September is one of the best months to visit Japan as well as Kyoto. It offers a delightful experience and enjoy nature with its blend of natural beauty. During this time various outdoor activities are held in Kyoto local and foreign tourists are few so you can enjoy more the sightseeing.

If you are looking for things to do in Kyoto in September this article is for you. Here I will share some best things to do in Kyoto, events, and information.

Kyoto in September

The weather in Kyoto is warm and milder with an average temperature from 18°C to 27°C in the daytime and remains warm even at night. September is marked as the beginning of autumn in Japan. Because of its comfortable weather, it is one of the best and ideal times to enjoy sightseeing and walking around as the city transitions from summer to autumn season.

Visitors can enjoy seasonal attractions such as the Kiyomizu-dera Temple a famous tourist destination to see early autumn leaves and other highlight events held in September, traditional foods, drinks, and outdoor activities featuring cultural richness and early autumn beauty of Kyoto. September is not crowded as the summer peak season has just ended, you can explore more and discover Kyoto.

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1. Enjoy Early Autumn Leaves

Early autumn in Kyoto is a fascinating time when the city begins its transition into autumn foliage that usually starts to drop from late September to early October. Many popular spots in Kyoto where you can enjoy early autumn leaves. In September, various events and exhibits will take place in parks, gardens, temples, and shrines to celebrate the beginning of the autumn. Here are some popular spots in Kyoto that you can visit to explore nature and early autumn leaves.

Kiyomizu-dera -is a well-known tourist destination in Kyoto and one of Japan’s oldest and historical buildings, where you can enjoy the four seasons of Japan.

Tofukuji Temple – is popular for its Zen Garden called Honbo Garden and is one of the best and most visited temples for autumn leaves viewing.

Philosopher’s Path – also known as “Tensugaku no Michi” and one of the best places to visit during spring and autumn. A stone-paved pathway with hundreds of cherry trees brings an amazing view of spring and red, orange, and yellow leaves during the autumn months.

For more information about the autumn leaves, check out the following articles!

▶︎Best Autumn Leaves Spots in Kyoto 2024

▶︎8 Best Autumn Leaves Events in Japan 2024

2. Witness traditional Festival, Rituals and Events

As the summer ends Kyoto in September offers lots of traditional activities and rituals celebrating and welcoming the fall season. You can witness and enjoy popular traditional events such as a “Moon Viewing” along with other activities, the Blue Dragon Festival (Seiryu-e) to honor Seiryu for protecting Kyoto against onslaught of misfortune and disaster. And many more festivals and events are held in September.

3. Explore Kyoto at Night

Kyoto offers a variety of activities and things to do at night that give a unique experience of the historical, cultural, and natural beauty of Kyoto. Walking around the cities, visiting temples and shrines at night, night market, etc. exploring and discovering Kyoto at night.

For more information about Kyoto at night, check out the articles below!

▶︎10 Best Things to Do in Kyoto at Night

▶︎Kyoto at Night: 5 Best Temples in Kyoto to Visit at Night

4. Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine

The Fushimi Inari Shrine is surrounded by nature which gives stunning views and an enchanting atmosphere and is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Kyoto. It offers a lot of things to do and experiences. Aside from the famous vermilion torii gates various traditional shops and restaurants where you can enjoy the local and popular delicacies of Kyoto and in September many events and festivals related to autumn are taking place to celebrate the season.

For more information about the Fushimi Inari Shrine, check out the following article!

▶︎Fushimi Inari Taisha: Kyoto’s Most Visited Shrine

5. Explore Foods in Kyoto

There are many foods to explore in Kyoto, and for every travel one of the best things to do is to try and enjoy the local foods available in the area. Various shops and restaurants offer a portion of delicious Japanese food and Kyoto’s specialties give a unique and another experience in comes of foods in Japan.

For more information about foods in Kyoto, check out the following articles!

▶︎10 Best Michelin Star Restaurants in Kyoto

▶︎8 Best RAMEN in KYOTO

▶︎7 Best Sushi Restaurants in Kyoto

6. Explore Arashiyama-Sagano Area

The Arashiyama and Sagano areas in Kyoto are known for their natural beauty offering various activities and sights that make it one of the most-visited tourist destinations in Kyoto. Enjoy and explore popular attractions such as Arashiyama Bamboo Groove, Sagano Scenic Railway (Sagano Romantic Train), Monkey Park, Temples, and many more activities.

For more information about the Arashiyama and Sagano area in Kyoto, check out articles below!

▶︎Kyoto Arashiyama and Sagano: 10 Best Things to Do

▶︎Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama, Kyoto

▶︎Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

7. Visit Miyama Village

Miyama Village in Kyoto is known for its unique thatched-roof houses also known as the “Kayabuki” traditional farmhouses surrounded by many trees making it more stunning. During the autumn season, the colorful leaves create a peaceful and cozy atmosphere.

For more information about the Miyama Village, check out the article below!

▶︎Miyama: A Treasure of Rural Traditional Japan

8. Experience Green Tea/Matcha Ceremony

Experience the best well-known activity in Kyoto allowing you to taste good and high-quality tea as Kyoto is known for having good matcha (powdered green tea) and witnessing rich ancient Japanese culture. Available in many serene tea houses and historic temples.

For more information about Tea Ceremony in Kyoto, check out the following article!

▶︎Tea Ceremony Kyoto: 5 Best Experiences

▶︎7 Must-Buy Matcha Sweets in Kyoto

9. Explore the City while wearing traditional Japanese Costumes

Exploring the City while wearing traditional Japanese costumes is always the best thing to do when visiting Kyoto in all season. It gives a memorable experience along with the other events held in the cities. Taking an amazing photo with the popular spots gives a Japanese cultural experience. Plenty of shops in the city have Japanese dress rentals which are very popular in the area where you can choose your desired color and design of Japanese traditional garments and accessories.

For more information about Kimono rentals in Kyoto, check out the following article!

▶︎5 Best Kimono Rental in Kyoto

▶︎15 Best Spots to Photograph in Kyoto

10. Take a River Cruise on the Hozugawa River

Having a mild temperature in September, enjoy the Hozugawa riverboat cruise provides a unique sightseeing experience where you can witness the beauty of nature on its colorful leaves in the autumn. One of the unforgettable adventure experiences in Kyoto.

For more travel tips and activities in Kyoto, Check out the following articles.

▶︎10 Best Activities in Kyoto

▶︎Best Tours and Activities in Kyoto

▶︎Best One Day Private Tour in Kyoto

Additional Event:

Join in the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair

An annual event held in Kyoto in September, featuring a wild selection and exhibitions of manga and anime collections, with various booths and exclusive merchandise. You can also enjoy a cafe with themed characters and an anime-inspired menu.

Official Website: https://kyomaf.kyoto/en/

For more information about anime events and character cafe collaboration in Japan, check out the following articles!

▶︎ Best Anime-Related Events in Japan

▶︎Best Character Cafes in Japan 2024

▶︎Kyoto International Manga Museum

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Thank you for reading. I hope this article helps and provides the information you are looking for about the places and events to visit in Kyoto in September.

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