Green tour Kyoto | travel information in JAPAN » June 2012
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 2012 Highlight events in Kyoto
June 1st
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 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.
June 1st
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.
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 [...]
June 10th ~ July 9th
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 16th
Hojo-e event
Hojo-e is a Buddhist event in which living things are set free and the killing of them is remonstrated against. About 1000 fireflies will be released into the sky on this day. You can enjoy an amazing scene in the garden of this temple and realize the preciousness of life. Take a Kyoto City bus [...]
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 22nd ~ 24th
Antique Grand Market
About 350 antique dealers will display their shops’ booths at this biggest antique event in Western Japan. 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. [...]
- 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.
