / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior PhotographerThe Conservatory greenhouse of the Kyoto Botanical Gardens is illuminated at night.'I came here for the first time in about 10 years, and it felt like a fresh experience. The combination of light, sound and plants was impressive,' said a female university student in her 20s from Kita Ward, Kyoto, who attended the event with her boyfriend. Advance tickets, which can be purchased until the day before admission, cost ¥2,300 for high school students and older, and ¥1,100 for elementary and junior high school students. Same-day tickets are available at the venue but may be sold out.
Time Out
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Kyoto Botanical Gardens is now open at night for an immersive multimedia experience
Kyoto is more than just temples. It may come as a surprise that Japan's ancient capital is also home to the country's oldest public botanical garden. Fresh off its 100th anniversary last year, the Kyoto Botanical Gardens is now opening its doors after dark for a one-of-a-kind multimedia experience. When Light Cycles Kyoto debuted last year, it was a hit despite being held for just two months. Building on that success, the night event is now operating year-round, running until March 31 2026. The best part? The entire event takes place inside the botanical garden's covered conservatory, making it enjoyable regardless of the weather. Produced by the Montreal-based multimedia studio Moment Factory, Light Cycles Kyoto is an immersive sensory experience that uses light and sound not only to reveal the relationships plants have with nature, but also to create a new way for us to appreciate them. The experience is designed as a journey through four zones. You start with ' Light Will Find You ', inspired by komorebi, that peaceful, magical moment when sunlight filters through tree canopies. Here, the same phenomenon is recreated using artificial light to cast dappled patterns that break up the darkness of night. The second zone, ' Memory of Water ', pays tribute to the vital element. Moment Factory uses light waves and the sounds of thunder and rain to emphasise the importance of water to nature and life. ' Invisible ', the third zone, is playful, as it involves light frequencies that create patterns and rhythms. The last zone, ' Forest Frequencies ', highlights nature's orchestra, where a symphony of natural sounds evokes calm and harmony. Complementing the experience is a gift shop offering items inspired by 'plants' and 'light', including exclusive goods celebrating the garden's history and biodiversity. There is also a food and drink area showcasing vendors from the local neighbourhood. Light Cycles Kyoto is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 7pm to 9.30 pm (last entry 8.30 pm) until August, and from 6pm to 9.30pm (last entry 8.30pm) from September through March. Tickets are ¥2,500 for adults and ¥1,200 for elementary and middle school children. Purchase your tickets online in advance for a ¥100–¥200 discount. For more information, check the event website.
