Japan Travel Tips Vol.20 | Nagano Tactile Art Exhibition, Miffy Van Gogh Figure, Sugi Park Nighttime Autumn Leaves and Shosoin Exhibition Evening Session
Hello everyone, I'm Benny! In this issue of "Benny's Japan Travel Tips" Vol.20, I want to show you a Nagano art exhibition that you can not only see with your eyes but also touch by following the instructions, listen to Yuzu's new song, collect Miffy in a dress inspired by Van Gogh's masterpiece, and finally arrange a visit to the Sogi Park Night Autumn Leaves Reflection in Gifu and the Shosoin Exhibition in Nara. This time, several news items have details that are easy to overlook: the availability of Miffy dolls for individual purchase does not mean you don't need an exhibition ticket, the autumn leaves festival does not mean the lights are on every night, and the evening discount also varies by day and time. I will organize all these details for you at once.
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Data compiled on October 24, 2026. The following is compiled based on this issue's attachments and the attached official sources; all times are Japan Standard Time, and all prices are in Japanese yen. Products, tickets, weather, and event arrangements may be updated, so please check the latest official information before departure.
Japan Travel Tips Vol.20: 5 Key Points to Save First
- Nagano Prefectural Museum of Art: The exhibition of Yohei Nishimura's "Book of the Dead" is open until January 17, 2027, and admission is free, with items that can be touched by following the museum's instructions.
- Yuzu: The new song "Kokoro wo Tomenaide" was digitally released on October 23, and the official music video was released simultaneously.
- Ueno Miffy: The knitted Miffy dolls with dresses inspired by Van Gogh's masterpieces will be available for limited individual purchase starting October 27, and an exhibition ticket is also required.
- Gifu Sogi Park: Night lighting is limited to November 21–23, and night parking must be reserved.
- Nara Shosoin Exhibition: From October 24 to November 9, the adult evening ticket is ¥1,500, and you need to pay attention to the dates, times, and remaining tickets.
1. Nagano Free Touch Art Exhibition: Yohei Nishimura's "Book of the Dead" Exhibition until January 2027
When going to an art museum, people are usually accustomed to keeping their distance from the artworks; this time at the Nagano Prefectural Museum of Art, you can use your sense of touch to experience the artworks in Yohei Nishimura's "Book of the Dead" exhibition by following the museum's instructions. Books and everyday containers become artworks after being fired, and what I find interesting is that viewing no longer relies solely on your eyes.
The exhibition period is from October 17, 2026 to January 17, 2027, open from 09:00 to 17:00, and closed every Wednesday and from December 28 to January 3. Admission to this exhibition is free, but tickets for other exhibition areas are charged separately, do not understand that all exhibitions in the entire museum are free.
What preparations do you need to make for a touch exhibition?
Before entering, you need to store your luggage, remove accessories, and clean your hands, and then gently touch by following the museum's instructions. Being able to touch does not mean you can pick up, move, or press hard at will, the instructions on site are still the most important. If you arrange a Zenko-ji itinerary, I will consider adding the museum to the same cultural route.
Official entrance: Exhibition and touching rules | Museum press release | Nagano Prefectural Museum of Art transportation
2. Yuzu's New Song "Kokoro wo Tomenaide" and MV: The Prelude to the 30th Anniversary Has Begun
This issue's music news is Yuzu releasing "Kokoro wo Tomenaide" on October 23, with the digital release and MV coming together, marking the opening of the 30th anniversary. The song was co-written by Yujin Kitagawa in Los Angeles with Heroism and Kojiro Sasaki, and the MV was directed by Hideyuki Tanaka.
When doing travel research, I will first open the official MV to listen to the new song, and then choose streaming or download links according to the platform I use. This time we are talking about digital release, do not assume it is the same day as a specific physical record or live event.
Official entrance: Yuzu new song announcement | "Kokoro wo Tomenaide" official MV | Streaming and download links
3. Ueno Miffy Van Gogh Masterpiece Dress Doll: Available for Individual Purchase on October 27, Still Need to Buy an Exhibition Ticket
Miffy fans can pay attention to the Cincinnati Art Museum Exhibition limited knitted dolls this time, the pattern on the dress is inspired by Van Gogh's "Two People in a Field of Poplars", available for limited individual purchase from October 27, ¥9,350, while supplies last.
What I really want everyone to calculate clearly is that the exhibition store cannot be entered separately, and an exhibition ticket is also required. The adult day ticket is ¥2,400, if you only go to buy the doll, you should also put the entrance fee into the budget, do not only calculate the product price. According to these two marked prices, the adult day ticket plus one doll totals ¥11,750, not including transportation and other expenses.
How to buy Miffy dolls? What dates to pay attention to?
The official venue transportation information lists about a 3-minute walk from the Park Exit of JR Ueno Station. Before departure, you should confirm the supply and purchase rules from the product page, and then view the exhibition ticket arrangements; limited individual sales do not guarantee that there will be stock when you arrive.
Also, do not confuse it with the San-X hanging dolls going on sale on October 28. The Miffy we are talking about this issue is from October 27, the two products do not start on the same day.
Official entrance: Miffy products and sales arrangements | Exhibition ticket prices and entrance rules | Venue and transportation
4. Gifu Sogi Park Night Autumn Leaves Reflection 2026: Only lit for three nights on November 21–23
If you want to see the night autumn leaves reflection on the water, I will pay attention to the return of the lighting at Gifu Sogi Park this year. However, the dates must be clearly remembered: night lighting is limited to November 21 to 23, 2026, 17:00–20:00.
November 14 to 29 is the entire festival period, it does not mean that the night autumn leaves lighting is on every night during this period. The easiest mistake is only remembering the festival dates, and arranging to go on another night.
How much does it cost to park at Sogi Park at night? Do you need to reserve?
Night parking spaces have been opened for reservation, ¥2,000/car, reservation is required, the actual remaining balance still needs to be checked. Users of paid parking lots do not need to pay an additional ¥500 night cooperation fee per person, do not add both fees when calculating the budget.
I will first confirm the parking space and arrival date, and then finalize the driving route. The attachment records that the organizer's website failed to load, the relevant core arrangements are compiled from the press release, you still need to confirm the latest reservation method and announcements before departure.
Official entrance: Organizer's Night Autumn Leaves and Parking Announcement | Sogi Park Autumn Leaves Festival Official Website
5. The 78th Shosoin Exhibition 2026: Adult evening ticket ¥1,500, dates and times need to be selected first
Nara's 78th Shosoin Exhibition opens on October 24, 2026, and is open until November 9, open without holidays, you can appreciate treasures such as the "Lacquerware Bottle". If you want to arrange a Nara cultural itinerary, I will check the tickets first, and then coordinate with the time of other attractions on that day.
Adult general ticket ¥2,000, evening ticket ¥1,500, the ticket price difference is ¥500. But the evening ticket does not start at the same time every day: Monday to Thursday from 16:00; Friday to Sunday and holidays from 17:00. So this issue's Saturday, October 24, the evening ticket is from 17:00.
Shosoin Exhibition Venue Time and Transportation
The venue is Nara National Museum, open daily from 08:00, weekdays until 18:00, Friday to Sunday and holidays until 20:00, entry stops one hour before closing. About a 15-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station.
Can you buy tickets on the spot for the Shosoin Exhibition?
The principle is to reserve the date and time. The venue only sells the day tickets that still have remaining balance, and charges ¥200/ticket for issuing, do not understand "on-site ticket sales" as tickets are available at any time.
I will suggest confirming the date, entrance time, and remaining tickets online first, especially if you want to use the evening ticket price, you must choose tickets according to the rules of that day. In addition to saving the ticket price, you also need to leave enough time to see the exhibition, do not rush to arrive just before the last entry.
Official entrance: Shosoin Exhibition Overview | Ticket prices, times, and on-site ticket issuing restrictions | Exhibition highlights | Nara National Museum transportation
Common questions about Japan autumn and winter itineraries | Benny's quick Q&A
Can you touch all the artworks at the Nagano Prefectural Museum of Art?
No. This time it is the designated exhibition that you can gently touch according to the museum's rules, before entering you need to store your luggage, remove accessories, and clean your hands, other exhibition area rules and tickets are charged separately.
If you buy Miffy Van Gogh dolls, can you enter the store directly without seeing the exhibition?
No. The store cannot be entered separately, and an exhibition ticket is also required; the doll is ¥9,350, the adult day ticket is ¥2,400, and you also need to confirm the limited product supply.
Is there lighting every night at Sogi Park from November 14 to 29?
No. Night lighting is limited to November 21–23, 17:00–20:00, do not consider the entire festival period as the night autumn leaves lighting period.
Does the Shosoin Exhibition evening ticket start at 17:00 every day?
No. Monday to Thursday from 16:00, Friday to Sunday and holidays from 17:00. Adult evening ticket ¥1,500, the principle is to reserve the date and time.
Will buying tickets on the spot for the Shosoin Exhibition be more expensive?
The venue only sells the day tickets that still have remaining balance, and charges ¥200/ticket for issuing, it is safer to confirm online tickets before departure.
Benny's final reminder: Read the restrictions first, then turn the collection into an itinerary
Nagano "can touch" but you need to follow the rules; Miffy "individual sale" but you need to buy an exhibition ticket separately; Sogi "has a festival" does not mean the lights are on every night; Shosoin "has an evening ticket" also needs to choose the time slot according to the day of the week. Write these details in your notes, it is more practical than just saving a picture.
Save "Benny's Japan Travel Tips" Vol.20, and check the latest official arrangements before departure. I'm Benny, Follow @benny.lee.jp, and let's discover new Japanese culture news together next issue!
