The best events and things to do in Kyoto in June 2026

Founded in 1236, the Rinzai sect head temple Tofukuji is especially stunning in autumn, when its gardens are ablaze with fiery red momiji foliage. This summer, however, the beloved Zen Buddhist temple is offering a new way to experience its tranquil grounds through a special night opening.

With its immersive light-ups, Zen Night Tofukuji may seem like just another temple illumination, a trend that has been growing across Japan in recent years. But it's more than that. As with previous editions at Kyoto's Kenninji Temple (2024) and Kamakura's Kenchoji Temple (2025), this year’s event will also incorporate neuro music into its mix of sound, light and spatial installations to create a much more sensorial experience befitting the temple's meditative atmosphere.

For the uninitiated, neuro music can enhance or suppress specific brainwave frequencies to help sharpen concentration or, in this case, induce deep relaxation. Visitors at Zen Night Tofukuji can experience this firsthand at the Neuro Music Zazen Sound Meditation in the temple's Zen Hall, which is the oldest and largest of its kind in Japan.

Here, special brainwave measurement devices will translate participants' neural activity into shifting sounds and digital patterns. This creates a mesmerising environment perfect for enjoying some stillness and self-reflection.

Other highlights include the illumination of the iconic Tsutenkyo Bridge, which overlooks more than 1,000 lush maple trees, and the dreamy transformation of Hojo Garden's Zen landscape into a sea of clouds...

Located in southern Kyoto, the ancient Fujinomori Shrine is closely associated with horses, making it a popular site for prayers among jockeys and racing enthusiasts. For the general public, however, the shrine’s biggest draw is its two lush gardens, which burst into vibrant colour in early summer.

Starting from May 30 for roughly a month – depending on the flowering situation – the shrine opens its two expansive gardens to the public to enjoy roughly 3,500 hydrangea plants blooming in all colours. The best times to visit are on weekends, when the shrine hosts special dedication ceremonies and cultural activities. 

Highlights include a Chikuzen biwa lute performance and Noh chanting (June 6, 1pm); an iaido sword-drawing demonstration (June 13, 2:30pm); a charity bazaar (June 17, 10am)...

Moss enthusiasts, this one's for you: JR Tokai Tours is offering its oddly specific Kyoto Moss Tour Passport again this year. The ¥1,500 booklet is available until September 30, granting admission into any four of the six participating Kyoto temples known for their spectacular moss gardens. It's a strangely niche proposition, we know, but we promise they're all quite lovely.

The six temples are: Myoshinji Temple Keishunin, Jikkoin, Tofukuji Temple, Jojakkoji Temple, Gioji Temple, and Sanzenin Temple. Given that buying separate tickets for any four of these temples would add up to more than the cost of the booklet, it's quite the bargain.

To get your hands on the 'passport', you can purchase an e-ticket here, which you must then use to pick up your booklet in person at the Kyoto Tourist Information Center 'Kyo Navi' in Kyoto Station.

More details here.

If you’re looking to experience a serene, ancient temple without the overwhelming crowds of central Kyoto, get off the beaten track and make your way to the mountainside Mimurotoji on the outskirts of Uji City. Founded in 770, this sprawling temple complex is home to an elegant three-tiered red pagoda as well as expansive grounds featuring a dry landscape garden, a pond, and some of the region’s most beautiful displays of seasonal flowers.  

Mimurotoji looks especially colourful from late spring through early summer, with azaleas blooming in May, followed by hydrangeas in June and lotus flowers in July. In fact, the temple boasts one of the most spectacular hydrangea sights in the Kansai region, with 20,000 plants across 50 varieties growing under tall cedar trees.  

For the most awe-inspiring scenery, visit on a Saturday or Sunday between June 13 and June 28, when the garden comes aglow with illuminations after dark from 7pm until 8.30pm...

For this year’s Pride Month, Ace Hotel Kyoto is living up to its reputation as one of the city’s coolest spots by hosting an exciting lineup of events and a glamorous party to celebrate love and diversity.

The main highlight is the extravagant pride party, themed ‘Accidental Affair’, on Sunday June 21 from 7pm to 10pm. Tickets are ¥3,000 in advance, or ¥3,500 at the door, and they are inclusive of one drink. The night promises non-stop dance music and performances, headlined by members of Diamonds Are Forever, Kyoto’s long-running queer collective renowned for their exuberant cabaret-style shows fusing drag, dance, burlesque, live DJ, fashion and underground culture.

Aside from the party, the hotel will also host a free photography exhibition by Tokyo-born photographer Kohey Kanno, from June 13 through June 30. Titled ‘The Personal is Political,’ Kanno’s work aims to spark discussions about diversity and societal structures.

Also not to be missed is the Queer Book Fair on the weekend of June 20–21 (12noon to 6pm)...

While spring sees Kyoto’s five active geisha districts put on their respective geisha dance seasons, June is when all five come together for a magnificent joint production known as ‘Miyako no Nigiwai’, or ‘The Liveliness of the Capital’. 

‘Miyako no Nigiwai’ made its debut in 1994 to commemorate the 1200th anniversary of Kyoto, then known as Heian-kyo. It has since become a highly anticipated annual affair, bringing together roughly 70 geiko (Kyoto’s preferred term for ‘geisha’) and maiko (apprentice geiko) for a truly awe-inspiring performance. 

In this two-day-only showcase, the five districts – Gion Kobu, Miyagawacho, Pontocho, Kamishichiken and Gion Higashi – will each present their own distinctive repertoires, grounded in history and house codes. For the grand finale, performers from all five districts unite on stage for a joint performance featuring graceful choreography and exquisite costumes...