Kyoto in July 2025: Highlights, Events & Festivals
In July, Japan experiences severe heat throughout the country, but in Kyoto, with its deep greenery surrounding shrines and temples, you can still feel the coolness of the shade in various places.
When summer arrives, people wearing yukatas walk through the traditional streets of Kyoto, further enhancing the Japanese atmosphere.
Furthermore, Kyoto has many carefully preserved historical treasures, which attract many foreign tourists who come to Japan to enjoy them.
In Kyoto, several events where you can experience Japanese traditions are held in July. This article will introduce the highlights of these events and how to participate in them, so please use it as a reference.
The most notable Kyoto Event in July 2025 is the "Gion Festival," one of Japan's three major festivals
The Gion Festival is a representative summer festival in Kyoto with a long history. Along with Tokyo's Kanda Festival and Osaka's Tenjin Festival, it is counted as one of Japan's three major festivals.
The Gion Festival, held throughout the month of July every year, is a summer tradition for locals and an important event that carries on Japanese traditions.
The sight of people dressed in traditional Japanese costumes carrying large festival tools through the streets will be attractive to foreign tourists as well.
When visiting Kyoto in July 2025, be sure to stop by Gion and capture the Japanese festival scenery in photos.
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- Dates: July 1 (Tuesday) - July 31 (Thursday), 2025
- Access: Get off at "Gion" stop on City Bus (Route 206)
- Admission: Free
- Website: http://www.gionmatsuri.or.jp/
The Yamahoko Parade, known as the "Moving Art Museum"
The highlight of the Gion Festival is undoubtedly the Yamahoko Parade. During the Yamahoko Parade, elaborately decorated hikiyama and yagura parade through the streets of Kyoto accompanied by gion gayashi music.
Its beautiful appearance is so impressive that it's called a "moving art museum."
The opportunity to see Japan's excellent traditional crafts applied to hikiyama and yagura up close is precious, and many people from Japan and abroad gather every year to see the Yamahoko Parade.
Experience Japanese culture up close by viewing from the roadside or using paid viewing seats.
The dynamic "Mikoshi Procession," the main event of the festival
At the Gion Festival, you shouldn't miss the passionate "Mikoshi Procession." The energetic chants of the carriers and the sight of the mikoshi being vigorously shaken are powerful and highlight the essence of Japanese festivals.
Pay attention to the moment when the usually calm streets of Kyoto suddenly become lively due to the Mikoshi Procession.
Even people watching from the roadside become captivated, and the sense of unity throughout the venue will become an unforgettable memory.
When visiting Kyoto in July 2025, be sure to feel the energy of the Mikoshi Procession firsthand.
"Yoiyama," the main evening event of the atmospheric Gion Festival
During the yoiyama, which takes place before the main Gion Festival events, lanterns softly illuminate the streets of Kyoto, creating a mystical atmosphere. Food stalls selling yakitori and takoyaki line the streets, creating a lively scene.
When viewing the yamahoko during yoiyama, you can feel a calm atmosphere different from the bright and flashy appearance during daytime.
Also, since Kyoto in July often experiences midsummer days with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees, the charm of yoiyama is that you can leisurely enjoy the festival from the cooler evening hours.
Enjoy the night in Kyoto while building anticipation for the upcoming main Gion Festival.
Recommended traditional events held in Kyoto in July 2025
In Kyoto in July, many traditionally inherited Japanese events are held in addition to the Gion Festival.
Learn about the characteristics and highlights of each to check out the events that interest you.
Kifune Shrine Water Festival
When visiting Kyoto in July, blow away the summer heat at the Kifune Shrine Water Festival.
The Water Festival at Kifune Shrine is perfect for the hot summer as it takes place in the murmur of the clear Kifune River.
The Kifune Shrine Water Festival is an important local traditional event that thanks the water deity and prays "to be spared from water disasters and receive appropriate water blessings this year as well."
During the Shinto ritual, priests in ceremonial attire present flowers and perform bugaku dances.
The scene I particularly recommend is the "shikibocho no gi." This is a ritual unique to this event honoring the water deity, where fish are prepared and offered to the gods without directly touching them with hands.
Since opportunities to see Shinto rituals passed down from ancient times are rare, please take this opportunity to visit the venue.
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- Date: July 7 (Monday), 2025
- Access: Get off at "Kifune" on City Bus (Route 33) (about a 12-minute walk)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://kifunejinja.jp/info/
Fushimi Inari Shrine Yoimiya Festival/Hongu Festival
The Fushimi Inari Shrine will host the Yoimiya Festival and Hongu Festival in July 2025. The Hongu Festival is an event to express gratitude to the deities at the Fushimi Inari Shrine, which serves as the main shrine of Inari Shrines throughout Japan. This is an important annual occasion for devotees across the country.
Experience Japanese traditions firsthand as you observe participants in traditional attire performing authentic Shinto rituals during this special Kyoto Event July 2025.
The Yoimiya Festival, held on the evening before the Hongu Festival, is a preliminary celebration where thousands of lanterns illuminate the shrine grounds, creating a magical landscape different from its daytime appearance. The vermilion torii gates illuminated by lights are quintessentially Japanese and will captivate foreign tourists.
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- Date: To be determined
- Access: Get off at "Inari" station on the JR Nara Line (immediate access), or "Fushimi Inari" station on the Keihan Line (about 5 minutes walk)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://inari.jp/rite/?month=7月
Shimogamo Shrine Mitarashi Festival
Source:Yahoo! News
For those who want to experience traditional Japanese rituals, I recommend participating in the "Mitarashi Festival" at Shimogamo Shrine during your Kyoto Event July 2025 visit.
What makes the Mitarashi Festival special compared to other festivals is that you don't just observe—you can actually participate in the ritual. Upon arriving at Shimogamo Shrine, first pay the participation fee at the reception and remove your shoes and socks. Then, receive a candle and wade into the pond up to your knees. After walking in the pond a bit and placing your lit candle, exit the pond and drink the goshinsui (water believed to be blessed by the gods).
The Mitarashi Festival is important to locals due to the belief that placing your feet in the Mitarai Pond on July 24th brings health and safety. Take this opportunity to pray alongside locals during your visit to Kyoto.
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- Date: To be determined
- Access: Get off at "Demachiyanagi Station" on the Keihan Line (about 12 minutes walk), or get off at "Shimogamo Shrine-mae" on City Bus (Route 4 or 205) (immediate access)
- Admission: Adults 500 yen, Junior high school students and younger voluntary donation
- Website: https://www.shimogamo-jinja.or.jp/saiji/みたらし祭
Fire-Walking Festival
Source:Kyoto Shimbun
When visiting Kyoto in July 2025, I recommend including the Fire-Walking Festival at Kurama Temple in your schedule. The Fire-Walking Festival is a bold ritual where participants walk barefoot through blazing flames.
This Kyoto Event July 2025 might seem like a street performance to foreign tourists. However, it's a solemn ritual that has been preserved at Kurama Temple for a long time, aimed at removing sins and impurities while praying for health and safety.
Pay attention to the serious expressions of the participants, the clear chanting of sutras, and the majestic mountain scenery in the background.
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- Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025
- Access: Get off at "Ichijoji Sagarimatsucho" on City Bus (Route 5 heading to Okazaki Park, Heian Shrine, Ginkakuji, or Iwakura) (about 26 minutes walk)
- Admission: 1,000 yen
- Website: https://www.tanukidani.com/event/
Shojuin Wind Chime Festival
Source:Official website
During your hot July days touring Kyoto, consider stopping by the "Wind Chime Festival" at Shojuin. Shojuin is approximately 5°C cooler than central Kyoto, making it a perfect summer retreat. Additionally, over 2,000 wind chimes are displayed during the festival, filling the temple grounds with refreshing sounds.
What I look forward to every year at the Wind Chime Festival is the "flower wind chimes path" that stretches from the approach to the main shrine. These wind chimes, decorated with colorful flower patterns, not only produce lovely sounds but also create photogenic scenery for this Kyoto Event July 2025.
Wind chimes are also said to serve as amulets, so please make sure to walk through the flower wind chimes path when you visit.
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- Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025
- Access: Get off at "Uji" on the Keihan or JR Line, then take the Ujicha Bus and get off at "Okuyamada Shojuin-guchi" (immediate access)
- Admission: 800 yen
- Website: https://shoujuin.boo.jp/?page_id=224
Sembon Emma-dō Wind Festival
Source:Kyoto Shimbun
If you want to experience Japanese Buddhist culture, visit the "Wind Festival" held every July at Sembon Emma-dō.
The reason I recommend the Sembon Emma-dō Wind Festival to foreign tourists is that it provides a rare opportunity to hear "shomyo" at a Japanese temple. This special Kyoto event July 2025 will showcase shomyo, which is Buddhist sutra chanting with intonation and melody that sounds like singing. During the Wind Festival, prayers are offered to the wind deity through shomyo, wishing for healing from illness and good health.
The solemn and calm tone of shomyo will resonate in many people's hearts even if they don't understand the words. It's also a must-see how the usually quiet temple becomes filled with energy.
Reservations are required to participate, so please check the official website before visiting.
https://yenmado.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_7901.html
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- Schedule: July 1 (Tuesday) - 15 (Tuesday), 2025
- Access: Get off at "Sembon Kuramaguche" by city bus (Route 206) (about 2 minutes walk)
- Admission fee: 2,500 yen
- Website: https://yenmado.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_3018.html
To enjoy Kyoto's many World Heritage sites deeply and efficiently, get a local guide!
If you want to "see many Japanese heritage sites in Kyoto," use the 1-Day Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage Site Tour with a Private Car and Guide.
This tour takes you around famous UNESCO World Heritage sites with a local guide in a private car. During this Kyoto event July 2025, you'll discover that many heritage sites in Kyoto are difficult to access by train, making it challenging to visit all of them individually.
Also, Kyoto has recently become very popular and is crowded with many tourists daily. A tour with a private car is essential to enjoy sightseeing comfortably without worrying about crowds.
Commentary on Japanese history and culture by guides familiar with the local area is also a feature of this tour.
Since you've come all the way to Kyoto, deepen your knowledge of heritage sites and discover new appealing points of Japan.
- Meeting point: Pick-up at your hotel or default meeting location
- Tour area: Entire central Kyoto (Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple, Kiyomizu Temple, Gion, etc.)
- Start time: 9:00
Tanabata-related events to enjoy in Kyoto in July
Tanabata is a traditional Japanese event based on a story of two stars, likened to lovers, meeting once a year. During this Kyoto event July 2025, visitors can experience how people write wishes on colorful tanzaku (papers hung on Tanabata) and tie them to bamboo leaves, as it's said that wishes come true if you pray to the stars on Tanabata on July 7.
In some areas, when the Tanabata season arrives, large decorations are put up in towns and stations, and events are held.
Since Kyoto has many matchmaking shrines, many tourists visit to enjoy Tanabata in July.
Kifune Shrine Tanabata Bamboo Decoration Light-up
Source:Kyoto University Newspaper
When visiting Kyoto in July, experience Japanese Tanabata culture.
Kifune Shrine, which enshrines the god of matchmaking, is the perfect spot to enjoy Tanabata. In July, colorful bamboo decorations appear in the shrine grounds, delighting visiting worshippers.
If you write your wish on a tanzaku and tie it to bamboo, something good might happen.
Among them, the sight I especially recommend at this event is the night light-up. The presentation of Tanabata decorations dimly lit in the quiet shrine creates a romantic space.
Please stop by Kifune Shrine during the Tanabata season and take many photogenic pictures. This Kyoto event July 2025 will surely be a highlight of your visit.
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- Schedule: July 7 (Monday), 2025
- Access: Get off at "Kibune" by city bus (Route 33) (about 12 minutes walk)
- Admission fee: Free
- Website: https://kifunejinja.jp/info/
Jishu Shrine Tanabata Festival
Source:Official website
If you're planning to visit Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, the Tanabata festival at Jishu Shrine is also a must-see. While Kiyomizu temple is a popular tourist spot, during July's Tanabata, you can enjoy a different scenery at Jishu Shrine within the temple grounds.
Since Jishu Shrine enshrines the deity of matchmaking, the Tanabata season shows the most excitement throughout the year.
The Tanabata festival is a celebration to fulfill people's wishes, and the large bamboo decorations installed in the shrine grounds are adorned with tanzaku (small strips of paper) on which visitors write their wishes such as love fulfillment and good matches.
The sight of colorful tanzaku beautifully swaying in the wind is truly a Japanese summer tradition.
Since the Tanabata festival is a limited-time event, please make sure to visit when you're in Kyoto in July. You'll be able to experience Japanese culture firsthand.
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- Date: Monday, July 7, 2025
- Access: Get off at "Gojo-zaka" bus stop (city bus routes 86, 206, 100) and walk about 10 minutes, or get off at "Kiyomizu-michi" bus stop (city bus route 207) and walk about 10 minutes
- Admission fee: Adults 500 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 200 yen (Kiyomizu Temple admission fee)
- Website: https://www.jishujinja.or.jp/gyouji/tanabata/
Kodai-ji Temple Tanabata Evening Special Viewing
In July in Kyoto, let's explore various aspects of shrines.
Particularly, the evening special viewing at Kodai-ji Temple, held for two days on July 4th and 5th close to Tanabata, is a must-see. You can enjoy a quiet atmosphere different from shrines and temples visited during the daytime.
The garden of Kodai-ji Temple is usually open only during the day, but on the days of the Tanabata festival, it is illuminated for Tanabata and can be viewed until 10 pm.
With few other lights around the grounds, the sight of Tanabata decorations dimly illuminating the surroundings is magical.
Foreign tourists experiencing Tanabata for the first time will be captivated by the mystical mood that spreads the moment they step in.
Before returning to your hotel, please stop by Kodai-ji Temple and feel how Japanese people celebrate Tanabata.
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- Date: Saturday, July 4, 2025 and Sunday, July 5, 2025
Access: Get off at "Higashiyama-Yasui" bus stop (city bus routes 206, 207, 202) and walk about 5 minutes
Admission fee: 600 yen
Website: https://www.kodaiji.com/
It's also recommended to watch cormorant fishing, a summer tradition in Kyoto, in July
Cormorant fishing is a traditional Japanese fishing method using cormorants. At night, from boats with blazing torches, fishermen called usho control several cormorants to catch river fish.
The cormorants have strings tied around their necks to prevent them from swallowing fish whole, and the usho make the cormorants regurgitate the fish they catch for collection.
In Kyoto, around July, cormorant fishing is conducted for tourists as a summer tradition.
Plans to watch cormorant fishing while eating dinner on a Takatabune boat are also popular.
Uji River Cormorant Fishing
Source:Uji City Tourism Association
One of the tourist activities I would recommend to foreign tourists in summer Kyoto is cormorant fishing on the Uji River.
It is a valuable opportunity to observe up close the fishing method of cormorant fishing with over 1300 years of history. Even if you don't understand the language, the sight of fish being caught one after another through the skilled coordination between the usho and cormorants is impressive and will surely captivate you.
In particular, the area around Uji River is a quiet area, making it an ideal spot to thoroughly enjoy Japanese traditions.
If you want to experience something more authentically Japanese in historic Kyoto, please include cormorant fishing in your schedule.
Boarding is from the Kosen bridge Nakanoshima Island at Prefectural Uji Park. Please check the timetable in advance before going.
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- Date: Around July to September 2025
- Access: Get off at "Uji" station on the JR Nara Line (about a 15-minute walk)
- Admission fee: Adults 2,300 yen, Elementary school students 1,200 yen
- Website: https://www.kyoto-uji-kankou.or.jp/ukai.html
Arashiyama Cormorant Fishing
For those planning to explore the Arashiyama area in Kyoto, we recommend booking cormorant fishing at night. Being gently rocked on a yakatabune boat in the cool evening hours will quickly heal your travel fatigue.
Cormorant fishing in Arashiyama is characterized by the magnificent mountain scenery in the background. The view from the river at night is different from the brilliant scenery seen during the day, allowing you to experience a retro Japanese atmosphere.
By watching cormorant fishing while becoming one with nature, you can sharpen your appreciation for Japanese traditions.
Let's observe while pondering questions like "Why did they start this fishing method?" and "How did Japanese people live in the old days?"
Also, don't forget to take Instagram-worthy photos when the Togetsukyo bridge and the cormorant fishing performance overlap perfectly.
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- Schedule: Around July to September 2025
- Access: Get off at "Uji" on the JR Nara Line (About 15 minutes on foot)
- Admission fee: Adults 2,300 yen, Elementary school students 1,200 yen
- Website: https://arashiyama-yakatabune.com/cormorant-fishing/
Being guided by locals who know the tourist spots inside out makes tourism much more enjoyable!
Since you've come all the way to Kyoto, you'll want to enjoy all its attractive points without missing anything.
When sightseeing, explore the city with a local guide who knows Kyoto inside out.
Fushimi Inari Hidden Hiking Tour
In Kyoto, it's recommended to enjoy Japanese traditions in nature along with the historical townscape.
The Fushimi Inari Hidden Hiking Tour takes you beyond the main worship spots of Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its thousand torii gates, to explore the hiking trails that spread behind it.
The statues and jizo along the path are distinctly Japanese and catch the eye of foreign tourists.
Also, Kyoto is a popular tourist destination where shrines and temples are always crowded with tourists. Another attractive point of this tour is that you can engage with Japanese traditions in a quiet space away from the crowds.
The tour covers a 7km hiking course, but you can walk through it surprisingly easily with guide commentary as you go through shaded bamboo forests. Please feel free to join.
- Meeting point: Tofukuji Station
- Tour area: Around Fushimi Inari
- Start times: 9:00, 10:00, 13:00
Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour
If you're planning to visit Arashiyama, participating in the Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour will allow you to fully enjoy Japan's natural beauty.
Since the Arashiyama area is large, if you go around individually, you might end up walking around places with similar scenery. By joining a private tour, you can efficiently explore while enjoying various views.
A unique aspect of this tour is that it guides you to hidden gardens and temples that are not visited on tourist tours with large crowds.
Furthermore, local guides familiar with the land and history provide explanations, allowing you to gain a deep understanding of Japan in just one day.
- Meeting point: North exit of JR Saga-Arashiyama Station
- Tour area: Around Arashiyama
- Start time: 9:00
