Rainy-day ideas in Kyoto
Indoor events and exhibitions in Kyoto for a rainy day.
As of Nov 11: 75 events, 17 free.
Quick answer
As of Nov 11 (Wed), Kyochika lists 75 matching events in Kyoto, 17 of them free. Highlights: Soshi Matsunobe: Wall at Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art (Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, The Triangle, Sep 12 (Sat) – Dec 20 (Sun)); Special Exhibition: Kan'ei — Beauty Nurtured by an Age of Peace at The Museum of Kyoto (The Museum of Kyoto, Sep 19 (Sat) – Nov 15 (Sun)); Forms of Love — The Rediscovered Erotic Scroll Chigo Zoshi at Fukuda Art Museum (Fukuda Art Museum, Sep 19 (Sat) – Jan 17 (Sun)). Every listing is checked against the official page, with hours, prices and nearest stations.
At a glance
75 events · 17 free · 2 for kids
Art exhibition 54 · Festival & seasonal event 11 · Market 4 · Food event 3 · Live music 2 · Pop-up 1
Highlights
- Soshi Matsunobe: Wall at Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, The Triangle · Sep 12 (Sat) – Dec 20 (Sun)
- Special Exhibition: Kan'ei — Beauty Nurtured by an Age of Peace at The Museum of Kyoto The Museum of Kyoto · Sep 19 (Sat) – Nov 15 (Sun)
- Forms of Love — The Rediscovered Erotic Scroll Chigo Zoshi at Fukuda Art Museum Fukuda Art Museum · Sep 19 (Sat) – Jan 17 (Sun)
- 140th Birth Anniversary: Seika Yamaga — Imagination in Flight at Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Main Building, South Wing, 1st Floor · Sep 19 (Sat) – Dec 20 (Sun)
- Zen and Ghibli at Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Higashiyama Cube · Oct 3 (Sat) – Dec 6 (Sun)
Art exhibition
Claude Monet: 100 Years After His Death (30th Anniversary Exhibition), Asahi Group Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art
Asahi Group Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art, Underground Gallery (Yamazaki Sta.)
Mar 20 (Fri) – Apr 11 (Sun) 10:00 – 17:00
All eight Monet works owned by Asahi Group, including five Water Lilies and The Japanese Footbridge, shown over a full year for the first time in ten years. They hang in a round gallery designed by Tadao Ando for the Water Lilies.
Details →Art exhibition
Architecture Shaped by Time: TIME'S and Tadao Ando (Kyoto Architecture Center)
Kyoto Architecture Center (inside TIME'S) (Sanjo Sta.)
Sep 2 (Wed) – Nov 23 (Mon) 10:00 – 18:00 (details on the official site)
The first exhibition of the Kyoto Architecture Center, opened in September 2026 inside TIME'S, the 1984 Tadao Ando building on the Takase River. Photos from before and after construction, period magazines, drawings and models trace his design thinking.
Details →Art exhibition
Soshi Matsunobe: Wall at Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, The Triangle (Higashiyama Sta.)
Sep 12 (Sat) – Dec 20 (Sun) 10:00 – 18:00
A contemporary art exhibition that reexamines the way we perceive everyday objects through lines, shadows, backgrounds, and the unconscious. Open to all visitors.
Details →Art exhibition
Autumn 2026 Exhibition: Sakamoto Ryoma and the Satsuma-Choshu Alliance at Ryozen Museum of History
Ryozen Museum of History (Bakumatsu Ishin Museum) (Gion-Shijo Sta.)
Sep 16 (Wed) – Nov 23 (Mon) Last entry 17:00. Closed Mondays (open November 2 and 23)
An exhibition for the 190th anniversary of Sakamoto Ryoma's birth and the 160th anniversary of the Satsuma-Choshu Alliance. It introduces recent research that re-examines Ryoma's role using records from Satsuma, Choshu and the shogunate. The second period runs from October 27.
Details →Festival & seasonal event
Daitokuji Jukoin Autumn Special Opening
Jukoin, Daitokuji Temple (Kitaoji Sta.)
Sep 18 (Fri) – Dec 6 (Sun) Last entry 15:30; preschool children not admitted
On view are replicas of the National Treasure main hall paintings by Kano Eitoku and Kano Shoei, Senju Hiroshi's Waterfall fusuma paintings and the Hyakuseki garden, a designated Place of Scenic Beauty. Closed November 21-22 and 27-29; preschool children are not admitted.
Details →Art exhibition
Special Exhibition: Kan'ei — Beauty Nurtured by an Age of Peace at The Museum of Kyoto
The Museum of Kyoto (Karasuma Oike Sta.)
Sep 19 (Sat) – Nov 15 (Sun) 10:00 – 18:00
Commemorating 400 years since the imperial visit of 1626 during the Kan'ei era, this exhibition explores Kyoto's culture in the early Edo period. Open until 7:30 PM on Fridays.
Details →Art exhibition
Forms of Love — The Rediscovered Erotic Scroll Chigo Zoshi at Fukuda Art Museum
Fukuda Art Museum (Arashiyama Sta.)
Sep 19 (Sat) – Jan 17 (Sun) 10:00 – 17:00
An exhibition of Japanese art highlighting the erotic illustrated scroll Chigo Zoshi. Visitors under 18 are not permitted. Some works will change between the first and second exhibition periods.
Details →Art exhibition
140th Birth Anniversary: Seika Yamaga — Imagination in Flight at Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Main Building, South Wing, 1st Floor (Higashiyama Sta.)
Sep 19 (Sat) – Dec 20 (Sun) 10:00 – 18:00
The first retrospective in 40 years devoted to textile artist Seika Yamaga. The second exhibition period begins November 3, with some works replaced. Last admission at 5:30 PM.
Details →Art exhibition
Autumn Exhibition: Fumonji Temple of Higashi-Mikawa at Ryukoku Museum
Ryukoku Museum, Ryukoku University (Kyoto Sta.)
Sep 19 (Sat) – Nov 23 (Mon) Last entry 16:30. Closed Mondays (open on November 23)
Buddhist statues and historical documents from Funakatayama Fumonji, a mountain temple in Toyohashi, Aichi. The exhibition marks the temple's 1,300th anniversary in 2027 and includes late Heian-period statues designated Important Cultural Properties.
Details →Art exhibition
30th Anniversary: Georges Rouault, Loving Gaze and Brushstrokes of Prayer at Asahi Group Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art
Asahi Group Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art (Yamazaki Sta.)
Sep 19 (Sat) – Dec 6 (Sun) Last entry 16:30. Closed Mondays (open November 23, 24 and 30)
A 30th-anniversary exhibition of 41 works by Georges Rouault (including rotations): the museum's own four works plus about 35 from the Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art, including religious scenes and clowns. The same ticket also covers the Claude Monet 100th memorial exhibition.
Details →Festival & seasonal event
Rurikoin Autumn Special Opening 2026
Rurikoin Temple (Yase-Hieizanguchi Sta.)
Oct 1 (Thu) – Dec 13 (Sun) 10:00 – 17:00
The moss garden and study hall open to the public in maple season. Reservations required Nov 13 to Dec 6; not needed on other days. Last entry 4:30 PM, open every day during the period.
Details →Art exhibition
Martine Franck: A Gaze on Her Time (Kahitsukan Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art)
Kahitsukan Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art (Gion-Shijo Sta.)
Oct 3 (Sat) – Jan 17 (Sun) 10:00 – 18:00 (details on the official site)
Sixty signed original prints by Magnum photographer Martine Franck (1938–2012) from the Kahitsukan collection, including candid portraits of her husband, Henri Cartier-Bresson.
Details →Art exhibition
Tanomura Chokunyu and Modern Kyoto Nanga: Ambience of Nature at The Museum of Kyoto
The Museum of Kyoto, 2F Gallery (Karasuma Oike Sta.)
Oct 3 (Sat) – Nov 29 (Sun) 10:00 – 19:30
Marking 130 years since the Japan Nanga Association was founded and 120 years since the death of its leader Tanomura Chokunyu (1814-1907). Works and materials mainly from the Kyoto Prefecture collection introduce the literati painting of modern Kyoto. Last entry 7:00 PM; closed Mondays (open November 23, closed November 24).
Details →Art exhibition
Zen and Ghibli at Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Higashiyama Cube (Higashiyama Sta.)
Oct 3 (Sat) – Dec 6 (Sun) 10:00 – 18:00
An immersive exhibition exploring Zen philosophy through Studio Ghibli films. Reservation priority begins October 31. From November 1, the museum opens at 9:00 AM on most Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, with some exceptions.
Details →Art exhibition
Discover Kyoto Through Art — See More, Enjoy More at Saga Arashiyama Museum of Arts and Culture
Saga Arashiyama Museum of Arts and Culture (Arashiyama Sta.)
Oct 3 (Sat) – Feb 28 (Sun) 10:00 – 17:00
Explore artworks depicting Kyoto's seasonal traditions and culture. Displays change between the first and second exhibition periods, featuring subjects such as geiko and maiko, Kyoto vegetables, and traditional Japanese confectionery wrappers.
Details →Art exhibition
Special Exhibition: The Tale of Genji — Splendor of the Imperial Court at Kyoto National Museum
Kyoto National Museum, Heisei Chishinkan Wing (Shichijo Sta.)
Oct 6 (Tue) – Nov 29 (Sun) 09:00 – 17:30
Open until 8:00 PM on Fridays. A major rotation of exhibits takes place on November 3. The National Treasure Tale of Genji Scrolls will be displayed during different periods depending on the scenes.
Details →Art exhibition
[2026 Fall] Collection Room Special Display: A Museum's Story - The Birth of the Kyoto City Museum of Art
Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Main Building North Wing 1F (Higashiyama Sta.)
Oct 9 (Fri) – Dec 13 (Sun) 10:00 – 18:00
Traces the founding of the museum, opened in 1933 as the Kyoto Enthronement Memorial Museum of Art, and its earliest collection through works and archives, including Takeuchi Seiho's Bear and Tokuoka Shinsen's Wheat. Also on view: Animals in the Art Museum and Autumn Foliage. Last admission 5:30 PM.
Details →Art exhibition
Chrysanthemum Offering Exhibition at Nishi Hongwanji
Nishi Hongwanji Temple (Kyoto Sta.)
Oct 12 (Mon) – Nov 23 (Mon) 05:30 – 17:00
Chrysanthemums are displayed in the grounds of the World Heritage temple, open from 5:30 a.m. and within walking distance of Kyoto Station.
Details →Art exhibition
60th Anniversary Special Exhibition II: The Muses Who Modeled for Insho Domoto
Insho Domoto Museum of Fine Arts (Kitano-Hakubaicho Sta.)
Oct 15 (Thu) – Dec 20 (Sun) 09:30 – 17:00
A special exhibition celebrating the museum's 60th anniversary, exploring depictions of women that artist Insho Domoto pursued throughout his career.
Details →Art exhibition
Maruyama Okyo and Ito Jakuchu at Shokokuji Jotenkaku Museum
Shokokuji Jotenkaku Museum (Imadegawa Sta.)
Oct 17 (Sat) – Feb 14 (Sun) 10:00 – 17:00
The first exhibition phase presents works by Maruyama Okyo and Ito Jakuchu. The artworks on display vary by exhibition period.
Details →Art exhibition
NAKED meets Nijo Castle 2026 at Former Imperial Villa Nijo Castle
Former Imperial Villa Nijo Castle (Nijojo-mae Sta.)
Oct 23 (Fri) – Dec 5 (Sat) 18:00 – 22:00
A night art exhibition marking 400 years since the Kan'ei imperial visit, exploring the aesthetics of Kan'ei-era culture that shaped kimono and everyday design. Inspired by the sensibility of Tokugawa Kazuko, it reinterprets traditional beauty as artworks, with audio guides in Japanese and English. Last entry 9:00 PM; open daily, rain or shine. Students and Kyoto City residents get a 500 yen cashback on site.
Details →Art exhibition
Entokuin Temple: Teikan-zu Folding Screens and Autumn Night Light-Up
Entokuin Temple (Kodaiji sub-temple) (Gion-Shijo Sta.)
Oct 23 (Fri) – Dec 13 (Sun) 10:00 – 22:00
The sub-temple of Kodaiji where Nene, the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, spent her final years. It shows the Teikan-zu folding screens handed down in the Toyotomi family, and in autumn lights up its pond-stroll and dry landscape gardens at night. Lights come on at 17:00, last entry is 21:30 and the gate closes at 22:00, with no day/night changeover. Closed December 11 and 12 for temple services.
Details →Art exhibition
Autumn Special Exhibition 2026: Tea Culture of the Kan'ei Era (Part 2), Nomura Art Museum
Nomura Art Museum (Keage Sta.)
Oct 24 (Sat) – Dec 6 (Sun) 10:00 – 16:30 (details on the official site)
The second half of a special exhibition on tea culture in the Kan'ei era (early 17th century), with utensils linked to Kobori Enshu, Sen Sotan, Kanamori Sowa and potters such as Ninsei. Highlights include Enshu's tea scoop named 'Ryo', the Iga tea bowl named 'Suneichi' and a Daitokuji Goki tea bowl. Last entry 4:00 PM.
Details →Art exhibition
Collection Exhibition No. 3 (FY2026), National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto (MoMAK), 4F Collection Gallery (Higashiyama Sta.)
Oct 24 (Sat) – Jan 17 (Sun) 10:00 – 18:00 (details on the official site)
199 works chosen from a collection of about 17,000, shown in nine sections: Tsuchida Bakusen on the 90th anniversary of his death ('Punishment' in Part 1, 'Ohara Women' in Part 2), Kojima Yuji, Felice 'Lizzi' Rix-Ueno, Kawai Kanjiro from the Kawakatsu Collection and more. Part 1 runs to Nov 29, Part 2 from Dec 1. Open until 8:00 PM on Fridays.
Details →Art exhibition
Who Does Jewelry Dream Of? at The National Museum of Modern Art
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto (Higashiyama Sta.)
Oct 24 (Sat) – Jan 17 (Sun) 10:00 – 18:00
Open until 8:00 PM on Fridays. Advance-ticket and evening discounts are available, plus a ¥100 discount on same-day tickets for visitors wearing jewelry.
Details →Art exhibition
Special exhibition: Maekawa Bunrei and three generations of painters at Furusato Museum Yamashiro
Furusato Museum Yamashiro (Kyoto Prefectural Yamashiro Local History Museum) (Kamikoma Sta.)
Oct 24 (Sat) – Dec 13 (Sun) 09:00 – 16:30
A special exhibition on Maekawa Bunrei, a Shijo school painter who admired Yosa Buson, and the three generations of his painting lineage. Lectures on November 14 and 28 at 13:30 (65 seats, first come on the day). Closed Mondays (next weekday after a holiday).
Details →Art exhibition
Toraya Collection Exhibition: Animals That Soothe the Heart
Toraya Kyoto Gallery (Imadegawa Sta.)
Oct 24 (Sat) – Nov 23 (Mon) 10:00 – 17:00
Animal-themed works from the collection of the wagashi maker Toraya: folding screens, hanging scrolls, tea bowls and netsuke. The gallery is next to Toraya Karyo Kyoto Ichijo, about a 7-minute walk from Exit 6 of Imadegawa subway station.
Details →Art exhibition
Tea, Japanese Sweets, and Bonbonnieres at Art Space Fukujuen
Art Space Fukujuen (7th Floor, Fukujuen Kyoto Main Store) (Karasuma Sta.)
Oct 29 (Thu) – Jan 31 (Sun) 11:00 – 17:30
Closed Mondays through Wednesdays and on New Year's Day.
Details →Oct 30 (Fri) – Nov 22 (Sun) 09:00 – 16:30
Sennyuji, the imperial family's temple known as Mitera, displays chrysanthemum offerings in its grounds until November 22.
Details →Oct 30 (Fri) – Nov 15 (Sun) 11:00 – 20:30
A pop-up shop showcasing handmade creations from around 70 brands, with opportunities to buy directly from the makers.
Details →Art exhibition
NAKED GARDEN NIGHTS at Higashi Honganji and Shoseien
Higashi Honganji and Shoseien Garden (Kikokutei) (Kyoto Sta.)
Oct 31 (Sat) – Dec 6 (Sun) 18:00 – 22:00
A special autumn night viewing at Higashi Honganji and its detached garden Shoseien, themed on spending a Kyoto night with five scenes. Higashi Honganji: last entry 9:00 PM, closes 9:20 PM; Shoseien closes 10:00 PM. On November 6-8 and 25, only Shoseien is open.
Details →Art exhibition
Sumitomo Shunsui 100th Memorial Special Exhibition: The Sumitomo Collection of Modern Art at Sen-oku Hakukokan Museum
Sen-oku Hakukokan Museum (Kyoto, Shishigatani) (Keage Sta.)
Oct 31 (Sat) – Dec 20 (Sun) Last entry 16:30. Closed Mondays (open November 23, closed November 24)
Marking 100 years since the death of Sumitomo Tomoito (Shunsui), the 15th head of the Sumitomo family, the exhibition shows the modern paintings and crafts he collected, including Claude Monet's Parc Monceau and Itaya Hazan's Important Cultural Property porcelain vase.
Details →Art exhibition
Special Exhibition: Nijo Castle and the Founding of the Edo Shogunate, the Kyoto Castle from Keicho to Kan'ei
Kyoto City Archives, First Floor Gallery (Jingu-Marutamachi Sta.)
Oct 31 (Sat) – Jan 17 (Sun) 09:00 – 17:00 (details on the official site)
A joint exhibition with the Nijo Castle office tracing the castle from the Keicho to the Kan'ei era, with a copy of the Kan'ei construction plans, the Shogun's Journey to Kyoto scroll, and scrolls of the imperial visit to Nijo Castle.
Details →Art exhibition
Kyoto Special Opening of Cultural Properties: Omotesenke Kitayama Kaikan (first-ever opening)
Omotesenke Kitayama Kaikan (Kitayama Sta.)
Oct 31 (Sat) – Dec 6 (Sun) Reception 9:30 to 16:00
Opened to the public for the first time in this autumn's special openings: exhibits and commentary on the history of the tea ceremony and its tea gatherings, plus a chance to step inside a small tea room. 5 minutes on foot from Kitayama Station on the Karasuma subway line.
Details →Art exhibition
Saga Chrysanthemum Exhibition at Daikakuji Temple
Daikakuji Temple (Former Saga Imperial Palace) (Saga-Arashiyama Sta.)
Nov 1 (Sun) – Nov 30 (Mon) 09:00 – 17:00 (details on the official site)
Daikakuji shows its heirloom Saga chrysanthemums, whose thin petals stand straight up like brush tips, throughout November.
Details →Art exhibition
Chorakuji Temple Autumn Special Exhibition (with evening viewing)
Chorakuji Temple (behind Maruyama Park, Higashiyama) (Higashiyama Sta.)
Nov 1 (Sun) – Dec 13 (Sun) 10:00 – 17:00 (details on the official site)
An autumn display of temple treasures at Chorakuji, set midway along Kyoto's Higashiyama hills. See seven Important Cultural Property statues of the Jishu sect's Yugyo-shonin leaders, starting with founder Ippen, and a letter from the Ashikaga family. Evening viewing runs 6:00–8:00 PM from November 23 to December 6.
Details →Art exhibition
Autumn Special Exhibition: Nanban - Memories of Kyoto Where Foreign Cultures Met
Kyoto Sangyo University Gallery (Musubiwaza-kan, 2F) (Tambaguchi Sta.)
Nov 2 (Mon) – Dec 12 (Sat) 10:00 – 16:30 (details on the official site)
Traces the Portuguese and Spanish 'Nanban' visitors to Japan in the 16th and 17th centuries, East-West exchange, and the ban and persecution of Christianity through historical materials. 2026 marks 450 years since the 'Nanbanji of the capital' (Church of the Assumption) was dedicated in Kyoto in 1576; it was later destroyed under the ban. Part 1 runs Nov 2-22 and Part 2 Nov 25-Dec 12, with some items changed. No parking or bicycle parking at the venue.
Details →Nov 3 (Tue) – Dec 20 (Sun) 10:00 – 19:30
A major retrospective of Kaj Franck, one of Finland's leading designers, showcasing glassware and ceramics that combine functionality and beauty.
Details →Art exhibition
Kota Tonoike Collage Exhibition at Rendez-vous Gallery & Cafe
Rendez-vous Gallery & Cafe (Nijo Sta.)
Nov 3 (Tue) – Nov 29 (Sun) Hours: please check with the organizer
An exhibition by Kyoto collage artist Kota Tonoike. A collage workshop (reservation required) runs on November 14 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM.
Details →Art exhibition
Kyoto ddd Gallery Exhibition No. 254: Superplay — Graphic Design from Rotterdam
Kyoto ddd Gallery (Shijo Sta.)
Nov 4 (Wed) – Jan 13 (Wed) Tuesday–Friday 11:00 AM–7:00 PM; Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays 11:00 AM–6:00 PM
A graphic design exhibition featuring Rotterdam-based studios Studio Spass and Team Thursday.
Details →Art exhibition
FOCUS #7 Koki Tanaka: No Time to Sleep / Time to Sleep 2026 at Kyoto Art Center
Kyoto Art Center, North and South Galleries (Shijo Sta.)
Nov 6 (Fri) – Jan 11 (Mon) 10:00 – 20:00 (details on the official site)
Closing your eyes, dropping things, sleeping and doing nothing become exercises in this solo show by Koki Tanaka. The South and North galleries are named the Time Gallery and the Sleep/Dream Gallery, with a video of a paper cup thrown until it stands and a sculpture the weight of a child.
Details →Art exhibition
Miriam Cahn Exhibition: STILL LEBEN at Yuuhisai Koudoukan
Yuuhisai Koudoukan (Marutamachi Sta.)
Nov 6 (Fri) – Nov 15 (Sun) 10:00 – 17:00
Exhibition admission is free. A special tea service is available separately for an additional fee and requires a reservation.
Details →Art exhibition
Shinichiro Yoshida: The White of Consciousness 2026 at HOSOO GALLERY
HOSOO GALLERY (HOSOO FLAGSHIP STORE 2F) (Karasuma Oike Sta.)
Nov 6 (Fri) – Mar 20 (Sat) 10:30 – 18:00 (details on the official site)
More than 1,000 reference materials are stripped back into a new installation of two white cloths, hemp and ramie. Born in Kyoto Prefecture in 1948, Yoshida met Joseph Beuys in West Germany in 1977 and later turned to researching hemp cloth of the Edo period.
Details →Festival & seasonal event
Autumn Night Special Viewing (Shoren-in)
Shoren-in Temple (Higashiyama Sta.)
Nov 6 (Fri) – Dec 6 (Sun) 18:00 – 22:00
Evening illumination of the pond garden, bamboo grove and giant camphor trees, inspired by the light of the temple's principal deity. Last entry 9:30 PM; day and night admissions are separate.
Details →Art exhibition
Mariko Mori: Shrine II — Topology of Inner Light (Time-Do Gallery)
Time-Do Gallery (Marutamachi Sta.)
Nov 6 (Fri) – Mar 31 (Wed) 11:00 – 18:00 (details on the official site)
In two connected Taisho-era townhouses southwest of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Mariko Mori shows her installation Shrine II and eight hanging scrolls. The work pays homage to the sacred stone beneath Mizuya Shrine, a sub-shrine of Kasuga Taisha.
Details →Festival & seasonal event
Daioin (Myoshinji) Autumn Special Viewing 2026 with Tatsuya Kinoshita Tanka Exhibition
Daioin, a sub-temple of Myoshinji (Hanazono Sta.)
Nov 7 (Sat) – Nov 29 (Sun) 10:00 – 16:00 (details on the official site)
An autumn special viewing at Daioin, inside the Myoshinji temple complex. See the sliding-door paintings by Shibata Zeshin in the main hall, the 'Senbon no Hana no Maru' sliding doors and the garden, alongside an exhibition of tanka poems by poet Tatsuya Kinoshita. General admission needs no reservation; the exhibition events (Nov 7, 8, 9, 27, 29), a Chinese tea gathering (Nov 27-28), a baobab concert (Nov 28, 18:30) and brush-written temple seals require booking. Closes at 14:00 on Nov 8.
Details →Art exhibition
Naoko Tosa: Things That Are Generated — The Present of Art and Technology 2026 at Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Main Building 1F Hall of Light (Higashiyama Sta.)
Nov 7 (Sat) – Nov 22 (Sun) 10:00 – 18:00
In Naoko Tosa's work, sound, air and vibration make the image rather than the artist's hand. Four chapters run from her 1980s video, including An Expression (acquired by MoMA in 2011), to the 2026 folding screen Tosa Rinpa: Fujin, created from sound vibration and shown here for the first time.
Details →Art exhibition
UYAMA Painting Exhibition: From the Depths of My Heart at Kaikonoyashiro no Ouchi
Kaikonoyashiro no Ouchi (Kaikonoyashiro Sta.)
Nov 9 (Mon) – Nov 15 (Sun) 10:00 – 17:00
Located very close to Randen's Kaikonoyashiro stop, just a three-minute walk from Exit 4 of Uzumasa Tenjingawa subway station.
Details →Art exhibition
Akiko Yada Solo Exhibition: Clear Vision at cafe co.co. & gallery ATTA!
cafe co.co. & gallery ATTA! (Shichijo Sta.)
Nov 11 (Wed) – Nov 15 (Sun) 10:00 – 17:00
Open 10:00 AM–5:00 PM on weekdays and 10:00 AM–6:00 PM on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
Details →Food event
Christmas Sweet Moments — Step into a Magical Christmas World at Hilton Kyoto
Hilton Kyoto, 1st Floor, All-Day Dining Teori (Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Sta.)
Festival & seasonal event
Autumn Special Opening: Night Viewing at Kurodani Konkai Komyo-ji
Kurodani Konkai Komyo-ji Temple (Keage Sta.)
Nov 13 (Fri) – Dec 6 (Sun) 17:30 – 20:30
Maples reflected in the pond of the Shiun Garden, with the main hall, gate, bell tower and approach lit up. Live koto and shinobue performances three times each night. Last entry 8:00 PM.
Details →Art exhibition
Kyoto Special Opening of Cultural Properties: Kushoin, a sub-temple of Kenninji
Kushoin (Kenninji sub-temple) (Gion-Shijo Sta.)
Nov 13 (Fri) – Nov 30 (Mon) Last entry 16:00
This Kenninji sub-temple opens for the autumn special openings: the abbot's hall and its garden, a statue of founder Sanko Shoeki, the study hall Koshoken, the tea room Enshu Betsugonoseki, and a painting of the Battle of Nagashino by Ukita Ikkei. About 8 minutes on foot from Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan line.
Details →Festival & seasonal event
LOTUS WEEKEND 2026 at Shojokein Temple
Shojokein Temple, Head Temple of Jodo Buddhism (Demachiyanagi Sta.)
Nov 14 (Sat) – Nov 15 (Sun) 10:00 – 16:00
Held rain or shine. Check the fees and participation requirements for individual activities.
Details →Festival & seasonal event
Unryuin Temple Autumn Special Opening and Light-up
Unryuin Temple (Sennyuji) (Tofukuji Sta.)
Nov 14 (Sat) – Nov 30 (Mon) 09:00 – 17:00
A quiet hidden spot for autumn leaves in Higashiyama, a sub-temple of the imperial family temple Sennyuji. The usually hidden Fudo Myoo triad is unveiled, and garden maples can be viewed from the study halls. On November 20-23 the temple is lit from sunset to 9:00 PM, and the four shoji windows of the Renge-no-ma room frame camellia, a lantern, maples and pine. No day/night changeover; last entry 4:30 PM by day, 8:30 PM at night.
Details →Food event
Autumn Market Thanks Festa at Kyoto City Central Wholesale Market
Kyoto City Central Wholesale Market (Umekoji-Kyotonishi Sta.)
Nov 14 (Sat) – Nov 15 (Sun) 09:00 – 15:00
Explore Kyoto's central wholesale market through food stalls, fresh produce shopping, and market tours. The November 15 event starts at 10:00 AM.
Details →Festival & seasonal event
Autumn Special Viewing at Shorinji Temple
Shorinji Temple, a Subtemple of Tofukuji (Tofukuji Sta.)
Nov 14 (Sat) – Dec 6 (Sun) 10:00 – 16:00
See a special display of the standing statue of Bishamonten, the guardian deity protecting Tofukuji's northeast direction. Other highlights include the main hall relocated from the Konoe family estate and the autumn foliage.
Details →Art exhibition
Nijo Castle Wall Paintings: Original Works, Winter Display (Kuroshoin First and Second Rooms)
Nijo Castle Wall Paintings Exhibition and Storage Hall (Nijojo-mae Sta.)
Nov 19 (Thu) – Jan 17 (Sun) 09:00 – 16:45 (details on the official site)
The original wall paintings of Nijo Castle are shown in rotation at this storage hall inside the castle grounds. The winter display, running 57 days, presents the originals from the first and second rooms of the Kuroshoin.
Details →Art exhibition
KYOTO Ekinaka Art Project 2026 (Student Art in Subway Stations) at 11 Kyoto City Subway stations
11 Kyoto City Subway stations (Karasuma Oike and others) (Karasuma Oike Sta.)
Nov 20 (Fri) – Jan 27 (Wed) Hours: please check with the organizer
Students from 13 Kyoto universities install works on the theme UPDATE in 11 subway stations, with a keyword rally across the stations.
Details →Art exhibition
Stories by Master Heinz Werner — The Porcelain Art of Modern Meissen at Hosomi Museum
Hosomi Museum (Higashiyama Sta.)
Nov 21 (Sat) – Jan 31 (Sun) 10:00 – 17:00
Explore the porcelain artistry and imaginative storytelling of Heinz Werner, a leading figure in modern Meissen.
Details →Festival & seasonal event
Daigoji "A Night Watched Over by Buddhas": Meditation Yoga, Shojin Dinner and Night Viewing
Daigoji Temple (Reihokan Museum) (Daigo Sta.)
Nov 21 (Sat) – Nov 23 (Mon) 18:15 – 20:50 (details on the official site)
Three nights only: meditation yoga among National Treasure Buddhist statues, an autumn vegetarian temple dinner, then a walk through the illuminated autumn grounds. 50 people per night, advance booking required.
Details →Market
10th Kokohana Marche at Shinka-ji Temple
Shinka-ji Temple, Kinko Benzaiten Shaka Hall (Iseda Sta.)
Nov 23 (Mon) 09:30 – 15:00
Held on the same day as the Shinka-ji Temple Festival. The venue is in Uji City, not Kyoto City.
Details →Live music
Special Noh Performance "Hagoromo" by Yamamoto Noh Theater at Tokuzenji (Daitokuji)
Tokuzenji Temple, Daitokuji (Kitaoji Sta.)
Nov 26 (Thu) 13:30 – 15:00 (details on the official site)
An introduction to Noh with chanting practice, masks, costumes and instruments, followed by a performance of the Noh play Hagoromo, led by Kanze-school actor Yamamoto Akihiro.
Details →Food event
Kyoto Prefecture Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Festival 2026
Kyoto Pulsplaza (Takeda Sta.)
Nov 28 (Sat) – Nov 29 (Sun) 10:00 – 16:30 (details on the official site)
About 100 Kyoto producers sell vegetables, Uji tea and seafood, with a bluefin tuna cutting show and a mock fish auction.
Details →Art exhibition
Eternal Spirits: Go Nagai - Go Nagai Wonderland Revival (Kyoto) at The Museum of Kyoto
The Museum of Kyoto, 3rd-floor gallery (Karasuma Oike Sta.)
Nov 28 (Sat) – Jan 11 (Mon) 10:00 – 18:00 (details on the official site)
An exhibition on Go Nagai, creator of Mazinger Z, Devilman and Cutie Honey. Its core is the original art and figures recovered from the burned Go Nagai Wonderland museum in Wajima after the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. Highlights include the quake-damaged large Great Mazinger figure, the restored Mazinger Z original art, the unrestored Demon Lord Dante art, a display on the Wajima Taisai (Kiriko) festival, and new manga Nagai drew for the show. Advance tickets on sale until Nov 27.
Details →Festival & seasonal event
Kencha-sai Tea Offering Ceremony, Kitano Tenmangu
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (Kitano-Hakubaicho Sta.)
Dec 1 (Tue) Ritual from 10:00 (about 1 hour); tea rooms 9:00 – 15:00
A tea offering held in memory of the Great Kitano Tea Gathering of 1587, served in 2026 by the Urasenke school. Tea rooms are set up in the shrine grounds and in Kamishichiken. The ritual starts at 10:00 AM (about an hour); tea rooms 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Details →Live music
Kichirei Kaomise Kogyo (December Grand Kabuki), Minamiza
Minamiza Theatre (Gion-Shijo Sta.)
Dec 1 (Tue) – Dec 24 (Thu) 10:30 – 21:10
Kyoto's year-end kabuki tradition. Matinee from 10:30 AM (ends around 3:15 PM), evening show from 4:00 PM (ends around 9:10 PM). The matinees on Dec 12, 19 and 20 and the evening show on Dec 18 are private bookings.
Details →Art exhibition
Kyoto State Guest House Autumn Evening Extended Opening
Kyoto State Guest House (Imadegawa Sta.)
Dec 4 (Fri) – Dec 7 (Mon) Open until 7:15 PM (last entry 6:15 PM); check the official site for the opening time
For four days only, the national guest house inside Kyoto Gyoen is open until 7:15 PM. Admission closes at 6:15 PM; children of elementary school age and under cannot enter.
Details →Market
Kyoto Handmade Marche 2026
Kyoto International Exhibition Hall (Miyako Messe), Exhibition Hall 3 (Higashiyama Sta.)
Dec 5 (Sat) – Dec 6 (Sun) 11:00 – 17:00
Browse and shop for handmade creations by artists from across Japan, with exhibitions, sales, and workshops. Around 1,000 booths are planned.
Details →Market
be Kyoto Antenna Shop — Machiya Handmade Department Store
Machiya Gallery be Kyoto (Imadegawa Sta.)
Dec 12 (Sat) – Dec 13 (Sun) 11:00 – 17:00
An indoor handmade market held in a traditional Kyoto townhouse. A candy-sculpting workshop is also scheduled for December 13.
Details →Festival & seasonal event
Kyoto Railway Museum Special Tour: Experience Everything About the Series 500 Shinkansen!
Kyoto Railway Museum (Umekoji-Kyotonishi Sta.)
Dec 12 (Sat) – Jan 23 (Sat) 09:30 – 10:00
This special tour is held on only two dates: December 12 and January 23. Before the museum opens, join a curator to explore the driver's cab and learn about the pantograph of the Series 500 Shinkansen.
Details →Art exhibition
Hakuin's Zen — A Studio Ghibli Exhibition in Kyoto
Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Higashiyama Cube (Higashiyama Sta.)
Dec 17 (Thu) – Jan 11 (Mon) 10:00 – 18:00
An exhibition about Zen master Hakuin Ekaku, planned and produced by Studio Ghibli. Discover Edo-period Zen paintings alongside video presentations.
Details →Art exhibition
The 119th Nitten Exhibition, Kyoto
Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Main Building (Higashiyama Sta.)
Dec 19 (Sat) – Jan 16 (Sat) 10:00 – 18:00
The Kyoto showing of one of Japan's largest open juried art exhibitions, with about 500 works in five categories: Japanese-style painting, Western-style painting, sculpture, applied arts and calligraphy. Includes touring works and pieces by Kyoto and Shiga artists. Last admission 5:30 PM; closed Dec 28 to Jan 2.
Details →Art exhibition
New Year Special Exhibition: All About Sheep — Celebrating the Zodiac at Kyoto National Museum
Kyoto National Museum, Heisei Chishinkan Wing, Gallery 2F-2 (Shichijo Sta.)
Dec 22 (Tue) – Feb 7 (Sun) 09:30 – 17:00
Discover cultural treasures featuring sheep, the zodiac animal of 2027. Open until 8:00 PM on Fridays. The same admission ticket provides access to all exhibitions in the Heisei Chishinkan Wing on the day of your visit.
Details →Art exhibition
Special Feature: Tea Utensils and Their Accompaniments (Kyoto National Museum)
Kyoto National Museum (Shichijo Sta.)
Dec 22 (Tue) – Mar 22 (Mon) 9:30 – 17:00 (Fridays until 20:00); last entry 30 min before closing
A feature exhibition of tea utensils with their boxes, pouches and other accompaniments. Open until 8:00 PM on Fridays; last entry 30 minutes before closing.
Details →Jan 15 (Fri) – Jan 16 (Sat) 11:00 – 17:00
The ¥2,000 vendor fee is not an admission charge for visitors. Browse materials including beads, buttons, embroidered ribbons, yarn, and leather.
Details →
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