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Shichi-Go-San
Shichi-go-san literally means seven, five, and three. When children reach these ages, they are taken by parents or grandparents to a Shinto shrine in the neighborhood to celebrate their growth on November 15th.
Originally, this was a custom done by the families of the warriors and aristocrats but since the Edo period ordinary families have started [...]
Kimono Fair
We had a day off today, both of us, so we were able to enjoy the sunny autumn day as well as the kimono fair that took place right in our backyard, at Kamigamo-jinja.
While kimono merchants were proudly displaying their merchandise and visitors were treated with green tea prepared by maiko, the central attraction of [...]
Jidai Matsuri - The Festival of Ages
About 1,200 years ago, the Emperor Kammu chose picturesque Yamashiro with its beautiful mountains and clean water as the site of Heian-kyo, the new capital. This decision made on October 22 in the year 794 was the beginning of Kyoto.
In celebration of the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of the capital and in commemoration of [...]
Admiring the Moon
As fall starts to make noticed its discrete presence, Japanese people’s sensibility towards nature comes forward once again, expressed through a variety of local events and festivals. They say we entered what they call Chushu no Meigetsu, or Mid Autumn’s Most Beautiful Moon.There are at least five* local moon admiring events in two days here [...]
