August Events and Festivals in Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe

August Festivals in the Kansai Region

The highlight of August in Japan is Obon, a mid-month period of traditional events held to honor departed ancestors.

The Kansai region—home to Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe—hosts several iconic festivals that offer a deep dive into Japanese culture.

Major events include Kyoto's Daimonji Gozan Okuribi, where massive bonfires light up five mountains surrounding the city, the Nara Tokae Lantern Festival, which fills Nara Park with 20,000 flickering candles, and the spectacular Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival.

Read on to discover the best August events and festivals happening across Kansai.

• Table of Contents
• 1. Osaka Dotonbori Mantosai Lantern Festival 2026 (July 1 - August 31)
• 2. Osaka Shitennoji Temple Bon Odori Festival (August 11 - 12)
• 3. Kyoto Gozan Okuribi (Daimonji Bonfire) and Arashiyama Lantern Festival (August 16)
• 4. Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival 2026 Near Kyoto (August 6)
• 5. Nara Tokae Lantern Festival (August 5 - 14)
• 6. Kasugataisha Chugen Mantoro Lantern Festival in Nara (August 14 - 15)
• 7. Nara Daimonji Okuribi Festival (August 15)
• 8. Kobe Seaside Bon Odori Dance in Meriken Park (August 15)

1. Osaka Dotonbori Mantosai Lantern Festival 2026 (July 1 - August 31)

Photo by Pixta

During the Osaka Dotonbori Mantosai Lantern Festival, over 2,000 evening lanterns illuminate both banks of the Dotonbori River between Fukasato Bridge and Nipponbashi (800 meters). This tradition was established in 1999.

On August 8, the riverfront hosts Dotonbori Bon Odori International 2026. Daytime performances feature idol groups, international exchanges, African dance, and wadaiko drumming. From 18:00 to 21:00, the main event begins: a massive, free Bon Odori dance.

This rain-or-shine event—which set a Guinness World Record in 2015 with 2,025 simultaneous dancers—features canal-side food stalls and requires no prior registration or practice. Just join the line and follow along!

Dotonbori Mantosai Lantern Festival 2026

Dates: July 1 - August 31
Time: 19:00 - 21:00
Official website: https://www.ittoko-minami.net/events/dotonbori-mantosai (Japanese)

Dotonbori Bon Odori International 2026

Date: August 8
Time: 18:00 - 21:00
Official website: https://godotonbori.com/jp/events/dotonbori-bon-odori-international

2. Osaka Shitennoji Temple Bon Odori Festival (August 11 - 12)

Photo by Pixta

From August 9 to 16, Shitennoji Temple—Japan’s oldest official Buddhist temple, founded in 593 AD—hosts its annual Obon Festival. Throughout the week, visitors can light memorial candles for their ancestors as part of the temple's serene candle display.

On August 11 and 12 (18:30–20:30), the temple grounds host the Shitennoji Bon Odori Dance. Locals and travelers in yukata (light summer kimonos) gather to dance in concentric circles around a central wooden stage, moving to the beat of live taiko drums.

Osaka Shitennoji Temple Bon Odori Festival
Dates: August 11 and 12
Venue: Shitennoji Temple, Kamenoike Pond area
Official website: Shitennoji Bon Odori

3. Kyoto Gozan Okuribi (Daimonji Bonfire) and Arashiyama Lantern Festival (August 16)

Photo by Pixta

Okuribi is a traditional ritual held at the end of the Obon season to guide ancestral spirits back to the afterlife using send-off fires.

While celebrated across Japan—including the famous Nara Daimonji—the Kyoto Gozan Okuribi on the night of August 16 is an iconic summer highlight alongside the Gion Festival.

Five giant bonfires, shaped like Chinese characters and symbols with spiritual significance, light up the surrounding mountains in sequence.

Bonfire	Mountain	Light-up Time	Best Viewing Location
Daimonji 大	Mt. Daimonji (Higashiyama Nyoigatake)	8:00 PM	Imadegawa Street, Kyoto Imperial Palace
Matsugasaki Myo 妙 /Ho 法	Mt. Nishi and Mt. Higashi	8:05 PM	Kitayama-dori near Matsugasaki Station
Funagata Mantoro: Boat-Shaped Bonfire	Mt. Myoken	8:10 PM	Misono Bridge, Funaokayama Park
Hidari Daimonji 大	Mt. Daimonji (Kitayama)	8:15 PM	Funaokayama Park
Toriigata Taimatsu ⛩: Torii-Shaped Bonfire	Mt. Sennoji	8:20 PM	Togetsukyo Bridge

*Please note that climbing these mountains is prohibited during the day of the Gozan Okuribi event.

Photo by Pixta

For a panoramic view of all five bonfires at once, head to the Kyoto Station Building Skyway (admission tickets may be required on August 16).

The Kyoto Tower Observation Deck offers a great vantage point for both the Eastern Daimonji and Western (Hidari) Daimonji fires. Also, Funaokayama Park is an excellent location to catch four of the five bonfires simultaneously.

Photo from Adobe Stock

On the same evening, the Arashiyama Toro Nagashi (Arashiyama Lantern Floating Ceremony) takes place at the Arashiyama Park Nakanoshima Area near Togetsukyo Bridge, where thousands of lit paper lanterns drift down the Katsura River.

From the same location, the Torii-shaped fire on Mount Sennoji is also visible. The view of these floating lights paired with the Okuribi bonfire in the background creates an unforgettable sight.

Kyoto Gozan Okuribi Bonfire
Date: August 16
Location: Five mountains surrounding Kyoto City
Official website: https://gozan-okuribi.com/2022/en/top.html
Arashiyama Toro Nagashi Ceremony: https://ja.kyoto.travel/event/single.php?event_id=5039 (Google Maps)

4. Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival 2026 Near Kyoto (August 6)

Photo by Pixta

The Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival in Otsu is just a 10-minute train ride east of Kyoto Station. Famous for its massive scale, the festival's pyrotechnics reflect beautifully off the lake’s surface, and its spacious venue helps keep the crowds manageable.

In 2026, the event takes place on August 6 at 19:30. For the first time, this year's show will feature an impressive pre-fireworks display of drones and laser beams.

Photo by Pixta

Inspired by local history, culture, and the surrounding scenery, the fireworks build toward a breathtaking finale shortly before 20:30. If you are near Kyoto on August 6, don't miss the chance to visit Otsu for this incredible show!

Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival 2026
Date: August 6
Location: Lake Biwa off the coast of Otsu Port, Shiga Prefecture
Official website: https://www.biwako-visitors.jp/hanabi (Japanese)
Event program: English version PDF
*This event requires an admission ticket.

5. Nara Tokae Lantern Festival (August 5 - 14)

Photo from Adobe Stock

The Nara Tokae Lantern Festival is an annual event held in Nara Park during Obon, a traditional period of remembrance for departed ancestors.

Over 20,000 handmade candle lanterns cast a mesmerizing glow across park pathways, sprawling grasslands, and historic sites like Kasuga Taisha Grand Shrine, Kofukuji Temple, and the Great Buddha Hall at Todaiji Temple—often right alongside Nara's famous free-roaming deer.

Visitors can also participate directly: for 500 yen, you can purchase your own candle and light it in a dedicated display area.

Nara Tokae Lantern Festival
Date: August 5 - 14
Location: Nara Park, the Sarusawa Pond, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Kofukuji Temple, Todaiji Temple, and others
Official website: https://www.toukae.jp/ (Japanese)

6. Kasugataisha Chugen Mantoro Lantern Festival in Nara (August 14 - 15)

Kasuga Taisha Shrine during daytime. Photo by Pixta

Nara's Kasugataisha Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most significant shrines, being established in the 8th century by the influential Fujiwara clan.

Photo by Pixta

The shrine is famous for its 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns, which are lit all at once during two annual festivals: Setsubun Mantoro in February and Chugen Mantoro on August 14 and 15. The flame of each lantern carries prayers for people’s wishes to be fulfilled.

Wandering along the ancient forest pathways—illuminated solely by flickering candlelight—offers a breathtaking, otherworldly experience.

Kasugataisha Chugen Mantoro Lantern Festival
Date: August 14 - 15
Location: Kasugataisha Shrine
Official website: https://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/en/about_en/

7. Nara Daimonji Okuribi Festival (August 15)

Photo from Adobe Stock

Held every August 15, the Nara Daimonji Okuribi is a rare annual fire festival where Shinto priests and Buddhist monks gather at Kasugataisha Shrine's Tobihino ground.

Starting at 7:00 PM, priests and monks from around 30 temples in Nara perform a joint memorial service at a single altar, offering prayers across religious boundaries for the departed and world peace.

At 8:00 PM, the enormous "大" (dai, meaning "great") character is lit on nearby Mount Takamado, a famous peak mentioned in the ancient Man'yoshu poetry collection.

Visitors pray as the fiery symbol glows against the night sky, visible from major spots throughout Nara City, such as the Heijo Palace Site and the Ukimido Pavilion.

Nara Daimonji Okuribi Festival
Date: August 15 *The Daimoji fire is lit at 20:00.
Location: Nara City
Official website: https://narashikanko.or.jp/feature/naradaimonjiokuribi (Japanese)

8. Kobe Seaside Bon Odori Dance in Meriken Park (August 15)

Photo by Pixta

The Kobe Seaside Bon Odori Dance is held at the harbor-side Meriken Park—one of Kobe’s iconic night-view spots. The event begins with a one-hour showcase of folk music from across Japan, including Tokyo, Fukushima, Akita, Fukuoka, and Kobe itself.

Afterward, the main event kicks off: a massive Bon Odori dance around the central stage where everyone—regardless of age, gender, or nationality—can join in. Visitors can also enjoy festival food and drinks from nearby stalls, making it a vibrant way to celebrate summer against Kobe's breathtaking skyline.

Kobe Seaside Bon Odori Dance
Date: August 15
Time: 18:00 - 20:30
Venue: Meriken Park (Kobe Port)
Official website: https://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/d49614/kuyakusho/chuoku/keikaku/uminobon/top.html

Enjoy August Events in the Kansai Region

The time around mid-August (typically August 13–16) coincides with Obon, a traditional Japanese holiday when families gather in their hometowns to honor their ancestors.

Events held during this period carry a deeply spiritual atmosphere shaped by these customs.

Because Obon is one of Japan's busiest travel seasons, trains, hotels, and popular sights fill up quickly. If you plan to travel around Kansai during these dates, be sure to reserve your accommodations and train tickets well in advance.