| - Something about Kyoto - by Kyoto Cuisine "Mibu" |
| <Summer in Kyoto - Festivals and Bon Fire> by the Chef of Kyoto Cuisine "Mibu" |
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| « Vol. 3 | Vol. 5 » | |
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Gion Festival When you hear the Gion Festival music, you know the summer has come to Kyoto. Kyoto in July is nothing but Gion Festival. Before appreciating the brave appearance of "Yamahoko Jyunkou (decorated floats procession)", you'd better visit Hoko-machi at "Yoi yoi yama (eve of eve of the festival)" and "Yoi yama (eve of the festival)". Taking a walk to where the sound of festival music comes from, you will meet beautiful decoration of "Yamahoko" floats and houses. It is also fun to hang around the crowded booths. |
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| Gozan Okuribi On August 16th, 5 fires are lit on mountains around Kyoto in order to see the spirits of ancestors off to the other worlds and pray for people's health and peaceful days. At 8 o'clock when the illumination of town is gone, Burning "Dai (Chinese character meaning large)" firstly appears, "Myo" & "Hou (Chinese character meaning excellent law of Buddha) come the next, then "Funagata (pictograph of a ship)", then "Hidari Dai (the left Dai)", and finally "Torii (pictograph of a shrine archway)" is lit. The fires burn for about 30 mins. and the long and hot summer in Kyoto goes off. |
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The Chef of Kyoto Cuisine "Mibu" |
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| Daimonji Gozan Okuribi Fire Festival 5 fires are lit on mountains for seeing the spirits of ancestors off to the other world which come home at Bon time. |
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| "Daimonji" Fire on Nyoigatake lighting at 20.00 |
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| Good places for viewing - from Sanjyo Oohashi bridge of Kamogawa river bank to the above - Kyoto Imperial Palace garden |
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| "Myo-hou" Fire on Matsugasaki -
NIshiyama (Mantourou-yama) & Higashiyama
(Daikokuten-yama) lighting at 20.10 |
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| Good places for viewing for Myo (Nishiyama) - Kitayama Street - around Nortre Dame Women's College for Hou (Higashiyama) - Takanogawa river bank above Takanobashi Bridge |
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| "Funa gata" Fire on Nisigamo Myoken-zan lighting at 20.15 |
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| Good places for viewing - from Kitayama Oohashi bridge of Kitayama Street to the above of Kita Oojibashi Bridge of Kamo river |
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| "Hidari Daimonji" Fire on Ookitayama lighting at 20.15 |
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| Good places for viewing - from Em-machi through Kinkaku-ji area to Kita Ooji Street |
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| "Torii" Fire on Mandara-yama lighting at 20.20 |
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Good places for viewing - Togetsukyo Bridge - Matsuo Bridge - HIrosawa Pond - Iwatayama Amusement Park |
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For opinions or questions, please contact:
Ark Hotel Kyoto
TEL: 075-812-1111
FAX: 075-822-6201
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