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Events in Kyoto 2026
Kyoto has more officially designated cultural properties and historic temples than any other city in Japan and a festival calendar that reflects this depth of history and tradition.
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Kyoto's three great festivals are Aoi Matsuri (May 15), Gion Matsuri (all of July, main procession July 17), and Jidai Matsuri (October 22). Beyond these, Kyoto holds hundreds of smaller temple and shrine ceremonies throughout the year, many open to the public at no charge.
April for cherry blossoms and the Aoi Matsuri. July for Gion Matsuri — the entire month has associated events. October for autumn festivals and the Jidai Matsuri. November for peak autumn foliage with temple illumination events. Each season has its own distinct character and programming.
Most temple ceremonies and festivals are open to anyone. Some private tea ceremony events and ochaya (teahouse) performances in Gion and Pontocho require introduction through a local contact, but public events at all major temples welcome visitors. English information is increasingly available at major sites.
Most of Kyoto's matsuri are free to watch from the street. The Gion Matsuri Yoiyama (eve of the procession) and the procession itself are free. Cherry blossom viewing in Maruyama Park and along the Philosopher's Path is free. Many temples have free grounds even when the inner sanctum charges admission.
About Kyoto
Kyoto has more officially designated cultural properties and historic temples than any other city in Japan and a festival calendar that reflects this depth of history and tradition. The Gion Matsuri in July is the most famous — a month-long series of ceremonies, performances, and street events culminating in the Yamaboko procession, in which enormous decorated floats bearing the shrines' sacred objects are wheeled through narrow streets by teams of men in traditional costume pulling ropes with careful precision. Fifty thousand people line the streets to watch.
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