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About Kyoto
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There are so many things to do in Kyoto if you are interested in Japanese culture.
Here to study Japanese? Here is a list of schools in Kyoto offering Japanese classes.
Check what festivals will be held while you are here! Watch this space for information, times, locations and travel details
For up-to-date information about events, check out these great sites! JapanVisitor Digital City Fun Guide to Kyoto Events Kyoto city tourism and culture information system Japanzine
Celebrate the New Year in Kyoto! Listen for the 108 bells rung at temples all around Kyoto from about 11:00 pm on December 31st. Head to Chio-in Temple to see the monks ring the enormous bell there (just follow the hordes ... you'll find it). Get your first fire of the year from Yasaka Shrine, discover what the New Year has in store for you by doing your "omikuji" at Heian Shrine, or line up to drink free "amazake" and ring a bell yourself at one of the smaller temples around Ebisu's! You'll never have a better opportunity to see exquisite kimono worn by so many women! Excellent photo ops!
February 2nd and 3rd mark "Setsubun", the dates which herald the coming of spring on the ancient Japanese calendar. One of the most famous places to celebrate Setsubun is at Yoshida Shrine, just a few steps from Ebisu's! Don't miss the huge fire in the shrine precinct from about 11pm on the night of the 3rd.
April is the season for cherry blossoms. Check out the philosopher's path, Arashiyama, ,Momoyama Castle, or the Shirakawa Canal in Gion. The Biwa Canal is also a popular viewing area.For after-dark parties, join the hordes in Maruyama Park under the magnificent weeping cherry.
Don't miss Gion Matsuri! It is Kyoto's biggest festival. The floats are moved on July 17th, but the 3 nights preceding this is when everyone heads to the Shijo area to view the floats close-up. Shijo -doori is closed to traffic on those nights.
August 16th ...
Daimonji Bonfires,
See the wonderful Obon fires on the hills surrounding Kyoto. There are 5 in all ... 3 can be seen from the 2nd floor rooms of Ebisu's ... the other 2 can be seen from the other side of Yoshida-yama, just minutes away! (see photos on our home page!).
Other great viewing sites include the Imadegawa bridge near Keihan Demachi-Yanagi Station and Kyoto University near Higashioji Imadegawa. Take a picnic or a couple of beers. Stake out your spot early. Start at 8pm. Best seen from an elevated location. It is believed that if you see all fires on the one evening, you'll have good luck all year!
October 22 sees the climax of the Kyoto festival season, with the "Festival of the Ages", or Jidai Matsuri, which travels from The Imperial Palace at 12 am, to finish at Heian Shrine at about 4 pm, and the Kurama Fire Festival in the evening.
The lovely weather of autumn brings the rich hues of the changing leaves, best in mid - late November.
Check out what is on at KyoRyuKan, Kyoto's best alternative venue!
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Featured Artists: Gunnard Doboze was a resident of Ebisu's Kyoto when he came to Kyoto as a recipient of the 2002 Japan Foundation award. During that time, he observed, studied and performed with traditional Japanese musicians here in Kyoto, as well as taking extensive field recordings of both traditional musicians and temple ceremonies. Great news! Gunnard composed the soundtrack for the movie September Tapes, which has been invited to the Sundance Film Festival in 2004. Congratulations, Gunnard! Takahiro Maeda, Lamp Maker is an award-winning local artist fashioning beautiful lamps from Japanese hand-made paper, called washi. |
