Girl's Day -3rd Mar.

Do you know about Girl's day?
It's on the 3rd of March every year.

People display graceful dolls in ancient court costumes
on a tier of 5 or 7 shelves covered with scarlet cloth.
These dolls represent the Emperor and Empress,
the court ladies, the ministers and the court musicians.
The girls are expected to be as elegant as these courtly ladies.

There is an event for Girl's day at Shimogamo shrine.
DATE : 3rd March
TIME: 10:30am -

The event called " Nagashi bina",paper dolls floated downriver.
wish for a state of perfect health for you and your kids.

This is a very arcane ritual and Japanese tradition.

Access: City but #205 "Shimogamo jinjya mae"

His season has come !!

The most famous Kyoto city tour season will come back on Mar 1st !!
Johnnie Hillwalker : WALK IN KYOTO TALK IN ENGLISH

Mar - Nov
Every Mon, Wed and FRI
No walk on National Holidays

Just come and join
10:00-10:15 @ 10 steps down small square, AQUA FANTASY between JR Kyoto sta and KYOTO TOWER.

Plum Blossom has been bloom !

Baika Sai ( Plum Blossom Viewing Festival ) is on

FEB.25th @ Kitano Shrine

This shrine is well known for plum blossoms.
Beautiful colors on them!

Outdoor tea ceremony performed by Geiko and Maiko girls
is the highlight of the festival ( From 10:00AM to 3:00PM ¥1,500).

Monthly Flea Market is also held on this day.

You can feel Spring just over there!

Access: City Bus No.50 "Kitanotenmangu-mae"

11th Feb. Nanakusa Gayu

11th FEb. 2011　10:00am - 16:00pm
at Jonangu Shrine

Nanakusa ( the seven spring herbs ) is believed to purify the body and prevent illness.
The shrine offers Nanakusa Gayu ( rice gruel ) Nanakusa grown in the shrine's garden in it.

Here are the seven spring herbs below,

1. Water dropwort (seri, Oenanthe javanica)
2. Shepherd's purse (nazuna)
3. Cudweed (gogyo, Gnaphalium affine)
4. Chickweed (hakobera, Stellaria media)
5. Nipplewort (hotokenoza, Lapsana apogonoides)
6. Turnip (suzuna)
7. Daikon (suzushiro)

...I can't still remember what herbs are in.

Let's eat and make a good health !

Nanakusa Gayu : ¥450 ( not fixed yet )

Access: From CitySubway-Karasuma-line "Takeda Station"

Sestubun

Setsubun means the parting of the seasons.
On February 3, people scatter soybeans throughout their house to drive out demons and bring in good luck.(Oniwa soto fukuwa uchi!!) The ceremony is also held at temples and shrines.

I recommend you Mibu temple they will play Kyogen on the date

Kyogen Play is performed 8 times a day from 1:00PM on Feb.2 and 3.( Free )

• [ Mibu Temple ]
• Tel : 075-841-3381
  Access : City Bus No.26 "Mibudera michi"

Hatsu EBISU Festival

HATSU EBISU FESTIVAL is on

8th JAN - 12th JAN 2011 at Ebisu Shrine

Time: 8th： 8:00am -23:00pm
9th :all the night long
10th :all the night long
11th: 8:00am - 24:00pm

*Ebisu (one of the Seven Lucky Gods) is the partrom deity of merchants.
Citizens go to the shrine to pray for a prosperous year.

Why don't you go there to pray for the new year wish?

Access: City Bus No.207 to "Shijo-Keihan Mae"
or
Subway Karasuma-line "Shijo Station"

Japanese New Year

New Year is the most important holiday in Japan. Families gather to spend the days together, and most businesses shut down from January 1 to January 3.

Visiting Japan during the time may be inconvenient, as many tourist attractions, shops and restaurants are closed, but can be a good opportunity to experience the traditional atmosphere.

=Hatsumode=

Hatsumode refers to the year's first visit to Shinto Shrines.
On this visit, people pray for many different things for the coming year, such as health, safety, passing an exam etc.
Each Shinto Shrine is said to have a significant benefit, and people go to the different shrine depend on their wishes.

My recommended hatsumode shrine is

Fushimi Inari shrine : The shrine for a good business Access : JR Nara-line, "Inari Station"

And Yasaka Shrine : The shrine for protecting people from evils Access : City Bus No.206 "Gion"