September sees the special once-yearly opening of Heian-jingu Shrine’s beautiful Shinen Garden and the To-ji Temple Homotsukan treasure house Autumn Special Opening.
1-7 September 2025 (To be confirmed)
Event: Kamishichiken Beer Garden
Location: Kamishichiken Kabukai
Time: 5:30am-10:00pm
Admission: From ¥2500
Website: Official website (Japanese)
While meeting maiko or geiko in person usually requires an invitation or an expensive reservation-only banquet, there’s no need for any of that at the Kamishichiken Beer Garden. Held every summer at the Kaburenjo theatre in the Kamishichiken geisha district, the beer garden is staffed by geiko, maiko, and other women working in the district, who take orders and chat with customers. This beer garden is open to anyone who pays the entrance fee, and it’s a rare opportunity to chat to these artisans in person in a more relaxed environment. Reserve tickets online early to avoid disappointment.
1-7 September 2025
Event: Yayoi Kusama Print Works: Repetition & Proliferation
Location: Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art
Time: 10:00am-6:00pm
Admission: TBC
Website: Official website (English)
Even if you’ve never heard the name Yayoi Kusama, you’ll probably have seen the avant-garde artist’s distinctive polka dots and net patterns somewhere, whether it’s on a sculpture or a Louis Vuitton bag. This exhibition at the Kyocera Museum of Art will showcase a selection of her prints — woodblock, silkscreen, and others — from the artist’s own collection as well as that of the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, which has the largest collection of Kusama prints in the world. Unmissable for Kusama fans.
1-30 September 2025
Event: Kamogawa Nouryouyuka Restaurants
Location: West side of Kamogawa (Kamo river), between Nijo-dori and Gojo-dori
Time: Lunch and dinner
Admission: Varies by restaurant
Website: Official website (Japanese)
Dining al fresco by the Kamo-river on a yuka (dining platform) is a great way to beat the heat of Kyoto’s zansho (Indian Summer). You’ll see the platforms extending from almost every restaurant on the west bank of the Kamo-gawa River between Nijo and Oike streets. One way to choose a good restaurant is to walk along the river and then head “inland” to find the entrance to the restaurant in question.
7 September 2025
Event: “Garakuta-ichi,” To-ji Temple Flea Market
Location: To-ji Temple
Time: 7:00am-4:30pm
Admission: Free
If you can’t be in town for Kyoto’s two famous flea markets (Kobo-san Market and Tenjin-san Market), this is a good choice. Like the Kobo-san Market, it’s held on the grounds of To-ji Temple. You’ll usually find a good selection of antiques at this market.
15 September 2025
Event: Chion-ji Temple Handicraft Market
Location: Hyakumanben Chion-ji Temple
Time: 8:00am-4:00pm
Admission: Free
Website: Official website (Japanese)
Chion-ji Temple hosts a fabulous handicraft market on the 15th of every month. It’s a great place to pick up unique, locally made souvenirs during your travels to Kyoto. It’s also a good chance to see Japan’s alternative community and local expats.
Heian Jingu Shrine park
19 September 2025
Event: Heian-jingu Shrine Shin’en Garden Special Opening
Location: Heian-jingu Shrine
Time: 8:30am-4:30pm
Admission: Free
Website: Official website (Japanese)
While Heian-jingu Shrine is one of Kyoto’s most iconic and popular sights, few people take the time or spend the money to enter the gardens, which are located behind the main hall. This event is a great chance to enter the gardens for free and to enjoy one of Kyoto’s most spacious stroll gardens.
To-ji Temple
20 September-25 November 2025
Event: To-ji Temple Treasure Hall Autumn Special Opening
Location: To-ji Temple
Time: 9:00am-5:00pm (enter by 4:30pm)
Admission: ¥500 (General admission is a separate ¥800)
Website: Official website (English)
To-ji Temple, in southern Kyoto, opens its Treasure Hall to the public from 20 September all the way until 25 November. For those with an interest in Japanese Buddhism, particularly Shingon (esoteric) Buddhism, this is sure to be a fascinating experience.
20-21 November 2025 (To be confirmed)
Event: Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2025 (KYOMAF)
Location: Miyako Messe, Rohm Theatre Kyoto, Kyoto International Manga Museum, and others
Time: 9:00am-5:00pm (enter by 4:30pm)
Admission: TBA
Website: TBA
Why should Tokyo get to have all the pop culture-related fun? This huge anime convention is proof that the former imperial capital doesn’t just live in the past, but also has its finger on the pulse of what’s hot in anime and manga right now. There’s all kinds of events and activities across the two-day fair — a character cafe (or several), art workshops, a cosplay area, booths selling all kinds of merchandise… perfect when you want a break from Traditional Kyoto. If you’re looking for a job in the industry, there’s even a careers fair. Be prepared for very little sleep if you get a job in animation, though.
21 September 2025 (To be confirmed)
Event: Kamigyō Takigi Nō
Location: Shiramine Jingu Shrine
Time: 4:00pm
Admission: TBC
Website: Official website (Japanese)
Once a year, Shiramine Jingu Shrine hosts the annual Kamigyō Takigi Nō performance. Noh was formerly the preferred form of entertainment for the samurai class, and surely reaches its apotheosis when performed by torchlight, a tradition originating from the practice of burning sacred firewood (takigi). For sheer magic and visual splendour, few events in September can match this spectacle. Involving a whole host of talented actors, dancers, and musicians, it’s a great chance to experience a number of traditional Japanese performing arts in a single event.
21 September 2025
Event: Kobo-san Market
Location: To-ji Temple
Time: 8:00am-4:00pm
Admission: Free
Named for Japan’s most revered Buddhist Saint, Kobo Daishi, this market is one of the two best markets in town (the other being the Tenjin-san Market, held on the 25th). You’ll find all manner of goods on sale here including used kimono, antiques, ceramics, food, bric-a-brac, old postcards and books, and assorted Japanalia. In addition to being a great market, this is also a chance to see Kyoto’s foreign community, which turns out in full, along with hordes of locals.
22 September 2025
Event: Kushi Matsuri
Location: Yasui Konpiragu
Time: Ritual at 1:00pm; procession at 2:00pm
Admission: Free
Website: Official website (English)
How’s this for an unusual festival? Every September, Yasui Konpiragu carries out rituals and memorial services for used combs and hairpins, as a way of giving thanks to these objects. Attendees will get to see a themed dance performance, followed by a procession of women in traditional costumes. Special attention is paid to the hairstyles here: Members of the Kyoto Beauty Culture Club recreate all manner of fabulous historical hairstyles for the participants of this parade.
25 September 2025
Event: Tenjin-san Market
Location: Kitano Tenmangu
Time: 6:00am-4:00pm
Admission: Free
Like the Kobo-san market (see previous), this is one of the two best markets in town. It’s named for Sugawara no Michizane, a 9th century poet and scholar who is the patron saint of academic pursuits in Japan. Known colloquially as Tenjin-san, the market is a great excuse to visit this shrine and see people, especially school children, rubbing the two stone bulls in front of the main hall of the shrine (doing so is said to make one more intelligent).
Like the Kobo-san market, this is a great chance to buy used kimono, ceramics, antiques and bric-a-brac, along with food and drink. You’ll also rub shoulders with an interesting assortment of expats and locals.
28 September-15 December 2025 (To be confirmed)
Event: Fall Special Opening
Location: Daitoku-ji Temple, Kourin-in
Time: 10:00am-4:00pm
Admission: ¥800
Website: Official website (Japanese)
This subtemple at Daitoku-ji Temple is a magical enclosed world. It’samst-see for fans of Zen gardens. You can pair it with a trip to some of the other subtemples in the complex, like Koto-in or the eponymous Daitoku-ji.
Kyoto Events Month By Month 2025
- Kyoto Events January 2025
- Kyoto Events February 2025
- Kyoto Events March 2025
- Kyoto Events April 2025
- Kyoto Events May 2025
- Kyoto Events June 2025
- Kyoto Events July 2025
- Kyoto Events August 2025
- Kyoto Events September 2025
- Kyoto Events October 2025
- Kyoto Events November 2025
- Kyoto Events December 2025
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
