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What's up in Kyoto

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日本
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
What's up in Kyoto

What is happening in Kyoto today? Festivals, dance, music, performance, exhibitions... it's all here!

There are so many great events in Kyoto only the locals know of (and sometimes not even them) - let’s change that for good! We are a group of English speakers from Kyoto, ready to tear down the Japanese language barrier for you. Traditional ceremonies in the thousands of shrines and temples, interesting exhibitions in the best museums in town, exciting concerts and performances... noh and anime, Buddhist prayers and butoh, gagaku and J-pop, we know them all! We pick one event/day to post on facebook, and two different events per week are up on twitter. For a real deep-dive into the Kyoto event scene, you should visit the main calendar on our homepage: whatsupinkyoto.com/calendar/

We also have pages about hotels, restaurants, souvenirs, experiences... There’s a lot to do and see in Kyoto - have fun! And for a sneak peek into the next month, sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://whatsupinkyoto.com/newsletter/

PS: If you know of a Kyoto event that we missed, you can enter it into the calendar yourself through this page: whatsupinkyoto.com/yourevent/

21/10/2026

Today is Jidai Matsuri - the Festival of the Ages!

Watch soldiers, famous samurai, beautiful court ladies pass by in a picture scroll of history from around 1900 all the way back to 794, when Kyoto became Japan's capital. Of course, they are all wearing the appropriate attire, perfectly recreated by Kyoto's best craftspeople!

Start is at 12:00 at the Imperial Palace, arrival at Heian Shrine at around 14:30.

Find out more in our highlight on our main event calendar!

20/10/2026

In its more than 1200 years of history, Kyoto has been home to countless craftsmen in many different disciplines who take pride in making exquisite pieces of art.

The current free exhibition at 京都文化博物館 The Museum of KYOTO shows a selection of the best works of craftsmen from Kyoto, who often still work according to ancient traditions.

Until October 25.
For more Kyoto-related exhibitions, see our main event calendar on our website.

19/10/2026

See Kyoto's Bamboo Forest in a different light!

The Arashiyama Tsukitouro is once again lighting up the nights of Arashiyama.

Starting with the ever-popular Bamboo Path Illumination, you can enjoy about one kilometer of glowing lights. A special area with additional arts displays has been introduced.

And: it's a freebie (except the part with the art installation).
Nightly from 18:00 - 21:00 until November 8.

Find out more in our main event calendar on our homepage

18/10/2026

Famous actor Ichikawa Danjūrō invites you to Kabuki!

Choose from two programs (almost) every day:

The Matinee (11:30) features a popular domestic play depicting the misunderstandings and eventual reunion of a handsome man and a beautiful woman...

The Evening Show (16:00 except Oct. 20) shows a history play, a classic lion dance, and a dance in which the actor portrays a variety of characters using different masks. Finally, Danjūrō will demonstrate the process of applying his makeup and putting on his costume and wig before becoming a larger-than-life hero who vanquishes an evil spirit...

Daily until October 25. Don't miss this!

For more information, see our main event calendar on our website!

17/10/2026

In the old times, Imperial Princesses were sent to Ise Shrine to serve as shrine maidens to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Before they were allowed to do this, however, they had to undergo strict purification rites that could take a year or more. One of the shrines where these rites took place was Nonomiya Shrine in Arashiyama.

In today's Saigu Gyoretsu Procession, a parade reenacting the travels of an Imperial Princess is recreated with people dressed in beautiful Heian-style court dresses.

Start is at Nonomiya Shrine at 12:00; the arrival at Arashiyama Port is at about 13:30. From 14:00, there will be a final purification rite on the river.

For more information about Nonomiya Shrine, see our Highlight archives on our homepage.

16/10/2026

Let's go shopping for ceramics!

Kiyomizu-yaki ceramics is colorful and very popular in Kyoto and abroad. It is named after Kiyomizu-dera Temple because in the old days, many artists had their workshops and kilns nearby the temple. Today, many kilns have moved to Yamashina where they still produce this kind of ceramics.

This weekend, they celebrate the Kiyomizu Yaki Danchi Pottery Festival: There are live music performances and food stalls, you may try your own hands on making or painting pottery, and of course, you can shop as much as you like.

Today and tomorrow, 9:30- 18:00. Find out more in our main event calendar on our homepage.

15/10/2026

Sumo comes to Kyoto!

Experience Japan's national sport today! Only for one day, Japan's famous sumo wrestlers will come to Kyoto and see who is the strongest. Visit this extraordinary event and enjoy fun and old traditions!

At the Nisshindenki Arena Kyoto (aka Kyoto City Gymnasium); it opens at 9:00, bouts start at 12:00.

For more details, see our main event calendar: https://whatsupinkyoto.com/calendar/

14/10/2026

Starting today: The Suimeikai at Pontocho Kaburenjo.

The Suimeikai, named after the clear waters of the Kamogawa River, has been one of the representative events of the Pontocho Kabukai Association since 1930. At the time, it consisted only of geisha who had an abundance of talent beyond the special basics.

See the geiko and maiko of Pontocho in one performance at 15:30 - daily until October 20.

For more geiko and maiko related events, see our main event calendar on our website.

13/10/2026

In old Japan, dolls were traditionally used as a protective charm for girls. For this reason, they are usually not just thrown away but given a memorial service after which they are ritually burned.

Hokyo-ji is one of the temples in Kyoto that still takes on old dolls and plush toys.
Today is the Grand Memorial Service for dolls at the temple in front of the Doll Mound.

Start is at 10:30.

For more traditional Kyoto events, see our main event calendar.

12/10/2026

Kyoto, founded more than 1000 years ago, is full of sacred places, ancient customs, lively festivals ... that attracted countless visitors and artists over the centuries.

The current exhibition at the 嵯峨嵐山文華館 Saga-Arashiyama Museum of Arts & Culture shows life in Kyoto as seen by artists of the early-modern and the modern period.
As a special treat, there are wrapping papers and boxes for Kyoto sweets designed by famous artist, for example Tomioka Tessai (1836−1924), Ikeda Yōson (1895−1988), and others.

Discover And Enjoy Kyoto Even More Through Pictures - until February 28!

住所

Kyoto-shi, Kyoto