HANABI =fireworks display=

Summer night bloomer == Fireworks display

What's more Japanese summer than Fireworks display?
What's more Fireworks display than Japanese summer?

We cannot say anything about Japanese summer without Fireworks display.
Unfortunately we don't have big fireworks in Kyoto city. but nearby Kyoto(Shiga pref and Uji city) have big one.

Lake Biwa fireworks display
⇒ Aug 6th (fri) 19:30->20:30 around Lake Biwa (20min by JR from J-Hoppers)

Uji river fireworks display
⇒ Aug 10th(Sat) 19:45->20:45 beside Uji River(20min by JR from J-Hoppers)

Gion Festival 17th July Yama-Hoko Junko

17th July from 9:00am～

Most exciting part of Gion Festival is....
Yama-Hoko Junko (The Grand Procession)

The first Naginata Float stars moving at 9:00am,then a formal ceremony confirms the order of the floats.
The floats are so big and heavy that bunches of bamboo are spread at each street corner to help the floats make a turn.

This technique, called "Tsuji-mawashi" , adds the exciting spectacles to the procession.

You can't miss it!

Why don't you wear Yukata for the special day?

Enjoy and feel one of big famous festivals in Japan !!

Access:

City bus No. 12, 46, 100, 201, 202, 203, 206, 207

to " Gion " bus stop !

A thousand times visit Atago Shrine

Through the night on Jul 31st to Aug 1st,
tens of thousands of people visit Atago Shrine,
which on top of the mountain located northwest part of Kyoto city.



This is not only all night long crazy visiting shrine,
but also once you visit there on that day,
it means you visit there a thousand times.
Especially Atago shrine is a symbolic of fireproof.
So this worship brings you protection from fire.

It is about 4km climbing. And on the top of mountain, there are some place to have a rest and shops to have a little snack. Also, you can get the charms for your kitchen wall to put on (500 yen).



Access: Kyoto bus no. 62 or 72
　　　　Kyoto sta.~ Kiyotaki bus stop 270/one way 54mins
　　　　075-861-2105

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