3 Best Glamping Sites in Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe!

“Glamping” has become well established in general, and new facilities and services are increasing. Glamping is a coined term combining glamorous and camping, and refers to a new style of camping. In Japan, the use of the service has gradually begun to spread since around 2015, and dedicated facilities with a variety of services are opening one after another.   We would like to introduce three facilities in the Kansai region that are attracting attention as places where even beginners to camping can enjoy themselves and have a luxurious outdoor experience.   1．【KYOTO】RETOUR KYOTO 2．【KOBE】KOBE TERRACE 3．【OSAKA】PALM GARDEN MAISHIMA by WBF RETOUR KYOTO is located about 1 hour and 45 minutes by bus from JR Kyoto Station, in a mountainous area rich in nature called “Kyoto of the Forest”. The headwaters of the Hozu and Katsura Rivers flow before your eyes, and one lodge and three villas stand side by side in a paradise-like setting surrounded by lush greenery, clear streams, and the chirping of birds. Each building is a detached, completely private space, and is a popular facility for a luxurious glamping experience in a secluded resort stay. Each of the villas has a separate outdoor dining area where you can enjoy the BBQ and outdoor cooking that only glamping can offer. Necessities such as grills and charcoal are of course always provided. For meals, glamping BBQ enjoyed over charcoal is recommended. You can enjoy thick-cut sirloin steak of specially selected A5-rank Kameoka beef, Kyoto Tanba chicken, Miyama selected sausages, Kyoto vegetables, grilled young ayu fish nurtured by clear streams, and other local ingredients from Kyoto and Keihoku. What better way to savor these exquisite delicacies, grilled slowly over charcoal and packed with umami, than in a private dining room in the midst of nature! After filling up on a full meal, you can relax in the private dining room, which is located in an excellent location. The murmuring of a clear stream, the chirping of birds, the rustling of trees…what a luxury to be able to relax while quietly enjoying the sounds of nature! The rooms are fully air-conditioned and equipped with a refrigerator, cooking appliances and utensils, as well as bath towels and other amenities. There is also a spacious living room and a convenient kitchen. The bath where you can have the greenery outside the window all to yourself is a natural hot spring! The sodium calcium chloride spring water, which has a high heat-retaining effect, will heal your body from the core of daily fatigue. Enjoy an extraordinary time of relaxation while admiring the beauty of the scenery as it changes from season to season. A clear, shallow stream flows right in front of the facility, and visitors can enjoy playing in the river. And one of the attractions is the outdoor sauna that integrates you with nature. You can enjoy a sauna in a tent set up on the riverbank, and then enjoy the ultra-luxurious experience of getting cooled off in the river! There are also a number of other activities available at this location, such as the Heian Cedar Sightseeing Guided Walk and a woodworking experience using local wood (advance reservations required). There is also one log cabin-style lodge that is available only for overnight stay with no meal. It has a different atmosphere from the villa, and you can also enjoy the experience of a mountain cabin. All facilities are completely private spaces where you can relax in a location full of nature. Why don’t you go and spend a special time that you cannot easily experience in the city? Opened in March 2021 in Kobe, a charming city sandwiched between mountains and the sea. It is conveniently located at the foot of a mountain, just a 15-minute walk from Shin-Kobe Station in the center of Kobe, and yet it is still close enough to nature to hear birdsong and other sounds. This glamping facility is attracting a lot of repeat visitors as a glamping spot where you can enjoy an extraordinary experience with a view of the cityscape. A terrace with a view of the city of Kobe below. In front is a grassy auto camping space. It’s an outstanding location, right in the city, but with a sense of freedom that makes you feel as if the sky is close by! Both terrace and sofa seats are private and can be used in a relaxed atmosphere. At night, you can enjoy the beautiful night view. The secret of this facility’s popularity is that it is attached to “Kobe Saryo Houunan,” a restaurant specializing in kaiseki cuisine that is limited to one couple each for lunch and dinner each day by reservation only, and offers a BBQ featuring a variety of high-quality ingredients produced by a Japanese chef. The BBQ plan, which includes all utensils and ingredients, is completely self-service! (Advance reservations required.) The ingredients include black or Kobe beef, fresh seafood such as live abalone, live conger eel, live octopus, and carefully selected vegetables, and the lineup is as luxurious as a full course of top-notch teppanyaki. The appetizers made with seasonal ingredients are authentic in taste and appearance. What a treat to enjoy it outdoors! There is also a plan for use of the facility only, where you can bring your own equipment and ingredients (equipment rental available). The terrace can accommodate up to 30 people, making it a great place for a large crowd. Another attraction is the “flying tent” shaped like a UFO. It is a tent that floats in the air as if it were flying in the sky, giving visitors a very strange sensation when they enter. It was the first of its kind to be introduced in the Kansai region, and since there are still only a few facilities where this tent can be used, many people visit for this very reason. If the thought of floating so high in the air is a bit intimidating, hammocks are available for rent, so you can relax in one of them. The terrace house is attached to the building and has separate men’s and women’s restrooms, AC power, Wi-Fi, and other amenities. It is also safe to bring small children. No need for extensive preparations, you can leave empty-handed, and it is located close to the nearest station, so it is recommended for those who want to enjoy glamping without having to stay the night! Located in the Bay Area, less than an hour from central Osaka by train and bus, this is the first all-weather glamping facility in Osaka City. The location, facilities, and everything about the site, which is designed in the image of Miami, is perfect for social networking! The free shuttle bus service from JR Universal City Station is another great point! (Reservations not accepted, first-come, first-served; see website for details) The site is dotted with American luxury campers and trailer houses. The ocean stretches out in front of you, the breeze is pleasant, the sky is blue, and the clouds are white. You may think, “Is this really Osaka?” There are three types of trailer houses available for up to eight people. The rooms include a living room and bath, making you feel so relaxed and at home that you won’t feel like you are in an outdoor space. There is a refrigerator, microwave, kitchen utensils, and amenities. Wi-Fi is also available. Even if you have small children or are a beginner at camping, you won’t have to worry! Here is the Airstream, a luxury camper born in Ohio, each one different and completely private. The vintage type, available for day use, is the last year model built in Los Angeles, the birthplace of the company. The rooms, which are mainly furnished with sofa beds and equipped with showers and toilets, offer the feeling of stepping back in time to the old United States. The maximum number of guests is 2, but for day use, the room can accommodate up to 4 people. You can enjoy BBQ on the terrace and take a rest indoors for a special glamping experience in a campervan. Other day-use BBQ corners include a large deck that can accommodate up to 126 people and a sofa-type terrace, where you can enjoy a relaxing BBQ in a great location overlooking Osaka Bay. With the theme of “wild extravagance,” the BBQ is easy to prepare, yet the quality and taste of the BBQ is so high that anyone can easily enjoy the authentic taste of the BBQ. The BBQ set includes plenty of meat (beef, pork, and chicken), bone-in sausages, head-on shrimp, scallops in shells, big marshmallows, and other gorgeous ingredients that are both photo-worthy and mouthwatering. The facility offers a free rental service of photogenic items that make glamping and BBQ fun. There are many photo-worthy spots, and if you ask the staff, they can guide you to the best places at the time, depending on the season and time of day. The most beautiful view of the seaside in the evening. This is a luxurious location where you can see such a beautiful sunset, chosen as one of the “100 best sunsets in Japan”. This is a recommended spot where you can easily enjoy authentic glamping in Osaka City, with plenty of exotic and special atmosphere.     How was it? In recent years, glamping has become a booming activity because it can be enjoyed without contact with people, even in the Corona Disaster. Even those who could not afford camping, which requires a variety of equipment, can enjoy glamping in a casual way. Let’s enjoy the outdoors at a popular glamping facility!

The Best 10 Interesting Vending Machines in Japan!

Japan has a very large number of vending machines. I find vending machines very convenient, with easy access to purchases 24 hours a day! In Japan, there are many rare vending machines that make you wonder, “Can I buy such a thing from a vending machine?” Here are some unusual vending machines in Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. Be sure to try something other than beverages!   【OSAKA】 １．Enjoy super authentic cakes!　Cake vending machine ２．All beverages are 10 yen!　10 yen vending machine ３．Fresh apples available at the station!　Apple vending machine ４．Authentic oven-baked pizza!　Pizza vending machine 【KYOTO】 ５．Various Buddha images available at the station!　Buddha image vending machine ６．You can buy dental supplies!　Toothbrush vending machine ７．Kyoto’s Soul Food “Carne”!　Bread vending machine for side dishes 【KOBE】 ８．They make udon noodles!　Udon vending machine ９．Unique Kobe design!　Kobe Tartan vending machine 10．You can buy them even when the stores are closed!　Waffle vending machine In Japan, we can buy a can cake at a vending machine😊 The can is transparent so you can see the beautiful layer of the cake♡ You can find this Cake Vending Machine at Shinsaibashi, Osaka! But you can also buy at Tokyo and Hokkaido✨ It was soo delicious so please try it when you come to Japan!   You can check how to buy a can cake from here! About a 15-minute walk from Noda Station on the Hanshin Main Line. The famous “10 yen vending machine” is located near the Osaka Municipal Central Wholesale Market. One coin is as inexpensive as 10 yen, even if it is only one coin. (Usually in Japan, beverages range from 100 yen to 180 yen) The colorful rows of vending machines have become a hot spot. What is interesting about these vending machines is that you don’t know what you will get until you buy it. It takes a little courage. Since it is a good deal to buy a PET bottle for 10 yen, many visitors buy 5 or 6 bottles at a time. Why don’t you give it a try? Did you know that there is an apple vending machine inside the Chayamachi ticket gate of Hankyu Osaka Umeda Station? You can buy fresh bagged apples. Fresh apples are cut into easy-to-eat sizes and cores are removed so that they can be eaten as they are. The lineup includes apples with skin, without skin, and with honey & apple. Pears are also available depending on the season. When purchased, they are cool, crispy and very tasty. Buy some apples at the station for a quick vitamin charge! There is a pizza vending machine in front of Hankyu Ibaraki Station, Ibaraki City, Osaka. Recently, frozen food vending machines have been increasing here and there, and this pizza can also be purchased frozen. A flyer on how to bake is enclosed. The size is not so large, but very reasonable at 500-600 yen per piece. Although it’s frozen, it’s authentic oven-baked pizza, so you can’t go wrong with the taste! It is conveniently available 24 hours a day for lunch and dinner. The vending machine next door also sells rice dishes, so try them as well. There is a very rare vending machine in Kyoto that sells Buddhist statues! It is located on the Arashiyama-bound platform of the Randen Hiroyuji Station. There are no ticket gates at this station, so you can come and go as you please 24 hours a day. Buddha images ranging from 2 cm to 3 cm in size are lined up in a row. Insert money and press a button, and a Buddha image in a white box will come out. How about a cute sized Buddha statue, and how about its benefits? Near the station is Kyoto’s oldest temple, Uzumasa Koryuji Temple, so why don’t you experience the Kyoto-like atmosphere with the Buddha statue vending machine? A vending machine for toothbrushes is located near Nishi Hongwanji Temple. It is installed by a company that provides dental equipment and materials. The yellow vending machine has a strong presence and stands out well. There are a variety of toothbrushes on the line, but they are all specially designed for dentists that you can’t buy over the counter. They’re all inexpensive and very affordable! Shizuya, a long-established bakery in Kyoto, has more than 20 stores in Kyoto. Its signature product is “carne”, which is considered the soul food of Kyoto people. There is a vending machine where you can buy this carne on the second basement floor of the Kyoto Subway Karasuma-Oike Station. There is a Shizuya store on the first basement floor of the station, and this vending machine is very convenient because it is easy to buy when you are in a hurry to get to work or school. They stay open until the last train, so you can buy even late at night when the stores are closed! There are only a few udon and soba vending machines left in Japan, and they are quite valuable. It is a very retro vending machine. When you insert your money, you hear something move inside the vending machine, and after waiting 25 seconds, a fresh type of warm udon noodle is served. I have seen vending machines that pour hot water into a cup of noodles, but it is rare to have fresh udon noodles. In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the opening of the port of Kobe, the “Kobe Tartan,” a checkered pattern with a blue base color that represents the city of Kobe, was created. There is a vending machine for such Kobe Tartan products in Sannomiya Center Street. Ten typical items are on sale, including ballpoint pens, handkerchiefs, and pouches, all carefully designed and made of the finest materials. When you come to Kobe, you want something unique to Kobe! Be sure to purchase some Kobe tartan as a souvenir! Kobe Rokko has a waffle vending machine. These waffles come in a variety of flavors with caramel sandwiched between thin waffle batter. This vending machine is located in front of a store called Wharfle House, so you can buy the store’s recommended item, the Stroopwaffle, even after closing or on holidays. They say warming it up a bit melts the caramel and makes it taste even better!     How was it? There are many interesting vending machines throughout Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. Vending machines selling unusual items have become a new attraction for locals and tourists alike! Why not stop by during your sightseeing tour?

Our adorable Miffy are collaborating with Hankyu Railway

Hankyu Corporation will carry out a collaboration project with the beloved character “Miffy” from Wednesday, August 3, this year to Thursday, March 30, 2023. Starting with the operation of the decorative train Miffy, a stamp rally will also be held with photo spots appearing at stamp points along the line (Holding period: until November 6th (Sunday). This is a project that you can enjoy the attractions along the Hankyu railway lines with Miffy and her friends. The decorative train “Miffy” has a limited design for the Kobe Line, Takarazuka Line, and Kyoto Line. Check out the design of the train with large drawings of Miffy along each line, such as Minoh Falls and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, as well as the in-car stickers inside that can only be found on each line. In addition, the combination of the original head mark in the shape of Miffy’s silhouette and the Miffy stuffed animal in uniform that can be seen from the window of the train crew room is a special specification only for this season. There is no doubt that you will want to take some photos! In addition, collaboration food with Miffy is also available at restaurants in hotels along the line and inside a station / near station stores. The hotel gourmet with motifs of Miffy and her friends is available for a limited time until Sunday, December 11. Apart from the hotels in Osaka Umeda and Takarazuka, these collaboration foods will also be available at Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo, which is located along the railway lines. In addition, until November 6th (Sunday), soufflé pancakes with the image of Miffy going out and products in the original packaging will be available at the station Naka / Station Chika stores. You can enjoy cute menus that look nice, such as “POP ・ IN SWEETS (Ikumi Mama Animal Doughnuts!)” which is open for a limited time only from Tuesday, October 11 to Monday, November 7). It is perfect for souvenirs too. Hankyu Railway has been collaborating with various characters, If you come to visit Kansai, be sure to check out the collaboration trains as well!

＜Kyoto＞ Kifune Shrine｜Perfect guide from benefits and access to omamori!

Kifune Shrine, one of the most famous power spots in Japan, is a small shrine located in Kifune-cho, at the foot of Kurama Mountain in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, and is dedicated to the god of water. Located at the source of the Kamo River that flows through Kyoto, it is also called “Kyoto’s inner city” because it is filled with cool air even in mid-summer. In this issue, we will introduce Kifune Shrine’s benefits, access, attractions, charms, and red seals. Kifune Shrine enshrines the god of water, the source of life, and is the main shrine of the water gods, numbering 2,000 shrines throughout Japan. The date of its founding is extremely old, and although the origin of the shrine is unknown, it is one of the oldest shrines in Japan, as there is a record of the rebuilding of the shrine about 1,300 years ago. Kifune Shrine is located in the deep forest between Mount Kibune and Mount Kurama. The shrine tends to be crowded during the spring and fall holiday seasons and on weekends, so it is best to use public transportation. From Hankyu Kyoto Kawaramachi Station, transfer to a Keihan train bound for Demachiyanagi to the last stop, Demachiyanagi Station. Then transfer to the Eizan Train bound for Kurama and get off at Kibune-guchi Station. From there, take Kyoto Bus No. 33 and get off at the Kibune stop. A 5-minute walk will take you to Kifune Shrine. Kifune Shrine has three Shinto shrines, and the official way to visit the shrine is to make a pilgrimage to the three shrines, which are ” Main Shrine”, ” Rear Shrine”, and ” Yui no Yashiro”, in that order. Start your tour of the three shrines from Kibuneguchi Station on the Eizan Electric Railway. Walk along the Kibune River from Kibune-guchi Station for a while, and you will see a large rock on the right side. This is called Hotaruiwa (firefly rock). Fireflies are not easily seen in central Kyoto, but Kibune is still famous for its clear water and fireflies. A five-minute walk further north from Hotaruiwa is Umemiya-sha. It is a small shrine attached to Kifune Shrine. It is really small, so be careful not to miss it. Further upstream from Umemiya-sha, you will find Shiraishi-sha. Passing through a street lined with ryokan (traditional Japanese inns), you will see a vermilion torii (shrine gate). That is the second torii gate of Kifune Shrine. It is the entrance to the Main Shrine. After passing through the torii gate, you will see vermilion-lacquered kasuga lanterns and stone steps on both sides. There are 87 stone steps. This is a must-see spot to take pictures when you visit Kifune Shrine. Let’s go up the stone steps step by step. At the top of the stairs is the sacred Katsura tree. The tree is 400 years old and 30 meters high, almost reaching to the sky. Its many overlapping branches, spreading out in all directions, resemble a dragon ascending to the heavens. Originally, the Main Shrine was located at the present Rear Shrine site, but due to repeated flood damage, it was moved to its present location in 1055. The present one was rebuilt in 2005. The water is located right next to the Main Shrine. It has been gushing out of the rocks for thousands of years without ceasing. The water is somewhat divine in its flowing appearance. Of course, this water is drinkable. You can also take it home in a plastic bottle or water bottle that you brought with you. *If you drink the water you brought home the next day, it is recommended that you boil it before drinking it. Finally, we will go to the Rear Shrine. There is a hand-watering basin in front of the Rear Shrine, so cleanse your hands here before praying. Legend has it that there is a large hole, called a “Ryuketsu(dragon hole)”, directly below the main shrine of the Rear Shrine. However, no one is allowed to look into the hole. The Rear Shrine is considered to be a particularly powerful place in the Kifune Shrine. The Yui no Yashiro, also called Nakamiya, is located between the Main Shrine and the Rear Shrine and is believed to be the god of marriage. Those who wish for a good marriage should write their feelings in a “Knot Letter” and deliver it to the Yui no Yashiro. Kifune Shrine is open until 8:00 p.m., and at sunset the Kasuga lanterns are lit, creating a very magical atmosphere. During the fall foliage season, lanterns are lined up and illuminated along the Ryokan street and along the road from the Main Shrine to the Yui no Yashiro and Rear Shrine. In winter, a light-up event is held only during snowfall. When visiting a shrine, it is not out of the question to receive a fortune or an omikuji (charm). Here, we introduce you to the Kibune Shrine and its amulets. Kifune Shrine is known for its “mizuura-mikuji”. It is an unusual omikuji in that when the paper of the omikuji is floated in water, the words of the god emerge. Since the god of water is said to be able to foresee all things, this mizuura-mikuji has a reputation for being accurate. The most famous amulet at Kifune Shrine is the Musubi-mamori. This amulet, which brings good luck for good luck in marriage, is available in two types: a pouch type and a letter type. The bag type is embroidered with the two main characters of a love story, while the letter type is shaped like a Knot Letter of the Yui no Yashiro. Kifune Shrine’s original Goshuin book has a wonderful design. Gold, pink, and black are available. Also stylish are the bags for carrying Goshuin book made in collaboration with Shinzaburo Hanpu, a long-established canvas store in Kyoto. There are many temples and shrines that sell Goshuin book, but it is rare to find a Goshuin book bag. How about one as a souvenir of your visit to the temple? Walking along the flow of the Kibune River, you will find a row of small ryokan (Japanese-style inns) in the mountains. These ryokans offer kaiseki cuisine served on the floor of the Kibune River. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Kyoto is a basin area, and summers are especially hot, so in summer, Kibune is crowded with people seeking cooler weather. How was it? The name of the place, Kibune, is read as “Kibune,” but Kifune Shrine is read as “Kifune-jinja” . It is said that the name of Kifune Shrine is a prayer that the pure water will never become muddy. Visiting such a Kifune Shrine, you will be filled with gratitude for the water of life, and you will feel a sense of strength. We hope you will visit Kifune Shrine, too.

＜Kyoto＞Gion Matsuri (July, 2022)｜Highlights of Japan’s Greatest Festival

Gion Matsuri, one of the three major festivals in Japan, is a festival held at Yasaka Shrine, where people prayed for the removal of plague and misfortune as far back as the Heian period (794-1185). Various rituals and events are held over the month of July, and the city of Kyoto comes alive. In 2022, the festival was held in its original form for the first time in three years to carry on the tradition, attracting many people from all over Japan.     Many people may think of “Yoiyama” and “Yamahoko-junko” (The grand parade of floats) when they think of the Gion Matsuri, but there are many other fascinating rituals as well. We will introduce various highlights of the Gion Matsuri so that you can enjoy the festival to the fullest. The Gion Matsuri is a festival of Yasaka Shrine with a tradition of 1,000 years. In ancient times, it was called Gion Goryoe. It began in 869, when an epidemic spread to the capital of Kyoto and other parts of Japan, and three portable shrines and 66 spears were erected in Shinsen-en, a garden in Heian-kyo, to pray for the removal of the plague. As time progressed, the people became more involved, and gradually the festival element was added. In the 1300s, an autonomous organization was formed around Shijo Muromachi, and each town created its own Yamahoko float, which paraded through the city in its present form. Yamahoko is one of the floats pulled at shrine festivals. There are a total of 33 floats that appear in the Gion Masturi, each of which enshrines a deity and is believed to bring various blessings. The beautiful embroidery, imported textiles, and other ornaments on the floats are so beautiful that they are called “moving museums”. The “hoko” is paraded by 40 to 50 people called “Hikikata”. It is 25 meters high and weighs 12 tons. The hoko stands about 20 meters high on a roof called “shingi,” and the top of the hoko is decorated with the symbols of the individual floats. The “Yama” is paraded by about 20 people called “Kakikata” and is about 15 meters high, weighing 1.2 to 1.6 tons, and decorated with unique ornaments and dolls. It is decorated with pine trees called “Shinmatsu”. Gion Bayashi is the musical accompaniment for the Yamahoko procession. A performer called “Hayashikata” plays drums, flutes, and gongs from the top of the float. Gion Bayashi is also played at Hankyu train stations in July. The pleasant melody of “Konchikichin” is a typical Kyoto musical accompaniment that makes one’s heart beat with excitement. Gion Matsuri zongzi is not to be eaten. It is a good luck charm made of bamboo leaves to ward off disease and misfortune, and is only given out during the Gion Matsuri in July. Many people in Kyoto buy zongzi and display them on their doorsteps for a year. During Yoiyama, each town of Yamahoko also offers zongzi that bring good luck. Originally, Yamahoko-Junko was divided into Saki-Matsuri and Ato-Matsuri, but from 1966 to 2013, Yamahoko-Junko was held on the 17th. 2014 saw the return of Ato-Matsuri. The current Yamahoko-Junko is divided into two days: Saki-Matsuri on the 17th and Ato-Matsuri on the 24th. During the Saki-matsuri procession, the streets of Kyoto are cleansed of impurities and the god of Yasaka Shrine is welcomed back to the city. One week later, the procession is performed once again at the Ato-Matsuri to purify the shrine and return the deities to the shrine. July in Kyoto is all about the Gion Matsuri! Here are the main rituals in order. Kippu-iri is the first ritual of the Gion Matsuri, and from July 1, people pray for the safety of the Gion Matsuri in each Yamahoko town. In addition, Gion Bayashi rehearsals are held in each town. The “Kujitori shiki” is an event to determine the order of the Yamahoko-junko procession. It is held in the presence of the mayor of Kyoto. The nine Yamahoko floats that do not draw lots, whose order of parade is determined by old custom, are called “Kuji-torazu”. The Yamahoko that will not be raffled off are as follows. Saki-Matsuri : Naginata-hoko, Kanko-hoko, Hoka-hoko, Iwato-yama, Fune-hoko Ato-Matsuri : Hashibenkei-yama, Kita kannon-yama, Minami kannon-yama, Ofune-hoko Every year, the Naginata-hoko floats lead the procession. Unlike other hoko, in which dolls ride, Naginata-hoko is the only one in which a real child ride. After July 10, visitors can watch the erection of yamahoko floats throughout the streets. The process of assembling the floats is called “Nawagarami”, a technique that does not use a single nail. Once completed, the floats are put up for the first time at the “hokohikizome” and “yamakakizome” ceremonies to make sure they are in good working order. When the Komagata lanterns are lit and the sounds of musical accompaniment can be heard, the area is filled with a festive mood. At each Yamahoko-cho, good luck charms such as zongzi are given away. Depending on the float, you may be allowed to go up to the float to purchase the gifts. The Gion Matsuri is known for the Yamahoko-Junko, a procession of floats. The Yamahoko- Junko is a procession of floats used to clear the streets before the portable shrines are brought to Yasaka Shrine. 23 gorgeously decorated Yamahoko floats parade through the streets of Kyoto, starting near Shijo-Karasuma. The highlight of the festival is the “Shimenawa-kiri” (cutting of the sacred straw rope) by the Naginata-hoko and the “Tsujimawashi” (turning a corner at an intersection). Changing the direction of the floats, some of which weigh as much as 12 tons, is called “Tsujimawashi,” which means to change the direction of the floats using only human power. After green bamboos are laid on the road and water is sprinkled on them to make them slippery, the conductor on the float calls out a signal and a large number of Hikikos change directions. The scene is breathtaking, and when the direction is successfully changed, the crowd applauds. Three portable shrines carrying the deity of Yasaka Shrine depart from Yasaka Shrine, and with shouts of “Hoitto, hoitto” they walk through the Ujiko community to the Otabisho on Shijo Street. This is an important event in which the gods riding on the portable shrines go around the city to purify it. The atmosphere in the streets of Yoiyama during the Ato-Matsuri is more subdued than that of the Saki-Matsuri. The stalls are also regulated, so visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of the original festival. 11 Yamahoko floats depart from Karasuma Oike. The course of the procession is the reverse of that of the Saki-Matsuri. The last of the procession will be the Ofunaboko float, which will not be raffled off. The “Kankosai” is to send the three portable shrines carrying the deities that were welcomed at the Shijo Otabisho during the previous festival back to Yasaka Shrine. Around 9:00 p.m., the Yasaka Shrine quietly holds a ceremony to return the spirit of the deities to the shrine. Passing through a large cogon grass ring at Yasaka Shrine to pray for good health. The festival is the last event to conclude the month-long Gion Matsuri, which started on July 1 with the Kippu-iri. The Gion Matsuri is a summer tradition in Kyoto. This festival has a long history and is a wonderful opportunity to experience the traditions of Kyoto. You can enjoy “Yoiyama” and “Yamahoko-junko,” which you cannot miss. You can also enjoy the other rituals in a different way. Summer in Kyoto! Please take the Hankyu train to “Karasuma” and “Kyoto Kawaramachi”, the center of the Gion Matsuri!

Arashiyama, Kyoto-1 Day Trip｜From Popular Spots to Best Kept Secret Spots!

Higashiyama, Kyoto-1 Day Trip｜Best Places for Kimono Rental♡

Rakusaiguchi, Kyoto-1 Day Trip｜Let’s Go Cycling in The Bamboo Grove!

Kyoto-1 Day Trip｜Enjoy Handmade Experience! Yuzen Dyeing, Umeshu (Plum Wine) and Wagashi (Japanese Sweets)

Arashiyama and Kawaramachi, Kyoto-1 Day Trip｜Special Trip With The Hankyu Train “Kyo-train Garaku”