Latest Events in Kyoto(May Updated)

Kyoto Art Fireworks is a large-scale fireworks display held in Kyoto City. It perfectly blends the traditional Japanese art form of fireworks with music, creating a brand-new fireworks entertainment experience. At "Kyoto Art Fireworks," you can enjoy exquisite fireworks crafted by Japan's top pyrotechnicians. Approximately 13,500 fireworks will bloom continuously for 60 minutes, accompanied by captivating music, bringing you a visual and auditory feast. This event marks its fourth time being held at Kyoto Racecourse and its return after two years, promising an even more spectacular "Kyoto Art Fireworks" extravaganza.

This exhibition will showcase approximately 220 masterpieces from the collection of merchant Hara Yasusaburo (1884-1982). Hara came from a family of public works officials in the Hachisuka Domain; his father dealt in indigo, a specialty of Tokushima. His works reflect his aesthetic tastes, retaining the vibrant colors of woodblock prints and still showcasing the spirit of the era. Furthermore, the exhibition also features original works, giving visitors the opportunity to appreciate the brushwork of this ukiyo-e master up close.

Legend has it that the Kannon (Avalokitesvara) of Kiyomizu-dera Temple transforms into a blue dragon, and drinks water from the waterfall within the temple grounds at night. Therefore, the Yaksha (demon) is also worshipped there. This event is held specifically because of this legend, and also to pray for the well-being of those who come to worship. This dancing blue dragon parades from Okuno to the cobblestone streets surrounding Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The blue dragon is considered one of the four sacred guardians of Kyoto. Besides the giant blue dragon, there are men dressed in traditional samurai attire, and the streets are filled with music and spectacular dances. It's truly amazing! Lunar New Year is on March 15th and April 3rd. Autumn is on October 15th, starting at 2:00 PM (2 PM).

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, located in Tenmon, northwest of Kyoto, is a shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane. To mark the 1,125th anniversary of Michizane's death in 2027, the annual festival known as the Hanmantosai, will be held at the Kyoto National Museum. To mark this occasion, the Kyoto National Museum will be holding a special exhibition showcasing a selection of items related to Tenjin worship from across Japan, centered around 17 National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties from Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. For the first time ever, all volumes and scenes from the National Treasure "Kitano Tenjin Engi Emaki (Jokyu Version)" will be on display, along with many other Kitano Tenjin Engi Emaki scrolls, including the Important Cultural Properties "Kōan Version," "Mitsunobu Version," and "Mitsuoki Version," showcasing the legendary birth of Kitano Tenjin. Additionally, through works discovered through research by the Kyoto National Museum and the Kitano Cultural Research Institute, as well as a number of masterpieces handed down at Tenmangu Shrines, Tenjin Shrines, and temples throughout Japan, the exhibition will uncover various aspects of Tenjin worship that have not been discussed much until now, and the important role that these have played in Japanese culture.

During the Heian period, nobles would hold purification ceremonies at the changing of the seasons to cleanse themselves of sins and impurities. This has now become a traditional custom in Kyoto during the summer, with many believers coming to pray for good health and freedom from disease. Visitors enter the sacred pond within the temple barefoot to pay homage to the god of purification, and then drink the holy water to cleanse their minds and bodies. In front of the main gate, tents for the summer festival are erected along the streets, filled with stalls from famous Kyoto shops, including those selling Mitarashi dango (glutinous rice dumplings drizzled with sweet soy sauce).

During the beautiful green season, the scenic gardens will be open to the public free of charge, and various events will be held to celebrate the birthdays of the founders, Kobo Daishi and Kokyō Daishi. Ceremonies will be held to celebrate the birthdays of the founders of this sect, Kobo Daishi and Kobo Daishi of the Middle Ages, as well as a Saitō Goma ceremony. The landscape gardens from the Momoyama period and the paintings on the sliding doors of the lecture hall will be open to the public free of charge. A tea ceremony will also be held in the main hall of Chishakuin Temple, and visitors can collect stamps while touring the various halls. The procession will begin at approximately 9:45 AM, the memorial service at 10:00 AM, and the fire ceremony at approximately 11:00 AM.

This exhibition will showcase the works of Yumeji, a star of Taisho-era modern popular culture who was beloved by the general public. It will also feature depictions of urban life, modern landscapes, and avant-garde and playful worlds by Showa-era painters and printmakers (such as Kawanishi Ei and Onji Koshiro), who greatly admired Yumeji.

Who exactly is the "master thief"?! This is an immersive entertainment exhibition where visitors will become the protagonist and uncover the true identity of the "master thief." Although thieves are unforgivable criminals, countless stories throughout history and across different cultural backgrounds depict their figures. As superhuman beings, mysterious heroes, and sometimes clumsy yet endearing characters, why are people so fascinated by thieves? This exhibition puts visitors in the shoes of a notorious thief, as if infiltrating his home to witness his final crime. Divided into eight rooms—a corridor, a reception room, and a secret room—the exhibition displays the thief's portrait, his disguise tools, works by renowned artists, and mysterious collectibles such as stars and socks. Can visitors safely escape the thief's lair and uncover his true identity? This exhibition brings together a host of outstanding artists from diverse fields, including Fuyuki Arai, Takayuki Ino, Maiko Take, Kensaku Tanikawa, Yoshitaka Haba, Eri Imahara, Naoko Nakui, and Shinsuke Yoshitake, offering a brand-new immersive experience to explore the mysteries and wonders of thieves and human nature. "The House of Thieves" will open in Kyoto in April 2026, offering an immersive entertainment experience for adults and children, allowing everyone to become the protagonist of the story.

This exhibition explores the dynamic evolution of British art from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. After going through the Thatcher era (1979–1990), a charged and uncertain social climate gave rise to a new generation of artists who challenged traditional norms and embraced bold, experimental practices. Many of the newer generation of artists who came to prominence in the 1990s were referred to in the art and popular media under the title Young British Artists (YBAs). Alongside other artists active at the time, these artists explored themes such as popular culture, personal identity, and shifting social structures. They worked across a diverse range of media, including painting, sculpture, photography, video, and installation. Featuring around 90 works by approximately 50 artists, the exhibition traces the radical creativity and groundbreaking approaches that redefined British art in the 1990s. What is YBA?The label Young British Artists (YBAs) is applied to a loose group of British artists who began to exhibit together in 1988 and who became known for their openness to materials and processes, shock tactics and entrepreneurial attitude. Many artists active in the 1990s rejected the label.