京町屋(Kyo-Machiya)

Kyo-machiya, Kyoto town house, is traditional townhouses of the city's merchants usually with two floors. With its characteristic appearance consist of Koshi (lattice) and mushikomado (literally insect cage window) of the upper floor, Kyo-machiyas had constructed harmonious beauty in Kyoto. We can see them in Gion area and can image how Kyoto was used to be. Kyo-machiya is famous of small front and deep depth, typically 5.4 meter wide and 20 meter deep, and popularly called "eel's bed". As homes were taxed according to the extent of the street frontage, this design came from economic necessity.


Tsubo-niwa (3.3 sq meter garden) often located in house and it made house comfortable not only through it aesthetic reflection of nature but also bringing light and air in. Because of big difference between humid subtropical-like summer and freezing cold winter, sliding doors and partitions are made removable and completely replaced each season. On the eve of the Gion Festival in July, front lattice of machiya in central Kyoto are removed and they display there treasures like folding screen, rugs and other items for appreciation by festival visitors and also for airing after the rainy season.



Small but built by the workmanship of experienced builders, Kyo-machiya reflects aesthetic feeling in tea ceremony or zen gardens and comfortable designs had developed through long history of Kyoto.
















By T.S. on 26th Jun., 2008

時代祭り(Jidai Matsuri)

Oct.22 / Jidai Matsuri

This is one of the three most representative of Kyoto's festivals, along with the Aoi Festival and the Gion Festival. It was first celebrated in 1895 to mark Kyoto's 1100th anniversary of becoming the Heian capital and home of the emperor. The central event of this festival is a parade featuring large numbers of people demonstrating the customs from each of the major historical periods from the Meiji Restoration back to Heian times.

The parade starts from the Imperial Palace and moves on foot for about four kilometers all the way to the Heian Shrine. The rows of women in period costume among the processions of people representing each period add great color to the parade.

Note:Enquiries: Kyoto Tourist Association (075-751-0221)The route of the procession is as follows:Kenreimon in the Imperial Palace (start at 12:00 pm) to Karasuma Oike (12:50 pm) to Kyoto City Hall (1:00 pm) to Sanjo Keihan (2:00 pm) to Heian Shrine (2:20 pm) Admission free (paid seating is available)

By T.S. on 25st Jun., 2008

祇園祭(Gion Matsuri)

Jul.14-16 / Gion Matsuri Yoi-yama

Prior to the parade of floats, the highlight of the Gion Festival, the "yama" and "hoko"(double-decked floats) floats are put together and decorated with beautiful tapestries and material. In the evening, at various corners of the so-called "Yamahoko-machi", lanterns lihgt up these floats for the enjoyment of passerby. The air of festivity is further heightened by the stalls which line the streets. In particular, the streets where the "hoko" are on display are worth a visit as family treasures such as screens and works of calligraphy are taken out of storage and placed on view. This is so much a part of the Gion Festival that another name for the festival is "Byobu Matsuri" or Screen Festival. Note: Entire area of Yamahoko-machiShijo Station of the Kyoto Subway Line,Karasuma Station of the Hankyu Kyoto Line.

Jul.17 / The Gion Feitival Parade

Gion Festival dates back to 869 (early Heian Period). At the time, a virulent epidemic was decimating the people of Kyoto and in order to appease the god of Yasaka Shrine (then called Gion Shrine) prayers were offered and 66 "hoko" (halberds) representing each province of Japan ware presented to the god.The pulling of the "yama" and "hoko" floats through the streets of Kyoto, the highlight of the festival, is said to have begun in the Muromachi Period (14th to 16th century). The Gion Festival is a month-long festival beginning on July 1st when "kippu-iri" or the placing of the names of the "yama"and "hoko" into a box takes place. The next day, the names are drawn to decide the order in which the floats should be placed for the parade. On the 17th, the parade departs from Shijo-Karasuma with the Naginata-boko heading the line of gorgeously decorated floats. The parade proceeds west along Shijo Street making a stop at Shijo-sakai-mach, where the Mayor of Kyoto City checks that the floats are in the order of the drawing held on the 2nd.

Just before Shijo-Fuya-cho, the "Chigo" or boy who represents the Shinto deities, cuts the "shimenawa" or sacred rope. The route of the parade is along Shijo-dori, Kawaramachi-dori, Oike-dori, and Shinmachi-dori. At each corner, excitemnet heightens as the huge, 12-ton "hoko" are pulled and pushed over green bamboo which have been split and watered down to enable the "hoko"to maneuver the corners.

Note:Kyoto-shi Kankou Kyokai (Kyoto City Tourist Association 075- 752-0225) The parade can be enjoyed at any point along the parade route.

By T.S. on 25th Jun., 2008

葵祭り(Aoi Matsuri)

Aoi Matsuri is the annual festival of Kamigamo and Shimogamo Shrines. It ranks as one of the three major festivals of Kyoto along with Gion Matsuri and Jidai Matsuri. It was held on a large scale during the Heian Period (794-1191) and many references to the festival are found in The Tale of Genji (first Japanese novel) and other ancient chronicles. The festival takes its name from the custom of decorating the procession participants and the bulls which are used to pull the carts with hollyhock (aoi) leaves. The procession leaves from the Imperial Palace to make the rounds of Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines.






Note:Kamigamo Shrine (075-781-0011)
Kyoto-shi, Kita-ku

Note:Shimogamo Shrine (075-781-0010)
Kyoto-shi, Sakyo-ku

By T.S. on 24th Jun., 2008