Kyoto's Awata Festival Opens October 10, Carrying Nearly 1,000 Years of History

Article

Kyoto's Gion Festival is world-famous. Its quieter predecessor is about to take over a nearby neighborhood.

Dates and Schedule

Awata Matsuri runs October 10-15, 2026, at Awata Shrine in Kyoto's Higashiyama district. The opening ceremony (Oidematsuri) is October 10, the night ritual (Yowatari Shinji) is October 11, the main Shinkosai procession and return procession are October 12, and the closing Reitaisai ceremony is October 15.

Kenboko: Before the Gion Festival Floats

The shrine holds 18 ceremonial swords called kenboko, several of which process on October 12. These swords are widely described as the original form of the yamahoko floats that later became central to the Gion Festival — making Awata Matsuri a rare chance to see an older layer of the same tradition.

Lanterns After Dark

On the night of October 11, a procession of lanterns moves through the area alongside the Awata Daitoro, a large lantern float that was revived in recent years and is displayed at the shrine on the festival's first day.

Ask Marine

Curious how kenboko connect to the Gion Festival, or what to expect at the night procession? Ask Marine.

What To Know

For visitors drawn to Kyoto's famous Gion Festival, Awata Matsuri offers a quieter, less crowded look at the older tradition that's said to have inspired it.

Higashiyama is one of Kyoto's most visited historic districts, and Awata Shrine sits near the old Tokaido road entrance to the city — the festival's kenboko swords were historically carried by travelers for protection before becoming ceremonial objects.

Easy Japanese

10月10日から15日まで、京都の粟田神社で「粟田祭」が開かれます。剣鉾や大きな灯籠が町を練り歩きます。