Kyoto events in October 2026

There are 277 events listed for October 2026 (115 exhibitions, 71 festivals, 30 performances, 16 gardens, 13 illuminations, 12 food events, 9 markets, 6 sports events and 5 anime and games events). The big dates are Manbu-e at Chion-in (23 to 25 Oct), Kyoto Station Grand Staircase Illumination: Autumn Leaves (23 Oct to 17 Nov), Autumn Leaves Stamp Rally at Nijo Castle (23 Oct to 6 Dec), Play with the Garden Volunteers (24 Oct), Mushroom Show (24 to 25 Oct) and Ninna-ji 'Sea of Clouds' Autumn Light-up (24 Oct to 13 Dec). 276 have confirmed dates and 1 is an annual event whose exact 2026 dates are still to be announced, shown with the usual window. Every listing links to the interactive map.

11 autumn openings and light-ups are listed for October 2026, among them Kyoto Station Grand Staircase Illumination: Autumn Leaves (23 Oct to 17 Nov), Ninna-ji 'Sea of Clouds' Autumn Light-up (24 Oct to 13 Dec), Sagano Romantic Train Autumn Light-up (24 Oct to 29 Dec), To-ji Autumn Light-up and Night Viewing (31 Oct to 13 Dec) and Shozan Garden Autumn Light-up (31 Oct to 6 Dec). The autumn colour page maps the temples and gardens.

12 light-ups are listed for October 2026, among them Arashiyama Tsukitouro Bamboo Light-up (30 Sept to 8 Nov), Ninna-ji 'Sea of Clouds' Autumn Light-up (24 Oct to 13 Dec), Sagano Romantic Train Autumn Light-up (24 Oct to 29 Dec), To-ji Autumn Light-up and Night Viewing (31 Oct to 13 Dec) and Shozan Garden Autumn Light-up (31 Oct to 6 Dec).

In October Kyoto averages a high of 23°C (74°F) and a low of 14°C (58°F), with 143 mm of rain on about 8 days. Those are the Japan Meteorological Agency's averages for 1991 to 2020 at its Kyoto station, counting days with at least 1 mm of rain.

36 festivals are listed for October 2026, among them Autumn Leaves Stamp Rally at Nijo Castle (23 Oct to 6 Dec), Manbu-e at Chion-in (23 to 25 Oct), Jusanya Moon Viewing at Shosei-en (23 Oct), Kameoka Festival (24 to 25 Oct) and Kizu Mikoshi Festival (24 to 25 Oct). Smaller local festivals are under Around the neighbourhoods, further down the page.

Yes. 48 of the 277 events listed for October 2026 are free to attend, including Matsunobe Soshi: Wall (12 Sept to 20 Dec), Sennyu-ji Free Hall Admission Week (19 to 25 Oct) and Kyoto Master Craftsmen Exhibition (21 to 25 Oct).

Mild, with highs around 23°C. The Jidai Matsuri procession on 22 October ends at Heian Jingu, and the leaves start to turn at the end of the month, first on higher ground at Mount Hiei, Ohara and Takao.

Dated events are checked against the organiser's own page, and finished events drop off the page on their own. Annual events further out carry their usual dates until the official ones are published.