A riverside festival of boat outings and traditional performing arts, set amid Arashiyama’s autumn foliage
Arashiyama Momiji Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- The second Sunday of November every year / 1 time per year
- Location
- Arashiyama, upper reaches of Togetsukyo Bridge
- Area
- Kyoto Prefecture・Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 10 min–2 h 40 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Saitō goma: 1,500 yen (including goma wood)
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
This event features performances aboard boats reminiscent of Heian aristocrats’ outings, along with arts along the riverbank, on the Ōi River in Arashiyama, framed by autumn leaves. It expresses appreciation for Arashiyama’s scenery and gratitude to Zao Gongen, the guardian deity of the area.
About Arashiyama Momiji Festival
The Arashiyama Momiji Festival celebrates the beauty of the maple leaves in Arashiyama and Mount Ogura and gives thanks to Zao Gongen, the guardian deity of the Arashiyama area.
Events inspired by the boat outings enjoyed by Heian-period aristocrats take place on the Ōi River and along its banks.
Boats such as the Imayō Boat and the Heian Court Music Boat appear on the water, with performances connected to Arashiyama.
The venue is near the upper reaches of Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the sight of boats such as the Imayō Kabuki Boat and the Noh Stage Boat appearing one after another on the Ōi River, with performances aboard them.
Performances connected to Arashiyama also take place along the riverbank, offering different programs on the water and on shore.
The festival’s format, reminiscent of Heian aristocrats’ boat outings, comes together with Arashiyama’s autumn foliage.
Performances aboard the stage boats are listed as including koto music, shakuhachi, folk songs, transverse flute and Japanese drums, Heian court music, and Saga Dai-Nenbutsu .
A riverside festival of boat outings and traditional performing arts, set amid Arashiyama’s autumn foliage
What to expect
At the festival, elaborately decorated boats are set afloat on the Ōi River, with performances of imayō and Heian court music aboard them.
The viewing area extends to the riverbank, where you can take in both the boat outings and the events on shore.
For 2026, saitō goma is listed alongside the performances aboard the stage boats.
The saitō goma includes conch shell and performances, the Heart Sutra, rituals with a bow, sacred sword, and axe, and the offering of goma wood.
How to take part
For 2026, participation in the saitō goma is listed as available for a fee.
The performances aboard the boats are viewed from the riverbank.
For 2026, the saitō goma is listed at 1,500 yen, including goma wood.
Tickets are sold at the venue on the day.
Performances aboard the boats are listed as viewable from the riverbank.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Arashiyama, upper reaches of Togetsukyo Bridge / Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
- Train and bus
5 minutes on foot from Arashiyama Station on the Randen Arashiyama Line / 7 minutes on foot from Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Arashiyama Line / 15 minutes on foot from Saga-Arashiyama Station on the JR Sagano Line / Right by the Arashiyama Park stop on City Bus Route 28
- By car
About 40 minutes from the Kyoto-Minami IC on the Meishin Expressway
- Parking
Nearby parking, including Kyoto City Arashiyama Sightseeing Parking Lot
Address Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Dates and season
The festival is scheduled for November 7, 2026 (Saturday) and the 8th (Sunday).
The event is scheduled to run from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is listed as cancelled in the event of rain.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Kyoto Prefecture / Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The 2026 event is listed as cancelled in the event of rain.
To take part in the saitō goma, purchase a 1,500-yen ticket on the day at the venue.
Performances aboard the boats are listed as viewable from the riverbank.
Nearby attractions
Togetsukyo Bridge and Nakanoshima Park are listed as attractions near the venue.
Togetsukyo Bridge is also listed as a festival location, while Nakanoshima Park is introduced as an attraction in the Arashiyama area.
Fukuda Art Museum is also listed among nearby attractions.
京都タワー
京都府京都市下京区にある塔
京都国立博物館
京都市にある国立博物館
京都国立近代美術館
京都市左京区岡崎にある美術館
京都国際マンガミュージアム
日本の京都府京都市中京区にある日本最大の漫画博物館
京都市美術館
京都市左京区岡崎にある美術館
京都府立植物園
京都市左京区にある植物園
京都鉄道博物館
京都府京都市下京区にある鉄道博物館
Fushimi Inari Taisha
京都市伏見区にある神社
元離宮二条城
京都市にある城郭及び元皇室関連施設
Yasaka Shrine
京都市東山区にある神社
円山公園
京都市にある公園
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
京都市上京区にある神社
Origins and History of Arashiyama Momiji Festival
The festival continues as an event celebrating the maple leaves of Arashiyama and Mount Ogura, which Heian-period aristocrats cherished.
The performances aboard the boats today grew out of the festival’s recreations of the boat outings enjoyed by Heian-period aristocrats.
The festival is also regarded as an occasion to give thanks to Zao Gongen, the guardian deity of the Arashiyama area, and is held on the second Sunday of November every year.
Starting in 2026, saitō goma was listed as a way to pray to Zao Gongen for the preservation of the scenery.
Official information
The organizer and contact is the Arashiyama Hoshokai.
公式サイトは THE嵐山 - 嵐山保勝会公式サイト です。
Arashiyama Momiji Festival at a Glance
The Arashiyama Momiji Festival celebrates the autumn leaves of Arashiyama and Mount Ogura and expresses gratitude to Zao Gongen.
Boats such as the Imayō Boat and the Heian Court Music Boat appear on the Ōi River, with traditional performing arts aboard them.
Events also take place on the riverbank, so you can enjoy the festival from both the water and the shore.
For 2026, events including saitō goma are listed for November 7 and the 8th.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
