What's up in 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, B

uddhist 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/

In Buddhist mythology, Enma is the King of Hell - and Kyoto's Senbon Enma-Do Temple is dedicated to him. Now that Obon i...
09/08/2026

In Buddhist mythology, Enma is the King of Hell - and Kyoto's Senbon Enma-Do Temple is dedicated to him.

Now that Obon is coming closer, the temple welcomes the spirits of Kyoto's ancestors with prayers and lights. Visit the temple until August 15 for a close-up of the netherworld.

For more Obon-related ceremonies and special openings, see our main event calendar: https://whatsupinkyoto.com/calendar/

In hot nights like these, Japanese people love to tell each other ghost stories to cool down... And what's better than a...
08/08/2026

In hot nights like these, Japanese people love to tell each other ghost stories to cool down...

And what's better than a ghost story told through the colorful world of Cinema Kabuki?

"Yotsuya Kaidan" is a classic ghost story where the modern era and the late Edo period violently collide: Iemon, who lives solely for his own fleeting desires; Naosuke Gonbei, driven by obsession to commit a crime; O-Sode, whose tragic fate is dictated by the men around her; and O-Iwa, who returns as a vengeful spirit fueled by deep-seated resentment...

Daily at the Kyoto MOVIX, until August 13.
For more information, see our main event calendar: https://whatsupinkyoto.com/calendar/

Let's celebrate - two for one! Wakamiya Hachimangusha is a small shrine at Gojozaka, known for its many ceramic shops. T...
07/08/2026

Let's celebrate - two for one!

Wakamiya Hachimangusha is a small shrine at Gojozaka, known for its many ceramic shops. The shrine celebrates its main festival - including prayer rituals, performances for the gods and mikoshi parade - from today until August 10.

At the same time - what a coincidence! - there is the Gojo Wakamiya Pottery Festival, where you can shop for all things ceramic by established shops or emerging artists. The festival is centered around the shrine, but with 130 stalls this year, there will be many on Gojo street as well.

For more traditional events and/or markets in August, check out our main event calendar: https://whatsupinkyoto.com/calendar/

The next three days are just for kids at these two Kyoto museums: - 京都国立近代美術館 The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto o...
06/08/2026

The next three days are just for kids at these two Kyoto museums:

- 京都国立近代美術館 The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto opens its doors for "MoMAK Summer Days! With Fontanesi." Activities include a kids' workshop linked to the special exhibition *Fontanesi: Italian Light, Landscapes of the Soul*; "MoMAK Family Day"; and "Experience Museum Work!" where you can learn about how to run an art museum.

- shows a selection of 10 films - anime as well as live action - for children of all ages in their 32nd Kyoto International Children's Film Festival.

More info in our main event calendar: https://whatsupinkyoto.com/calendar/

It's a big splash tonight at Shimogamo Shrine! The Yatori Shinji is a special summer purification rite where men from th...
05/08/2026

It's a big splash tonight at Shimogamo Shrine!

The Yatori Shinji is a special summer purification rite where men from the shrine's neighborhood compete to retrieve a sacred sakaki stick from the shrine's Mitarashi pond. These sticks are said to both ward off evil and to secure good health in the second half of the year.

Start is at 18:30 with a prayer ceremony at the main shrine.

Shimogamo Shrine(Kamomioya Shrine)is one of Kyoto's oldest shrines! Find out more in our highlight here: https://whatsupinkyoto.com/highlight/archives/

Obon is approaching, and temples throughout Kyoto light candles and lanterns to welcome the spirits of the ancestors. On...
04/08/2026

Obon is approaching, and temples throughout Kyoto light candles and lanterns to welcome the spirits of the ancestors.

One of them is Daigo-ji, where tonight is the Manto-e Lightup (literally: 10000 lights). Starting at sunset, lanterns are lit all over the Daigo-ji temple area to remember those who have passed away.
The temple's famous five-storey pagoda as well as the main hall are lit up as well. You can buy memorial lanterns and inscribe them with your wishes.

Learn more about this sprawling temple complex in Fushimi in our highlight post here: https://whatsupinkyoto.com/highlight/archives/

“Painting is the prayer of a heart that wishes to live sincerely,” according to Higashiyama Kaii.  People have always po...
03/08/2026

“Painting is the prayer of a heart that wishes to live sincerely,” according to Higashiyama Kaii.
People have always poured their biggest hopes and heartfelt prayers into paintings, wishing for happiness for themselves and their loved ones; hoping for peace in their country and beyond...

The current exhibition "Let All Be Well - Prayers in Paint" at the Fukuda Art Museum shows a variety of Buddhist paintings, art conveying heartfelt wishes, and sensitive paintings by Higashiyama Kaii.

Until September 6.
For more art exhibitions, see our main event calendar: https://whatsupinkyoto.com/calendar/

while section 2 showcases how hope is expressed in auspicious paintings. Finally, section 3 focuses on landscapes by Higashiyama Kaii, who famously said

Tanukidanisan Fudoin Temple is a small, secluded temple with a unique atmosphere in the Higashiyama Mountains. The main ...
02/08/2026

Tanukidanisan Fudoin Temple is a small, secluded temple with a unique atmosphere in the Higashiyama Mountains. The main image of the temple dates back to the 18th century and lies in a natural cave at the back of the main hall.

Today, goma prayer sticks are ritually burned before the statue of Fudō Myō’ō. Write your own wish on a prayer stick and join in to chant the sutras and receive blessings through prayer beads.

Start is at 11:00.
For more information on this secret temple that is reachable only via 250 steps, see our highlight here: https://whatsupinkyoto.com/highlight/archives/

Originating in ancient India, the Siddham script—a form of Sanskrit script—was introduced to Japan alongside Buddhism an...
01/08/2026

Originating in ancient India, the Siddham script—a form of Sanskrit script—was introduced to Japan alongside Buddhism and has been passed down as a sacred script for prayer since the Heian Period.

This exhibition presents the history, beauty, and spirituality of the Siddham script through the works of Master Yosh*taka Kodama.

Until August 23 at the Treasure House of Ninna-ji Temple.

Since in August Japanese ancestors return to Earth, there are many Buddhism-themed exhibitions this month. Find them all in our main event calendar: https://whatsupinkyoto.com/calendar/

Happy August - Happy Midsummer Heat! It's hot already, and it will only get hotter until Obon, when the Japanese ancesto...
31/07/2026

Happy August - Happy Midsummer Heat!

It's hot already, and it will only get hotter until Obon, when the Japanese ancestors return to Earth and check what their descendants have been up to... If you can bear going out (to avoid your great-great-great uncle perhaps?) here are a few things to do this month:

#1 - traditional Kyoto in August
- Daimonji Gozan Okuribi Fires (16)
- Rokusai Nenbutsu at Shrines and Temples (14/18/20/22)
- Atago Furumichi Lightup (29/30)

#2 - summer fun 4 kids
- ALTI Summer Festival (1)
- Children's Film Festival (7-9)
- Play! Theatre (15/16)

#3 - Buddhism-themed exhibitions
- Sanskrit Script Exhibition @ Ninna-ji Temple (-> 8/23)
- Buried Prayers @ Kyoto National Museum (-> 9/6)
- Prayers in Paint (-> 9/6)

#4 - don't miss
- Gojo Wakamiya Pottery Festival (7-10)
- TARTARE Rock Festival (7/16)
- Utagawa Kuniyoshi (-> 9/23)

#5 - explore the hidden side of Kyoto's 1200-year history on our Dark History Walks: https://whatsupinkyoto.com/tours/ In August we'll meet in the morning to escape the heat.

#6 - not in Kyoto? Get your fix of Japanese history and culture in our online magazine "Yamato": https://yamatomagazine.substack.com/
Enjoy!

For more details on the above - and many, many more events - see our main event calendar: https://whatsupinkyoto.com/calendar/
And don't forget to subscribe to our monthly newsletter to get a preview for the next month straight into your inbox: https://whatsupinkyoto.com/newsletter

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左京区岡崎円勝寺町124
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
606-8344

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