Many religious and cultural celebrations take place all across the city throughout the year. Tourists are more than welcome to attend and partake in these fun-filled and exciting Kyoto festivals and events.
| Festival | Description | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Toshiya festival | A 400-year-old archery competition held at the Sanjusangen-do temple as part of the ‘coming of age’ day celebrations. | Second Sunday of January |
| Aoi matsuri | The Aoi Matsuri is a large procession that starts at the Imperial Palace and ends at the Kamigamo Shrine to appease the Shinto deities. | May 15 |
| Gion matsuri | The millennia-old Gion Matsuri takes place across Kyoto. It’s one of the 3 main festivals held in the city and consists of parades to appease and entertain the Shinto gods. | July 1 – July 31 |
| Daimonji fire festival | Each year in August fires in the shape of kanji characters burn on the hillsides of Kyoto City. | August 16 |
| Jidai matsuri | The Jidai Matsuri is a 5-hour long parade that starts at the Kyoto Imperial Palace to commemorate and celebrate the city after the capital was moved from here to Tokyo. | October 22 |