Mifune Festival
17 May 2026
Traditional Events Venue: Around Arashiyama Ōi River (upstream of Togetsukyo Bridge)
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
Traditional Events 
Haru no Odori – Spring Dance Performances by Maiko and Geiko in 2026
20 Mar – 22 May 2026
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Various locations
KYOTOGRAPHIE Kyoto International Photography Festival 2026
18 Apr – 17 May 2026
Art / Music / Theater Venue: *Opening hours and closed days vary depending on the venue.
Yabusame – Mounted Archery Ritual
03 May 2026
Traditional Events Venue: Shimogamo-jinja Shrine
Mibu Kyogen Theater Performance
29 Apr – 05 May 2026
Traditional Events Venue: Mibu-dera Temple
Bronze Gallery: Ancient Chinese Bronzes
04 Apr – 31 Jul 2026
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Sen-oku Hakukokan Museum
Search for Events
5 Results
Nihonga Avant-Garde: Kyoto 1948-1970 Exhibition
07 Feb - 06 May 2026
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Higashiyama Cube
400 Years of Western Paintings: Masterpieces from Tokyo Fuji Art Museum
20 Mar - 24 May 2026
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Main Building (North Wing) 1F
“Shimura Fukumi : 101-year Journey Devoted to Dyeing and Weaving—The Floating Bridge of Dreams” Exhibition
03 Mar - 31 May 2026
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Hosomi Museum
Modern Urban Life and Takehisa Yumeji: Works from the Kawanishi Hide Collection
28 Mar - 21 Jun 2026
Art / Music / Theater Venue: The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Bronze Gallery: Ancient Chinese Bronzes
04 Apr - 31 Jul 2026
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Sen-oku Hakukokan 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
