Bon Dance Festival 2026

Event Detail

Date : Sunday, August 9, 2026
Time : 6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Venue : The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu’s Garden

※exclusive for our hotel guests and local residents
※In the event of heavy rain, the festival will be rescheduled to Monday, August 10.

【Highlights】

• Traditional Bon Dance
  Join the circle and experience one of Japan’s most cherished summer traditional.
  
• Connect with the Local Community
  Celebrate alongside local residents and enjoy a warm, authentic cultural exchange.
  
• Festival Food & Drinks
  Enjoy one-night-only food stalls and seasonal drinks.

【Schedule】

6:00 P.M. -Festival Opens
Enjoy festival food and drinks and learn the Bon Dance before joining the celebration.

6:30 P.M. -Bon Dance DJ Performance

7:00 P.M. -Start of Bon Dance
Join local residents and fellow guests in the traditonal Bon Dance Circle.

8:30 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. – Closing of Bon Dance

What is “Bon Dance”?

Bon Dance is a traditonal Japanese folk dance performed during the summer Obon season. People gather in a circle to dance together, celebrating community, remembering their ancestors, and enjoying the sprit of summer.

Our Story

The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu stands on the site of the former Kiyomizu Elementary School, a beloved neighborhood landmark built in 1933.

For generations, the schoolyard was a place where local families gathered for Bon Dance and summer festivals. Although the school closed its doors due to a declining student population, its role as a place that connected people has never been forgotten.

Inspired by this legacy, we have revived the Bon Dance Festival—not only to preserve a cherished tradition, but also to bring people together once again. Guests, local residents, and hospitality professionals from across Higashiyama will join as one community, welcoming vistors and celebrating the connections that make Kyoto so special.

By bringing together the local community, travelers, and the people who welcome them, we hope this festival will inspire a more connected and sustainable futture for tourism.