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03KYOTO NOW / CULTURAL INDEX

Only here for a while

Festivals, rituals and seasonal moments worth planning around.

Kyoto autumn leaves & illuminations 2026

02Date index

Kyoto Now

Only While You’re Here

Dates are in Japan time. Schedules may change; check event details before visiting.

Default event search: Nov 4, 2026 – Dec 4, 2026

  1. 01Date index

    Nov 4 — Dec 428 scheduled datesScheduled today

    Seika Yamaga 140th Anniversary Exhibition

    Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art

    Nearest station: Subway Higashiyama · 8 min walk

    Time: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM

    Official site
    See scheduled dates

    A textile retrospective bringing rockets and Tokyo Tower into traditional craft.

  2. Nov 4 — Nov 8Closing soon

    Dreamlike Arashiyama Moonlight Path

    Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

    Nearest station: JR Saga-Arashiyama · 10 min walk / Randen Arashiyama · 10 min walk / Hankyu Arashiyama · 15 min walk

    Time: 6:00–9:00 PM

    Official site

    Around 1 km of bamboo paths lit by handcrafted lanterns and immersive art installations.

View all matching eventsJST / UTC+09

Limited events

Kyoto Now

Choose a month, follow the fine date marks, then read the events in the order they happen.

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January 2026February 2026March 2026April 2026May 2026June 2026July 2026August 2026September 2026October 2026November 2026December 2026January 2027February 2027
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Seika Yamaga 140th Anniversary ExhibitionDreamlike Arashiyama Moonlight PathDaian-ji Eleven-headed Kannon Autumn Opening 2026Rokko Hikari no Mori — Night Art Walk 2026Zen and Ghibli
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Dreamlike Arashiyama Moonlight PathDaian-ji Eleven-headed Kannon Autumn Opening 2026Seika Yamaga 140th Anniversary ExhibitionRokko Hikari no Mori — Night Art Walk 2026Zen and GhibliSeika Yamaga 140th Anniversary ExhibitionZen and GhibliKyoto Imperial Palace: Introduction to Court CultureDaitokuji Oubai-in Autumn Special OpeningRokko Hikari no Mori — Night Art Walk 2026Furukawacho Petit Handmade Market — OctoberYamashiro Autumn Fire-making WorkshopShogoin Autumn Opening: Emperor Go-MizunooMibu Kyogen Autumn Performances
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Seika Yamaga 140th Anniversary ExhibitionDreamlike Arashiyama Moonlight PathDaian-ji Eleven-headed Kannon Autumn Opening 2026Zen and GhibliRokko Hikari no Mori — Night Art Walk 2026Kyoto Imperial Palace: Introduction to Court CultureShogoin Autumn Opening: Emperor Go-MizunooMibu Kyogen Autumn PerformancesDaitokuji Oubai-in Autumn Special OpeningShogoin Autumn Opening: Emperor Go-MizunooRokko Hikari no Mori — Night Art Walk 2026Yamashiro Autumn Fire-making WorkshopShinnyo-in Garden Special OpeningOtoshi Shrine: Kaya Grove and Bamboo Lanterns
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Dreamlike Arashiyama Moonlight PathDaian-ji Eleven-headed Kannon Autumn Opening 2026Daitokuji Oubai-in Autumn Special OpeningOtoshi Shrine: Kaya Grove and Bamboo LanternsSeika Yamaga 140th Anniversary ExhibitionRokko Hikari no Mori — Night Art Walk 2026Zen and GhibliShogoin Autumn Opening: Emperor Go-MizunooShinnyo-in Garden Special OpeningSeika Yamaga 140th Anniversary ExhibitionZen and GhibliShogoin Autumn Opening: Emperor Go-MizunooTo-ji Kobo MarketJidai FestivalKurama Fire FestivalKobe Illuminage 2026 — Starlight DreamRokko Hikari no Mori — Night Art Walk 2026Shinnyo-in Garden Special OpeningExpo '70 Park Autumn Rose Festa 2026The 78th Shosoin Exhibition
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Dreamlike Arashiyama Moonlight PathDaian-ji Eleven-headed Kannon Autumn Opening 2026Kobe Illuminage 2026 — Starlight DreamThe 78th Shosoin ExhibitionExpo '70 Park Autumn Rose Festa 2026Daitokuji Oubai-in Autumn Special OpeningSeika Yamaga 140th Anniversary ExhibitionRokko Hikari no Mori — Night Art Walk 2026Zen and GhibliShogoin Autumn Opening: Emperor Go-MizunooShinnyo-in Garden Special OpeningSeika Yamaga 140th Anniversary ExhibitionZen and GhibliDaitokuji Oubai-in Autumn Special OpeningShogoin Autumn Opening: Emperor Go-MizunooTōrin-in: Bontō Lantern NightChion-ji Autumn Used Book Fair 2026Rokko Hikari no Mori — Night Art Walk 2026Shinnyo-in Garden Special OpeningKyoto Modern Architecture Festival: Southeast Asian Studies LibraryKitano Tenmangu Odoi Maple Garden: Opening and Light-upKyoto Modern Architecture Festival 2026Myoren-ji: Marugoto MuseumHieizan Yokawa Chūdō Inner Sanctum Special ViewingKofuku-ji Tokondo Special Night Visit 2026
On the calendarLimited datesClosing soon

04Kyoto Now by date

Seasonal calendar

10 / JST
  1. Ended03Nov 3, 2026

    Oct 17, 2026 + 6 listed dates

    Shinnyo-in Garden Special Opening

    Seasonal moment

    Normally closed karesansui with fish-scale-shaped stones suggesting flowing water, restored by Mirei Shigemori.

    Opening hours
    10:00 AM–3:00 PM
    Address
    Shinnyo-in, Horikawa-Gojo
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    ¥600.
    Reservation
    No reservation channel or deadline is listed on the official page.
    Official site
  2. Ended03Nov 3, 2026

    Oct 30, 2026 — Nov 3, 2026

    Chion-ji Autumn Used Book Fair 2026

    Craft & market

    Browse antiquarian books and second-hand finds in a temple setting rather than a conventional bookshop.

    Opening hours
    10:00 AM–5:00 PM
    Address
    Chion-ji Temple grounds, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    Admission fee not published in the current official announcement.
    Reservation
    The official announcement does not state a reservation requirement or deadline.
    Official site
  3. Ended01Nov 1, 2026

    Festival & ritual

    Enter the normally closed Meiji-era red-brick Southeast Asian Studies library during the Kyoto Modern Architecture Festival.

    Opening hours
    10:00 AM, 11:00 AM or noon
    Address
    Kyoto University Southeast Asian Studies Library
    Nearest station
    Keihan Jingu-Marutamachi · 5 min walk
    Admission
    ¥2,000; for junior-high students and above. Each session has 20 places; arrive 10 minutes early.
    Reservation
    Applications closed; check the official notice for updates.
    Official site
  4. Ended22Oct 22, 2026

    Oct 22, 2026

    Jidai Festival

    Festival & ritual

    Around 2,000 participants, 70 horses and a two-kilometre procession present costumes from Kyoto's successive eras.

    Opening hours
    Noon departure; Oike ~12:50 PM; Heian Jingu ~2:30 PM
    Address
    Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Jingu
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    Reserved seats: general ¥5,600; learning ¥9,000; special ¥13,800. Check ticket page for inventory.
    Reservation
    Paid seats require tickets; general sales began Sep 8. No final cutoff is stated and current inventory was not confirmed.
    Official site
  5. Ended22Oct 22, 2026

    Festival & ritual

    Torch processions and calls move through the village around Yuki Shrine; the tradition is traced to the tenth century.

    Opening hours
    6:00 PM–after midnight
    Address
    Yuki Shrine and Kurama village
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    Visitor fee is not stated in the official event listing.
    Reservation
    The official event listing does not state a reservation requirement or deadline.
    Official site
  6. Ended20Oct 20, 2026

    Seasonal moment

    Shrine lanterns burn oil pressed from kaya seeds beneath bamboo lights, inspired by a grove remembered in Ki no Tsurayuki’s poetry.

    Opening hours
    6:00–8:30 PM
    Address
    Otoshi Shrine, Oharano, Nishikyo Ward
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    The current official event listings do not state an admission fee.
    Reservation
    The current official shrine and tourism notices do not state a reservation requirement, booking channel or deadline; confirm with the shrine before travel.
    Official site
  7. Ended17Oct 17, 2026

    Oct 10, 2026 + 1 listed dates

    Yamashiro Autumn Fire-making Workshop

    Seasonal moment

    A hands-on fire-making session rather than a standard museum visit.

    Opening hours
    13:30–16:30
    Address
    Kyoto Prefectural Yamashiro Regional Museum, Kizugawa
    Nearest station
    JR Nara Line Kamikoma · 20 min walk
    Admission
    ¥500 per participant.
    Reservation
    Applications closed; check the official notice for updates.
    Official site
  8. Ended12Oct 12, 2026

    Seasonal moment

    View the Takamikura and Michodai; gagaku, kangen or kemari is scheduled at 10:00 and 11:00, varying by date.

    Opening hours
    9:00 AM–3:20 PM (exit by 4:00 PM)
    Address
    Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kyoto Gyoen
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    Free.
    Reservation
    No advance application is required. Entry may be restricted when crowded; security checks apply.
    Official site
  9. Ended12Oct 12, 2026

    Oct 10, 2026 — Oct 12, 2026

    Mibu Kyogen Autumn Performances

    Festival & ritual

    A roughly 700-year-old masked silent-theatre tradition with bells, drums and flute; each play lasts about 45 minutes.

    Opening hours
    1:00–5:30 PM (doors 12:30 PM)
    Address
    Mibudera Temple, Nakagyo-ku
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    Adults ¥1,000; middle/high-school students ¥500.
    Reservation
    Day-of tickets only; unreserved seating. No reservation or assigned seats.
    Official site
  10. Ended10Oct 10, 2026

    Craft & market

    Browse handmade goods in a neighbourhood shopping arcade close to Higashiyama Station.

    Opening hours
    11:00–16:00
    Address
    Furukawacho Shopping Arcade, near Higashiyama Station
    Nearest station
    Subway Higashiyama · 2 min walk
    Admission
    Free entry; purchases extra.
    Reservation
    The official visitor listing does not say whether a reservation is needed or give a deadline.
    Official site
Practical Kyoto