Posted in calendar, travel and places, temples, kyoto on Jan 3rd, 2007 No Comments »
[The wild boar is the messenger of the Go-o Shrine. Photo Ad Blankestijn]
I visited the Go-o Shrine at least three months too early when I came here in last September. As you see on the picture above, this is the Shrine of the Wild Boar, so there could be no more fitting destination for […]
Posted in culture, calendar, travel and places, temples, kyoto on Jan 1st, 2007 No Comments »
The Yanaka Tour of the Seven Lucky Deities, set up by literati sometime in the Edo-period and running from Ueno via Yanaka to Nippori, is one of the oldest in Tokyo. But it was abolished in WWII and only revived after other rounds of the lucky gods had become popular, and at that time the […]
Posted in culture, calendar, intercultural on Dec 29th, 2006 No Comments »
In case you were still wondering what zodiac animal will be called into service next year, just look at this shop window in the Otesuji Shopping Arcade in Fushimi (Momoyamagoryo St on the Keihan line in Kyoto) with its collection of eto: it is going to be the year of the boar!
Although the animal […]
Posted in food, intercultural, calendar, kyoto on Dec 29th, 2006 No Comments »
[Namagashi shop Kano in Fushimi. Photo Ad Blankestijn]
This namagashi shop near the Otesuji Shopping Arcade in Fushimi (Momoyamagoryo St on the Keihan line in Kyoto) is in full swing to produce mochi (glutinous ricecakes) for the New Year festivities.
They are placed on racks in front of the shop to dry and judging by their size […]
Posted in calendar, intercultural, kyoto on Nov 2nd, 2006 No Comments »
Culture Day (Bunka no Hi) on November 3 is originally the holiday dedicated to the Emperor Meiji, whose birthday according to the Lunar Calendar fell around this date. Before the war, people would gather at shrines throughout the country and bow in the direction of the Imperial Palace. Under the postwar constitution the day was […]
Posted in calendar, kyoto on Oct 28th, 2006 No Comments »
Nov., Kyoto: Special Temple Openings
Many temples which are usually not open show their treasures or gardens. See here for a list.
Nov., Tokyo: Tori-no-Ichi, Otori Shrine (Taito Ward)
Sale of kumade or bamboo rakes, to rake in good fortune.
November 2-4, Karatsu (Saga Pref.): Karatsu Kunchi
Interesting hikiyama floats with models of sea bream, dragons, samurai helmets and other […]
Posted in calendar, kyoto on Sep 20th, 2006 No Comments »
2nd Sat. Oct. - First Sun. of Dec. Kyoto: Ginkakuji: Special opening of the Hojo (Abbot’s Quarters), Togudo and Roseitei Pavilion.
Information: Office of Jisho-ji (Ginkaku-ji) 075-771-5725 (Japanese only)
Access: Short walk from Ginkakujimichi bus stop (bus 5 from Kyoto St)
Oct. 1, Munakata (Fukuoka Pref., Kyushu): Kaijo Jinko-sai, Munakata Taisha.
The Kaijo Jinko or Procession of Gods […]
Posted in calendar, kyoto on Aug 21st, 2006 No Comments »
Lunar Calendar: between 8/10 and 9/9, nationwide: Moon Viewing
This night, there are moon viewing parties and events at many shrines and temples. Also see what Basho wrote about moonviewing.
[Osawa Pond near Daikakuji]
Lunar Calendar: between 8/10 and 9/9, Kyoto: Kangetsu no Yube, Daikakuji
The most famous moonviewing party, called “Kangetsu no Yube” is held at Daikakuji […]
Posted in Japan, intercultural, calendar, religion and philosophy, kyoto on Jul 26th, 2006 No Comments »
The Bon festival or “Obon” has an interesting history. Folk-Buddhist in origin, it came from China where Buddhism was heavily colored by ancestor worship and Confucianism before it marched on to Japan. The festival finds its religious justification in the Ullambana Sutra (probably not an original Indian sutra but written in China). This popular sutra […]
Posted in calendar, kyoto on Jul 26th, 2006 1 Comment »
August is hot and humid in Japan, the time expats fly out to cooler climes, but early August is also the month of the great (and wild) summer festivals - the Nebuta Festival in Aomori, the Awa Odori dance festival in Tokushima, and many others. The middle of August is the period of Obon, the […]