12 events across Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe, 14–20 September 2026.
Week of , Monday to Sunday. Every listing links straight to the organiser.
The pick of the week is the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival in Osaka on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, when teams haul heavy wooden floats through the streets at speed. If you have only one day to spare, this is where to spend it.
The rest of the week leans into food and pop culture. Kobe hosts a Hokkaidō-themed fair from Friday, and Osaka runs a multi-day Food Stall Festival across the same weekend. Kyoto's contribution is the International Manga Anime Fair on Saturday and Sunday, which is worth the trip if that is your thing.
Sunday 20 September closes out with the Suitō Kurawanka Fireworks Festival in Osaka. Pair it with a daytime stop at the Kobe Farmers Market on Saturday for a quieter counterweight to the crowds.
Kyoto 2
- Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2026 runs several days
Proof that Kyoto isn't just about old buildings and tradition.
- Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2026 runs several days
Proof that Kyoto isn't just about old buildings and tradition.
Osaka 6
- Food Stall Festival runs several days
Find out why Osaka is nicknamed Japan's kitchen at this food stall festival featuring restaurants from across the city.
- Food Stall Festival runs several days
Find out why Osaka is nicknamed Japan's kitchen at this food stall festival featuring restaurants from across the city. - Kishiwada Danjiri Festival runs several days
Get ready for one of Osaka's rowdiest festivals.
- Food Stall Festival runs several days
Find out why Osaka is nicknamed Japan's kitchen at this food stall festival featuring restaurants from across the city. - Kishiwada Danjiri Festival runs several days
Get ready for one of Osaka's rowdiest festivals. - Suitō Kurawanka Fireworks Festival
Late-September fireworks on the Yodo River — one shell for every baby born.
Kobe 4
- Hokkaidō Fest in Kobe runs several days
Iconic Hokkaidō specialties plus cultural showcases exploring the region's indigenous history.
- Hokkaidō Fest in Kobe runs several days
Iconic Hokkaidō specialties plus cultural showcases exploring the region's indigenous history. - Kobe Farmers Market
Entry is free, and the lineup changes weekly.
- Hokkaidō Fest in Kobe runs several days
Iconic Hokkaidō specialties plus cultural showcases exploring the region's indigenous history.
Nara 0 — nothing listed this week
Come walking with us
We are a small Kyoto outfit running walking tours in the same streets these events are in. Small groups, real stories, no flags and no megaphones.
- Fushimi Inari + Arashiyama
Ten thousand torii, then the west of the city in one day. - Osaka Ghost Tour
The city’s darker half, told where it happened.
Listings come from each organiser and can change — check the link before you travel.