New Year’s Feature Exhibition – Pony Tales: Celebrating the Year of the Horse
16 Dec 2025 – 25 Jan 2026
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Kyoto National Museum, Heisei Chishinkan Wing, Galleries 2F-1, 2, 3
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
Art / Music / Theater 
NAKED meets Nijo Castle 2025 Moon Viewing
31 Oct – 07 Dec 2025
Special Openings Venue: Former Imperial Villa Nijo-jo Castle
Hozugawa River Cruise
05 Jan 2025 – 09 Mar 2026
Tours & Experiences Venue: Hozugawa River
IMAGINE NOH
12 Nov – 04 Dec 2025
Art / Music / Theater Venue: The Kyoto Kanze Noh Theatre / The Kongo Noh Theatre
Byodo-in Temple’s Special Night Opening “Radiant Light and Autumn Brilliance”
22 Nov – 07 Dec 2025
Special Openings Venue: Byodo-in Temple
Special Autumn Opening of Daitoku-ji Oubai-in Temple
03 Oct – 07 Dec 2025
Special Openings Venue: Oubai-in (Daitoku-ji Temple's Subtemple)
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15 Results
Maiko Dance and Jazz Night
24 May - 30 Nov 2025
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Okazakian
Special Autumn Opening of Reikan-ji Temple
21 Nov - 30 Nov 2025
Special Openings Venue: Reikan-ji Temple
IMAGINE NOH
12 Nov - 04 Dec 2025
Art / Music / Theater Venue: The Kyoto Kanze Noh Theatre / The Kongo Noh Theatre
Hello Kitty Exhibition: When I change, Kitty changes too
25 Sep - 07 Dec 2025
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Higashiyama Cube
The 100th Anniversary of Mingei: Kyoto’s Legacy of Everyday Life
13 Sep - 07 Dec 2025
Art / Music / Theater Venue: Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Main Building (South Wing), 1st floor
Special Autumn Night Opening of Konkai Komyo-ji Temple
15 Nov - 07 Dec 2025
Special Openings Venue: Konkai Komyo-ji Temple
Special Autumn Opening of Konkai Komyo-ji Temple
15 Nov - 07 Dec 2025
Special Openings Venue: Konkai Komyo-ji Temple
Special Autumn Opening of Anraku-ji Temple
01 Nov - 07 Dec 2025
Special Openings Venue: Anrakuji Temple
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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