July is one of the busiest and most exciting times to visit Kyoto. The city is packed with festivals, cultural events, and seasonal traditions you won’t see at any other time of the year. Gion Matsuri is the big one, with massive floats and a lively street atmosphere, but there are also smaller local celebrations and experiences that make July special. Whether you’re into culture, food, or trying something new, there’s plenty to enjoy in Kyoto this month.
Photo Credit: Yasaka Jinja
Gion Matsuri
If you visit Kyoto in July, it is impossible to miss the energy and excitement of Gion Matsuri, the city’s most iconic and long-lasting celebrations. Gion Matsuri is held every July for the entire month. The tradition is more than 1150 years old and was originally a religious ritual to ward off disease. Today, the festival is known for the float processions, Mikoshi-Togyo, and Yamahoko-Junko on July 17th and 24th. These impressive floats weigh up to 12 tons and are up to 25 meters tall. The procession of portable shrines and floats is preceded by Yoiyama festivities (July 14-16 and July 21-23), with food stalls and lantern-lit streets. Centered around Yasaka Shrine, the festival includes dance performances and is certain to be an unforgettable experience.
Date: 7/1 – 7/31
Location: Yasaka Shrine, 625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0073
Website: https://www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp/en/gion_fes/
Photo Credit: Shimogamo Jinja
Mitarashi Festival at Shimogamo Shrine
Looking to beat the summer heat in an authentic Kyoto way? The Mitarashi Festival at Shimogamo Shrine offers a cool summer ritual held from July 18 to July 28. It offers an escape from the heat as one of Kyoto’s most refreshing and spiritual traditions.
Visitors wade into a shallow stream while holding a candle and approach the shrine, praying for good health and protection from illness. Once the participant places the candle, they drink a cup of bottled spring water. There are also omamori or ema available for purchase at the shrine.
Date: July 18th – July 27th, 9:00 – 20:00
Location: 606-0807 Kyoto, Sakyo Ward, Shimogamo Izumikawacho, ５９
Website: https://www.shimogamo-jinja.or.jp/en/saiji/
Photo Credit: Kyoto City Official Travel Guide
Mizu Matsuri
Tucked away in the mountains just north of Kyoto, Kifune Shrine offers a quiet escape from the city’s summer heat. This over 1,600-year-old shrine is one of the oldest shrines in the region. Known for its stone stairways with red lanterns, the shrine itself is dedicated to the god of water and rain. Over the centuries, many farmers and brewers have come seeking divine favor during times of drought.
But every year on July 7, the shrine holds the Mizu Matsuri, or Water Festival, a sacred summer event that coincides with Tanabata, the Star Festival. The festival begins at 10 am with a tea ceremony offered to the shrine’s divine beings. Following the tea ceremony, classical Japanese dances are held, and shikibocho, an ancient fish cooking technique, is performed as an offering to the deities. A tea ceremony is also available after the ceremony for visitors for ¥3,000.
Date: 7/7 10:00
Location: 180 Kuramakibunecho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 601-1112
Website: http://kifunejinja.jp/
Photo Credit: Kyoto Uji Kankou
Fishing (Ukai) on the Uji River
Step back in time with Ukai, or traditional cormorant fishing, a 1,300-year-old summer tradition that takes place on the Uji River from July through September. In this fascinating practice, master fishermen use trained aquatic birds on leashes to catch river fish by torchlight. You can watch from a nearby shore, or you can join a sightseeing cruise, which typically lasts about an hour and costs about 2,500 to 3,500 yen.
While it once was a practical fishing method, today, Ukai is mostly done for visitors, although it still remains one of the most atmospheric and memorable summer experiences you could have this July.
Date: July 1st – September 30th
Location: Togawa-4-5 Uji, Kyoto 611-0021
Website: https://www.kyoto-uji-kankou.or.jp/ukai.html
Photo Credit: Institut Français
Le Marché (Paris Festival)
Step into a small piece of Paris at Le Marché, a monthly charming French-style market held at the Institut français du Kansai right outside the French Consulate-General in Kyoto. Held in the institute’s garden and terrace, the event brings a slice of France to Kyoto, offering traditional French cuisine, handmade crafts, and artisanal goods.
This month features the Paris Festival on July 13th from 12:00 to 18:30, so alongside the usual market, you can enjoy live music, participate in interactive workshops, and win prizes. There is a small admission fee for the event, 800 yen for general admission. If you want to experience something with an international flair in a cozy garden atmosphere, you’ll want to go to Le Marché.
Date: 7/13 12:00 – 18:30
Location: 8 Yoshidaizumidonocho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8301
Website: https://essential-japan.com/news/le-marche-kyoto/
Photo Credit: Tanukidani
Hiwatari Matsuri (Firewalking Festival)
The Hiwatari Matsuri, or Firewalking Festival, is held annually on July 28th at Tanukidani Fudo-in, a temple in northern Kyoto, hidden among the mountain forest. Rooted in traditional Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist beliefs, the festival invites participants to walk barefoot on smoldering embers as a form of purification and mental discipline.
The ritual begins with the burning of goma, or wooden prayer sticks, which are offered into the fire as monks chant. Once the fire dies down, the ashes are raked flat and then walked across. Visitors are welcome to try the firewalking themselves, guided by temple staff. After the ceremony, many pick up a special charm to protect their homes from fire. Whether you walk the coals or just watch, it’s a rare glimpse into this fiery tradition.
Date: 7/28 19:00
Location: 6 Ichijoji Matsubaracho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8156
Website: https://www.tanukidani.com/en/
Photo Credit: Kaburenjo Theater
Kamishichiken Beer Garden
The Kamishichiken Beer Garden is a rare chance to share a cold drink in the company of real geisha in the traditional garden of the famous Kaburenjo Theater. Held in the courtyard of the theater from July 1st to September 6th from 17:30 to 22:00, this seasonal event blends tradition with casual charm. Guests are seated outdoors, where maiko take drink orders, serve food, perform short dances, and chat with guests.
Date: 7/1 – 9/6 17:30 – 22:00
Location: 〒602-8381 Kyoto, Kamigyo Ward, Shinseicho, 742 今出川通七本松西入真盛町742
Website: https://maiko3.com/beer-garden/
Photo Credit: Kyo no Tanabata
Tanabata Festival
Tanabata, or the Star Festival, celebrates the annual meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi, a weaver and a cowherd. As the tale goes, they both fell so deeply in love that they began to neglect their celestial duties. As punishment, Tentei, Orihime’s father, separated them by the Milky Way and allowed them to meet only once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month, but only if the skies were clear.
In Kyoto, Tanabata is celebrated throughout the month, with many events happening around the city. Some locations, like Kifune Shrine and Kodai-ji Temple, feature evening illumination and seasonal decorations that create a uniquely festive atmosphere.
Date: July 7th and throughout July
Location: Throughout Kyoto
Website: https://kyonotanabata.kyoto.travel/
July is a perfect time to visit Kyoto, as the city is alive with energy, tradition, and unforgettable experiences. From casual drinking and chatting with Geishas at Kamishichiken Beer Garden to the intense rush of watching temple followers walk over a bed of coals at Hiwatari Matsuri, each event offers a glimpse of the deep culture and traditions that shape life in Kyoto. July has something for every type of traveler, and with so much happening across the city, it is the perfect time to visit.
Featured Photo Credit: Pixabay
