Byobu Screen Exhibition During the Gion Festival
03 Jul – 23 Jul 2026
Special Openings Venue: Sugimoto Residence, designated as an Important Cultural Property
Things to Do
Festivals & Events
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
Special Openings 
Ukiyo-e Super Creator: Utagawa Kuniyoshi Exhibition
18 Jul – 23 Sep 2026
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Main Building (North Wing), 1F
Bronze Gallery: Ancient Chinese Bronzes
04 Apr – 31 Jul 2026
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Sen-oku Hakukokan Museum
Mitarashi Foot-Dipping Festival
18 Jul – 30 Jul 2026
Traditional Events Venue: Shimogamo-jinja Shrine
Mitarashi River Foot-Dipping and Lantern Festival
01 Aug – 16 Aug 2026
Traditional Events Venue: Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
Gojo Wakamiya Pottery Festival
07 Aug – 10 Aug 2026
Cuisine / Markets / Other Venue: Along the north-south sidewalk of Gojo-dori Street, at the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine, and in the nearby ceramics shops and restaurants
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7 Results
Yasaka-jinja Shrine’s Tanabata Festival
07 Aug 2026
Cuisine / Markets / Other Venue: Yasaka-jinja Shrine
Wakamiya Hachimangu Grand Festival and Pottery Festival
08 Aug 2026
Traditional Events Venue: Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine
[ Notice ]
*The ceramic portable shrine procession will not take place in 2026.
Gojo Wakamiya Pottery Festival
07 Aug - 10 Aug 2026
Cuisine / Markets / Other Venue: Along the north-south sidewalk of Gojo-dori Street, at the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine, and in the nearby ceramics shops and restaurants
Welcoming the Spirits: Rokudo Mairi Ritual
07 Aug - 10 Aug 2026
Traditional Events Venue: Rokudo Chinno-ji Temple
Rokuharamitsu-ji Temple’s Mantoe Lantern Festival
08 Aug - 10 Aug 2026
Traditional Events Venue: Rokuharamitsu-ji Temple
Higashi Otani Mantoe Lantern Festival
14 Aug - 16 Aug 2026
Traditional Events Venue: Otani Sobyo Shrine / Higashi Otani Cemetery
Shoren-in Temple Special Illumination
17 Jul - 23 Aug 2026
Special Openings Venue: Shoren-in Temple (Shoren-in Monzeki)
Main Events
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
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
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
October 22
This parade of roughly 2,000 participants dressed in period garb representing over 1,000 years of Kyoto’s history.
Read moreSeasonal Events
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Seasonal Information
No matter what time of year you visit, special experiences await.
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