June

The heat is here to stay in June, and Kyoto finds itself leaf-green as everyone prepares for the summer ahead.

Nestled in a mountain embrace, Kyoto starts to feel the heat come June, which delights the plant life and encloses the city in a leaf-covered haze. Purification rituals are conducted throughout the city in various shrines and temples to mark the completion of the first half of the year and to pray for the next, and residents turn their focus to the cooler outlying areas to relax and enjoy the remainders of spring.

A priest cleanses the path during Kifune Matsuri at Kifune Shrine.
June 1st, 2024

Kifune Matsuri

Kifune Shrine's annual Kifune Festival, held at the changing of the seasons, is a lively one with multiple happenings throughout the day from morning until evening.

See more
An actor on stage at Takigi Nō at Heian Shrine.
June 1st - 2nd, 2024

Kyoto Takigi Nō

The oldest style of Japanese theater still practiced today, tracing its origins back over six hundred years, nō (or "noh") is a highly stylized, ritualistic combination of narrative music and dance with actors donning rich costumes and masks to portray their roles.

See more
The planters hard at work at Taue-sai at Fushimi Inari Taisha.
June 10th, 2024

Taue-sai

Held at the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine on June 10th, the Taue-sai is a traditional festival closely tied to rice cultivation.

See more
A drummer performs at Ajisai Matsuri at Fujinomori Shrine.
June 15th, 2024

Ajisai Matsuri

Fujinomori Shrine in southern Kyoto hosts an Ajisai Matsuri (Hydrangea Festival) and holds a month-long special opening of its two hydrangea gardens from the beginning of June.

See more
The head priest makes his way during Aoba Matsuri at Chishaku-in.
June 15th, 2024

Aoba Matsuri

Aoba Matsuri at Chishaku-in temple is a prime chance to experience a fire ritual popular in shugendō, an eclectic form of mountain asceticism.

See more
Teams compete during the Takekiri-eshiki at Kurama-dera.
June 20th, 2024

Takekiri-eshiki

On June 20th Kurama-dera holds their annual bamboo cutting ritual, the Takekiri-eshiki, held as homage to a legend about a monk of the temple and his battle with supernatural serpents, as well as a form of divination regarding the crop futures in surrounding areas.

See more
The ring of purification during the Nagoshi no Harae at Heian shrine.
June 25th - 30th, 2024

Nagoshi no Harae

Nagoshi no Harae, the Purification Ritual of Summer's Passing, allows people to cleanse themselves of misdeeds committed in the first half of the year and to pray for the latter half yet to come.

See more
Hydrangea Flower Season Mimumroto-ji Heart
June 1st - 30th, 2024

Hydrangea

With the rainy season comes the water-loving hydrangea, brightening up Kyoto with a startling variety of colors that will pick you up no matter how dreary the weather may be.

See more