Kyoto Events and Festivals

(Kyoto, Kansai, Central Honshu, Japan)

Kyoto hosts the Gion Festival, one of the biggest of its kind in Japan. At this time, visitors are treated to lantern-filled streets and religious ceremonies throughout the month of July.

Should you miss this prestigious Kyoto festival, there is something going on most months of the year, with literally hundreds of cultural and religious festivals and events to choose from, together with plenty of other things to do and activities to enjoy. Events not to be missed within Kyoto also include the Aoi and Jidai festivals, together with the spring and autumn geisha dances. For current events listings, be sure to checkout the latest copies of either the Kyoto Visitor's Guide, or the Kansai Time Out magazine.

Kyoto National Public Holidays

• Ganjitsu - January 1st (New Year's Day)
• Seijin-no-hi - Second Monday in January (Coming of Age Day)
• Kenkoku Kinem-bi - February 11th (National Foundation Day)
• Shumbun-no-hi - March 20th or 21st (Spring Equinox)
• Midori-no-hi - April 29th (Green Day)
• Kempo Kinem-bi - May 3rd (Constitution Day)
• Kokumin-no-Saijitsu - May 4th (Adjoining Holiday)
• Kodomo-no-hi - May 5th (Children's Day)
• Umi-no-hi - Third Monday in July (Marine Day)
• Keiro-no-hi - Third Monday in September (Respect for the Aged Day)
• Shubun-no-hi - September 23rd or 24th (Autumn Equinox)
• Taiiku-no-hi - Second Monday in October (Health Sports Day)
• Bunka-no-hi - November 3rd (Culture Day)
• Kinro Kansha-no-hi - November 23rd (Labour Thanksgiving Day)
• Tenno Tanjobi - December 23rd (Emperor's Birthday)

Kyoto Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Japanese New Year - one of the most important festivals of the year, the New Year is received with parties and family festivities. Spanning the first 20 days of the month, temples are visited, greeting cards are swapped and pine and bamboo decorations are used to adorn houses and gates. There are also foods and games that are peculiar to this festive season
• Coming of Age Day - this day is especially for those who will turn 20 years old in the forthcoming year. While authorities have discouraged these occasions in some places, which have suffered from disorderly conduct, it is tradition that the new adults get drunk on this day to mark their new privilege

February

• Setsubun Matsuri - held on 3rd February, marked with a huge bonfire that is lit at dusk. The bonfire at Yoshida-jinja represents the last day of winter in the Japanese lunar calendar
• Setsubun - marking the arrival of spring in Kyoto, beans are traditionally thrown out of houses on the 3rd February in order to rid the house of bad fortune and make way for good. Shopping malls can be seen to be stocked with various nuts and beans at this time

March

• Hinamatsuri - also referred to as the Doll Festival, this nationwide event takes place on March 3rd and sees girls set up red platforms, on which they display dolls dressed in traditional Heian costume. The dolls represent the emperor, empress, attendants, musicians and court servants from this period. It is believed by some that the dolls have the power to contain evil spirits and therefore protect their owner. The entourage of dolls must be put away by the next day or legend says the girl will not marry that year
• White Day - a Kyoto version of Valentine's Day, this is a day for men to buy their lover(s) a treat. Special candies fill the shops and there is romance in the air

April

• Geisha dances - Kitano Odori, Kyo Odori and Miyako Odori, important geisha dances, are held in the month of April at the Kamishichiken-kaburen-jo, Miyagawa-cho Kaburen-jo and Gion Kobu Kaburen-jo theatres. This is a chance to see real geishas at work
• Showa Day - the birthday of the late Showa Emperor is celebrated on April 29th. This day also marks the beginning of the Golden Week holiday period

May

• Aoi Festival - also known as Kamogawa Festival, festivities are primarily held around the Kamigamo and Shimogamo shrines. The festival originated in the era of Emperor Kinmei about 1,400 years ago, a time when grain was not successfully ripening. In order to lift the curse thought to be hampering the harvest, a horse outfitted with bells was made to run around the city of Kyoto, resulting in a plentiful harvest. This tradition has continued and is complemented by offerings of geraniums (aoi) to the gods and the adornment of temples and worshippers with geranium leaves. There is a colourful parade through the city of public servants who are dressed in Ocho era outfits

June

• There are no significant events and festivals in Kyoto in the month of June

July

• Gion Matsuri Festival - spanning the entire month, this is the perfect opportunity to see Kyoto's lively Gion district lit up with lanterns and experience one of the largest festivals in Japan. Highlights include mikoshiarai, the washing of portable shrines, and the Kankou Festival, held on the 24th July. Originating 1,100 years ago, the art of making Yamaboko floats was perfected in the Edo era, helping the festival to achieve the popularity it has reached today

August

• Gozan Fire Festival (Daimon-ji Gozan Okuribi) - held on August 16th, this Obon festivity sees fires lit on the hillsides that surround the city, creating magnificent displays that can be seen for miles. Thought to have originated in the Edo era when Kobo-Daishi, a monk, used a fire to make a symbol in the hope this action would end the plague, the tradition has been continued. The Japanese characters are created from fire at Daimonji, Myoho, Funagata, Hidari-daimonji and Torii-gata. The fires are lit simultaneously to create one of Kyoto's most memorable scenes

September

• Respect for the Aged Festival - the third Monday of September is entirely devoted to the elderly, which plays an honorary role in Japanese society. This national holiday was created in 1947 and is a popular day to visit one's parents or grandparents

October

• Jidai Matsuri Festival (Festival of the Ages) - held on 22nd October, this festival began in the Meiji era as a celebration of the relocation of the capital, Heian Sento. The 1,100-year tradition sees a morning procession from Heian Shrine to Kyoto Imperial Palace. In the afternoon, the parade returns to the Heian Shrine. Members of the parade party dress in Edo-era costume, making this an interesting cultural event
• Kurama-no-hi Matsuri - also held on 22nd October, also known as Kurama Fire Festival, this procession is held on the same day as the Jidai Festival and includes men in loincloths carrying huge lit torches through the streets of Kyoto

November

• Shichi-Go-San - observed on 15th November, this day celebrates the passage of children when they reach three or seven years old (girls), and three or five years old (boys). This holiday originated in the Heian period and is associated with many traditional customs that are still practiced including the dressing of children in kimono and the paying of a visit to a shrine
• Labour Thanksgiving Day - November 23rd, this national holiday commemorates labour and production, and is a day to give thanks for what you have. Most people enjoy a day out with their families on this day

December

• Christmas - Kyoto residents are catching on to the western version of Christmas and visitors can expect to hear carols played in shopping malls, Santa Claus and illuminations at this time. While present-giving is not huge and it is not marked as a national holiday, Christians will still feel right at home among the festivities