Kyoto Events and Festivals

Hatsumode: Japanese New Year is when people make their first visit of the year to a shrine to pray for happiness and health. Women and children wear their finest kimonos.

Hatsu Ebisu: Ebisu Shrine hosts this colourful five day festival which celebrates the smiling god Ebisu, one of the Seven Lucky Gods, with ceremonial offerings.

Setsubun: the most important spring festival in Japan involves symbolic exorcisms of demons and a purification of the past by fire. All temples host fun events which run day and night.

Baika-sai: the highlight of this plum blossom viewing festival is an outdoor tea ceremony performed by the geisha and maiko of Kamishichiken district.

Kibune Shrine Amagoisai: priests offer sacred water, food and a commemorative poem to the God of Rain to pray for the rain that creates a good harvest.

Sagano Otaimatsu: one of Kyoto’s three main fire festivals commemorates the Buddha’s death with the display of enormous special scrolls depicting his pass into Nirvana.

Yasurai Matsuri: Imamiya Shrine is the starting point of this wild festival which features a parade of floats carried on shoulders and giant rice cakes.

Dai Nembutsu Kyogen: this colourful and exciting spectacle where the performers wear exotic masks and use wild hand gestures is famous throughout the country.

Aoi Matsuri: one of the world’s oldest festivals sees participants decorated in hollyhock leaves compete at horseback riding skills. The highlight is the grand procession from the Imperial Palace to Kamigamo Shrine.

Mifune Matsuri Festival: dozens of boats carry performers in imperial costumes along the Oi River reciting poetry, acting out Noh dramas and playing traditional music.

Kyoto Five Flower Town Combination Performance: on this rare occasion, Kyoto’s five maiko towns come together to perform their exquisite dances and musical performances.

Antique Grand Fair: one of the biggest antiques events in Japan attracts more than 250 of the country’s best antiques dealers and lots of potential buyers.

Gion Matsuri: the 32 elaborate floats of this important procession depict scenes from Chinese and Japanese history in a bid to ward off bad luck and evil spirits from hurting the city.

Kiyomizu Danchi Pottery Fair: This popular pottery fair is held at the famous Kiyomizu kilns, where some 100 shops sell pottery and offer one day classes, tea ceremonies and other fun events.

Daimonji Gozan Okuribi: Huge symbolic fires are lit to guide ancestral spirits back to their homes in this essential event which marks the end of Obon in Kyoto.

Special Night View at Kiyomizu Temple: only one night of the year is the inner sanctum of this important temple opened to the public.

Arashiyama Music Festival: many styles of global music are performed during three days of fun, food and drinks near the Togetsukyo Bridge.

Takase River Boat Festival: one of Kyoto’s fun autumn festivals is held along the Takase River, where visitors can participate in all kinds of traditional Japanese activities and customs.

Jidai Matsuri: also known as the Parade of the Ages, an incredible procession of floats and people walk from the Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine in one of Kyoto’s most important events.

Nijo Castle Autumn Festival: This special event is held at Nijo Castle, where many traditional and artistic events are held on the beautiful grounds.

Gion Odori Dances: the amazing and mysterious geisha and maiko perform their dances during this must-see event.

Joya no Kane: this traditional Japanese bell-ringing ritual brings the old year to a close and ushers in the new year at temples all over the city.