| Event |
Date¡ÊJuly¡Ë |
Contents |
Place |
| Kippu-iri |
July 1, Sun.-5, Thu. |
Kippu-iri is the first ritual of the festival. It is at this time that people discuss the festival organization for this year as well as display the deities for each float in the area each float is identified with. |
At each float set-up location |
| Naginata-boko Osendo |
July 1, Sun. from 10:00 |
The sacred child (chosen every year) who rides on the leading Naginata-boko float visits Yasaka Shrine to pray for safety in the festival. |
Yasaka Shrine |
| Yama Hoko Organizers¡Ç Shrine Visit |
July 2 Mon. from 11:30 |
After the Kujitori Ceremony which decide the order of the floats in the grand parade on 17th, people visit Yasaka Shrine to pray for safety during the festival. |
Yasaka Shrine |
| Hoko-tate, Yama-tate |
July 10, Tue.-14, Sat. |
Construction of all the festival floats begins: no nails are used and everything is done according to traditional, ancient methods of assembly. |
At each float set-up location |
| Omukae Chochin |
July 10, Tue, 16:30-21:00 |
A procession departs from Yasaka Shrine to welcome the return of the mikoshi portable shrines used every year in the festival.? People in the procession hold chochin lanterns and children perform Sagi-mai dance. |
|
| Mikoshi Arai Purification |
July 10, Tue.20:00-20:30 |
A mikoshi is carried from Yasaka Shrine to Shijo Bridge where it is ceremonially purified with water from the Kamo River. |
Shijo Bridge |
| Hoko Hiki-hajime and Yama Kaki-zome Trial Pulling |
July 12, Thu. & 13, Fri. |
When all the floats are completed, the locals around each float conduct a trial pull of each float while playing Gion bayashi music.? Some floats organizations allow the public to join this pulling event. |
|
| Sacred Child¡Çs Shrine Visit |
July 13, Fri. 11:00 |
The sacred child who rides on the Naginata-boko float visits Yasaka Shrine and is received through a special ceremony. |
Yasaka Shrine |
| Kuze Koma Sacred Child¡Çs Shrine Visit |
July 13, Fri. 14:00 |
Another sacred child, from Kuze in the southern part of Kyoto, visits Yasaka Shrine. |
Yasaka Shrine |
| Yoi yama |
July 14, Sat.-16, Mon. |
Sections of some main streets of the city will be car-free during these evenings: Shijo between Kawaramachi and Horikawa on the 14th, Shijo between Horikawa and Yasaka Shrine on the 15th and 16th.? Each float is gorgeously decorated and chochin lanterns will be lit up around each float area.? Many stalls line the streets and the city is filled with Gion bayashi music played with whistles and bells.? |
|
| Traditional Entertainment Performance
Yasaka Shrine
|
July 15, Sun.15:00¡Á18:00 |
Imayo Kabugaku dance, koto harp, biwa, kyogen, traditional songs and dance, shakuhachi and other traditional forms of entertainment will be performed. |
Yasaka Shrine |
| Tea Ceremony Dedication
Yasaka Shrine
|
July 16,Mon.9:00 |
The master of the Urasenke tea school will perform a special festival tea ceremony. |
Yasaka Shrine |
| Iwami Kagura Dance
Yasaka Shrine
|
July 16, Mon.19:00¡Á |
The deity of Yasaka Shrine is Susano-o no Mikoto.? There is a legend that he once fought with and got rid of a huge, vicious snake.? A dance performance is used to tell the story along with energetic music (whistles, drums, bells). |
Yasaka Shrine |
| Yama and Hoko Grand Parade |
July 17, Tue.9:00¡Á |
After the Kuji aratame (confirmation of the parade float order for this year) ceremony, a child riding on the first float, the Naginata-boko, cuts the tape and the grand parade official begins.? All 32 festival floats go follow the downtown route through the city.? One of the highlights of the parade is Tsujimawashi, when the floats are maneuvered around the corners as they turn 90 degrees at the Kawaramachi-Shijo, Kawaramachi-Oike and Oike-Shinmachi intersections.
Shijo Karasuma ? Kawaramachi ? Oike |
|
| Shinko-sai Festival |
July 17, Tue.16:00 |
At this time, a special ceremony is held in the main shrine building. |
Yasaka Shrine |
| Mikoshi Departure Ceremony |
July 17, Tue.18:00 |
Three mikoshi portable shrines depart from the shrine to the Otabisho.? Many people come to watch this event.
From Yasaka Shrine to Shijo Otabisho |
|
| Sencha Tea Ceremony Dedication |
July 23, Mon.9:00 |
Masters of the Sencha tea ceremony perform a traditional Sencha tea ceremony. |
Yasaka Shrine |
| Biwa Performance |
July 23, Mon.15:00 |
Biwa (Japanese style banjo) music will be performed. |
Yasaka Shrine |
| Hanagasa Parade |
July 24, Tue.10:00¡Á |
About 1,000 people including maiko and geiko from four of Kyoto¡Çs Hanamachi (maiko and geiko districts) form a long procession wearing colorful hat decorated with flowers.
Yasaka Shrine ? Shijo Kawaramachi ? Oike ? Teramachi ? Shijo ? Higashioji ? Shinko ? Yasaka Shrine |
|
| Kanko-sai Festival |
July 24, Tue.17:00¡Á |
Three mikoshi portable shrines depart from the Shijo Otabisho.? After following a special route through the center of the city, the procession returns to the shrine.? From around 21:00, each mikoshi is taken in a circle around the shrine 3 times and then returns to its original resting place.
Shijo Otabisho to Yasaka Shrine |
|
Kyogen Performance |
July 25, Wed.13:00¡Á |
Kyogen performance will be presented by the Shigeyama Chuzaburo Family. |
Yasaka Shrine |
Mikoshi Arai Purification |
July 28, Sat.20:00 |
This ritual is the same as the one held on the 10th: people purify the mikoshi at Shijo Bridge before carrying the spirit of the deity back to the shrine. |
Shijo Bridge |
Festival Report to the Deity |
July 29, Sun.
16:00 |
The festival deity is informed that the festival is finished. |
Yasaka Shrine |
Nagoshi Festival |
July 31, Tue.10:00 |
A big wreath made from reed is hung on the torii shrine gate and people pass through it to get rid of bad fortune.
|
Eki Shrine in Yasaka Shrine |
| Inquiries for all events |
Yasaka Shrine: Tel: 075-561-6155 |
