Kyōto (京都) was the capital of Japan for over a millennium, and carries a reputation as its most beautiful city. However, visitors may be surprised by how much work they will have to do to see Kyoto’s beautiful side. Most first impressions of the city will be of the urban sprawl of central Kyoto, around the ultra-modern glass-and-steel train station, which is itself an example of a city steeped in tradition colliding with the modern world.
Nonetheless, the persistent visitor will soon discover Kyoto’s hidden beauty in the temples and parks which ring the city center, and find that the city has much more to offer than immediately meets the eye.
…WikiTravel
Setsubun (February 3 or 4) A large bonfire and Shinto ceremony is held at Yoshida Shrine.
Hanatoro (March 14-23 in Higashiyama and December 14-23 in Arashiyama) Streets and temples are decorated with lanterns and flowers, and many places have extended viewing hours into the night.
Cherry Blossom Season (April 1-15; days vary depending upon the weather) Although viewing the blossoms is enough for many, special events are often held throughout the city.
Aoi Matsuri (May 15) Beginning at Kyoto Imperial palace, a large procession dressed in Heian Period garbs walks to Shimogamo Shrine and finishes at Kamigamo Shrine.
Gion Matsuri (July 17) Many Mikoshi are paraded through the streets. It is considered to be one of the top three festivals in Japan.
Daimonji Gozan Okuribi (August 16) The hillside in Northwestern Kyoto is lit aflame in this festival honoring one’s ancestors. Candle lanterns are floated out in Hirosawa Pond.
Jidai Matsuri (October 22) People dressed in traditional garbs parade to Heian Shrine.…WikiTravel
21 Sep
It may be a spring chicken compared to its film festival siblings in Tokyo, Yamagata and elsewhere, but the Kyoto International Film and Art Festival has reached an important milestone: its fifth anniversary. (Japan Times)
18 Sep
At 6 p.m. on one weekday in August an enthusiastic audience had almost filled Gion Corner, a theater of some 200 seats at the center of the Gion traditional entertainment district in the city of Kyoto. (Japan Times)
15 Sep
Police in Kyoto referred to prosecutors Friday four officials of a hotel management firm for allegedly running an unlicensed private accommodation service, making it the first case of its kind since a private lodging law came into force in June. (Japan Times)
12 Sep
Sharp Corp’s RoBoHon, a small humanoid robot with artificial intelligence features, will accompany tourists in taxis in Kyoto and offer sightseeing guidance in Japanese, Chinese and English from Sept 22, the service providers said Tuesday. (Japan Today)
6 Sep
Nighttime sightseeing in Kyoto is catching on with foreign tourists, as locals are working to satisfy visitors’ wish to enjoy traditional culture even after evening comes. (Jiji)
4 Sep
Many train services in western Japan will be cancelled on Tuesday due to Typhoon Jebi.
(NHK)
(NHK)
8 Aug
Kyoto is Japan’s cultural capitol and home to over 2000 temples & shrines to visit, but it’s hard to know which ones to see when you only have a few days. This time, Kansai resident Kevin Riley and I debate two of the most visited zen Buddhist temples: Kinkakuji vs Ginkakuji (ONLY in JAPAN)
4 Aug
Strong sunshine pushed up temperatures across most of Japan on Friday.
(NHK)
(NHK)
2 Aug
The Japanese Imperial Household Agency will boost the capacity of daily visitors to Katsura Imperial Villa, a popular tourist spot in the western Japan city of Kyoto, and begin to charge for admission from Nov. 1. (Jiji)
23 Jul
Sweltering heat continues to shroud most of Japan. Temperatures reached nearly 40 degrees Celsius in some places on Sunday.
(NHK)
(NHK)
20 Jul
Temperatures in Kyoto rose as high as 39.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday, tying the city’s record high logged on Aug. 8, 1994, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. (Jiji)
18 Jul
In Japan’s ancient capital Kyoto, spectators braved sweltering heat to watch a series of colorfully decorated floats at the annual Gion festival on Tuesday.
(NHK)
(NHK)
6 Jul
The city of Kyoto once again saw record levels of tourists in 2017, with 15.57 million foreign and Japanese visitors spending at least one night in the former capital, city officials said Wednesday. (Japan Times)
1 Jul
A millennium-old temple in Kyoto is offering travelers an exclusive overnight experience for a cool 1 million yen (,100), hoping to shore up its dwindling income by capitalizing on the city’s booming tourism trade. (Nikkei)
20 Jun
Monday morning’s deadly earthquake in Osaka has affected tourism in the region, with travelers at home and overseas canceling bookings in the affected areas. (Japan Times)
15 Jun
A day before a new law on minpaku (private lodging services) takes effect, Airbnb Inc. on Thursday welcomed the change and reinforced its commitment to the Japanese market with fresh initiatives. (Japan Times)
7 Jun
Just over a week before a new law for minpaku (private lodging services) goes into effect, the popular rental website Airbnb has dropped nearly 80 percent of its listings for the services over the past three months. (Japan Times)
5 Jun
Central Japan Railway Co. showed a new shinkansen bullet train model to the media during a test run on Tuesday. (Japan Times)
18 May
Kyoto City officials have discovered about 100 bamboo plants in the city’s Arashiyama district vandalized. (NHK)
16 May
One of the 3 main annual festivals in Kyoto, the Aoi Matsuri, was held on Tuesday. (NHK)
10 May
Tourists are shocked to see usually ravenous deer turn down their favourite treats. (soranews24.com)
6 May
With the population shrinking and the government leery of allowing more immigrants into the country, foreign tourism has become an effective economic stimulus. (Japan Times)
30 Apr
The likes of Tokyo and Kyoto may still be top of many visitors’ itineraries, but Japan’s tourism industry is changing as more and more people head west in search of new experiences. (Nikkei)
24 Mar
In 2017, Japan attracted a record number of foreign tourists – 28.69 million people which is 19.3% more than in the previous year. Being one of the most beautiful countries in the world, Japan is often listed on people’s must-go-to places. (newsonjapan.com)
23 Mar
Railway fans have flocked to Kyoto for a debut of new train cars that will take tourists to the ancient Enryaku-ji Temple in Mount Hiei. (NHK)