Kyoto Events October 2019

Here’s a rundown of special Kyoto events that happen during October 2019, including my favorite Kyoto festival of them all, the Kurama Fire Festival. If you’re visiting Kyoto in October, don’t miss it!

Municipal Museum of Art in Kyoto: cowardlion / Shutterstock.com

1-31 October 2019

Event: To-ji Temple Homotsukan treasure house Autumn Special Opening
Location: To-ji Temple
Time: 9:00am-5:00pm (enter by 4:30pm)
Admission: JPY500

To-ji Temple, in southern Kyoto, opens its Homotsukan treasure house to the public from 20 September all the way until 25 November. For those with an interest in Japanese Buddhism, particularly Shingon (esoteric) Buddhism, this is sure to be a fascinating experience.

1-31 October 2019

Event: Ninna-ji Reihokan (Sacred Treasure Hall) Special Autumn Opening
Location: Ninna-ji Temple
Time: 9:00am-5:00pm (enter by 4:30pm)
Admission: JPY500
Website: Official website

Few tourists make it up to the fine temple of Ninna-ji, in the northwest of the city, and that’s a shame, because it’s a beautiful sprawling temple filled with lovely buildings and gardens. It’s easily paired with a visit to nearby Ryoan-ji Temple and Kinkaku-ji Temple (the Golden Pavilion). During the entire month of October, it’s possible to pay to enter the temple’s treasure hall to see the incredible collection of artifacts the temple has accumulated over the ages.

3-8 October 2019

Event: Onshukai (geiko dance performance)
Location: Kyoto Prefectural Center for Arts & Culture
Time: starts at 4:00pm (theater open at 3:30pm)
Admission: JPY8,500 (all reserved seat)
Website: Miyako-Odori.jp

If you’re in Kyoto during the first week of October and have an interest in geisha, try to catch a performance of the Onshukai performance. Put on by Gion Kobu, Kyoto’s largest and most spectacular geisha district, this song and dance event is traditionally popular with local connoisseurs of the geisha world. Concierges at Kyoto’s better hotels can help with tickets, as can the staff at high-end ryokan. You can also ask at the tourist information offices for help with tickets.

6 October 2019

Event: To-ji Temple Flea Market
Location: To-ji Temple　
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Admission: Free

If you can’t be in town for Kyoto’s two famous flea markets (Kobo-san Market and Tenjin-san Market), this is a good choice. Like the Kobo-san Market, it’s held on the grounds of To-ji Temple. You’ll usually find a good selection of antiques at this market.

Geisha: 2630ben / Shutterstock.com

8-13 October 2019

Event: Kotobukikai (geiko dance performance)
Location: Kamishichiken Kaburenjo Theatre
Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm
Admission: JPY8,000 (reserved seat)
Website: Maiko3.com

If you’re interested in the world of Kyoto’s geisha, then don’t miss one of these four performances of geisha dance and song held at the Kamishichiken Kaburenjo Theatre. Concierges at Kyoto’s better hotels can help with tickets, as can the staff at high-end ryokan. You can also ask at the tourist information offices for help with tickets.

15 October 2019

Event: Chion-ji Temple Handicraft Market
Location: Chion-ji Temple
Time: 8:00am-4:00pm
Admission: Free
Website: Tedukuri-Ichi.com

Chion-ji Temple hosts a fabulous handicraft market on the 15th of every month. It’s a great place to pick up unique, locally made souvenirs during your travels to Kyoto. It’s also good chance to see Japan’s alternative community and local expats. Read our detailed article about Chion-ji Temple Handicraft Market for more info.

17-20 October 2019

Event: Suimeikai (geiko dance performance)
Location: Pontocho Kaburenjo Theatre
Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm
Admission: JPY3,000 (non-reserved seat), JPY7,500/8,500 (reserved seat)
Website: Kamogawa-Odori.com

Most of Kyoto’s big geisha dances are held in the spring, but this event, held in October, is a fine chance to see a group of geiko (fully-fledged geisha) do their thing. It’s held in the Pontocho Kaburenjo Theatre, at the north end of Pontocho. Ask at the TIC or at the concierge desk of your hotel for advice on how to get tickets.

21 October 2019

Event: Kobo-san Market
Location: To-ji Temple
Time: 8:00am-4:00pm
Admission: Free

Named for Japan’s most revered Buddhist Saint, Kobo Daishi, this market is one of the two best markets in town (the other being the Tenjin-san Market, held on the 25th). You’ll find all manner of goods on sale here including used kimono, antiques, ceramics, food, bric-a-brac, old postcards and books, and assorted Japanalia. In addition to being a great market, this is also a chance to see Kyoto’s foreign community, which turns out in full, along with hoards of locals.

22 October 2019

Event: Jidai Matsuri Festival
Location: Kyoto Gosho – Heian-jingu Shrine 　
Time: 7:00am-4:00pm, parade starts at noon
Admission: Free
Website: kyokanko.or.jp

October 22nd is one of the biggest days of the year for Kyoto festivals: In the daytime, you can catch this event, and then head north in the evening to check out the Kurama-no-himatsuri (see following). The Jidai Matsuri involves a parade from the Kyoto Gosho (Imperial Palace) to Heian-jingu Shrine. We like to watch it just after it starts in the Gosho. You’ll see examples of costumes from every period of Japanese history.

Kurama Fire Festival © justgrimes

22 October 2019

Event: Kurama-no-himatsuri (Kurama Fire Festival)
Location: Yuki-jinja Shrine and main street in Kurama　　
Time: 6:00pm-12:30am
Admission: Free

This is my favorite annual event in Kyoto. Teams of shouting men carry huge flaming torches through the narrow streets of this tiny mountain village. The atmosphere is positively primeval. After the parade, people gather round outdoor fires to drink. Just be warned that the trains to/from Kurama will be packed. Go early and stay late. And don’t get on that train before relieving yourself, especially if you’ve had a few beers.

25 October 2019

Event: Tenjin-san Market
Location: Kitano Tenmangu
Time: 6:00am-4:00pm
Admission: Free

Like the Kobo-san market (see previous), this is one of the two best markets in town. It’s named for Sugawara no Michizane, a 9th century poet and scholar who is the patron saint of academic pursuits in Japan. Known colloquially as Tenjin-san, the market is a great excuse to visit this shrine and see people, especially school children, rubbing the two stone bulls in front of the main hall of the shrine (doing so is said to make one more intelligent). Like the Kobo-san market, this is a great chance to buy used kimono, ceramics, antiques and bric-a-brac, along with food and drink. You’ll also rub shoulders with an interesting assortment of expats and locals.

Shoren-in Temple

25-31 October 2019

Event: Kodai-ji Autumn Illumination
Location: Kodai-ji Temple
Time: 5:00pm-10:00pm (enter by 9:30pm)
Admission: JPY600
Website: Kodaiji.com

Kodai-ji Temple is an otherworldy place when it’s illuminated at night. The bamboo grove here looks like something out of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. People pack in for this event, but it’s worth dealing with the crowds to enjoy this sight. This extends until 11 Dec.

25-31 October 2019

Event: Shoren-in Autumn Night Illumination
Location: Shoren-in Temple
Time: 6:00pm-10:00pm (enter by 9:30pm)
Admission: JPY800

Shoren-in Temple is one of the lesser-known gems of the Southern Higashiyama sightseeing district and it takes on a truly magical air when the garden is illuminated by night. Don’t miss the bamboo forest here when you go – the illumination makes it truly otherworldly. Try to pair this with a visit to the Kodai-ji Autumn Illumination (see above entry).

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