Uploads from Jeremy Tan, KL

20110515 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Kamigyo Ward - Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - Aoi Matsuri aka Hollyhock Festival - Court ladies aka Myobu

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 09:20:26 -0700

Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Festival)

An ancient festival full of elegance - a magnificent procession dating back 1,000 years reproduced in Kyoto.

Date:May 15th
Places:Shimogamo-jinja Shrine and Kamigamo-jinja Shrine
Kyoto Imperial Palace: Kyoto Gyoen, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City
Shimogamo-jinja Shrine: Shimogamo Izumigawa-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
Kamigamo-jinja Shrine: Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto City

Some 500 people wearing splendid ancient costumes and traditional make-up parade through the main streets of Kyoto. This festival came to be called Aoi Matsuri because aoi (hollyhock) leaves are used as ornaments not only on the people's costumes, but even on cows and horses.

This festival reproduces the procession of officials delivering the Emperor's message and offerings to the two shrines of Shimogamo and Kamigamo. In this light, the most important position held in the parade is the messenger on horseback wearing a gold sword at his side, who is followed by a train of attendants. The highlight of the procession is the parade of women accompanying the proxy of the imperial princess serving the deities. The role of this heroine is selected from among all unmarried women living in Kyoto. She must dress in the formal style of the imperial court, in other words, 12 layers of kimono, weighing 30 kg in total.

- www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/traditionalevents/a24_...

20110515 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Kamigyo Ward - Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - Aoi Matsuri aka Hollyhock Festival - Menowarawa

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 09:20:25 -0700

Jeremy Tan, KL posted a photo:

20110515 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Kamigyo Ward - Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - Aoi Matsuri aka Hollyhock Festival - Menowarawa

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 23:02:26 -0700

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20110515 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Kamigyo Ward - Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - Aoi Matsuri aka Hollyhock Festival - Court Ladies aka Myobu

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 23:02:26 -0700

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20110515 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Kamigyo Ward - Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - Aoi Matsuri aka Hollyhock Festival

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Wed, 29 May 2013 08:12:50 -0700

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20110515 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Kamigyo Ward - Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - Aoi Matsuri aka Hollyhock Festival

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Wed, 29 May 2013 08:12:50 -0700

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20110515 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Kamigyo Ward - Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - Aoi Matsuri aka Hollyhock Festival - Gissha

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:53:20 -0700

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20110515 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Kamigyo Ward - Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - Aoi Matsuri aka Hollyhock Festival

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:53:19 -0700

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20110515 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Kamigyo Ward - Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - Aoi Matsuri aka Hollyhock Festival

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:22:42 -0700

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20110515 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Kamigyo Ward - Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - Aoi Matsuri aka Hollyhock Festival

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:22:41 -0700

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20110515 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Kamigyo Ward - Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - Aoi Matsuri aka Hollyhock Festival - The Wait

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:28:17 -0700

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20110515 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Kamigyo Ward - Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - Aoi Matsuri aka Hollyhock Festival - The Wait

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:28:16 -0700

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20110514 - Kyoto - Sakyo Ward - Kibune Town

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:47:35 -0700

Jeremy Tan, KL posted a photo:

Kibune (貴船, lit. yellow boat) is a small town in a forested valley in the northern mountains of Kyoto City, which developed around Kibune Shrine. According to legend, a goddess traveled in a yellow boat (hence the name Kibune) from Osaka all the way up the river into the mountains north of Kyoto, and Kibune Shrine was built at the site where her boat journey had come to an end.

The town is made up by traditional styled ryokan and restaurants that line the narrow road for a few hundred meters parallel to Kibune River. It is a popular retreat from Kyoto's famed summer heat, but is also well visited in autumn when the leaves change.

From June to September, Kibune's restaurants build covered platforms out over the river where visitors can enjoy a meal as the water flows beneath them. Known as kawadoko, dining on the platforms is a relaxing experience and an excellent way to escape the summer heat. Most restaurants serve kaiseki meals that range in price from 3,000 to 20,000 yen per person. Reservations are recommended in the evenings and on busy days.

- www.japan-guide.com/e/e3967.html

20110515 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Kamigyo Ward - Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - Aoi Matsuri aka Hollyhock Festival - The Wait

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:47:34 -0700

Jeremy Tan, KL posted a photo:

20110514 - Kyoto - Sakyo Ward - Kibune Town

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:10:30 -0700

Jeremy Tan, KL posted a photo:

20110514 - Kyoto - Sakyo Ward - Kibune Town

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:10:29 -0700

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20110514 - Kyoto - Sakyo Ward - Kurama Town - Kurama-dera

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:50:32 -0700

Jeremy Tan, KL posted a photo:

Kurama's main attraction, Kurama-dera, is a Buddhist temple located in the wooded slopes above the town. From its main gate in the town's center, the main buildings can be reached in a 30-45 minute climb up the mountain. A cablecar (200 Yen one way) leads halfway up.

- www.japan-guide.com/e/e3933.html

20110514 - Kyoto - Sakyo Ward - Kibune Town

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:50:32 -0700

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20110513 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Higashiyama Ward - Gion District

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:24:37 -0700

Jeremy Tan, KL posted a photo:

Gion District (祇園)

Gion is Kyoto's most famous geisha district, and one of the city's most popular attractions. The district lies in the city center around Shijo Avenue between Yasaka Shrine and the Kamo River, and is filled with ochaya (teahouses where geisha entertain), theaters, shops and restaurants.

Gion's main attractions are its traditional wooden machiya style merchant houses, built in a design characteristic of Kyoto. Due to the fact that property taxes were based upon street frontage, the houses were built with narrow facades only five to six meters wide, but extend up to twenty meters in from the street.

Many people visit Gion hoping to catch a glimpse of a geisha or geisha apprentice (referred to as geiko and maiko respectively in Kyoto), and if you are lucky you may be able to see one in the evenings on their way to or from an engagement at an ochaya teahouse.

- kyoto-gion-corner.info/gion_corner/top/
- www.japan-guide.com/e/e3902.html
- www.mytravelguide.com/attractions/profile-79486405-Japan_...

20110513 - Kyoto - Kyoto City - Higashiyama Ward - Gion District

nobody@flickr.com (Jeremy Tan, KL) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:24:36 -0700

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