As we told you, there is a lot to do in Kyoto during summer! If you want to experience something different during your stay with us, don't hesitate to check out these less known events in and around Kyoto. Here is our little selection:
前回お届けしたとおり、夏の京都にはたくさんの楽しみがあります。でももっとディープな京都を体験してみたい！という方は、以下のお祭りに参加してみてはいかがでしょう？
HASUZAKE WO TANOSHIMU-KAI
In Uji, a small town in the south of Kyoto, you will be able to refresh yourself in a very original way! The Mimuroto shrine in the city Uji has a garden filled with about 250 lotus pots, but they not just there to be admired by tourists! Tradition says that drinking from a lotus leaf stem is good for health and long life. Every year, up to three hundred people can be served with sake, and a large lotus leaf is used as a cup. The leaf can be lifted up to extend the stem, which serves as a straw. Even though you cannot drink alcohol or you don’t like Japanese sake, this event certainly is a great new experience!
ハス酒を楽しむ会
京都の南部にある宇治では、面白い方法でリフレッシュすることが出来ますよ！
宇治市にある三室戸寺の庭園には、250の睡蓮が植えられています。もちろん綺麗な花を眺めるのもいいですが、それだけではありません。三室戸寺では、毎年300人に大きな蓮の葉にお酒をいれて振舞っています。なんでこんな事をするかって？古い言い伝えでは、蓮の茎からお酒を飲むと、健康で長生きできるとされているのです！葉の部分を持ち上げて、茎のストローから上手にお酒を飲んで下さいね。アルコールが飲めない方や、日本酒が苦手な方でも、面白い体験が出来ること間違いなしですよ！
When? July 11th, 2020
Where? Mimuroto-ji
Price? Entry fee ¥500 (only the first 300 people will be served with sake)
日時：7月11日
場所：三室戸寺（京都府宇治市）
料金：入場料500円（お酒が振舞われるのは300人まで）
MIZU MATSURI
Originally held as a ritual to pray for rainfall, the Mizu Matsuri (Water Festival) at Kifune Shrine serves to show gratitude to the gods responsible for the gift of water.
Beginning at 10am, a tea ceremony is performed and offered to the deities of the shrine.
Then, old style bugaku (traditional Japanese court dance) and music is performed by a dancer in a mask and orange robes.
The highlight of the event is a shikibōchō, a cooking ritual demonstration performed by a chef from the prestigious Ikama School, said to span back 29 generations to cooks for the Imperial family. After the cooking table is purified by a priest and the fish is placed upon it, the chef dressed in traditional clothes proceeds to slice and prepare the fish without ever touching it with his hands, for the purposes of keeping the offering pure for the gods.
水まつり
貴船神社で開催される水まつりは、雨乞いの儀式が基となっている、水の恵みの神様への感謝を伝えるお祭りです。お茶席が開かれ、神様へとお供えされたり、舞楽の奉納が行われたりします。
水まつりの一番の見どころは、"式庖丁(しきぼうちょう)"と呼ばれる儀式です。29代続く生間流の料理人によって行われるこの式庖丁では、神様への供物を穢さないよう、一切手を触れることなく、魚を捌き、盛り付ける様子を見ることができます。
When? July 7th. (※If July 7th falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then the Mizu Matsuri will take place on the next Monday, and the Tanabata Ritual will take place on July 7th at 11am)
Where? Kifune Shrine, in the main sanctuary (Hongū)
Admission? Free
Official website: http://kifunejinja.jp/
日時：7月7日
場所：貴船神社本宮
料金：無料
Official website: http://kifunejinja.jp/
MOTOMIYA-SAI
This two day event, the Yomiya-sai and Motomiya-sai in mid-summer, is a lively, lantern-based celebration. Starting from the evening of the first day, thousands of stone and wood lanterns scattered all over Mt. Inari will be lit up, and laypeople who donate lanterns will also hang them on the paths throughout the shrine. Traditional artists collaborate and donate beautifully painted square paper lanterns that are lit around the circumference of the main shrine area at the base of the mountain.
Throughout the two days of the festival various performances are held to entertain those who come to pray, including taiko drum concerts and dance exhibitions. A traditional Motomiya-odori dance is also held in the evenings.
本宮祭
7月に2日間にわたって伏見稲荷大社で行われる本宮祭では、境内にある提灯や灯篭がライトアップされ、幻想的な風景となります。また、本殿の周りでは、伝統芸能の芸術家たちによって彩られた美しい提灯も飾られています。
ライトアップだけでなく、太鼓の演奏や、伝統的な本宮踊りといったパフォーマンスを楽しむこともできますよ！
When? In July
Where? Fushimi Inari Taisha
Admission? Free
Official website: http://inari.jp/en/rite/
日時：7月
場所：伏見稲荷大社
料金：無料
Official website：http://inari.jp/rite/?month=7%E6%9C%88
HIWATARI MATSURI
Tanukidani-san Fudō-in is a temple that eschews the more traditional Buddhist sect system in favor of the ascetic nature worship of Shugendō. A practice that combines various Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist beliefs, Shugendō can be translated as "the way to spiritual power through discipline".
One of the rituals associated both with Shugendō and Fudō Myō'ō worship is the Hiwatari Matsuri, or Fire Walking Festival. In this ceremony, goma (wooden prayer sticks) are assembled into a pyre to be ritualistically burned, and the still flaming ashes and remnants are then raked flat.
Shugenja (Shugendō followers) lead the way by walking barefoot across the hot ground before helping the public do the same. This fascinating ritual is not only interesting for its religious components. It is also a challenge for anyone who would like to participate. Can you handle the heat?
A popular charm to purchase at this festival is one that is said to ward your home from being damaged by fire.
火渡り祭
狸谷山不動院で信仰されている"修験道"は、仏教と神道、山岳信仰などが合わさってできた、日本独自の信仰です。
そんな狸谷山不動院で行われるお祭りのひとつが、今回紹介する火渡り祭です。火渡り祭では、まず、護摩焚きが行われ、その灰が平らにならされます。その後、修験者が裸足でまだ熱い灰の中を練り歩きます。一般の参加者も、実際に灰の中を歩くことができますよ。皆さんはこの熱さに耐えられるでしょうか？
また、火渡り祭のお守りは、家を火災などの火の事故から守ってくれると言われています。
When? July 28th, 7pm～
Where? Tanukidani-san Fudō-in
Admission? \500
Official website: http://www.tanukidani.com/
日時：7月28日 夜7時～
場所：狸谷山不動院
参加費：500円
Official website: http://www.tanukidani.com/
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