Kyoto’s summer 2026 cultural events: Gion Festival float parade and East Mountain historic walk

Kyoto will host two major cultural events in summer 2026. On 24 July, the Gion Festival’s after‑festival (後祭) will feature a mountain‑float parade with eleven floats moving along Oike‑dōri, beginning at 09:00. The procession is part of the annual Gion Matsuri celebrations that draw large local crowds.

Later in August, a guided historic walking tour of the East Mountain area (Rokuhara‑to‑Gion) is scheduled for 14 and 26 August. The 2.32 km route passes sites such as Rokuhara‑Mitsu‑ji, West‑Six‑Road‑Temple and Anju‑Kinbira‑gū, highlighting Heian‑period heritage. Each day the tour admits up to ten participants (plus a child for free), with a fee of ¥3,500 (¥1,750 for children). The tours aim to give visitors a deeper experience of Kyoto’s historic streets beyond typical sightseeing.