Kyoto Gion Matsuri 2025: A Timeless Summer Celebration

Venue: Gion District, Kyoto

When: July 1st – July 31st, 2025

Kyoto's iconic Gion Matsuri, one of Japan's oldest and most celebrated festivals, returns in 2025 with its month-long program of traditional processions, performances, and rituals. The festival’s highlight, the Yamaboko Junko parades, will take place on July 17th and July 24th, featuring elaborately decorated floats that tower over the streets of Kyoto. Visitors can also enjoy exclusive access to traditional Kyoto townhouses during the Yoiyama evenings leading up to the parades, where lantern-lit streets and street-side stalls set the perfect summer festival mood.

Whether you’re there for the floats, the food, or the cultural performances, Gion Matsuri offers an unforgettable glimpse into Kyoto's rich history.