November is one of the most magical times to visit Kyoto. The summer crowds have thinned, the air turns crisp and cool, and the city bursts into gorgeous shades of red, orange, and gold. Temple gardens, riverside paths, and mountain trails all become breathtaking backdrops for strolls, photos, and quiet moments of reflection. But autumn in Kyoto is about more than just maple leaves. It’s also a season of harvest celebrations, local food, traditional crafts, and deep-rooted spiritual customs. You can wander through tea-growing landscapes, sample seasonal specialties, watch outdoor performances, and even witness ancient rituals meant to cleanse the spirit and invite good fortune. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a longtime Japan lover, November offers a rich mix of beauty, culture, and community that’s hard to beat.
Yokai Festival at Toei Kyoto Studio Park – Photo Credit: Eigamura
Yokai Festival
The Yokai Festival at Toei Kyoto Studio Park (Eigamura) is a fun, spooky autumn event running from September 12th to November 29th with the theme “Jump!! Dance!! And be scared!!” Now in its third year, its highlight is the “Night Parade of One Hundred Demons,” based on the old belief that yokai once roamed Kyoto’s streets at night. This year, colorful yokai like Nurarihyon, Amabie, and Yagyo Doji dance and parade through the village, and visitors can actually join in by applying in advance for the “KAIKAI YOKAI PARADE” (weekends/holidays at 17:30), where you can interact, take photos, and even march with the yokai. There’s also an evening stage show at 19:30 blending music, dance, and swordplay, plus daytime dance shows, yokai meet-and-greets, a Yokai Summit on November 23rd, and tons of yokai-themed food and limited merch. Special bus and train tours led by a “yokai guide” are also available, including an English-language bus tour on October 24th.
Date: September 12th – November 29th
Time: Weekdays 16:30/17:30/18:30/19:30, Weekends 11:45/13:00/14:00
Admission: ¥1,300 – ¥3,800 (check the prices here)
Address: 10 Uzumasa Higashihachiokacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8586,
Website: https://eigamura.com/show/yokai_2026/
Sweet potato and Japanese chestnut Afternoon Tea at Hotel Choraku – Photo Credit: Chourakukan
Autumn Afternoon Tea at Hotel Choraku
During the whole month, Hotel Choraku offers a special seasonal afternoon tea featuring sweet potato and Japanese chestnut, two classic autumn flavors. The tea is served in the “Geihinkan” (Reception Hall) on the first floor of the main building, which was originally built in 1909 as a Kyoto guesthouse. The building is a masterpiece of modern Kyoto architecture, blending design styles from around the world, and was designated a National Important Cultural Property in December 2024. This historic space was originally recorded as a British-style “Drawing Room.” making it a perfect setting for the English tradition of afternoon tea.
The menu includes a chestnut Mont Blanc with coffee mousse made with the hotel’s original blend, sweet potato cheesecake using baked sweet potato paste, and a unique sweet potato and chestnut anmitsu with hojicha jelly. For savory options, you can enjoy a croquette made with Kyoto beef, chestnuts, and Ohara-grown Koshihikari rice, along with roasted sweet potato soup that is slowly baked for about three hours. The tea also comes with an aperitif of your choice, scones with clotted cream and jam, and other seasonal treats. It’s a refined and delicious way to enjoy the tastes of autumn in a truly historic and elegant setting.
Date: October 13th – November 20th
Time: 12:00 – 18:00 (reservations required, 2-hour seating)
Admission: ¥6,500
Address: 〒605-0071 Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward, Maruyamacho, 604
Website: https://chourakukan.co.jp/en/cafe/
Gion Odori – Photo Credit: Gion Higashi
Gion Odori
The Gion Odori is a beautiful traditional dance performance held every autumn in Kyoto’s famous Gion district. In 2026, it runs for ten days at the Gion Kaikan, with two shows a day, the first at 13:30 (doors open at 12:30) and the second at 16:00 (doors open at 15:00). Each performance lasts about one hour. It’s organized by the Gion Higashi Kabukai, the geisha community of the Gion Higashi district, and features elegant dances performed by maiko and geiko.
Getting there is easy. By train, it’s about a 6-minute walk from Keihan’s Gion-Shijo Station (Exit 7), or about an 11-minute walk from Hankyu’s Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station. From JR Kyoto Station, you can take the subway to Shijo, transfer to Hankyu to Kawaramachi, then walk. Alternatively, the Higashiyama subway station is about a 7-minute walk, and city buses 206 or 86 stop right at “Gion.” There’s no parking at the theater, so public transportation is the way to go. Bonus: showing a bus or subway one-day pass gets you a discount.
Date: November 1st – 10th
Time: 13:30 and 16:00
Admission: ¥ 7,000
Address: 323 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0073
Website: https://www.gion-kanoya.shop/
Arashiyama Momiji Festival performed on boats – Photo Credit: The Arashiyama
Arashiyama Momiji Festival
The Arashiyama Momiji Festival is one of those lovely autumn events that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. It happens on the Oigawa River just above Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama. The whole thing is about celebrating the gorgeous autumn leaves that Heian-era nobles once adored, and saying thanks to Zao Gongen, the area’s guardian deity. What makes it special is the beautifully decorated boats, like the Imayo boat and Heian Kangen boat, drifting down the river while traditional performing arts unfold on board, plus a tea ceremony and Kyogen performances on the riverbank. Watching from the shore is completely free, though you’ll need a ticket if you want paid seating. The festival has been running since 1947 and takes place every year on the second Sunday of November. Just a heads-up: the area gets really packed during foliage season, so taking public transportation is the way to go.
Date: November 7th – 8th
Time: 11:30 – 17:00
Admission: Free
Address: 1-5 Sagatenryuji Susukinobabacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8384
Website: https://www.arashiyamahoshokai.com/index.html
2023 Wazuka Festival – Photo Credit: Ocha no Kyoto
Wazuka Festival
Everyone knows one of Japan’s most famous products is green tea, but have you ever heard of Wazuka Town? The 2026 Tea Country Wazuka Festival is a lively community celebration in Wazuka, Kyoto, a town famous for its beautiful tea-growing landscapes and Wazuka tea.
Visitors can enjoy a relaxed day exploring food stalls and local specialty products, trying tea-related activities, and taking part in a variety of hands-on experiences. The festival also features sports activities, woodworking experiences, an outdoor stage, special events, and other attractions, making it a fun outing for families, friends, and anyone interested in discovering the local culture and flavors of Wazuka. The event takes place at Wazuka Sports Park and surrounding facilities, with the festivities continuing throughout the day and a finale beginning at 17:30.
Date: November 8th
Time: 10:30 -18:00
Admission: Free
Address: Shishigaguchi-25-5 Shirasu, Wazuka, Soraku District, Kyoto 619-1222
Website:https://www.town.wazuka.lg.jp/kakukanogoannai/chiikichikarasuishinka/eventjoho/4414.html
Hitaki Festival – Photo Credit: Inari Official Website
Hitaki Festival
The Hitaki-sai is held at Fushimi Inari Taisha every November 8th to thank Inari Okami for the autumn harvest and send the grain spirits back to the mountains. The festival begins at 13:00 with a ceremony at the main shrine, followed at 14:00 by the burning of over 100,000 wooden prayer sticks from worshippers nationwide in three large fire beds, while priests and attendees chant prayers to purify sins and invite good fortune. At 18:00, a sacred Mikagura dance is performed. Dating back to at least 1543, the festival was discontinued and later revived in 1863, and it pairs with the spring Hatsu-uma festival to complete the agricultural cycle. Also known as the Fui-go Matsuri, it holds special importance for blacksmiths, and admission is free.
Date: November 8th
Time: 13:00
Admission: Free
Address: 68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0882
Website: https://inari.jp/en/rite/
Different types of plum wine at Umeshu Festa – Photo Credit: Zenkoku Umeshu Matsuri
Umeshu Festa
The Umeshu Festa is a dream come true for plum wine lovers. It takes place over four days at the famous Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, known as the god of learning. The day before it starts, on November 20th, the National Umeshu Competition 2026 awards ceremony is held, and at the festival you can taste and compare over 100 kinds of plum wine, including this year’s winners and past award winners. You can also buy your favorites right there to take home. What makes it extra special? There’s a paid tasting and limited sale of the rare “Dassai Umeshu” (only 500 cups a day for tasting, and only 10 bottles a day sold by lottery). You’ll also find fun drinks like the famous “Umeshu Beer” and a grown-up dessert of vanilla ice cream with umeshu. Plus, there’s a collaboration between gold-award-winning umeshu and traditional Kyoto food culture, featuring sweets from the old shop Oimatsu and pickles from Kyotsukemono Mori.
If you buy a festival ticket, you get 300 yen off admission to Kitano Tenmangu’s Momiji-en garden, so you can sip plum wine while enjoying beautiful autumn leaves. There’s also a special limited event called “Selected Umeshu Festival” on November 21st through the 22nd only, held in the shrine’s Fugetsu-den, with just 30 people per session (8 sessions total, 1 hour each). It includes a tasting of 9 gold-award umeshu with snacks and a talk by a umeshu expert. Tickets are 7,000 yen in advance.
Date: November 21st – 24th
Time: 11:00 – 18:00 / 11:00 – 17th on the 24th
Admission: ¥1,900 – ¥7,000 (TBC)
Address: Bakurocho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-8386
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/japan-umeshu-matsuri/home?pli=1&authuser=0
November is a great time to visit Kyoto. It’s a treat for your senses. You can see bright autumn leaves, drink hot tea grown nearby, enjoy fun festivals, and watch quiet shrine ceremonies. The season asks you to slow down and enjoy it all. You don’t need a busy plan. Sometimes the best moments come from just walking around, trying food, and taking part in local traditions. So wear warm clothes, bring your camera, and make time for both famous places and quiet, lesser-known spots. Kyoto in November will give you memories that stay with you long after the last leaf falls.
Featured Photo Credit: Sergii Rudiuk
