Kyoto Fan

Kyoto Fan is a fan page about the beautiful Kyoto and all the activities and locations to enjoy here. Disclaimer
Copyright 2011-2017, Niwaka Corporation.

Kyoto Fan is an international community based around the city of Kyoto, Japan. We want this to be a space for sharing the culture, traditions, and day to day life that you can experience in this wonderful place. We provide videos, photographs, and information about a wide variety of events and sites so that no matter how far you are you can feel what makes Kyoto so special. About the Team
Kyoto Fan was originally started in the summer of 2011, by a staff member at Niwaka Corporation. Thanks to the ever growing Kyoto Fan community, a new team, Discover Kyoto Media, was born in the summer of 2013. With a diverse staff made up of people from seven different countries, the team is committed to promoting and preserving Kyoto’s culture, tradition and beauty, and sharing it with all of you. All Rights Reserved. Niwaka Corporation owns the rights to all footage and photos. If you believe any photos or footage violates a subject’s normal expectation of privacy or is of any offense, please notify us. Contact us at: [email protected]

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26/08/2026

Summer sounds in Kyoto 🎐✨
We visited the Tanabata Wind Chime Festival at Heian Jingū, and it was such a beautiful way to feel a little coolness in the Kyoto heat. Wind chimes, or fūrin, are a classic summer feature in Japan: their gentle ringing is said to bring a refreshing feeling, and traditionally even to ward off bad luck and evil spirits.
This year, around 400 colorful wind chimes are hanging at the over the pond in Heian Jingū’s Shin’en Garden. There you can a wish on a colorful tanzaku strip and attach it to a wind chime, sending your prayers out with the sound of the breeze.
Heian Jingū itself is always worth a visit, from the huge vermilion Ōtenmon Gate to the massive torii gate near Okazaki Park, one of Kyoto’s most impressive photo spots. The shrine’s open spaces and the peaceful garden make the wind chimes feel even more magical.
The festival is a summer-only event and there are only a few days left before it ends on the 31st, so don’t miss it if you are in Kyoto! 🌿

One note: rain seems to be in the forecast for tomorrow and the day after, so bring an umbrella or rain gear if you plan to go. The chimes are beautiful in the rain too, but you’ll enjoy the visit more if you stay dry ☔️
📍Heian Jingū, Kyoto
🎐 Tanabata Wind Chime Festival
🌸 Shin’en Garden / Taihei-kaku Bridge

21/08/2026

Last night, we went to see the Yoi-Kobo at Daikaku-ji’s Osawa Pond, a beautiful ceremony honoring ancestors and gently sending their spirits back to the other world.

The sky was cloudy, and a little rain fell, but it only made the lantern light feel more dreamlike.

Standing by one of Kyoto’s oldest Heian-period garden ponds, surrounded by history, prayer, and reflections on the water, it felt like stepping back in time a thousand years.

Daikaku-ji, once the villa of Emperor Saga, carries over 1,200 years of imperial and spiritual history. Last night, that history felt alive again—quiet, solemn, and deeply beautiful.

07/08/2026

Mitarashi Festival at Kitano Tenmangu 🕯️✨
Today we experienced the magical Mitarashi Festival at Kyoto’s Kitano Tenmangu Shrine! Despite the heat and high humidity, the atmosphere was absolutely serene.
This special summer ceremony invites visitors to wade barefoot through the cool, clear waters of the Mitarashi River flowing within the shrine grounds, making up for a refreshing escape from Kyoto’s summer.
The ritual dates back to the Heian period when nobles believed these pure streams could wash away evil spirits and impurities. After cleansing your feet in the sacred water, you light a candle and offer it at the shrine— a moment of peaceful reflection in the middle of our busy everyday life.
Kitano Tenmangu, dedicated to Tenjin (the god of learning), is the head shrine for all Tenjin shrines across Japan. Don’t miss the beautiful cattle statues (Tenjin’s messengers) and stunning plum groves throughout the grounds!

31/07/2026

Kyoto is blazing hot today, so I’m sharing some photos that feel extra refreshing! These are from the peaceful pond of the Japanese garden located at the Kyoto State Guest House.

This garden is a beautiful example of “teioku-ichinyo”—the exquisite harmony between architecture and nature. The design borrows the lush greenery of the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, blending it seamlessly with the surrounding buildings. Every detail, from an island suggesting the sea to the rice paddy-like shallows, is thoughtfully arranged to reflect the changing seasons.

If you’d like to visit, the Kyoto State Guest House is open to the public year-round (except during official events). Advance reservations are required: book online or try for a same-day tour slip at the entrance from 9:30 AM.

#京都

23/07/2026

Last night’s Yoiyama was an unforgettable experience!
Wandering through Kyoto’s glowing festival streets, we had the chance to admire some of the stunning festival floats up close: —Taka Yama, Kitakannon Yama, and Minamikannon Yama—each with its own fascinating story and centuries-old traditions.

🌿 Taka Yama: Dating back to before the Onin War (1460s!), this float features a falconer, a master of hounds, and a servant enjoying chimaki rice dumplings. After being damaged in 1826, Taka Yama was absent for nearly 200 years, but thanks to the community’s dedication, it made a triumphant return in 2022!

🌱 Kitakannon Yama: This beautiful pull-style float is adorned with willow branches and features two deities—Yoryu Kannon and Idaten. The pillars are decorated with alternating tapestries each year, adding to its unique charm.

🍃 Minamikannon Yama: Enshrining a meditating Buddhist monk from the Kamakura period, this float is decorated with large willow branches and wooden medicinal balls at each corner, believed to protect against illness.

Tonight is the last Yoiyama night, so if you’re in Kyoto, don’t miss the chance to experience the festival atmosphere! And tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m., the second and final float procession will start from the intersection of Karasuma and Oike streets. These three and many other floats will be parading, so get your cameras ready!

☀️ It’s going to be extremely hot tomorrow! Please remember to stay hydrated, take plenty of breaks, and look out for each other to avoid heatstroke. Bring water, wear a hat, and enjoy the festival safely!
#祇園祭

17/07/2026

🎉✨ Gion Matsuri in full swing! ✨🎉
Kyoto in July means one thing: Gion Festival! Today, under the blazing sun, we are soaking up the energy of the first of the two Yamaboko Junko parades, one of Japan’s most iconic celebrations. 🚩🌞

Dating back to 869, Gion Matsuri began as a purification ritual to protect Kyoto from plague. Over the centuries, it’s grown into a month-long celebration, with neighborhoods coming together to build and parade incredible floats—some adorned with treasures from as far as the Middle East and Europe, thanks to the city’s merchant history. 🌏🖼️

Despite fires, wars, and even a 33-year pause during the Ōnin Wars, the festival always comes back stronger. Today’s parade is just one highlight—there are rituals, performances, and street festivities all month long. It’s impossible not to get swept up in the excitement!

If you’re ever in Kyoto in July, don’t miss this unforgettable tradition. For now, enjoy these scenes from the heart of the festival! 🏮🎶

FYI, the second parade will be held on July 24th.

16/07/2026

🌟 YOIYAMA MAGIC IN KYOTO 🌟
Live from the heart of Kyoto’s Gion Festival! 🎉✨ These photos and videos were captured just today, right here in the Shijo-Karasuma area, as the Yoiyama fills the city with vibrant energy!
The summer heat is intense, but the energy is even hotter: streets are packed with locals and visitors, food stalls sizzle with all sorts of deliciousness and the sound of festival music echoes from every corner. 🍧🍜🎶

Yoiyama (July 14th–16th, 21st–23rd) is when Kyoto truly shines. The city’s legendary festival floats are lit up and on display, turning the streets into a living museum. You can step inside float headquarters to see historic relics, buy lucky charms, and sometimes even climb aboard the floats themselves! 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️

Tonight, the area is a pedestrian paradise—no cars, just people celebrating centuries of tradition together. The community spirit is incredible, with everyone coming together to honor Kyoto’s rich history.

If you missed the excitement this time, don’t worry! There’s a second round of Yoiyama nights from July 21st to 23rd, so mark your calendar and come experience the magic for yourself! 🗓️✨

And don’t forget:
🚩 First Float Procession is tomorrow, July 17th
🚩 Second Float Procession is on July 24th

The stunning floats included on this post are: Hoka Hoko, Fune Hoko and Iwato Yama.

#祇園祭

09/07/2026

We were invited to a special preview of the Higashiyama Bamboo Light-up at Kodai-ji and have some photos and video to share. Seeing Kodai-ji after dark is rare, and the illuminated Nene-no-Michi and temple grounds reveal a completely different, dreamy side of this historic place.

Our tips:
• Don’t arrive too early—sunset is after 7pm in July and after 6:30pm by the end of August, and the light-up looks best once it’s fully dark.
• Bring mosquito repellent!
• Stroll slowly and check out the food stalls in Kodai-ji Park.
• It’s cash only, and tripods are not allowed.

Event info:
• Dates: Jul 11–Aug 23, 2026 (closed Aug 10)
• Time: 18:00–22:00 (last entry 21:15)
• Entrance: Daidokoro-zaka entrance on Nene-no-Michi (west side of Kodai-ji)
• Admission: ¥1,500 (free for elementary school–age children and under)
• Tickets: On-site from 18:00 at the information booth by Nene-no-Michi

A 40-day summer night festival glowing with bamboo lights—don’t miss it. ✨🎋

02/07/2026

On June 30, Kyoto’s midsummer heat wrapped Kamigamo Shrine in a bright green hush. Since early morning, a steady stream of visitors moved with quiet focus beneath the tall pines and vermilion gates of this ancient site to celebrate Nagoshi no Harae. Families, elders, and students came to take part, and many also wrote messages on paper dolls to be floated down the river at dusk.

The large ring you see in the photos is called a chinowa, and it’s woven from reeds. Traditionally, people bow and pass through it three times—left, right, and straight—reflecting on the first half of the year to cleanse misfortune and invite good health in the months ahead. Even from the sidelines, the rhythm felt calming—like wind moving through water and leaves.

Did you know that, on certain days, the shrine’s sacred horse is stabled on the grounds, and that Kamigamo Shrine has its own version of the famous “thousand gates”?

#京都

25/06/2026

🌸 Kyoto State Guest House: A Journey Through Tradition and Artistry 🌸
Nestled inside the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden in the heart of Kyoto, the Kyoto State Guest House is a stunning example of Japanese hospitality and craftsmanship. Built to welcome important guests from around the world, it blends beautifully with the surrounding gardens, using natural materials and classic Japanese design.

Today, I’m sharing two of my favorite rooms from my visit: Fuji-no-Ma and Kiri-no-Ma.

Fuji-no-Ma is the grand banquet hall where East meets West. The highlight here is the gorgeous tapestry “Reika” depicting 39 varieties of flowers. The ceiling features soft, adjustable lattice-like illumination made from Mino paper and Kyoto joinery. The stage doors shine with gold and platinum leaf kirikane work, which symbolizes people coming together.

Kiri-no-Ma is a more intimate Japanese-style dining space. Here, a long, glossy 12-meter lacquered wood table reflects the garden outside, and the legless chairs are decorated with makie lacquerwork, each with subtly different paulownia leaves. The floor is covered with beautiful tatami mats, made using the nakatsugi-omote technique, and the view of the garden adds a peaceful touch.

My impression? The Kyoto State Guest House is incredibly refined, containing some of the most iconic traditional Japanese crafts and art, executed with breathtaking detail and at the highest level. The architecture itself is a work of art, harmonizing tradition and modernity in every corner.

🗓️ How to Visit:
The Kyoto State Guest House is open to the public year-round, except during official events. Reserve online in advance or pick up a same-day tour slip at the entrance from 9:30 AM (first come, first served; only available if there are open spots).

住所

中京区天性寺前町523-5
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

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http://www.discoverkyoto.com/

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