Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital, continues to captivate visitors with immersive art exhibitions, sacred guided tours, traditional Noh theatre performances, and a selection of luxury hotels set to open in the coming months.
‘IMAGINE NOH’: KYOTO’S CLASSICAL THEATRE WITH ENGLISH GUIDANCE
In collaboration with Discover Noh, the Kyoto City Tourism Association presents IMAGINE NOH, a new series of accessible Noh and Kyogen performances taking place in November and December 2025. Each 90-minute performance is guided by Kyoto Visitors Hosts (KVH) – certified English-speaking guides who provide cultural context and personalised introductions. Following the performance, audiences can join a Q&A session with the performers. The series offers a relaxed and engaging way to explore the history, heritage and symbolism of Japan’s oldest performing arts for international audiences. More information here.
HELLO KITTY EXHIBITION: AS I CHANGE, SO DOES SHE AT THE KYOTO CITY KYOCERA MUSEUM OF ART
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Sanrio’s Hello Kitty, an iconic character beloved by millions around the world. To commemorate the significant milestone, this anniversary exhibition is at the Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art, where it will be on show until 7 December 2025. The travelling exhibition was previously held in Tokyo, Fukuoka and Okinawa, and features the largest number of Hello Kitty merchandise ever exhibited.
The exhibition also showcases collaborative works with well-known artists and designers, and exclusive animated videos of the character. Purchasing tickets in advance online is highly recommended as tickets at the door are subject to availability and long waiting times. More information here.
LAKE BIWA CANAL CRUISE: NATIONAL TREASURES EDITION
On the Lake Biwa Canal Cruise travellers can discover Kyoto’s historical waterways. The cruise follows the Lake Biwa Canal, showcasing Meiji-era engineering, historic bridges, and restored warehouses, while highlighting the canal’s role in Kyoto’s cultural and economic history. Onboard guides provide insightful commentary, and passengers can enjoy picture-perfect photo opportunities and the tranquillity of the water. A special National Treasure and Important Cultural Property Commemorative Cruise will operate from 1 to 7 December 2025, following the main autumn cruise season from 3 October to 30 November 2025. The cruise also operates in spring, typically from March to June, when passengers can enjoy cherry blossoms and fresh green maple leaves along the canal. More information here.
STEP THROUGH A THOUSAND GATES: NEW ENGLISH GUIDED TOURS AT FUSHIMI INARI TAISHA SHRINE
The Kyoto City Tourism Association, together with Kyoto City-certified professional guides known as Kyoto Visitors Hosts (KVH), has launched a new 60-minute English guided tour at one of the city’s most sacred sites, the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. Participants will stroll through the world-famous Senbon Torii, lined with thousands of vermillion gates, while learning about the history and spiritual significance of the shrine. Exclusive to this tour, guests will also witness a Kagura performance, a sacred dance performed by “Kagurame” shrine maidens at the Kagura Hall.
The tour runs until 10 December 2025, excluding major event days. More information here.
NEW TEAMLAB IN KYOTO
Recently opened on 7 October 2025, teamLab Biovortex Kyoto in Minami Ward is teamLab’s largest exhibition in Japan. The museum features more than 50 digital artworks, including Massless Amorphous Sculpture, a giant floating sculpture of soap bubbles that drifts, grows, and self-repairs within its environment; Morphing Continuum, which explores how separate elements can form a unified entity across time and space; and Bird Path, depicting the collective movement of thousands of birds as a single, flowing entity. Several of these works are being shown in Japan for the first time, and the museum will continue unveiling new pieces in the future, creating an evolving space for digital art and creative engagement. More information here.
SHOGUN STUDIO – WHERE HISTORY & STORYTELLING COLLIDE
With renewed global interest in samurai culture following the Disney series Shōgun, Shogun Studio in Arashiyama lets visitors step into the world of Japan’s warrior heritage, where history and storytelling collide. Visitors can explore over 20 authentic and replica armors from the Sengoku period, try them on for photos or filming, and experience samurai life through guided explanations of rituals, strategies, and the historical significance of armor and weapons. Projection mapping transforms the studio into a Sengoku battlefield, creating a cinematic experience that blends history with immersive entertainment. Guests can participate in professional photo and video shoots, including a two-minute Samurai Movie, and take part in outdoor shoots around iconic Arashiyama sites such as Togetsukyo Bridge and the bamboo forest. Shogun Walker rentals allow visitors to freely stroll Arashiyama in wearable, authentic iron armor for a fully immersive samurai adventure. Shogun Studio offers a unique, hands-on way to connect with Japan’s warrior heritage, ideal for families, history enthusiasts and fans of samurai dramas. More information here.
INSIDER TIP: PLUM BLOSSOM SEASON – A MORE SUSTAINABLE WAY TO ENJOY KYOTO
Kyoto’s plum blossoms offer a quieter and more sustainable way to experience the city’s floral beauty in early spring, before the crowds arrive for sakura (cherry blossom) season. Unlike the busy cherry blossom spots, plum blossoms create tranquil, picture-perfect landscapes in temple gardens, riversides and parks, allowing visitors to move at a gentle pace. Plum blossom season runs from early February through the end of March, followed by cherry blossoms from late March to early April. More information here.
KYOTO’S NEW LUXURY HOTELS, ARRIVING 2026–2028
Kyoto’s luxury hospitality landscape is set for transformation with a series of new openings over the next few years.
Imperial Hotel Kyoto is set to open in spring 2026. The city’s first new property for the iconic brand in 30 years is housed in the restored Yasaka Kaikan, a 1936 landmark and former theatre. The 55-room hotel blends historical grandeur with contemporary comfort, preserving original features including 16,387 exterior tiles and using traditional Japanese techniques such as ikedori, where materials are carefully removed and reused. More information here.
Also opening in early 2026, Capella Kyoto reflects the city’s ethos, bridging past and present in the historic Miyagawa-chō district. The four-storey, 89-room hotel pays homage to Kyoto’s geiko (geisha) traditions, with curated Japanese artworks and artefacts throughout. More information here.
Shangri-La Kyoto is set to open in autumn 2026, comprising 150-rooms. This will be the group’s second hotel in Japan, joining Shangri-La Tokyo.
Set to open in 2028, Regent Kyoto will be set around a central garden originally landscaped over a century ago by renowned landscape gardener Kumakichi Kato. The hotel will feature 83 rooms which will include a modern interpretation of the traditional engawa zone by the window, connecting visitors to the gardens and natural surroundings. The Kyoto Imperial Palace, Heian Shrine and Nanzen-ji Temple are a short walk away. More information here.
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