Kyo no Tanabata (Kyoto Tanabata Festival)

About This Event

Light installations along Horikawa and the Nijo Castle illumination

Kyo no Tanabata is one of Kyoto's defining summer events, held in August to match the old-calendar Tanabata. It illuminates locations across the city—including the Horikawa and Kamogawa venues, Nijo Castle, and Kitano Tenmangu—with light and bamboo. Along the Horikawa promenade, a glowing blue 'River of Light,' wind-chime lanterns, and installations by Kyoto-connected artists draw strolling crowds. Nijo Castle hosts dreamlike light-ups and projections, and visitors can tie wish cards to bamboo and browse traditional crafts and gourmet booths. In 2026 there is no single unified festival period; it runs in partnership with Tanabata-related events around the city, and each venue's schedule is announced on the official website — check before visiting.