Special Illumination and Nighttime Viewing of the Main Hall, Lecture Hall, and Three-Dimensional Mandala
31 Oct – 13 Dec 2026
Special Openings Venue: Tō-ji Temple
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 
“Zen and Ghibli” Kyoto Exhibition
03 Oct – 06 Dec 2026
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art (Higashiyama Cube)
Reikan-ji Temple’s Autumn Special Opening
20 Nov – 06 Dec 2026
Special Openings Venue: Reikan-ji Temple
IMAGINE NOH – Legends and Laughter on Stage
14 Oct – 05 Nov 2026
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Kyoto Kanze Noh Theater
List of Fire Festivals in Kyoto City in 2026
05 Nov – 23 Nov 2026
Traditional Events Venue: Various venues throughout Kyoto
Komyo-ji Temple’s Special Autumn Opening
14 Nov – 06 Dec 2026
Special Openings Venue: Komyo-ji Temple
Search for Events
7 Results
JAZZ Standard Night
06 Nov 2026
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Baja Bluet Bar
Jojuin Garden Special Opening
21 Nov - 30 Nov 2026
Special Openings Venue: Kiyomizu-dera Jojuin Temple
Shoren-in Temple’s Special Evening Opening
07 Nov - 06 Dec 2026
Special Openings Venue: Shoren-in Temple
Chion-in Temple’s Autumn Illumination
17 Nov - 06 Dec 2026
Special Openings Venue: Chion-in Temple
Shoden Eigen-in Temple’s Special Autumn Exhibition of Temple Treasures
21 Nov - 06 Dec 2026
Special Openings Venue: Shōden Eigen-in, a sub-temple of Kennin-ji Temple
Special Autumn Nighttime Viewing and Illumination
23 Oct - 13 Dec 2026
Special Openings Venue: Kōdai-ji Temple
Special Autumn Exhibition
05 Sep 2026 - 28 Jan 2027
Special Openings Venue: Kōdai-ji Sho Museum
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
You may also be interested in
Seasonal Information
No matter what time of year you visit, special experiences await.
Go to this pageOur Partners
