Familiarize yourself with the local history, culture, and other basic details. Hot news.
Check out this introduction to a few reccommended spots while your in town.
Get local and try some of the flavors offered
that you can't fined anywhere else.
Unique souvenirs, ideas that this city is famous for.
A schedule of annual festivals, shows and events for you to experience and see.
Now take a short trip just beyond. Relatively close, one and two day trips out of town.
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The traditional center of art and culture
Map of Kinki area
Kyoto was the capital of Japan for more than 1000 years. From the year 794AD, when the capital was relocated from Nara, to 1868 when the capital again relocated (this time to Tokyo) following the Meiji Restoration, Japanese culture centered on and evolved around the reigning Emperors with magnificent results.
Spared the ravages of WWII, (Kyoto fortunately avoided the fires that swept other cities) so many historical temples and shrines remain standing and have been able to retain their true character. This good fortune has lead directly to Kyoto having some of Japan's best sightseeing spots with many of them only enhanced by the changes in the seasons.
Various traditional works of art have been created in Kyoto during its 1200-year history and over 70 kinds of high-quality craft products are still made today. These include Nishijinori, Kyoyuzen, Kyoningyo and Kyosensu works among others with all associated production techniques being passed down to the artists of today by the experts of yesterday.
Another side effect of the magnificent history, culture and climate of Kyoto is the unique Kyoto cuisine.
Elaborate and seasonal, Kyoto's finest cuisine always offers that perfect culinary journey along the avenues of the Japanese food of days gone by.
Gion Matsuri
Gion Matsuri
- Yasaka Shrine and other places in Kyoto City - Friday July 1st - Sunday 31st
- The Yamahoko Junko (float parade) is held on the 17th.
Gion Matsuri, one of the three major festivals of Japan, is the annual festival of Yasaka Shrine in the east of the city. Various rituals and ceremonies take place between July 1st and the 31st. Yamahoko (floats) are displayed in the town and Gion-bayashi music is played on the night of the 16th. Yamahoko Junko, an event in which 32 floats parade through the city of Kyoto is held from 9am to 2pm on the 17th and attracts numerous visitors. Paid stands are set up along Oike Dori for the Yamahoko Junko.
Arashiyama Ukai (Arashiyama Cormorant Fishing)
Arashiyama Ukai
(Arashiyama Cormorant Fishing)
- Arashiyama, Kyoto City - Friday July 1st - Thursday September 15th
7pm - 9pm
Arashiyama Ukai is a traditional summer event at Arasiyama where visitors can enjoy watching Ukai, a traditional fishing technique using cormorants dispatched from boats floating on the Oigawa River. Appreciate the skill of the masters of fishing while eating on the boat and gazing at the bonfires lit along the riverbank.
Illumination in Kifune Shrine
Illumination in Kifune Shrine
- Kifune Shrine, Kyoto City
- From sunset to 9pm, Friday July 1st and daily until Thursday August 11th
Strips of paper on which visitors can write their wishes hang from softly illuminated pieces of bamboo during this event. At ground level, to light the way, passers-by can see their path lit up by small candles set in bamboo cases.
Kyoto Gojozaka Toki Matsuri (Kyoto Gojozaka Ceramic Festival)
Kyoto Gojozaka Toki Matsuri
(Kyoto Gojozaka Ceramic Festival)
- Around Gojozaka, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
- Sunday August 7th - Wednesday 10th
The Kyoto Gojozaka Toki Matsuri is well known as a large scale and relatively old ceramic festival having started during the Taisho period (1912-1925). Held in and around Gojojaka, the birthplace of the Kyoyaki form of ceramics, approximately 500 stalls along Gojozaka's main street attract up to 500,000 visitors annually. Of particular interest to visitors are the numerous opportunities to purchase Kyoyaki, Arita, Karatsu, Shigaraki and other famous forms of ceramic ware at 50% to 70% off ordinary market prices.
Daimonji Gozan Okuribi is an event related to Obon - the Japanese festival of the dead, and the journey of the spirits, which, having just returned home for the festival must now return to the other world. Also called "Daimonji," it is especially well known in this part of Japan as a kanji character meaning "big" - seen on the hillside of Higashiyama is ignited and can be seen from miles around. This ignition leads to a chain reaction and many other great bonfires on the mountains surrounding Kyoto are ignited one by one, burning for about 30 minutes.
Shoryo-okuri Manto-nagashi
Shoryo-okuri Manto-nagashi
- Togetsukyo and Arashiyama, Kyoto City
- Tuesday August 16th
Manto-nagashi is a festival in which small cases topped with a lantern are launched on water to help send spirits of the deceased back to the other world and is held at the Togetsukyo Higashizume from sunset to around 9pm on the 16th. In case of drizzle, the event goes ahead as planned. From this festival location, visitors can see the Tori bonfire, one of the Gozan Okuribi, and the Manto-nagashi simultaneously.
