Market in Kyoto
Sweet Treats Fair Honoring Buddhist Monk Ganjin at Mibu-dera Temple Grounds
Held rain or shine, with approximately 25 vendors taking part on both days.
- Dates
- Nov 7 (Sat) – Nov 8 (Sun)
- Hours
- 10:00 – 16:00
- Venue
- Mibu-dera Temple Grounds
- Nearest station
- Omiya
- Admission
- Check the official website for prices
About this event
Mibu-dera Temple, closely associated with the Shinsengumi samurai corps, hosts a weekend fair devoted to sweets. Around 25 stalls will gather in the temple grounds on both days, offering Japanese confections, Western-style pastries, crepes, baby castella cakes and taiyaki. Savory options include salt-flavored yakisoba and fries, while shooting games and super-ball scooping offer entertainment for children. The historic temple, also known for its traditional Mibu Kyogen performances, becomes a lively meeting place for families and visitors. The event will go ahead even if it rains.
Highlights
- A wide variety of Japanese and Western sweets
- Around 25 stalls on both days
- Traditional games for children
- Held rain or shine
- Good for
- Sweet lovers, families and visitors interested in combining a temple visit with a local market
Good to know before you go
- Savory snacks are also available
- Parking is limited; the temple recommends public transport
Pochikichi's story cornerA Sweet Fair in the Historic Grounds of Mibu-dera
Mibu-dera is the head temple of the Ritsu Buddhist school in Kyoto's Nakagyo district. Traditionally founded in 991, it enshrines Enmei Jizo Bosatsu and has long been a place of popular religious devotion.
The temple is famous for Mibu Kyogen, a traditional masked performance without spoken dialogue, designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. The Shinsengumi, a samurai group active during the final years of the Edo period, also trained on the temple grounds.
The sweets fair brings Japanese and Western confections, savory food and children's games into this historic setting. It offers another reason to visit the temple beyond worship or sightseeing.
Temples in Kyoto have long served as gathering places as well as religious institutions. This market continues that connection between Mibu-dera and its surrounding community.
Sources: Official Mibu-dera Marche Instagram announcement (Japanese, supplied caption), Mibu-dera official website (Japanese), Mibu-dera access information (Japanese), Historical Place Names Database: Mibu-dera (Japanese)
FAQ
- What is Sweet Treats Fair Honoring Buddhist Monk Ganjin at Mibu-dera Temple Grounds?
- Mibu-dera Temple, closely associated with the Shinsengumi samurai corps, hosts a weekend fair devoted to sweets. Around 25 stalls will gather in the temple grounds on both days, offering Japanese confections, Western-style pastries, crepes, baby castella cakes and taiyaki. Savory options include salt-flavored yakisoba and fries, while shooting games and super-ball scooping offer entertainment for children. The historic temple, also known for its traditional Mibu Kyogen performances, becomes a lively meeting place for families and visitors. The event will go ahead even if it rains.
- When is Sweet Treats Fair Honoring Buddhist Monk Ganjin at Mibu-dera Temple Grounds?
- From Nov 7 (Sat) to Nov 8 (Sun), 2026.
- What are the opening hours?
- 10:00 – 16:00
- How much does it cost?
- Check the official website for prices
- Where is it and what is the nearest station?
- Mibu-dera Temple Grounds. The nearest station is Omiya.
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