A Unesco World Heritage Site, Kyoto’s Nijo Castle is getting a new look this spring with a collaborative digital art event hosted by art collective Naked. This is not the first time the company, led by actor and artistic director Ryotaro Muramatsu, has hosted an immersive light-up display at the 400-year-old castle. Naked have been putting on projection mapping shows at the venue every spring and autumn for a while now. This spring, the spectacular event is scheduled to run from March 14 to April 13.
This edition of ‘Naked meets Nijo Castle Sakura,’ taking place 80 years after the end of World War Two, will feature cherry blossom illustrations drawn by local children. The special art project is a collaborative effort between Muramatsu and the children of Kyoto with the theme of connecting the world with prayers for peace. It’s part of the Dandelion Project, a global participatory art initiative by Muramatsu.
Because the event will coincide with Nijo Castle’s cherry blossom festival, the compound’s 300 cherry trees will also be lit up after sundown. There are 50 varieties of sakura on site, including the popular Somei-Yoshino trees, weeping cherry trees and Sato trees. This year, a new picnic area in the cherry blossom garden area will be set up for those who purchase a 'picnic set' sold on-site.
The light-up event will run every night from 6pm to 10pm (last entry 9pm). Admission is ¥2,000 for adults and ¥1,000 for children from Monday to Thursday. Ticket prices are slightly higher from Friday to Sunday: ¥2,500 for adults and ¥1,500 for children. You can book your tickets here.
This article was originally published on March 5 2021 and updated on March 25 2025.
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