Kyoto Night Market, with over 240,000 cumulative visitors, to be held for two consecutive days on Saturday and Sunday to coincide with Gion Festival in summer Kyoto. Theme: "Tanabata Afterglow ~Enjoying a Cool Kyoto Night~"

Kyoto Night Market LLC will hold the "15th Kyoto Night Market" for two days, Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, 2026, at Higashi Honganji Temple Front, O-Higashi-san Plaza.

Since its first event in June 2025, Kyoto Night Market has proposed "new ways to spend evenings in Kyoto" where local residents and tourists can enjoy together, by combining food, culture, craftsmanship, experiences, and stage performances.

In July, when Kyoto is vibrant with the Gion Festival, Kyoto Night Market will be powered up to be held for two consecutive days on Saturday and Sunday.

The theme for the 15th event, the first of these expanded events, is "Enjoying a Cool Kyoto Night."

Set against the backdrop of Kyoto in summer, with the lingering glow of Tanabata, the venue will feature bamboo decorations, and a participatory event called "Wishing on a Star" where visitors can hang their wishes on strips of paper.

In addition, there will be many refreshing summer Kyoto-themed events, such as the offering of craft beers from Yosano Town, Kyoto, and Ryuo Town, Shiga, "Kyoto's Sweet Coolness" where visitors can enjoy visually refreshing nerikiri (a type of Japanese confectionery) and cold sweet drinks, a yukata fashion show supervised by Kansai Collection, and the giveaway of glow bracelets to yukata-clad visitors.

Cool to see, cool to taste, and cool to feel while walking in a yukata. We will create two special days where you can enjoy Kyoto's summer nights with all five senses.

15th Kyoto Night Market "Wishing on a Star" to be held on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12 at Higashi Honganji Temple Front, O-Higashi-san Plaza

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Event Overview

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Name: 15th Kyoto Night Market

Theme: Wishing on a Star

Date: Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, 2026

Time: Saturday, July 11: 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Sunday, July 12: 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM

*Saturday hours extended until 11 PM, Sunday starts earlier from noon.

Venue: Higashi Honganji Temple Front, O-Higashi-san Plaza

Address: Karasuma Shichijo Agaru, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City

Admission: Free

Organizer: Kyoto Night Market LLC

Sponsorship: Kyoto City

Support: Local Flag Inc. (ASOBI BEER)

Yoshihama Brewery Co., Ltd. (R_BREWERY)

Lacto Foods Co., Ltd. (Itwokashi)

Kyonoame Ishizaki Goshonosekihonpo

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Highlighted Events for the 15th Edition

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[1] First-ever two-day weekend event in Kyoto during the Gion Festival season

The 15th Kyoto Night Market will be held for the first time on two consecutive weekend days in July, when Kyoto is vibrant with the Gion Festival. On the first day, Saturday, July 11, it will run from 3 PM to 11 PM, allowing ample time to enjoy the evening. On the second day, Sunday, July 12, it will be open from noon to 9 PM, allowing visitors to enjoy Kyoto as it transitions from day to night.

This night market will offer food, sweets, crafts, experiences, and stage events, providing a casual way for both locals and tourists visiting Kyoto to enjoy the summer evenings.

[2] Theme: "Wishing on a Star." Tanabata wish-stripping event to be held

The venue will feature Tanabata bamboo decorations, and visitors will be invited to write their wishes on strips of paper and hang them. This participatory event aims to illuminate the night market venue with the wishes of everyone, from children to adults, locals to tourists.

Make a wish at the summer night market. A participatory event where you can hang wish strips on bamboo decorations set up at the venue.

[3] Free craft beer for the first 250 visitors on Saturday, July 11

Starting at 5 PM on Saturday, July 11, craft beer will be offered free to the first 250 visitors. This year's sponsors are Local Flag Inc. (ASOBI BEER) from Yosano Town, Kyoto, and Yoshihama Brewery Co., Ltd. (R_BREWERY) from Ryuo Town, Shiga. Enjoy craft beers from these two regional breweries in Kyoto and Shiga at the Kyoto summer night market.

*Not available to individuals under 20 years of age or those operating vehicles or bicycles. *Limited quantity, available while supplies last.

[4] "Kyoto's Sweet Coolness" on Sunday, July 12: Free nerikiri and cold sweet drinks for the first 300 visitors each

Starting at 3 PM on Sunday, July 12, under the theme "Kyoto's Sweet Coolness," traditional Japanese sweets perfect for summer in Kyoto will be offered. Thanks to the sponsorship of Lacto Foods Co., Ltd. (Itwokashi), visually refreshing nerikiri will be provided to the first 300 visitors. Please also pay attention to Itwokashi's "new texture daifuku so soft it can be drunk." Additionally, Kyonoame Ishizaki Goshonosekihonpo will offer cold sweet drinks, also for the first 300 visitors.

Enjoy a sweet respite on a Kyoto summer night, with nerikiri to cool your eyes and cold sweet drinks to cool your throat. *Limited quantity, available while supplies last.

Visually refreshing nerikiri and throat-cooling cold sweet drinks. Free for the first 300 visitors each starting at 3 PM on Sunday, July 12.

[5] Yukata fashion show supervised by Kansai Collection to be held on the main stage

The main stage will feature a yukata fashion show supervised by Kansai Collection. Yukata-clad models will grace the venue, fitting for the Gion Festival season, creating a glamorous Kyoto summer stage. This event allows visitors to enjoy the liveliness of a night market and the beauty of yukata culture simultaneously.

Walk through Kyoto in summer wearing a yukata. Yukata fashion show supervised by Kansai Collection to be held.

[6] Glow bracelets for visitors wearing yukata

On both Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, the first 150 visitors wearing yukata from 5 PM will receive a glow bracelet. Visitors themselves will become part of the night market's illumination, creating a magical and summery atmosphere throughout the venue.

*Limited to the first 150 visitors each day. *Limited quantity, available while supplies last.

[7] "Koshien Curry" and "Dippin' Dots" food trucks for a special appearance on Sunday, July 12

On Sunday, July 12, food trucks serving "Koshien Curry," a specialty of Hanshin Koshien Stadium, and the popular ice cream "Dippin' Dots" will make a special appearance. These iconic Kansai delicacies and a cool treat enjoyable for all ages will be available at the Kyoto summer night market.

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Event Highlights

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[1] A new way to enjoy Kyoto nights during the Gion Festival season

July in Kyoto is a season when the entire city is vibrant with the Gion Festival. Kyoto Night Market creates a nighttime circulation space combining food, culture, experiences, and stage performances, serving as an easily accessible spot after sightseeing or in the evening.

[2] Participatory events enjoying Tanabata and yukata

We have prepared participatory events such as the Tanabata event where you write wishes on strips of paper and hang them on bamboo, and the giveaway of glow bracelets to visitors wearing yukata. The charm of Kyoto Night Market is that you can become part of the venue, not just an observer.

[3] Free offerings to enjoy local flavors

We will hold free offering events in collaboration with local businesses, including craft beers from Yosano Town, Kyoto, and Ryuo Town, Shiga, visually refreshing nerikiri, and cold sweet drinks typical of Kyoto summers. Kyoto Night Market aims to be a place where visitors can encounter local food, culture, and craftsmanship, not just an event.

[4] Convenient location at O-Higashi-san Plaza, within walking distance of Kyoto Station

The venue is Higashi Honganji Temple Front, O-Higashi-san Plaza. Its excellent accessibility, within walking distance of Kyoto Station, makes it a convenient location for locals and tourists visiting Kyoto from Japan and abroad.

Kyoto Night Market at Higashi Honganji Temple Front, O-Higashi-san Plaza Kyoto's largest night market with over 240,000 cumulative visitors View of Kyoto Night Market from Kyoto Tower

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About Kyoto Night Market

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Kyoto Night Market is Kyoto's largest night market, held continuously at Higashi Honganji Temple Front, O-Higashi-san Plaza. With the aim of dispersing tourists geographically and temporally, it proposes "new ways to spend evenings in Kyoto" where local residents and tourists can enjoy together by combining food, culture, craftsmanship, experiences, and performances.

Additionally, the venue continuously features booths selling products made by supported employment service providers (Type B workshops) in Kyoto Prefecture, supporting their social participation and efforts to increase their wages.

[Achievements]

- Cumulative Visitors: 243,000 (as of the end of June 2026)

- Monthly Social Media Views: Up to 810,000

- Social Media Followers: Approx. 5,700

(Instagram Approx. 4,800 / Threads Approx. 900)

- Supported by Kyoto City

- Expansion to two consecutive weekend days from July 2026

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Media Inquiries

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For those interested in covering the venue, interviewing the organizers, or reporting on the free offerings, yukata show, Tanabata wish-stripping event, or visitor experiences, please contact us at the following:

Kyoto Night Market LLC

Contact: Imura

MAIL: [email protected]

Instagram: @kyotonightmarket

Official HP: https://kyotonightmarket.com

List of press releases from Kyoto Night Market LLC

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/searchrlp/company_id/1635835853583