What's on in Kyoto

Kyoto events in September 2027

69 events in September 2027: 48 festivals, 10 performances, 4 markets, 3 food events, 1 anime and games event, 1 garden, 1 illumination and 1 exhibition, from headline festivals to neighbourhood fairs. 22 of them are annual events whose 2027 dates are still to be confirmed, listed with their usual window.

The heat eases, with an average high of 29°C, and you'll find fewer visitors than in spring or autumn. The kawayuka platforms over the river at Pontocho stay up until the end of the month. More on the season in Things to do in Kyoto.

Map

Kyoto weather in September

Average high: 29°C (85°F)
Average low: 21°C (69°F)
Rain: 179 mm
Rainy days: about 10

Dress for the heat in light clothes, and carry water when you're out walking. Pack a small umbrella too, as it rains on about 10 days.

Averages from the Japan Meteorological Agency normals for 1991 to 2020, Kyoto station (rain table). Rainy days have at least 1 mm of rain.

Don't miss in September 2027

The gate and halls of Matsuo Taisha at the foot of Mount Matsuo, Kyoto

Festival Hassaku-sai at Matsuo Taisha 4 to 5 Sept, dates to be confirmed · Arashiyama Kyoto's last summer festival falls on the first Sunday of September, with a bon odori the night before. On the Sunday there's the rokusai nenbutsu dance, sumo in the ring south of the shrine, and lanterns from parishioners lit across the grounds and approach after dark. Photo: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0

The facade of the Minamiza kabuki theatre hung with actor signboards and a red lantern

Performance Kabuki Appreciation Class at Minamiza 9 to 17 Sept · Gion Shochiku lists a Kabuki Appreciation Class at Minamiza from 9 to 17 September 2027, with prices still to be announced. Photo: kajikawa, CC BY 3.0

Cherry trees in bloom in front of the halls of Hirano Shrine

Performance Meigetsu-sai at Hirano Shrine 15 Sept, dates to be confirmed · Kitano A harvest moon rite at 18:30, then folk song, dance, koto, shakuhachi and gagaku from 19:00, with matcha served for a fee. Photo: lienyuan lee, CC BY 3.0

The main hall of Seimei Shrine with lanterns bearing its star emblem, Kyoto

Festival Seimei-sai at Seimei Shrine 22 to 23 Sept, dates to be confirmed · Kitano The festival of the shrine to the court diviner Abe no Seimei, on the autumn equinox and the night before. The eve has yudate kagura at 19:00 and a lantern procession of about 100 local children, and on the day the mikoshi leaves at 13:00 behind a boys' fife and drum band and goes round the parish until 18:00. Photo: Fg2, Public domain

The stone torii of Nashinoki Shrine with its name plaque, a wooden notice board and the path into the grounds

Garden Hagi Matsuri at Nashinoki Shrine 25 to 26 Sept, dates to be confirmed · Imperial Palace More than 500 bush clover plants flower in the grounds of the shrine known as the Hagi no Miya, with visitors' poems tied to the branches. The festival weekend has archery, iaido, dance and music offerings and a tea seat for ¥1,200. Photo: Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert, CC BY 4.0

The walking path through the tall green stalks of the Arashiyama bamboo grove

Illumination Arashiyama Tsukitouro Bamboo Light-up 30 Sept to 8 Nov, dates to be confirmed · Arashiyama The bamboo grove path is lit every evening, with a 30-metre bamboo corridor hung with 1,500 woven bamboo balls and mist drifting through the grove. In 2026 it was ¥1,500 cash at the ticket booth in the grove or ¥2,000 online, and free for 12 and under. Photo: dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0

Calendar

Day by day

Each event on its first day still ahead, regular markets on each of their days. Tap a day in the calendar for everything on that day.

Sat 4 Sep 4 events

Benzaiten-e at Bishamon-doYamashina · Bishamon-do · 4 SeptUsual dates

Hassaku-sai at Matsuo TaishaArashiyama · Matsuo Taisha · 4 to 5 SeptFreeUsual dates

Umekoji Park Handmade MarketKyoto Station · Umekoji ParkFreeRegular market

Sun 5 Sep 1 event

Garakuta-ichi at To-jiKyoto Station · To-jiFreeRegular market

Thu 9 Sep 1 event

Choyo Rite and Crow Sumo at Kamigamo ShrineKamigamo · Kamigamo Shrine · 9 SeptFreeUsual dates

Wed 15 Sep 5 events

Gion-sha Kangetsu-sai at Yasaka ShrineGion · Yasaka Shrine · 15 SeptUsual dates

Meigetsu Kangensai at Shimogamo ShrineDemachiyanagi · Shimogamo Shrine · 15 SeptUsual dates

Meigetsu-sai at Hirano ShrineKitano · Hirano Shrine · 15 SeptUsual dates

Kangetsu no Yube Moon Viewing at Daikaku-jiArashiyama · Daikaku-ji (Osawa Pond) · 15 to 17 SeptUsual dates

Hyakumanben Handmade Market at Chion-jiDemachiyanagi · Hyakumanben Chion-jiFreeRegular market

Sat 18 Sep 1 event

Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair (Kyomaf)Okazaki · Miyako Messe, ROHM Theatre Kyoto and the Kyoto International Manga Museum · 18 to 19 SeptUsual dates

Tue 21 Sep 2 events

Kobo-ichi Market at To-jiKyoto Station · To-jiFreeRegular market

Kobo-san Market at To-jiKyoto Station · To-jiFreeRegular market

Wed 22 Sep 1 event

Seimei-sai at Seimei ShrineKitano · Seimei Shrine · 22 to 23 SeptFreeUsual dates

Sat 25 Sep 3 events

Hagi Matsuri at Nashinoki ShrineImperial Palace · Nashinoki Shrine · 25 to 26 SeptUsual dates

Tenjin-ichi Market at Kitano TenmanguKitano · Kitano TenmanguFreeRegular market

Tenjin-san Market at Kitano TenmanguKitano · Kitano TenmanguFreeRegular market

Sun 26 Sep 1 event

Kamigamo Handmade MarketDemachiyanagi · Kamigamo ShrineFreeRegular market

Tue 28 Sep 1 event

1000market at Kiyomizu-deraHigashiyama · Kiyomizu-deraFreeRegular market

Also on dates the organisers post: Heian Antique Market (Heian Nomi-no-ichi) (About once a month on dates the organiser posts, 9:00 to 16:00), Heian Rakuichi Handmade Market (About once a month on dates the organiser posts, 10:00 to 16:00), Kyoto Antique Fair (Three times a year (spring, early summer and autumn) over a Friday to Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00, last day to 16:00).

On for weeks

8 long runs, such as exhibitions and illuminations: on for more than a week, so shown once instead of every day.

Kamogawa Noryo-yuka Riverside TerracesKawaramachi · Riverside restaurants in Kiyamachi, Pontocho and Saiseki · 1 May to 15 OctUsual dates

Kibune Kawadoko riverside diningKurama and Kibune · Riverside restaurants along the Kibune River · 1 May to 30 SeptUsual dates

Uji River Cormorant FishingUji · Uji Park Nakanoshima, boarding at Kisen Bridge · 1 Jul to 30 Sept

Cormorant Fishing at ArashiyamaArashiyama · Oi River, Arashiyama · 1 Jul to 23 SeptUsual dates

Kamishichiken Beer GardenKitano · Kamishichiken Kaburenjo · 1 Jul to 4 SeptUsual dates

Kitano Matsuri revival at Kitano TenmanguKitano · Kitano Tenmangu · 4 to 20 SeptFree

Kabuki Appreciation Class at MinamizaGion · Minamiza · 9 to 17 Sept

Arashiyama Tsukitouro Bamboo Light-upArashiyama · Arashiyama Bamboo Grove · 30 Sept to 8 NovUsual dates

Planning a trip in September

National holidays in September 2027:

Monday 20 September Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日)
Thursday 23 September Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日)

Holidays from the Cabinet Office's list of national holidays.

The calendar above lists 69 events in September 2027, and it's updated every week. Where to stay in Kyoto compares the main areas.

More things to do in Kyoto in September

Beyond the dated events, here's what the season brings and which guides cover September.

At their best in September

DaiyasuOkazaki, September to April
Nashinoki ShrineImperial Palace, late September, for the bush clover
Rozan-jiImperial Palace, late June to early September

Also worth a look

Free Things to Do in Kyoto

Good to know

What is on in Kyoto in September 2027?

There are 69 events listed for September 2027 (48 festivals, 10 performances, 4 markets, 3 food events, 1 anime and games event, 1 garden, 1 illumination and 1 exhibition). The big dates are Hassaku-sai at Matsuo Taisha (4 to 5 Sept, dates to be confirmed), Kabuki Appreciation Class at Minamiza (9 to 17 Sept), Meigetsu-sai at Hirano Shrine (15 Sept, dates to be confirmed), Seimei-sai at Seimei Shrine (22 to 23 Sept, dates to be confirmed), Hagi Matsuri at Nashinoki Shrine (25 to 26 Sept, dates to be confirmed) and Arashiyama Tsukitouro Bamboo Light-up (30 Sept to 8 Nov, dates to be confirmed). 47 have confirmed dates and 22 are annual events whose exact 2027 dates are still to be announced, shown with the usual window. Every listing links to the interactive map.

What's the weather like in Kyoto in September?

In September Kyoto averages a high of 29°C (85°F) and a low of 21°C (69°F), with 179 mm of rain on about 10 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.

What festivals are on in Kyoto in September 2027?

7 festivals are listed for September 2027, among them Hassaku-sai at Matsuo Taisha (4 to 5 Sept, dates to be confirmed), Benzaiten-e at Bishamon-do (4 Sept, dates to be confirmed), Choyo Rite and Crow Sumo at Kamigamo Shrine (9 Sept, dates to be confirmed), Kangetsu no Yube Moon Viewing at Daikaku-ji (15 to 17 Sept, dates to be confirmed) and Seimei-sai at Seimei Shrine (22 to 23 Sept, dates to be confirmed). Smaller local festivals are under Around the neighbourhoods, further down the page.

Are there free events in Kyoto in September 2027?

Yes. 12 of the 69 events listed for September 2027 are free to attend, including Kitano Matsuri revival at Kitano Tenmangu (4 to 20 Sept), Hassaku-sai at Matsuo Taisha (4 to 5 Sept, dates to be confirmed) and Seimei-sai at Seimei Shrine (22 to 23 Sept, dates to be confirmed).

Is September a good time to visit Kyoto?

The heat eases, with an average high of 29°C, and you'll find fewer visitors than in spring or autumn. The kawayuka platforms over the river at Pontocho stay up until the end of the month.

How current is this list?

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.

Running an event? Add your event and it's checked for the next weekly update.