Kyoto had beautiful scenery and was in a convenient
position to link eastern and western Japan, so it has flourished as a
governmental and cultural center ever since the capital was moved there
in 794, more than 1,200 years ago. Kyoto was built in imitation of the
capital of China, so its streets run in straight lines from east to west
and south to north. Kyoto has many temples, shrines, gardens, and notable
sights, so many foreigners as well as Japanese come sightseeing there.
The Arashiyama area is centered around the Togetsu Bridge over the Katsura River, and it is known as one of the notable places for cherry blossoms in the spring, boating in the summer, and changing foliage in the autumn.
The Arashiyama area is centered around the Togetsu Bridge over the Katsura River, and it is known as one of the notable places for cherry blossoms in the spring, boating in the summer, and changing foliage in the autumn.
Yasurai Matsuri
This festival takes place at Imamiya Jinja
Shrine in Kyoto on April 10. The people in ancient times thought that
when the time came for cherry blossoms to fall, the influences that caused
illness would come along with the scattering petals to people with weak
constitutions. This festival was intended to ward off those causes of
disease, and people would walk through the streets, usually with straw
hats decorated with flowers but also beating drums, ringing bells, and
singing songs. The song includes the words "yasurai bana ya,"
which gave the festival its name. The words express the desire for the
blossoms, which bring illness, to stop and rest where they are. It is
believed that people who stand under the floral hats will not fall ill.
Aoi Matsuri
The Kamo-matsuri is held at Kamigamo Jinja
Shrine (Kamowakeikazuchi Jinja Shrine) and Shimogamo Jinja Shrine (Kamomioya
Jinja Shrine), but since the costumes and carts are decorated with hollyhock
(aoi) leaves, it is commonly referred to as the Aoi-matsuri. Various festivals
are held in the course of the year in Kyoto, but long ago when the people
of Kyoto used to say "the festival," they meant the Aoi-matsuri.
Floats brilliantly decorated with hollyhocks and people wearing costumes
of the Heian period depart from the Kyoto palace grounds and make a procession
to these two shrines. This is a beautiful procession that gives a vivid
sense of what it looked like long ago.
Gion Matsuri
The Gion-matsuri is a famous festival that
takes place at Yasaka Jinja Shrine in Kyoto. On July 17 of every year,
floats like those in the photograph are drawn through the city. Large
crowds of tourists come to watch the festival.
There is a great deal of rain during the rainy
season (tsuyu season) and the humidity is high, so people tend to fall
ill and crops tend to suffer. The people of the past thought this was
the doing of evil gods. The Gion-matsuri is held at Yasaka Jinja Shrine
in Kyoto every year from July 1-29 in order to restrain the activity of
those evil gods. On July 17 of every year, in particular, floats like
those in the photograph are drawn through the city.
This festival is thought to have originated during the Heian period.
This festival is thought to have originated during the Heian period.
Daimonji
On August 16, fires are lit to form the Japanese character dai (large) on Daimonji Mountain in Kyoto.
This is a famous summertime event in Kyoto.
It is thought that the spirits of the ancestors
that have returned for memorial services in their respective houses during
Bon go back where they came from on August 16. The daimonji fires are
an event to send the spirits on their way. Similar fires to see off the
spirits are also lit on other mountains in Kyoto, and besides the character
dai, there are a ship shape and the characters myô (sublime) and
hô (Dharma), which are related to Buddhism. This is an old event
that was already taking place at the beginning of the Edo period.