March and April – the much-awaited spring season.
Year-round, Kyoto plays host to events of all kinds, from traditional Japanese festivals to hip markets and concerts. However, due to COVID-19 and the coronavirus, many March and April events have been canceled.
In this article, we’ll be looking at exactly which March and April festivals and events will no longer be held.
Shimogamo Shrine’s Nagashibina is said to have started in Japan’s Heian period. The event sees influential members of the local government and community, as well as geiko and maiko, float little colored paper dolls down the river on woven baskets. The floating of the dolls serves as a prayer for the health of one’s daughters and is supposed to attract bad luck away from them.
While nagashibina use colored paper for its two male and female dolls, most modern hina dolls are displayed on step-like displays called hina-dan.
Date: March 3 – canceled
Location: Shimogamo Shrine
Admission: Free
| Address | 59, Shimogamo Izumigawacho, Sakyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 606-0807 |
|---|---|
| Event time | Ceremony: from 11 a.m. Nagashibina: from 12 a.m. |
The Higashiyama Hanatoro is a recent addition to the Kyoto seasonal event calendar that’s centered around “lights.”
The event itself features 2,500 LEDs and ikebana flowers that bring the nighttime streets of the Higashiyama area to life.
The most popular part of the event is the Kitsune no Yomeiri Junko – fox wedding procession. During this event, a fox masked bride donning a traditional white wedding kimono rides a rickshaw through the lantern lined streets of the Higashiyama area. The lights, flowers and procession of this event provide visitors with a glimpse at an eerily different side of nighttime Kyoto.
Date: March 6 (Fri) – 15 (Sun) – Canceled
Time: 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Location: Higashiyama area (the 5 km stretch between the Kiyomizu-dera Temple & Shoren-in Monzeki Temple)
Admission: Free
*The Kodai-ji and Entoku-in temples’ nighttime viewings/light-up events (March 6 – May 6) are to be held as planned.
| Address | Higashiyama area (In the north from Shoren-in Temple to the Maruyama Park, through Yasaka Shrine, and in the south to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Many temples and shrines along the route are illuminated) |
|---|---|
| Event time | 6 pm to 9:30 pm |
COSJOY is a cosplay event held at the Kyoto International Manga Museum that brings together the retro feel of the former elementary school that houses the museum and your favorite anime and manga characters. COSJOY is open for anyone to participate, so if you’re a cosplayer from overseas, then feel free to join in the fun too!
Date: March 7 (Sat) – Canceled
Time: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: The Kyoto International Manga Museum
Admission: ¥1,000
*admission fee applies to photographers too.
**admission to the museum not included.
Museum admission: Adults: ¥800｜Junior/senior high school students: ¥300｜elementary school students: ¥100
The Umekoji Park Handicrafts Market is a market of handmade goods held on the first Saturday of every month. Sisters with the Hyakumanben Handicrafts Market, the Umekoji market offers everything from everyday lifestyle goods and pottery to nibbles like cakes, baked goods and even traditional Japanese sweets.
There’s a ton of stalls, so take your time exploring and see if you can’t find something that catches your eye.
Date: March 7 (Sat)、April 4 (Sat) – Canceled
Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Umekoji Park
Admission: Free
| Address | Umekoji Park |
|---|---|
| Event time | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. |
Started in late 2012, the Heian Raku Ichi Market is a handicraft market featuring up to 250 stalls selling original hand made goods like accessories and Japanese sweets.
Taking place on the second Saturday of every month at the Okazaki Park, the Heian Raku Ichi Market offers plenty of room for you to browse the multitude of stalls at your own pace and an awesomely vibrant atmosphere.
Date: March 7 (Sat) – Canceled
Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Okazaki Park
Admission: Free
| Address | Okazaki Saishojicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8342 |
|---|---|
| Event time | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Every spring, the Chion-in Temple hosts a special night viewing where it illuminates its swaths of beautiful cherry blossoms trees and gardens. The two specific highlights of the event are the famous Showa period rock garden, Yuzen-en, and designated national treasure Sanmon gate.
Date: March 27 (Fri) – April 5 (Sun) – Canceled
Time: 5:45 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Location: Chion-in Temple
Admission: Adults: ¥800｜Children: ¥400
| Address | 400 Rinka-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City 605-8686 |
|---|---|
| Event time | Spring: 5:45-9:30 p.m. (Entrance until 9 p.m.) Autumn: 5:30-9:30 p.m. (Entrance until 9 p.m.) |
Zuishin-in Temple’s Hanezu Odori is a dance based on the legend of Ono Komachi and features girls in pink kosode kimono wearing hats with red plum blossoms on them.
In Japanese, hanezu refers to the pink or light red color of plum blossoms.
Usually, the striking colors of the flowers and traditional garbs dazzles the many who gather to see the performance.
Date: March 29 (Sun) – Canceled
Time: 11 a.m.｜12:30 p.m.｜1:30 p.m.｜3 p.m.
Location: Zuishin-in Temple
Admission: Adults: ¥800｜Children: ¥400
| Address | 35, Ono Goryocho, Yamashina Ward, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 607-8257, Japan |
|---|---|
| Event time | Hanezu Odori: At 11AM, 00:30PM, 1:30PM, 3PM |
| Address | 742, Shinseicho, Kamigyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 602-8381 |
|---|---|
| Event time | 2:00pm / 4:30pm (2 stages a day) |
Held at the Imamiya Shrine on the second Sunday of every April, the Yasurai Festival is one of Kyoto’s “three unusual festivals.” Originating in the Heian period, this festival was passed down through the generations by the local townsfolk of Kyoto–sadly, until this year that is.
Usually, it’s said that if you go inside the big red umbrellas that feature prominently in the festival then you’d be blessed with a disease and disaster-free year.
Date: April 12 (Sun) – Canceled
Time: 12:30 p.m
Location: Imamiya Shrine
Admission: Free
| Address | 21 Murasakino imamiyacho kita-ku, Kyoto city |
|---|---|
| Event time | *Parade : 12pm~ *Yasurai Dance at Imamiya shrine : around 3pm~ |
The Heian Jingu Shrine Beni Shidare Concert is a concert held at the shrine’s East Shin’en Garden backlight by the illuminated weeping cherry trees of both the east and south Shin’en gardens.
Date: April 9 (Mon) – 12 (Sun) – Canceled
Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Heian Jingu Shrine
Admission: ¥2,000/per person
| Address | Okazaki Nishitennocho, Sakyo-ku Kyoto City, 606-8341 |
|---|---|
| Event time | You can enter from 6:15 to 9:00 p.m. (You have to enter the grounds before 8:30) The first concert is from 6:40 to 7:20 p.m., and the second one is from 7:50 to 8:30 p.m. |
Miyako Odori is an event featuring performances by local maiko and geiko held every April 1 to 27 at Gion Kobu Kaburenjo in Kyoto’s largest hanamachi, the Gion district.
At the event, you’re usually treated to the colorful kimono that the geisha usually wear when entertaining. The Miyako Odori is also a chance to see and meet multiple of these magnificent traditional Japanese performers at once.
Date: April 1 (Wed) – 27 (Mon) – Canceled
Times: Performance 1: 12:30 p.m｜Second showing: 2:30 p.m.
Performance 3: 4:30 p.m. *April 1 is performance 2 and 3 only
Location: Gion Kobu Kaburenjo
Admission: First class tickets: ¥5,500 (1F & 2F reserved seats)
Second class tickets: ¥4,000 (3F reserved seats)
| Address | 570-2 Gion machi minamigawa Higashiyama ku, Kyoto city |
|---|---|
| Event time | Show Times: 1st show: 12:30 p.m - 2nd show: 2:30 p.m - 3rd show: 4:30 p.m - (April 1: 2nd & 3rd shows only) |
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Vanessa[ Sharing Kyoto Staff ] |
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