What's on in Kyoto, Japan through the year

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: New Year temple bells (31 Dec – 3 Jan)

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, Setsubun at Yoshida Shrine

• Festival

  Setsubun at Yoshida Shrine

  2–4 FebMajor festivalCrowded

  The largest of Kyoto's Setsubun rites: around 800 stalls line the approach on 2 and 3 February, the demon-chasing ceremony runs at six on the 2nd and old amulets burn on a three-storey bonfire at eleven that night. Source ↗

• Nature

  Plum blossom

  5 Feb – 10 Mar · usuallyCherry blossom

  Kitano Tenmangu's grove opens before the crowds arrive for cherry season, and the shrine holds an outdoor tea ceremony on 25 February. Source ↗

Busy — between the peaks, Cherry blossom

• Nature

  Cherry blossom

  25 Mar – 10 Apr · usuallyCrowdedBook early

  Usually peaks in the first week of April. The Philosopher's Path and Maruyama Park are impassable, and worth it anyway. Source ↗

Still on: Plum blossom (5 Feb – 10 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Cherry blossom

• Holiday

  Golden Week

  29 Apr – 5 MayCrowdedBook early

  Four national holidays in a row and the whole country travelling. Kyoto takes more of it than anywhere, and rooms are gone months ahead. Source ↗

Still on: Cherry blossom (25 Mar – 10 Apr (usually))

Busy — between the peaks, Golden Week

• Festival

  Aoi Matsuri

  15 MayMajor festivalCrowded

  A Heian-costume procession walks from the Imperial Palace to the Kamo shrines on 15 May. Paid seating on the palace lawn saves an hour of standing. Source ↗

Still on: Golden Week (29 Apr – 5 May)

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Tsuyu rain season

  5 Jun – 20 Jul · usuallyMonsoon

  The rain front usually reaches Kyoto in the second week of June and sits for a month. The moss gardens are the reason to accept it, and the temples are close to empty.

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Gion Matsuri

• Festival

  Gion Matsuri

  1–31 JulMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  A month of rituals with the float processions on 17 and 24 July and the street evenings before each. The old centre closes to traffic and the heat does not let up after dark. Source ↗

Still on: Tsuyu rain season (5 Jun – 20 Jul (usually))

Peak crowds — Obon, Gozan no Okuribi

• Hazard

  Typhoon season

  1 Aug – 30 Sep · usuallyClosures

  Late summer is when a system tracking up the archipelago stops the trains for a day. It rarely ruins a week, but it will decide which day you take the shinkansen. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Obon

  13–16 AugNational holidayCrowdedClosures

  The country's other great travel week. Family businesses close, trains and hotels are full, and the temples are working rather than sightseeing. Source ↗

• Festival

  Gozan no Okuribi

  16 AugMajor festivalCrowded

  Five giant characters are lit on the hills on the evening of 16 August to send the ancestors home. The riverbanks and the rooftop bars fill hours beforehand. Source ↗

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Typhoon season (1 Aug – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — between the peaks, Jidai Matsuri

• Festival

  Jidai Matsuri

  22 OctMajor festivalCrowded

  Two thousand people in costume walk a thousand years of Kyoto history from the palace to Heian Shrine on 22 October, oldest period last. Source ↗

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Autumn colour

• Nature

  Autumn colour

  10 Nov – 5 Dec · usuallyCherry blossomCrowdedBook early

  The maples usually peak in the second half of November and the city is as full as it is in cherry season. Night openings at Kiyomizu-dera and Eikando need timed tickets.

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, Autumn colour

• Festival

  New Year temple bells

  31 Dec – 3 JanChristmas & New YearClosures

  Temples ring in the new year at midnight on the 31st and Yasaka Shrine stays open all night. Almost everything else closes for the first three days of January. Source ↗

Still on: Autumn colour (10 Nov – 5 Dec (usually))