August in Kansai offers not one summer, but many!

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You could start high in the mountains, where hundreds of glass wind chimes sway in a quiet temple courtyard. Or follow the thrum of drums to the city, where dancers in lantern-lit streets bring Obon celebrations to life.

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When the sun peaks, slip indoors. Stir up your very own umeshu in a modern Kyoto studio, and cool down with other seasonal drinks on site. And when night falls, maybe you're shoulder-to-shoulder in a techno basement–or gazing out over a firework-lit bay from the deck of a boat.
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This is August. Where will you begin?

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Tradition

August in Kansai is deeply marked by “お盆” (Obon), a spiritual homecoming rooted in centuries of Buddhist tradition. Observed from August 13-16, Obon is a time when it’s believed that ancestral spirits return to the realm of the living. Families across Japan welcome them with food offerings, lanterns, and incense–then send them off again through fire rituals and ceremonial dances.

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More than a private act of remembrance, Obon is also a communal experience. Streets fill with yukata-clad dancers, temple grounds glow with lanterns, and sacred fires blaze across mountain ridges and cityscapes. In both Kyoto and Osaka, the season blends reverence and revelry, tradition and transformation–inviting everyone, local or visitor, to participate in something timeless.

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Gozan no Okuribi (Daimonji) (Kyoto)

Aug 16 | Free Entry 

Among the many expressions of Obon, fire stands out as a powerful and symbolic thread. It represents purification, protection, and guidance. Flames are believed to illuminate the path for ancestral spirits, ensuring they find their way between this world and the next. 

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Kyoto’s iconic Obon ritual features five massive bonfires on surrounding mountains, the most famous being the “大” (dai) character on Daimonji-yama. These blazing symbols guide ancestral spirits back to the afterlife and create a breathtaking skyline illuminated by fire.

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Bon Odori 

Traditional folk dance is another vibrant Obon ritual, where communities honor ancestors through traditional movements like Bon Odori and the energetic Awa Odori.

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Shitennoji Bon Odori Festival (Kyoto)

Aug 11 & 12 | Free Entry | Shitennoji Temple

Held at one of Japan’s oldest temples, Shitennoji, this festival invites dancers and visitors to perform traditional circle dances accompanied by taiko drums, honoring ancestral spirits with joyful movement.

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Tenjin Tenma Awa Odori (Osaka)

Aug 30 & 31 | Free Entry | Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street

Osaka’s version of the famous Awa Odori dance festival, featuring vibrant groups of dancers and musicians weaving through the streets near Tenjinbashi-suji, celebrating Obon with rhythm and energy.

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Other Festivals

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Wind Chime Festivals (Kyoto & Osaka) 

Shoujuin Temple: Jun 1 - Sep 30 | ¥1,000 General Admission | Ujitawara, Kyoto

Minase Shrine: Jul 1 - Sep 9 | Free Entry | Shimamoto, Osaka
In Japan, wind chimes (furin) are a cherished summer tradition, their gentle tinkling believed to bring a cooling sense of calm. Many homes and shops hang them, while shrines and temples often display hundreds together to create a soothing soundscape. Notable festivals at places like Shoujuin Temple near Kyoto and Minase Shrine in Osaka showcase these delicate glass chimes, offering visitors a peaceful retreat from the summer heat and seasonal hustle.

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Gojozaka Pottery Festival (Kyoto)

Aug 7-10 | Free Entry | Gojozaka

Every summer, the sloping streets of Gojozaka–just below Kiyomizu-dera–transform into a bustling open-air market celebrating Kyoto’s centuries-old ceramic traditions. Dozens of local artisans line the roads with stalls offering everything from everyday tableware to ornate tea ceremony pieces. A must-visit for anyone interested in Japanese craftsmanship or design.

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Nature

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Ine Fishing Village (Kyoto) 

Fireworks Festival: Aug 30 | 5:00 PM | Free Entry

Known as the “Venice of Japan,” Ine is a charming traditional fishing village nestled along Kyoto’s scenic coastline. Stroll the quaint streets, take a boat tour or rent a kayak to explore the calm bay waters, and soak in the village’s timeless atmosphere. On August 30th, the night sky above Ine bursts into color with a spectacular fireworks display over the water, offering a magical end to summer days.

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Summer Festa Minoh Osaka Park 2025

‍Jul 5 - Aug 31 | Free Entry

At Minoh Park, soft illumination installations light up the Otaki waterfall, nearby trails, and surrounding temples and shrines. As dusk falls, the park transforms into a serene, glowing landscape–perfect for a peaceful evening walk away from the city’s bustle.

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Crafts
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CHOYA UME STUDIO (Kyoto)

Open daily | 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM | ¥5,900
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Step into the sleek, modern space of CHOYA UME’s Kyoto studios and try your hand at making your own ume syrup or ume liqueur, using the same fragrant plums that have been a part of Japanese culture for centuries. The experience is interactive and beginner-friendly, and you can even enjoy other refreshing seasonal drinks on-site–ideal for a tasteful break from the heat.

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Satake Glass (Osaka)

Workshop days vary | From ¥2,500
Osaka has a long and significant history in Japan’s glassmaking industry, and Satake Glass keeps that tradition alive with hands-on workshops in tonbodama–intricately crafted glass beads. In these quiet, focused sessions, you’ll melt and shape colorful rods into wearable art using time-honored techniques. It’s a meditative experience and a chance to leave with a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

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Art & Museums–to beat the heat or for rainy days 

Manga and War 2 (Kyoto)

Jul 12 - Nov 25 | ¥1200 General Admission | Kyoto International Manga Museum

Marking 80 years since the end of WWII, this exhibition builds on the 2015 “Manga and War” exhibit with a new selection of works that examine how manga has shaped and reflected public memory of war. Focusing especially on the Battle of Okinawa and postwar occupation, it explores how artists have used manga to process trauma, question official narratives, and revisit unresolved histories. Held in both Kyoto and Okinawa, the exhibition highlights the evolving role of manga in understanding Japan’s wartime past–and its ongoing resonance today.

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Secrets of the Kimono (Kyoto)

Jul 19 - Sep 15 | ¥2,000 General Admission (¥1,800 for advance purchase) | MOMAK

This beautifully curated exhibition dives deep into the artistry of the kimono, from intricate dyeing techniques to the symbolic meaning of patterns. With a display of striking garments, “Secrets of the Kimono” invites visitors to look closer at what lies beneath the surface of Japan’s most iconic clothing.

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Yodoko Guest House 

Open on Wed, Sat, Sun | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | ¥500 General Admission | Ashiya City

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, this lesser-known architectural gem seamlessly blends his signature organic style with Japanese materials and aesthetics. Tucked into the hills of Ashiya, the guest house is a quiet testament to cross-cultural design–and a rewarding detour for architecture enthusiasts.

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Rokko Garden Terrace Observatory

‍Open daily | 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM | ¥1000 General Admission | Kobe City

With panoramic views stretching from Awaji Island to Osaka Bay, Rokko Garden Terrace offers a scenic mountaintop escape. Beneath its central monument lies a small museum showcasing local art and cultural exhibits–currently featuring a playful, speculative show in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Showa era, imagining what life might look like if it had never ended.

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Music

Summer Sonic Osaka 

Aug 16-17 | Ticket Prices Vary by Package | Expo’70 Commemorative Park

One of Japan’s biggest music festivals returns to Osaka with a packed lineup of international and Japanese rock, pop, and electronic artists. Held simultaneously with its Tokyo counterpart, Summer Sonic spans multiple stages, food trucks, and open-air energy. A must for festival lovers.

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Intention Osaka 

Aug 9 | 10:00 PM | ¥3,500 | JOULE 

A pulsing late-night session at one of Osaka’s top clubs. The lineup includes Drunken Kong, a renowned Japan–India techno duo, and SUDO, a Berlin-based Japanese producer. Expect immersive visuals, a tuned-in crowd, and music that doesn't let up.

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Japaradiso! (Kyoto)

Aug 14 | ¥1,600 (incl. 1 drink) | Club Metro Kyoto

Billed as a “Wamono Groove Night,” this vinyl-focused party dives deep into vintage Japanese disco, funk, and city pop. Hosted in a tucked-away Kyoto club under a former rail line, Japaradiso! is a joyful, neon-soaked homage to Japan’s grooviest era.

From sacred fire rituals and lantern-lit villages to techno-fueled nights and chime-filled temples, August in Kansai is a study in contrast–ritual and reinvention, stillness and movement. Whether you’re tracing the arc of Obon or slipping into a local vinyl party, the season invites you to move between scenes, sounds, and centuries.

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KABIN puts you close to it all. With design-forward hotels in Kyoto and Osaka, we offer more than just a place to sleep. Our stays are tuned to the rhythm of the city–curated spaces, local recommendations, and a calm base to return to when the night winds down.

Book with KABIN and stay connected to the best of Kyoto and Osaka this summer.

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