Festivals in Kyoto in December 2026
82 festivals are on in Kyoto in December 2026. The busiest day is Sunday 6 December, with 14 on.
See all 82 on the map Every event in Kyoto in December 2026
- Listed
- 82 festivals
- Dates
- 1 December to 31 December 2026
- Free entry
- 15 of 82
- For kids and families
- 1 of 82
- Most listed areas
- Higashiyama (16), Gion (11) and Kyoto Station (8)
- Busiest day
- Sunday 6 December (14)
- Sources
- The organisers' and venues' own pages
All 82, by week
1 Dec to 7 Dec
- Daihannya-e sutra reading at To-ji Tue 1 Dec · To-ji, Kyoto Station
- Kencha-sai Tea Offering Ceremony at Kitano Tenmangu Tue 1 Dec · Kitano Tenmangu
- Shoten fair day at Rokuharamitsu-ji Tue 1 Dec to Wed 16 Dec · Rokuharamitsu-ji, Higashiyama
- Butsumyo-e service at Chion-in Wed 2 Dec to Fri 4 Dec · Chion-in, Gion
- Cultural property repair site open day at Konkai Komyo-ji Wed 2 Dec · Konkai Komyo-ji, Okazaki
- Higashiyama Night Walk guided by Heritage Hub Kyoto Wed 2 Dec to Wed 30 Dec · Matsubara-bashi Park, Higashiyama
- Shinkyogoku and Teramachi old shrines and temples walk (Nakagyo) Wed 2 Dec to Thu 24 Dec · Yasaka Shrine Otabisho, Kawaramachi
- Matsubara-dori old shrines and temples walk (Shimogyo A) Thu 3 Dec to Sat 19 Dec · Bukko-ji, Shijo-Karasuma
- Monthly Gan-Daishi Goma Service at Rozan-ji Thu 3 Dec · Rozan-ji, Imperial Palace
- Monthly memorial service at Ninna-ji Reiwa Amida-do Fri 4 Dec · Reiwa Amida-do, Ninna-ji, Kinkakuji
- Hokoji and Toyokuni Shrine Hideyoshi legacy walk (Higashiyama C) Sat 5 Dec to Mon 28 Dec · Ushiwaka Hiroba, Higashiyama
- Private evening viewing of Jodoen garden at Yanagidani Kannon Sat 5 Dec to Sun 6 Dec · Yanagidani Kannon, Nagaokakyo
- Jishu Inari Hitaki-sai Fire Festival at Imamiya Shrine Sun 6 Dec · Imamiya Shrine, Kitano
- Kan'ei Imperial Procession Re-enactment (400th Anniversary) Sun 6 Dec · Kyoto Imperial Palace to Nijo Castle
- Monthly memorial service for founder Shobo at Daigo-ji Sun 6 Dec · Daigo-ji
- Sanzen Raihai Butsumyo-e at Seiryo-ji Sun 6 Dec to Tue 8 Dec · Seiryo-ji, Arashiyama
- Shibutani Road to Seikan-ji and Kiyomizu-dera Toribeno walk (Higashiyama B) Sun 6 Dec to Wed 23 Dec · Otani Honbyo, Higashiyama
- Benzaiten fair day at Rokuharamitsu-ji Mon 7 Dec · Rokuharamitsu-ji, Higashiyama
- Daikon-daki at Senbon Shakado Mon 7 Dec to Tue 8 Dec · Senbon Shakado, Kitano
- Genji Monogatari Kawaranoin and Gojo old shrines walk (Shimogyo B) Mon 7 Dec to Sat 26 Dec · Matsubara-bashi Park, Higashiyama
- Autumn special viewing of Torakoan at Ikkyu-ji Sat 21 Nov to Wed 2 Dec · Shuon-an Ikkyu-ji, Kyotanabe
- Autumn Leaves Stamp Rally at Nijo Castle Fri 23 Oct to Sun 6 Dec · Nijo Castle
- Kyoto Fushimi Jikkokubune canal boat cruise Thu 22 Oct to Sun 6 Dec · Boarding point behind Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, Fushimi
- Lake Biwa Canal Boat, Autumn Season Fri 2 Oct to Sun 6 Dec · Biwako Canal boat, Okazaki
- Momiji Week at Yanagidani Kannon (Yokokuji) Sat 14 Nov to Sun 6 Dec · Yanagidani Kannon, Nagaokakyo
- Nijo-jo Matsuri 2026 Daytime Events Fri 23 Oct to Sun 6 Dec · Nijo Castle
- Shichi-Go-San Visits at Matsuo Taisha Thu 1 Oct to Sun 6 Dec · Matsuo Taisha, Arashiyama
- Hari-kuyo needle memorial at Horin-ji Sun 8 Feb to Tue 8 Dec · Kokuzo Horin-ji, Arashiyama
- Heian court dress and maiko dress-up experience at Nishijin Textile Center Sun 1 Nov to Wed 31 Mar · Nishijin Textile Center, Nijo
8 Dec to 14 Dec
- Cultural property repair site open day at Chion-in Tue 8 Dec · Chion-in, Higashiyama
- Goma fire prayer at Bishamon-do Tue 8 Dec to Mon 28 Dec · Bishamon-do, Yamashina
- Needle Memorial Service at Hari Shrine Tue 8 Dec · Hari Shrine, Iwakura
- Last Konpira Festival of the Year at Yasui Konpira-gu Thu 10 Dec · Yasui Konpira-gu, Gion
- Seikan-ki Shomyo Service at Chion-in Thu 10 Dec to Fri 11 Dec · Chion-in, Gion
- 500 Series Shinkansen special tour at Kyoto Railway Museum Sat 12 Dec to Sat 23 Jan · Kyoto Railway Museum, Kyoto Station
- Stargazing nights at Koyama Observatory, Kyoto Sangyo University Sat 12 Dec · Koyama Observatory, Demachiyanagi
- 18th Kyoto Historica International Film Festival Sun 13 Dec to Sun 20 Dec · Museum of Kyoto Film Theatre, Shijo-Karasuma
- Aioi-sha Festival (En-musubi) at Shimogamo Shrine Sun 13 Dec · Shimogamo Shrine, Demachiyanagi
- Daifukuume Distribution Begins at Kitano Tenmangu Sun 13 Dec · Kitano Tenmangu
- Kotohajime New Year Preparations in Gion Sun 13 Dec · Gion
- Kuya's Dancing Nembutsu at Rokuharamitsu-ji Sun 13 Dec to Wed 30 Dec · Rokuharamitsu-ji, Higashiyama
- Monthly goma fire ritual at Jingo-ji Sun 13 Dec · Myoo-do, Jingo-ji, Takao
- Monthly zazen at Tenryu-ji Sun 13 Dec · Yuun-an, Tenryu-ji, Arashiyama
- Morning Buddhist culture lecture at Kiyomizu-dera Sun 13 Dec to Sun 27 Dec · Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama
- Morning zazen at Nanzen-ji Sun 13 Dec to Sun 27 Dec · Nanzen-ji, Ryuenkaku, Okazaki
- Senkokai zazen morning at Kennin-ji Sun 13 Dec · Kennin-ji, Gion
- Sunday dharma talk at Chion-in Sun 13 Dec · Chion-in, Gion
- Sutra copying sessions at Chion-in Sun 13 Dec to Fri 25 Dec · Chion-in, Gion
- Yuima-kai Zazen at Shokoku-ji Sun 13 Dec · Shokoku-ji, Imperial Palace
- Gishi-kai Memorial Service at Hoju-ji Mon 14 Dec · Hoju-ji, Higashiyama
- Yamashina Gishi Festival procession Mon 14 Dec · Bishamondo to Oishi Shrine, Yamashina
15 Dec to 21 Dec
- Fusatsu-e repentance service at To-ji Tue 15 Dec · To-ji, Kyoto Station
- Image-Wiping Rite at Hyakumanben Chion-ji Tue 15 Dec · Hyakumanben Chion-ji, Demachiyanagi
- Kasuga Wakamiya On-matsuri Tue 15 Dec to Fri 18 Dec · Kasuga Taisha, Nara
- Sutra copying at Nanzen-ji Tue 15 Dec · Nanzen-ji, Ryuenkaku, Okazaki
- Shinran's Day at Nishi Hongan-ji Wed 16 Dec · Nishi Hongan-ji, Kyoto Station
- Kannon fair day at Rokuharamitsu-ji Thu 17 Dec · Rokuharamitsu-ji, Higashiyama
- Kannon fair days at Kiyomizu-dera Thu 17 Dec to Fri 18 Dec · Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama
- Kannon-e service at Ninna-ji Kannon-do Fri 18 Dec · Kannon-do, Ninna-ji, Kinkakuji
- Kannon-ku service at Bishamon-do Fri 18 Dec · Bishamon-do, Yamashina
- Ono no Takamura Memorial Service at Rokudo Chinno-ji Sun 20 Dec · Rokudo Chinno-ji, Higashiyama
- Sutra copying at Daigo-ji Sun 20 Dec · Daigo-ji, Fushimi
- Taiya eve service at To-ji Sun 20 Dec · To-ji, Kyoto Station
- Year-end Dust Cleaning at Higashi Honganji Sun 20 Dec · Higashi Honganji, Kyoto Station
- Year-end Dust Cleaning at Nishi Honganji Sun 20 Dec · Nishi Honganji, Kyoto Station
- Hachimangu fire rite at To-ji Mon 21 Dec · To-ji, Kyoto Station
- Mieiku service at Ninna-ji Miei-do Mon 21 Dec · Miei-do, Ninna-ji, Kinkakuji
- Soot-sweeping rite at Yasaka Shrine Mon 21 Dec · Yasaka Shrine, Gion
22 Dec to 28 Dec
- Pumpkin Memorial Service at Kyoto Yada-dera Wed 23 Dec · Kyoto Yada-dera, Kawaramachi
- Osame no Jizo, Year-end Jizo Service at Suzumushi-dera Thu 24 Dec · Suzumushi-dera, Arashiyama
- Rokuamida Ennichi at Amida-do Thu 24 Dec · Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama
- Betsuji Nenbutsu-e at Chion-in Fri 25 Dec · Chion-in, Gion
- Monthly Engi-nichi service at Nagaoka Tenmangu Fri 25 Dec · Nagaoka Tenmangu, Nagaokakyo
- Omi-nugui-shiki at Chion-in Fri 25 Dec · Chion-in, Gion
- Omuro 88 Temples Goma fire ritual at Ninna-ji Fri 25 Dec · Banrei-do, Ninna-ji, Kinkakuji
- Shimai-Tenjin at Nishiki Tenmangu Fri 25 Dec · Nishiki Tenmangu, Kawaramachi
- Susuharai Year-End Cleaning Rite at Heian Jingu Fri 25 Dec · Heian Jingu, Okazaki
- Trial bell ringing at Chion-in Sun 27 Dec · Chion-in, Gion
- Fudo-son Ennichi Fair Day Mon 28 Dec · Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama
- Fudoson fair day at Kiyomizu-dera Mon 28 Dec · Kiyomizu-dera, Higashiyama
- Goma fire ritual at Ninna-ji Daikoku-do Mon 28 Dec · Daikoku-do, Ninna-ji, Kinkakuji
29 Dec to 31 Dec
- Five-storey pagoda opening and Daigo-ichi at Daigo-ji Tue 29 Dec · Daigo-ji, Fushimi
Good to know
How many festivals are on in Kyoto in December 2026?
82 festivals are on in Kyoto in December 2026.
Which day has the most festivals?
Sunday 6 December 2026, with 14 on that day.
Where in Kyoto are most of them?
The areas with the most listings are Higashiyama (16), Gion (11) and Kyoto Station (8).
Are any of them free?
15 of the 82 are free entry, according to their organisers' pages.
Where does Roam Kyoto get these listings?
From the organisers' and venues' own pages, never from aggregators or resale sites. Each listing links to its source, and the list updates with every daily rebuild of the site.
More ways to look
Running an event? Add your event and it's checked within a day.