■ Scenery of the End of the Year in Japan
- Kotohajime at Gion
- Kakure Nenbutsu ( Nenbutsu Dance)
at Rokuharamitsuji Temple - Susu-harai
- Ominugui-shiki at Chion-in Temple
- Okera Mairi
■ Flea Markets
■ Daikon Daki ( Radish Boiling )
■ Noh Plays
■ Special Maple temple Light-Up
Please confirm information before coming to Kyoto.
december infomation
Highlights
■ Scenery of the End of the Year in Japan
In Japan, December is called 'Shiwasu', which actually means `the busiest month of the year'.
People are in a rush to welcome a new year with a clean state, all work and cleaning need to be done by the end of the year.
During the month, you can see various customs and practices to finish up the old year and to prepare for a new year.
- Kotohajime at Gion
- DEC.13
- Gion
Kotohajime, is the traditional ritual, the start of New Year preparations in Geisha districts.
Geishas and Maiko, apprentice Geishas, visit their masters to express their gratitude for the past year and best wishes for the year to come.
You may spot some of them if you walk around the Gion district on this day.
- [ Gion district ]
- Access : City Bus No.206 "Gion"
- Kakure Nenbutsu ( Nenbutsu Dance) at Rokuharamitsuji Temple
- DEC.13 - DEC.30 pm4:00
- Rokuharamitsuji Temple
Unique style of Nenbutsu, prayer to the Buddha, started by the holy priest Kuya in 951 to help the people in Kyoto from epidemics.
Priests chant/dance the prayer wishing people to expiate the sins of the past year and to have a happy new year. ( daily around 4:00PM)
- [ Rokuharamitsuji Temple ]
- Tel : 075-561-6980
Access : City Bus No.206 "Kiyomizu-michi"
- Susu-harai
- DEC.20 Nishi-Honganji Temple am7:00.Higashi-Honganji Temple am9:00
- Both Higashi and Nishi Honganji Temple
Susu-harai is a ritual cleaning ceremony. Priests and parishioners beat the dust out of the tatami in the large halls to prepare for the New Year.
- [ Nishi-Honganji Temple ]
- Tel : 075-371-5181
Access : City Bus No.9 "Nishi-Honganji" - [ Higashi-Honganji Temple ]
- Tel : 075-371-9181
Access : 5min. walk from JR
- Ominugui-shiki at Chion-in Temple
- DEC.25 pm1:00
- Chion-in Temple
Ominugui-shiki is a ritual cleaning ceremony. Adoring the benevolence of the holy priest, Honen, priests polish the wooden statue of Honen with a pure, white silk cloth.
- [ Chion-in Temple ]
- Tel : 075-531-2111
Access : City Bus No.206 "Chion-in"
- Okera Mairi at Yasakajinja Shrine
- DEC.31
A sacred fire called Okera is lit at the Shrine from the evening until dawn on January 1st.
A large number of people visit the shrine to worship and bring home a flame from the sacred fire with which they cook the first meal of the coming year. How to bring ?
By a special rope !
The sacred fire is believed to have good health throughout the year.
- [ Yasaka Jinja Shrine ]
- Tel : 075-561-6155
Access : City Bus No.206 "Gion" - Similar event also held in Kitano-tenmangu Shrine
- [ Kitano-tenmangu Shrine ]
- Tel : 075-461-0005
Access : City Bus No.50 "Kitano-tenmangu"
■ Flea Markets
Monthly flea markets get particularly lively this month. Antiques, old kimono & obi, ethnic goods, food, tools are sold there, best places to experience the local life.
- Toji Temple Shimai Kobo
- DEC.21 am8:00-pm4:00
- Toji-Temple
- [ Toji-Temple ]
-
Tel : 075-691-3325
Access : Kintetsu Railway "Toji" Station
- Kitano-tenmangu Shrine Shimai Tenjin
- DEC.25
- Kitano-tenmangu Shrine
- [ Kitano-tenmangu Shrine ]
- Tel : 075-461-0005
Access : City Bus No.50 "Kitano-tenmangu"
