Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Shiga, Wakayama, Check out event schedules, hidden events, local and traditional festivals in the Kansai area.
In spring and autumn when the temple’s roses are in full bloom, Visitors can enjoy about 2,300 varieties of roses and smell their fragrances while strolling through the temple grounds.
Date : May 15 to June 30 and October 19 to November 30 every year
Open: 7:00 to 17:00
Admission : Free
Location : Ofusa Kannon Temple
Access : 10-minute walk from Unebi station on the JR Sakurai line or 25-minute walk from Yamato-Yagi station on the Kintetsu Osaka line
The Kurama Fire Festival is counted as one of the three great unusual festivals of Kyoto. Held in Kurama, a small town in northern Kyoto. The Kurama Fire Festival is filled with lit torches and iron baskets holding fire. You may experience incredible spectacle of the danger of so much fire so close at hand. The festival reaches its climax when one or two hundred of the torches are gathered on the stone steps in front of the main gate of the temple and everyone begins chanting “saireyaa, sairyo” in unison.
Date : OCT 22 Every year
Location : Kurama-dera Temple, Yuki-jinja Shrine
Access : 3-minute walk from Kurama station on Eizan Electric Railway.
Kodai-ji Temple’s garden has a pond with autumn trees planted around it. During the fall leaf season, the area is lit up, creating a magical atmosphere with the bright colors of trees reflected in the pond.
Lit up : Sunset to 22:00 during the period.
Admission : 600yen
Access : 15-minute walk from Gion-Shijo station on the Keihan main line
Location : Kodai-ji Temple
The Shogunzuka mound, located on a top of Mt. Higashiyama, its 2 observatories offer you a spectacular night view of the entire city of Kyoto below with the red leaves lit up.
Lit-up : 17:00 to 21:30
Admission : 500 yen
Location : Shogunzuka Seiryuden
Shoren-in Temple’s beautiful gardens make a mysterious atmosphere at night. Visitors can enjoy strolling the path along 4 beautiful gardens, and all the wooden buildings are nicely lit up with autumn leaves.
Lit-up : 18:00 to 22:00
Admission : 800 yen
Kyoto’s biggest Halloween celebration is on around the Kitayama area with pumpkin carving, a costume parade and craft market, game and food stalls. This is family-friendly event, so everyone is welcomed.
Schedule
OCT 26 : 9:30 to 21:00, OCT 27 : 9:30 to 17:00
Admission : Free
The costume parade starts from 13:00 to 15:00 on OCT 28 (SUN)
You need to register in advance, if you want to take part in the parade.
Participation : 1,000 yen for adults or 500 yen for children
Access : 3-minute walk from Kitayama station on the Subway Karasuma line
Kyoto’s landmark, The five story pagoda at To-ji Temple is lit up with autumn colors. Easy access from JR Kyoto station.
Lit up : 18:30 to 21:30
Admission : 1000 yen
Access : 5-minute walk from Toji station on the Kintetsu kyoto line. 15-minute walk from JR Kyoto station
A parade from the Imperial palace to Heian-Jingu shrine.
A grand ancient-costume procession where the long history of Japan unfolds before the spectators.
This is a fine opportunity for taking a close look at the costumes, accessories and fittings which are reproduced with the quintessence of Kyoto’s traditional handicraft techniques.
A festival held at the Heian Jingu Shrine, the Jidai Matsuri is one of the three largest festivals of Kyoto.
The highlight of the festival is the Jidai Gyoretsu (Historic Pageant): a mikoshi (a portable shrine) and a suite of some 2,000 people dressed in costumes representing various eras of Kyoto’s 1,200-year history parade through the city.
12：00 the procession departs from Kyoto Gosho (Kyoto Imperial Palace), and parades over a total distance of 4.6 kilometers.
Karasuma Marutamachi (12:30) → Karasuma Oike (12:50) → kawaramachi Oike (13:20) → Kawaramachi Sanjo (13:30) → Sanjo Jingumichi (14:10) →
14：30 arriving Heian Jingu Shrine . The line of the parading people stretches over a long distance.
This is an ideal festival for overseas visitors wishing to learn more about Japan and to see the chronological changes in Japanese costumes and customs.
(Dates and functions are subjects to change without notice. Be sure to check the latest information in advance.)
Fireworks brighten the night sky and Amanohashidate, one of the Japan’s most scenic views. Fireworks looks more clear and beautiful in the winter’s dry air.
A number of fireworks : 2,000
Access : Direct Hashidate limited expresses run four times a day and connect JR Kyoto Station to Amanohashidate in 106 minutes (¥4,310).
Bus : Tankai bus from JR Kyoto station bus terminal, platform C2. It takes about 2 hours (¥2700), runs twice a day.
The annual Himeji Pottery Market gathers japanese traditional pottery and ceramics from across the country to display their wares for sale. You can find famous Japanese potteries cheaper than the market price, such as Kiyomizu(Kyoto-style pottery), Arita, Karatsu, Shigaraki, Imari and others.
Hours ：10:00 to 17:00
Access : 10-minute walk from JR Himeji station