Prior to the night-time opening of the Kyoto State Guest House, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, from April 28 to May 4, a sneak preview for the press was held on March 28. A fantastic atmosphere was created as faint light gleamed through paper doors and the garden's fresh greenery emerged out of the evening dusk.

The night-time opening will take place for the first time, with the expectation of attracting a wide range of visitors, including young people and foreigners. Usually the guest house is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but it will remain open until 8:00 p.m. during that period.

Warm-colored Japanese-style lamps were placed in the guest house, and the garden was also lit up. The swelling buds of weeping cherry blossoms and carp swimming in the pond were illuminated in the silence of the night. The tapestry on the wall of "Fuji-no-Ma" or the Banquet Hall, where a dinner reception was held last year for the president of Finland, was reflected on the water surface, creating a different feeling from the daytime hours. The admission fee is 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for junior and senior high school students. There is no admittance for children of primary school age or younger. While advance application is available through the Kyoto State Guest House's website, admission cards for that day will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis from 10:00 a.m. daily.