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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.

Your stayNov 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.

  4. Nov 4 — Dec 428 scheduled datesScheduled today

    Zen and Ghibli

    Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum, Higashiyama Cube

    Nearest station: Subway Higashiyama · 8 min walk

    Time: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM

    Official site
    See scheduled dates

    A Ghibli exhibition that uses Zen as a way to look at the works.

  6. Nov 4 — Dec 4Scheduled today

    Kobe Illuminage 2026 — Starlight Dream

    Kobe Fruit Flower Park Osawa, Kita Ward, Kobe

    Time: 5:00–10:00 PM; lights 5:30–9:30 PM, last entry 9:30 PM

    Official site

    Light tunnels, palace-like installations and a dog-friendly area fill the seasonal outdoor exhibition.

  7. Nov 4 — Nov 23Scheduled today

    Expo '70 Park Autumn Rose Festa 2026

    Peace Rose Garden, Expo '70 Commemorative Park, Suita, Osaka Prefecture

    Time: 9:30 AM–5:00 PM; park last entry 4:30 PM

    Official site

    The seasonal rose festival presents the Peace Rose Garden's autumn blooms.

  8. Nov 4 — Nov 9Closing soon

    The 78th Shosoin Exhibition

    Nara National Museum, Nara City

    Time: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM; Fri/Sat/Sun/public holidays until 8:00 PM; last entry one hour earlier

    Official site

    A short annual exhibition brings selected Shosoin treasures to the Nara National Museum.

  9. Nov 4 — Nov 8Closing soon

    Tōrin-in: Bontō Lantern Night

    Tōrin-in, a subtemple of Myoshin-ji

    Time: 6:00–8:30 PM (last reception 8:00 PM)

    Official site

    About 800 candles and the abbot’s handmade Bontō lights softly illuminate the white-sand and moss gardens.

  13. Nov 4 — Dec 4Ongoing

    Midosuji Illumination 2026

    Midosuji, Hanshin-mae to Namba-nishiguchi, Osaka

    Time: Around 5:00 PM–1:00 AM the following day

    Official site

    A seasonal illuminated avenue stretches about four kilometres through central Osaka.

  14. Nov 5 — Nov 8Next date

    Myoren-ji: Marugoto Museum

    Myoren-ji Temple, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto

    Time: Day 10:00 AM–4:30 PM (last 4:00 PM); night 6:00–8:30 PM (last 8:00 PM)

    Official site

    A temple-wide art event combines a historic 16-Arhat stone garden, Tōhaku-school sliding screens and contemporary works, with evening illumination.

  15. Nov 6 — Dec 411 scheduled datesNext date

    Shogoin Autumn Opening: Emperor Go-Mizunoo

    Shogoin Monzeki, Sakyo-ku

    Nearest station: Keihan Jingu-Marutamachi · 12 min walk

    Time: 10:00–16:00 (last reception)

    Official site
    See scheduled dates

    Imperial calligraphy and Kano-school paintings inside normally closed halls.

  16. Nov 6 — Nov 8Starts today

    CURATION⇄FAIR Kyoto 2026

    Myoken-ji, Honpo-ji and Myokaku-ji, Nishijin, Kyoto

    Time: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM; Nov 8 until 5:00 PM

    Official site

    Thirty-three galleries bring contemporary art, craft and antiques into three Nishijin temples.

  18. Nov 6 — Nov 7Starts today

    Kobe Foreign Settlement Terrace Days 2026

    Nakamachi Street and former Kobe Settlement SMBC building plaza, Kobe

    Time: Nov 6: street 11:00 AM–8:00 PM, plaza 3:00–8:00 PM; Nov 7: both 11:00 AM–7:00 PM

    Official site

    Two days of outdoor terraces bring food, drinks and street life to Kobe's historic settlement.

  19. Nov 7 — Nov 299 scheduled datesNext date

    Rokko Hikari no Mori — Night Art Walk 2026

    ROKKO Forest Sound Museum and Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, Kobe

    Time: 5:00–8:00 PM; passport sales end 7:00 PM

    Official site
    See scheduled dates

    A weekend-and-holiday night programme places light artworks in two mountain gardens.

  20. Nov 7 — Nov 8Next date

    Kyoto Modern Architecture Festival 2026

    Participating buildings across Kyoto City

    Time: Oct 31–Nov 1, 10:00 AM–7:00 PM; Nov 7–8, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (building hours vary)

    Official site

    A citywide passport event opens selected modern buildings and normally closed spaces for self-guided visits on four public-access days.

  21. Nov 7 — Nov 284 scheduled datesNext date

    Kofuku-ji Tokondo Special Night Visit 2026

    Tokondo Hall, Kofuku-ji, Nara City

    Time: 5:30–9:00 PM; last reception 8:45 PM

    Official site
    See scheduled dates

    Selected Saturday evenings open Tokondo's Buddhist sculpture collection after daytime visiting ends.

  25. Nov 7 — Nov 29Starts today

    Expo '70 Park Maple Festival 2026

    Japanese Garden and Maple Valley, Expo '70 Commemorative Park, Suita, Osaka Prefecture

    Time: 9:30 AM–5:00 PM; last entry 4:30 PM

    Official site

    An autumn festival connects the park's maple valley and Japanese garden with seasonal programmes.

  26. Nov 7 — Nov 212 scheduled datesLimited dates

    Kobe Port Weekend Fireworks 2026

    Meriken Park waterfront, Kobe

    Time: 6:00 PM; approximately 5 minutes

    Official site
    See scheduled dates

    A short, free fireworks display makes an easy addition to a Kobe waterfront evening.

  27. Nov 7 — Dec 426 scheduled datesNext date

    Suma Rikyu Maple Viewing and Lumiere 2026

    Suma Rikyu Park, Suma Ward, Kobe

    Time: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; weekends/public holidays until 8:00 PM; last entry 30 minutes before closing

    Official site
    See scheduled dates

    Autumn maples, roses and weekend fountain illumination combine in the former villa park.

  29. Nov 7 — Dec 4Starts today

    KOBE UMIAKARI 2026

    Kobe Harborland and Metro Kobe, Kobe

    Time: Lighting and event hours vary by facility

    Official site

    A seasonal programme links winter illumination around Harborland and Metro Kobe.

  30. Nov 7 — Nov 284 scheduled datesNext date

    Gango-ji Special Night Visit 2026

    Gango-ji, Naramachi, Nara City

    Time: 6:00–8:00 PM; last reception 7:45 PM

    Official site
    See scheduled dates

    Four Saturday nights offer a focused visit to Gango-ji's historic hall and museum treasures.

  31. Nov 7 — Nov 284 scheduled datesNext date

    Kasuga Taisha Night Visit and Mantoro 2026

    Kasuga Taisha main sanctuary, Nara City

    Time: 5:30–8:00 PM; last reception 7:45 PM

    Official site
    See scheduled dates

    Four special Saturday evenings illuminate the shrine's hanging lanterns for a sanctuary visit.

  32. Nov 11 — Nov 16Starts today

    Umeda Flea Market 2026

    Hankyu Umeda Main Store 9F event hall and Shukusai Plaza, Osaka

    Time: 10:00 AM–8:00 PM; Nov 16 until 5:00 PM

    Official site

    An indoor flea-market event gathers vintage homeware, textiles and small discoveries in Umeda.

  33. Nov 14 — Nov 235 scheduled datesNext date

    Murin-an: Twilight Garden Party 2026

    Murin-an Garden, Okazaki, Kyoto

    Time: Nov 14, 15, 21, 22 and 23 · 5:30–7:30 PM or 7:30–9:30 PM

    Official site
    See scheduled dates

    A reservation-limited evening garden visit includes a 15-minute introduction and a café drink and sweet.

  34. Nov 20 — Dec 4Starts today

    Osaka Castle Illuminage 2026

    Osaka Castle Nishinomaru Garden, Osaka

    Time: 5:00–10:00 PM; lights until 9:30 PM, last entry 9:30 PM

    Official site

    A winter light exhibition adds illuminated historical scenes to Osaka Castle's Nishinomaru Garden.

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To-ji Kobo Market
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  1. Limited dates · Nov 2121Nov 21, 2026

    Jan 21, 2026 + 11 listed dates

    To-ji Kobo Market

    Craft & market

    More than 1,000 stalls offer antiques, used clothing, old tools, food and household goods; rain or shine.

    Opening hours
    7:00 AM–3:30 PM
    Address
    To-ji Temple grounds
    Nearest station
    Station details on official site
    Admission
    Official listing does not state an admission price; purchases are extra.
    Reservation
    The official listing does not specify a reservation channel or deadline.
    Official site
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