Kyoto's Kaikai YOKAI Festival: Haunting Parades, Food and Art

Kaikai YOKAI Festival at Toei Uzumasa Movie Village

Stepping past the wooden façades of an Edo‑era film set in Kyoto and into a procession of otherworldly creatures, visitors to Toei Uzumasa Movie Village enter the Kaikai YOKAI Festival, a modern revival of Japan’s centuries‑old yokai traditions that transforms folklore into a living, participatory spectacle.

Now in its second year, the Kaikai YOKAI Festival opened on September 13 and builds on last year’s success with deeper immersion and broader programming.

The event blends classical yokai tales and the Heian‑period legend of the Hyakki Yakō (the night parade of one hundred demons) with contemporary performance, visual art, seasonal food and themed merchandise.

Event Content

Expect a reimagined Uzumasa Hyakki Yakō parade that invites audience participation, two museum‑style exhibitions exploring both mythical creatures and contemporary social anxieties, hands‑on costume and mask experiences, and a lineup of limited‑time yokai‑themed foods and souvenirs.

The result is part cultural revival, part immersive theater, and part pop‑culture festival, designed to entertain families, thrill social‑media hunters, and offer fresh perspectives on Japan’s storied supernatural heritage.

Highlights of the Kaikai YOKAI Festival

Uzumasa Hyakki Yakō parade

A powered-up walking-and-dancing yokai parade winds along Shirakabe Street to the Attraction Plaza, blending traditional Hyakki Yakō motifs with contemporary performance. This year’s staging opens with a new acrobatic, nonverbal prologue and unfolds into long processional lines of chimimōryō and other yokai, creating a theatrical, three-dimensional picture-scroll effect.

The parade’s leader, Yakō Dōji, appears in an upgraded costume, and the festival has launched an ambassador program, Hyakki Yashū, inviting inventive yokai families from across Japan to join and enliven the procession.

Dance finale

At the parade’s turnaround plaza, guests are invited to join yokai in a group dance led by Yakō Dōji and the mascot Kachinta. A choreography video is available online so visitors can learn the moves before they arrive.

The communal dance serves as the parade climax, bringing performers and audience together in a celebratory finale.

Stamp rally — Yokai Henka Yukō

The interactive stamp rally sends visitors to five locations across the village. 

Instead of collecting identical stamps, participants layer differently shaped stamps to build a colorful ukiyo-e–style yokai illustration; the final image is revealed only after the last stamp is added, encouraging exploration and discovery.

Photo spots, Yokai Greetings and mascot appearances

Large yokai banners and multiple photo spots punctuate the village, offering nonstop opportunities for selfies and scenic shots. Daily yokai greetings follow a set timetable (with different slots for weekdays and weekends/holidays), so visitors can plan meet‑and‑greet stops throughout the day.

Among the scheduled appearances, the film‑village mascot Kachinta dons a karasu‑tengu–inspired yokai costume for limited‑time photo sessions, adding a playful highlight for families and fans.

Guest participation services: Kimono rental and mask workshop

To enhance visitor access and participation, the festival now offers a hands-free kimono rental program with around 100 styles and a mask‑painting corner with five design options. These services make it easy for families and casual visitors to dress up and join the festivities without full costume prep.

New museum spaces

Two museum-style exhibitions fuse art and yokai culture: the Yokai Museum (September 13–October 26) and Contemporary Mononoke Ukiyo-e (September 13–November 30).

The Yokai Museum presents six works that examine yokai’s historical and mythical roots, focusing on their dual nature—how these creatures can be both benevolent and malevolent.

The Contemporary Mononoke Ukiyo-e exhibition, curated by creative director Gaku Ogaki and collective Ashita no Horror, reimagines modern social anxieties—war, division, appearance pressures, and information overload—as contemporary mononoke, using artwork to visualize and provoke reflection on today’s fears.

Limited food & merchandise

The Kaikai YOKAI Festival’s food and retail lineup emphasizes playful yokai themes, seasonal flavors, and event‑exclusive items, offering themed snacks, limited‑edition merchandise, and giftable souvenirs that match the festival’s whimsical spirit.

Dinosaur × Yokai Matcha Parfait (eat-in) 1,700 yen

A signature festival parfait layers premium matcha ice cream and matcha mousse with sweet red bean, chewy mochi and crunchy elements for texture contrast, finished with yokai‑shaped chocolate or cookie toppers and themed plating for eye‑catching photos. Served in limited quantities at designated eat‑in outlets, it’s billed as the event’s flagship dessert — a playful collaboration between the venue’s mysterious dinosaur motif and yokai imagery.

Yuki-onna Shaved Ice (takeout, early-period limited) 750 yen

A nostalgic Showa‑era kakigōri inspired by the yuki‑onna (snow woman) offers a refreshing twist on shaved ice, with classic syrups, condensed milk, or seasonal fruit garnishes that evoke its snowy namesake. Available only during the festival’s early run and while supplies last, it’s a family‑friendly treat perfect for cooling off on warmer days.

Mikoshi Nyūdō–style Matcha Churros (takeout) 750 yen

A novelty churro inspired by the tall, uncanny Mikoshi Nyūdō yokai is dusted or lightly infused with matcha to balance sweet and bitter notes. Presented in festival‑branded packaging and notable for its extra length, it’s a popular grab‑and‑go snack designed for sharing online.

Yakō Dōji Kakuni Bun (takeout) 750 yen

A hearty steamed bun filled with domestic kakuni (braised pork) delivers rich, savory flavor wrapped in soft dough, each bun stamped with a Yakō Dōji motif for a themed finish. 

Sold at select outlets (for example, Kafichakan and Kiraku), it’s an easy, satisfying option for visitors exploring the village. Availability and serving locations vary by day and items may sell out during peak times—many dishes are designed for photo appeal and come in festival‑branded packaging.

Merchandise (exclusive and limited)

Yakō Dōji Transformation Mask (PVC, 250×192 mm) 1,200 yen

A lightweight PVC mask printed with Yakō Dōji’s striking visage, sized for teens and adults. It’s an easy costume prop for a quick transformation without makeup and doubles as an affordable souvenir and photo prop.

Yakō Dōji Drawstring Pouch, 1,320 yen (arrival mid–late October)

A compact fabric pouch featuring Yakō Dōji’s face, designed for coins, small accessories, or keepsakes. Due to arrive in mid–to–late October, this collectible accessory blends practical use with festival-themed design; limited stock is expected.

Moving YOKAI Lenticular Cards (2 designs) 770 yen each

Novelty lenticular cards that shift imagery with the viewing angle—yokai appear, vanish, or transform. Sold in two collectible designs, these pocket-sized souvenirs capture the festival’s theme of metamorphosis and make ideal impulse buys.

Additional themed goods

Beyond the headline items, the festival offers a broad selection of event-exclusive merchandise such as keychains, badges, posters, stationery and items featuring the mascot Kachinta in yokai form. Many products are limited-run or on-site exclusives, so popular items may sell out on busy dates.

Mysterious Yokai Festival 2025

Period: September 13 – November 30, 2025
Hours:
Toei Kyoto Studio Park
Weekdays: 9:00–17:00
Weekend and holidays:
September (Saturdays, Sundays, holidays): 9:00–20:00
October and November (Saturdays, Sundays, holidays): 9:00–19:00
Exceptions: October 25- 26 : 9:00–21:00, November 8-9: 9:00–17:00, November 15: 9:00–20:00
Parade schedule (weekends & holidays): route Shirakabe Street → Attraction Plaza. Typical times: September performances at 14:30 and 19:00; October–November generally at 14:30 and 18:00. Select late‑night shows run Oct 25–26, and some November dates may have schedule variations.
Daily yokai greeting times: Weekdays 10:15 / 11:30 / 13:00 / 14:30 / 16:00; Weekends/holidays 11:00 / 13:00 / 16:00.
Exhibition periods: Yokai Museum September 13–October 26; Contemporary Mononoke Ukiyo-e September. 13–November 30.
Location: Kyoto, Ukyo Ward, Uzumasa Higashihachiokacho, TOEI STUDIOS KYOTO
More information, tickets and full program on official website: https://www.toei-eigamura.com/yokai/

Information and picture source: PR TIMES