Following the recent series on the Aoi festivities in Kyoto, I’ve been wondering about the male-female significances. These concern in particular the aoi plant and the katsura tree, two emblems worn by participants in the festival. Both have similar … Read the rest
Daigo-ji is one of Kyoto’s many treasures, and deserves to be better known. It’s a Shingon temple with an upper and lower part on a hill one hour’s walk from each other. Amongst the many structures, it boasts a … Read the rest
Yoshida Shrine is alluring, attractive and one of the reasons I came to live in Kyoto. It also happens to be one of the most significant shrines in history, for it was from here that Yoshida Shinto was propagated … Read the rest
Aoi Festival Grand Procession: Ancient Capital Shines under Clear Skies
adapted from the Kyoto Shimbun
The Aoi Festival, the first of Kyoto’s three major festivals, stretched out through Kyoto City today. A total of 511 participants dressed in noble … Read the rest
This is the second part of the entry about Mikage-sai, which takes place on May 12. A previous post covered the morning ritual at Shimogamo Shrine, when participants partake in purification rites prior to taking buses up to Mikage … Read the rest
May 12 is a big day for Kyoto. An awesome day, you might say. This is the day when the two co-hosts of the Aoi Matsuri, Shimogamo and Kamigamo, receive the kami from their sacred hills and renew the … Read the rest
On May 15 the oldest of Kyoto’s Big Three Festivals takes place. The Aoi Matsuri is the city’s big spring event; the Gion Matsuri is the summer bonanza; and the Jidai Matsuri is the autumnal offering. In winter we … Read the rest
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