Skip to content

Things to Do

Festivals & Events

Festivals & Events
Gion Matsuri Festival

Kyoto holds many cultural, artistic, and nature-related events throughout the year.
See which ones you will have a chance to experience during your upcoming trip.

*Please note that the displayed dates indicate only the start and the end date of an event. There may be days within that period when the event is not held. Please visit the official website linked below each entry for further details and latest information.

Featured Events

Old Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa Autumn Special Opening
Image copyright: Hidehiko Mizuno

Old Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa Autumn Special Opening

20 Nov – 07 Dec 2025

Special Openings

Venue: Old Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa

IMAGINE NOH

IMAGINE NOH

12 Nov – 04 Dec 2025

Art / Music / Theater

Venue: The Kyoto Kanze Noh Theatre / The Kongo Noh Theatre

Search for Events

Search for articles

95 Results

ENTER NOH

ENTER NOH

11 Nov 2025

Art / Music / Theater

Venue: Kyoto Kanze Kaikan Noh Theater

Fushimi Sake Festival in Otesuji Shopping Street

Fushimi Sake Festival in Otesuji Shopping Street

15 Nov 2025

Tours & Experiences

Venue: Fushimi Ote-suji Shopping Street *Please note that the reception location is Nanbu Park.

Special Autumn Evening Opening of Kennin-ji Temple, Kyoto’s Oldest Zen Temple

Special Autumn Evening Opening of Kennin-ji Temple, Kyoto’s Oldest Zen Temple

16 Nov 2025

Tours & Experiences

Venue: Meeting place: Kennin-ji Temple Visitor's Reception (Main Temple)

JS Bach: Complete Solo Violin Sonatas & Partitas Concert (Kyoto Autumn Music Festival)

JS Bach: Complete Solo Violin Sonatas & Partitas Concert (Kyoto Autumn Music Festival)

22 Nov 2025

Art / Music / Theater

Venue: Kyoto Concert Hall Ensemble Hall Murata (small hall)

Main Events

Aoi Matsuri Festival

Aoi Matsuri Festival

May 15

A long-held procession from Kyoto Imperial Palace to two historic shrines, with 500 people in courtly Heian attire.

Read more
Gion Matsuri Festival

Gion Matsuri Festival

July 1-31

One of the three greatest festivals of Japan, when downtown Kyoto is lively with lavishly decorated festival floats.

Read more
Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Bonfires

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Bonfires

August 16

Five mountains around Kyoto are lit up with bonfires as a send-off for ancestral spirits who visit during Obon.

Read more
Jidai Matsuri Festival

Jidai Matsuri Festival

October 22

This parade of roughly 2,000 participants dressed in period garb representing over 1,000 years of Kyoto’s history.

Read more

Seasonal Events

Kyoto Restaurant Special 2025
Festivals & Events Food & Drink
Setsubun Festival
Festivals & Events
Happy New Year 2025! – Year of the Snake
Areas Cultural Sites Festivals & Events
Fushimi in Winter
Areas Cultural Sites Food & Drink
The 59th Kyoto Winter Special Openings
Cultural Sites Festivals & Events
Takao’s Winter Specialties
Areas Food & Drink
Mizuo
Areas People

You may also be interested in

Areas

Plan your trip around which area's sites and scenery call to you.

Go to this page

Seasonal Information

No matter what time of year you visit, special experiences await.

Go to this page

Our Partners