Green tour Kyoto | travel information in JAPAN » Events
This month's events
The temples and shrines in Kyoto have been keeping their rituals and events from the olden days.
They are traditional, sacred and a pleasant experience. We'd like to introduce them every month.
They are worth to visit during your stay.
June 30th
Nagoshi-no-harai Ritual
This is an ancient Japanese purification to pray for our health in the remainder of the year.
Highlight events in Kyoto
June 1st
Kibune Shrine Festival
This is a classic ceremony for giving thanks at Kibune Shrine, which enshrines the God of water. People carry a mikoshi (portable shrine) along the Kibune river and a traditional Shinto dance performance is held. Takes Eizan line from Demachi-yanagi Station and get off at Kibune. Walk about 20 minutes.
Kaminari-yoke Festival
This is an annual festival to pray for protection from thunder and fire and also for a rich harvest. The talisman is presented to the visitors from 5pm. The comical performance will be held from 10:00 to 15:00. The ceremony would be needed to hold especially in such an unstable weather in current summer!
June 7th, Friday
Heian Shrine Garden Public Opening
This is a good opportunity to see this beautiful Japanese garden of 2,000 blooming kakitsubata irises and shobu irises for free of charge.
June 10th
Taue-sai Rice planting Festival
Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine, well-known as having thousands of red Shinto gates, enshrines the God for rice harvest. This is an annual event for a rich harvest of rice this year. Women in the Heian costume dedicate the dance to God (13:00~) and plant the rice seedling in the traditional music of Japanese flute and harp [...]
Hydrangea Festival at Sanzen-in
Sanzen-in Temple in Ohara, north part of Kyoto City, opens their garden to public until July 9. You can enjoy about 3,000 hydrangea on the beautiful moss mat at this temple. Sanzen-in Temple : Take Kyoto Bus no.17 or 18 from Kyoto Station and get off at Ohara. (about 1 hour)
June 20th
Takekirie Bamboo Cutting Ritual
Kurama-dera Temple, located at the top of sacred Mt. Kurama, holds this historical ritual every June. Two teams of four men dressed in priests’ costumes compete at cutting a length of a huge bamboo tree by sword. Take the Eizan line from Demachi-yanagi Station and get off at Kurama.
June 21st ~ 23rd
Antique Grand Market
About 350 antique dealers will display their shops’ booths at this biggest antique event in Western Japan. More than 1,500,000 antiques will be in store. You can see all the different aspects of the Japanese antique world. Pulse Plaza 10:00~17:00 (Free bus available from subway Takeda Station)
June 30th
Nagoshi-no-harai Ritual
This is an ancient Japanese purification to pray for our health in the remainder of the year. It is said that if you pass through a big wreath named Chinowa made of a kind of rush in the grounds of some Shinto shrines, you are guaranteed to spend a healthy life in the latter year. [...]
Column
Aoi Matsuri Festival
It is May in Kyoto and the cherry blossoms of April have scattered, making way for fresh green leaves to blanket the surrounding mountains and hills. The lush greenery throughout the city provides a fitting backdrop for Matsuri, or Hollyhock festival, which takes place this month. Aoi is Japanese for Hollyhock, and the dark green [...]
May 3rd
Yabusame-shinji Ritual
Movie: This is a powerful ceremony to purify the route of the Aoi Matsuri procession. A man in traditional costume shoots an arrow while riding on horseback. The forest in the Shimogamo Shrine’s Ground is very crowded on that day. Early arrival is recommended.
- April 2012
- April 2013
- August 2011
- August 2012
- December 2011
- December 2012
- February 2012
- February 2013
- January 2012
- January 2013
- July 2011
- July 2012
- June 2011
- June 2012
- June 2013
- March 2012
- March 2013
- May 2012
- May 2013
- November 2011
- November 2012
- october 2011
- october 2012
- September 2011
- September 2012
- Every 1st Sunday
- To-ji Temple
- 7:00-16:00
- Antique market.
- Every 2nd Saturday
- Toyokuni Shrine
- 10:00-15:00
- Small antique market.
- Every 2nd Sunday
- Bishamon-do in Kennin-ji Temple
- 10:00-16:00
- Known as Tora-ichi, artistic handicrafts & arts.
- Every 4th Sunday
- Kamigamo Shrine
- Handicraft market in peaceful and quiet grounds of the shrine.
- Every 15th
- Chion-ji Temple
- 8:00-16:00
- Kyoto's biggest monthly market of handmade goods and crafts.
- Every 21st
- To-ji Temple
- 7:00-16:30
- Known as Kobo-san, Kyoto's largest market for all kinds of antiques, tools and so on.
- Every 25th
- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
- 7:00-16:30
- Known as Tenjin-san, a popular flea market at one of Kyoto's major shrines. Antiques, food, tools and so on.
