Hina Matsuri Event @ Shimogamo-Jinja Kyoto

Hinamatsuri traces its origins to an ancient Japanese custom called hina-nagashi (lit. "doll floating"), in which straw hina dolls are set afloat on a boat and sent down a river to the sea, supposedly taking troubles or bad spirits with them.

The Shimogamo-Jinja (part of the Kamo Shrine complex in Kyoto) celebrates the Nagashibina by floating these dolls between the Takano and Kamo Rivers to pray for the safety of children. People have stopped doing this now because of fishermen catching the dolls in their nets. They now send them out to sea, and when the spectators are gone they take the boats out of the water and bring them back to the temple and burn them.

floating doll

Takoyaki Cooking Class

We are organizing a cooking class on the 24th of February (Tomorrow!)

Let's cook Takoyaki (octopus ball) together.
There's no fee, just sign up at the reception.

We will commence to cook at 19:00.
Please be there!!

Baikasai

It's been warm days recently.
Is it almost the time for Ume(plum blossoms) yet?!

Kitanotemmangu shrine is not only famous for monthly flea market, but also famous for Ume blossoms.
There is baikasai(plum blossoms festival) on the 25th of February.
It is an anniversary of the death of Sugawarano michizane who is enshrined as a kami for kitanotenmangu shrine.
↓about Sugawarano michizane
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugawara_no_Michizane

The ceremony will be held from 10:00a.m. for about 50 minutes.
Tea ceremony will be held from 10:00a.m. to 15:00p.m.

Date:25th February, 2011
Time:10:00 a.m.
Fee:1500yen for tea ceremoney
Place:Kitanotemmangu shrine
Access:take city bus 101 from Kyoto station, and get off at Kitanotenmangu-mae.

The Fire Rites Festival

I found a interesting festival that i have never heard,
but it was quite popular for Kyoto lovers.

"Agon-no hoshimaturi"is the religious ceremony of Agon-shu(the Shinto-Buddhism).

More than half a million people participate in this event wow.
It is coming very soon, on the February 11th
here is more details:)
↓↓↓
http://www.agon.org/hoshi2011/e/index.html