7th JULY Tanabata

Do you know about ☆Tanabata☆ ? ... meaning is "Evening of the seventh"
This is a traditional Japanese star festival on the 7th JULY every year.

It celebrates the meeting of Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair).
The Milky Way, a river made from stars that crosses the sky, separates these lovers,
and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh.
The celebration is held at night, once the stars come out.

How Romantic !

Nowadays, people generally celebrate this day by writing wishes on tanzaku, small pieces of paper, and hanging them on bamboo.

There are some events for the day in Kyoto !

☆Jinushi Shrine @ Kiyomizu Temple☆

This shrine is very famous for ''Love Wish''.
Most of Japanese girls have been there once to make a wish for their any love.

This time you can write a wish on Kokeshi dolls,cylindrically-shaped bodies with a round head and no hands or feet, and hanging them on the bamboo !
Sounds very interesting !

Access: City bus #100, 202, 206, 207 to 'Kiyomizu Michi'


☆Kitano Tenmangu Shrine☆

7th July 13:30～
There will be a Tanabata dance performance @Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.
It is also very traditional and only for that day !

Enjoy Tanabata !

Access: City bus #50 'Kitano Tenmangu Mae'

Gion-Matsuri Festival

JUL.1 - JUL31

Gion Matsuri is one of the largest festivals in Japan.
This festival actually started in 869, when a priest of Yasaka Shrine led a procession of people through Kyoto in an attempt to pray Shinto gods to stop the plague raged at the time. The plague soon ended but this event became the most popular festival in Kyoto.
Most exciting part of the festival is Yoiyama ( eve of the Festival ) from 14th - 16th,and Yamaboko Junko ( The Grand Procession ) on 17th, but many other ceremonial rituals are held throughout July.

I prefer Yoi-Yama!

Why don't you go with your friends wearing Yukata?

Yoi-Yama ( Eve of the Festival ) and Byobu Matsuri (Screen Display)

JUL.14 - JUL.16

All the 32 Hoko and Yama(floats)are elaborately decorated with lanterns, and musicians wearing "Yukata", (summer Kimono) play rhythmical "Gion bayashi" music on the floats.
Also private houses along the streets open their doors to show their family treasures such as "Byobu (traditional folding screens)" to the people passing by.

Kyoto Beer gardens 2010

The beer gardens; drinking beer on the roof gardens with your friends or colleagues in the evening are set at various spots in Kyoto city.

Hotel Keihan ( 5 minuets from J-Hoppers Kyoto on foot)
3,500 yen per person All you can eat and drink
Ladies and senior nights (Mon, Tue and Wed) 3,000 yen per person
17:30~21:30 (L.O 21:00)
To be called off in case of rain
* It is 100 year anniversary since Keihan railway company was established. To celebrate it, wines (red and white) and Shochu drink are served just 100 yen!

Other Beer gardens in Kyoto;
Kyoto Gion Hotel: 3800 yen (male), 3300 yen (female) 17:30~21:00
Takashimaya Beer garden: 3500 yen (male), 3200 yen (female) 17:30~22:00
New Miyako Hotel: 4000 yen 17:30~21:00
Kyoto tower Beer garden: 3500 yen 17:30~ 21:00

The time has come. Let the summer begin.

Antique Grand Fair in Kyoto

JUN.18 - JUN.20 10:00AM - 5:00PM at ”Pulse Plaza”

Over a million antiques are exhibited and sold by 350 antique dealers from all over Japan .

People are coming for this from all over the world !

Why don't you get Japanese antiques for a gift or for your memory of Japan ?

Access : From Kyoto City Subway Karasuma-line Takeda Station,

City Bus No.South1,2,3 Pulse Plaza-mae

'artDive' Kyoto art festa

This is an exhibition and sale event of young and energetic artists, for young and energetic artists, by young and energetic artists.
There will be more than 150 exhibit booths and you will get a lot of chances to be stimulated by their work.
The products are; paintings, movies, animation works accessories etc.....
Please enjoy new talented art work in Kyoto!

16th May Mifune Matsuri Festival

16th May Mifune Matsuri Festival

*Mifune Matsuri = Boating

During Mifune Festival, a procession of lavishly decorated boats carrying costumed courtiers, musicians and dancers makes its way down the Oi River in the Arashiyama area.

The spectacle works out the Imperial Boating Party of the Heian era.

Their prows shaped into clourful dragons and phoenixes.

Sacred dances, poetry readings, Noh dramas and traditional melodies are performed on the boats.

Hire a boat or book a place on a sightseeing for a close-up view of the water-borne performances, or join the crowds watching from Arashiyama's famous Togetsu Bridge.

This is annual event ! Why don't you experience boating in ancient way?

[ Date ]

16th May 12pm - 16pm

[ Fee ]

Free

[ Access ]

City bus No.71,72.73 from Kyoto Station to 'Kurumazaki jinjya mae'

May 15th Aoi Festival

Aoi Festival reproduces the imperial processions to the shrines in ancient days .

An Imperial messenger and his suite in court costumes assemble at Kyoto Imperial Palace .
The festival is called Aoi ( hollyhock ) , because all the participants of the parade decorate their costumes with hollyhock leaves.
Hollyhock is believed to have all sorts of powers, including protection against lightning and earthquakes, and guaranteeing easy childbirth.


Route of the procession as below;
Kyoto Imperial Palace ( 10:30AM ) ---> Shimogamo Shrine ( 11:40AM )
Shimogamo Shrine ( 2:20PM ) ---> Kamigamo Shrine ( 3:30PM )