Shinsen ( 神饌 , literally "god" + "food offering" ) are offerings of foods given up to Shinto shrines or kamidana in Japan .
107-406: The annual festivals carried out at different times of the year originated from Shinto rituals and festivals. As part of the ritual, locals would offer up food that had received a special blessing to welcome the kami ("gods" or "spirits"). Food offered up could range from their staple of rice to seafood, food foraged from the mountains, seasonal foods, local specialties, or food connected to
214-787: A Kintetsu line, and a municipal subway line. The Keihan Electric Railway , the Hankyu Railway , and other rail networks also offer frequent services within the city and to other cities and suburbs in the Kinki region. Although Kyoto does not have its own commercial airport, the limited express Haruka operated by JR West carries passengers from Kansai International Airport to Kyōto Station in 73 minutes. The Kyoto Railway Museum in Shimogyō-ku , operated by JR West, displays many steam, diesel, and electric locomotives used in Japan between
321-463: A "spirit altar" ( shōryōdana ) is set up in front of the Butsudan (buddhist altar) to welcome the ancestors' souls. A priest may be asked to come and read a sutra ( tanagyō ). Among the traditional preparations for the ancestors' return are the cleaning of grave sites. The welcoming fire ( mukaebi ) built on the 13th and the send-off fire ( okuribi ) built on the 15th and 16th are intended to guide
428-576: A 2022 survey, they ranked first and second, respectively, in recognition in Japan, with the Gion Matsuri in third place. There are also many Japanese festivals in which the kami are prayed to for a good harvest of rice and other crops. In agricultural festivals, different ceremonies are held in each of the four seasons, and festivals are classified into different types, such as otaue-matsuri ( 御田植祭 ) and aki-matsuri ( 秋祭り ) , according to their significance. In general, festivals held in
535-483: A large natural water table that provides the city with ample freshwater wells. Due to large-scale urbanization, the amount of rain draining into the table is dwindling and wells across the area are drying at an increasing rate. Kyoto has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen : Cfa ), featuring a marked seasonal variation in temperature and precipitation. Summers are hot and humid, but winters are relatively cold with occasional snowfall. Kyoto's rainy season begins around
642-600: A major industry of Kyoto; Kyoto's kimono weavers are particularly renowned, and the city remains the premier center of kimono manufacturing. Sake brewing is another prominent traditional industry in Kyoto, and the headquarters of major sake brewers Gekkeikan and Takara Holdings are found in Kyoto. Other notable businesses headquartered in Kyoto include Aiful , Ishida , Nissen Holdings , Gyoza no Ohsho , Sagawa Express , Volks , and Wacoal . As of 1 May 2023, there were 154 municipal public elementary schools in Kyoto, with
749-674: A maximum height of approximately 1,000 meters (3,281 ft) above sea level . This interior positioning results in hot summers and cold winters. There are three rivers in the basin, the Uji River to the south, the Katsura River to the west, and the Kamo River to the east. Kyoto City takes up 17.9% of the land in Kyoto Prefecture and has a total area of 827.9 square kilometers (319.7 sq mi). Kyoto sits atop
856-662: A newborn baby. The tradition of bathing the Buddha originated in China and was introduced to Japan where it was first held in Nara in 606. Lion dancing is also a major tradition practiced during Buddha's Birthday and has become associated with the festival in Japan. Date: July 7 / August 5–8 (Sendai) Other Names: The Star Festival Information: It originated from a Chinese folk legend concerning two stars-the Weaver Star (Vega) and
963-709: A number of navigable rivers and canals in Kyoto. In contemporary Kyoto, however, waterways are no longer commonly used for transportation of passengers or goods, other than for limited sightseeing purposes such as excursion boats on the Hozu River and cormorant fishing boats on the Ōi River . Although ravaged by wars, fires, and earthquakes during its eleven centuries as the imperial capital, Kyoto suffered only minor damage in World War II . Kyoto remains Japan's cultural center. About 20% of Japan's National Treasures and 14% of Important Cultural Properties exist in
1070-483: A park may be decorated with lanterns. Some locations of cherry blossom festivals include: Following the Japanese diaspora , many places around the world celebrate similar festivals, often called matsuri . Brazil hosts the largest nikkei population in the world and some Brazilian cities host matsuri such as São Paulo and Curitiba . The United States host the 2nd largest nikkei population in
1177-1024: A reelection bid in the postwar period. In the 2024 Kyoto mayoral election , independent candidate Koji Matsui was elected for the first time, supported by the Liberal Democratic Party , Komeito , the Constitutional Democratic Party , and the Democratic Party for the People . Information technology and electronics are key industries in Kyoto. The city is home to the headquarters of Nintendo , Intelligent Systems , SCREEN Holdings , Tose , Hatena , Omron , Kyocera , Shimadzu , Rohm , Horiba , Nidec Corporation , Nichicon , Nissin Electric , and GS Yuasa . Domestic and international tourism contributes significantly to Kyoto's economy. In 2014,
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#17327809653081284-560: A ripe harvest, there are shrines such as Mimi Shrine in Mihama , Fukui Prefecture , Suwa Shrine in Nambu, Aomori Prefecture , and Miho Shrine found in Matsue , Shimane Prefecture , where what is offered up is Dioscorea tokoro , a plant that is not regularly eaten in everyday life. There are three different interpretations for why the tokoro is offered up by the three different shrines: it
1391-431: A semi-circular shape like gyoza dumplings instead, they are called buto. When it is laced together in a way that looks like an 8, it is called magarimochi. When it is cylinder-shaped, it is called baishi, though it was originally made by splitting it into a Y-shape. There are also many shrines that offer up plants. For example, Isagawa Shrine in Nara offers up a sake barrel decorated with sasayuri lilies . This
1498-496: A significant number of one-way roads without sidewalks. Cycling is a common form of personal transportation in the city, although there are few areas set aside for bicycle parking and bicycles parked in restricted areas are impounded. Kyoto has fewer toll-highways than other Japanese cities of comparable size. There are nine national highways in the city of Kyoto: Route 1 , Route 8 , Route 9 , Route 24 , Route 162 , Route 171 , Route 367 , Route 477 , and Route 478 . The city
1605-451: A snow maze, exploring a Japanese igloo, and eat foods from Aomori and Akita prefectures. There is a fireworks show and events held on an ice stage. This festival is held annually and features colorful lantern floats called nebuta which are pulled through the streets of Central Aomori. This festival is held from about August 2–7 every year. This event attracts millions of visitors. During this festival, 20 large nebuta floats are paraded through
1712-477: A strong smell, a Buddhist diet known as kinkunshoku , there are shrines that do not go by this. For example, garlic is offered up at Kamigamo Shrine , and animal meat is offered up at Shiromi Shrine, where a rite known as onie is carried out in which the head of a boar that had been hunted that year is offered up. Shrines where people are honoured, such as those who died in the war, it is common to offer up beer, cigarettes or other such off-the-shelf items, which
1819-490: A total of 55,736 pupils. At the secondary level, there were 66 municipal public junior high schools with 27,046 students and 11 municipal public senior high schools with 5,117 students. Home to 40 institutions of higher education , Kyoto is one of the academic centers in Japan. Kyoto University is ranked highly among all universities nationwide, with eight Nobel laureates and two Prime Ministers of Japan among its alumni. The Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences and
1926-459: Is also considered shinsen. Local specialties or items tied to traditions are often given up as shinsen . That has continued to the present day, and many have remained in the form of a region's characteristic Shinto rituals. For example, Nara Prefecture 's burdock ritual, Shimane Prefecture 's eggplant ritual, Shiga Prefecture 's cucumber festival, Kyoto 's wasabi festival, and Tokyo 's sumomo plum festival. Other than food symbolising
2033-531: Is an honorific prefix) Information: New Year observances are the most elaborate of Japan's annual events. Before the New Year, homes are cleaned, debts are paid off, and osechi (food in lacquered trays for the New Year) is prepared or bought. Osechi foods are traditional foods which are chosen for their lucky colors, shapes, or lucky-sounding names in hopes of obtaining good luck in various areas of life during
2140-508: Is based in Kyoto. Kyoto is also a center of higher learning in the country, and its institutions include Kyoto University , the second-oldest university in Japan. In Japanese, Kyoto was previously called Kyō ( 京 ), Miyako ( 都 ), Kyō no Miyako ( 京の都 ), and Keishi ( 京師 ) . After becoming the capital of Japan at the start of the Heian period (794–1185), the city was often referred to as Heian-kyō ( 平安京 , "Heian capital"), and late in
2247-499: Is because the enshrined deity, Himetataraisuzuhime-no-Mikoto, lived on Mount Miwa when she was young. There is a legend that on the bank of the Saigawa River that flows through it, there was an area where those lilies bloomed. Even now, the lilies offered up as shinsen come from Mount Miwa. In order to prevent the treatment of shinsen changing from being offerings to the kami to simply being regular mundane items, many of
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#17327809653082354-807: Is called sansha-mairi . In the Imperial Palace at dawn on the 1st, the Emperor performs the rite of shihōhai (worship of the four-quarters), in which he offers prayers for the well-being of the nation. On January 2 the public is allowed to enter the inner palace grounds; the only other day this is possible is the Emperor's birthday (February 23). On the 2nd and 3rd days acquaintances visit one another to extend greetings ( nenshi ) and sip otoso (a spiced rice wine ). Some games played at New Year's are karuta (a card game), hanetsuki (similar to badminton), tako age ( kiteflying ), and komamawashi ( spinning tops ). These games are played to bring more luck for
2461-666: Is connected with other parts of Japan by the Meishin Expressway , which has two interchanges in the city: Kyoto-higashi Interchange (Kyoto East) in Yamashina-ku and Kyoto-minami Interchange [ ja ] (Kyoto South) in Fushimi-ku. The Kyoto Jūkan Expressway connects the city to the northern regions of Kyoto Prefecture. The Second Keihan Highway is another bypass to Osaka. Traditionally, trade and haulage took place by waterway, and there continue to be
2568-591: Is considered the cultural capital of Japan and is a major tourist destination. The agency for cultural affairs of the national government is headquartered in the city. It is home to numerous Buddhist temples , Shinto shrines , palaces and gardens, some of which have been designated collectively as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO . Prominent landmarks include the Kyoto Imperial Palace , Kiyomizu-dera , Kinkaku-ji , Ginkaku-ji , and Kyoto Tower . The internationally renowned video game company Nintendo
2675-482: Is in preparation for the new year holidays. Decorations and sundry goods are sold at the fair. Originally these year-end fairs provided opportunities for farmers, fisherfolk and mountain dwellers to exchange goods and buy clothes and other necessities for the coming year. Date: December 31 ( New Year's Eve ) Information: People do the general house cleaning ( Ōsōji ) to welcome coming year and not to keep having impure influences. Many people visit Buddhist temples to hear
2782-468: Is located in Nakagyō-ku , and the Kyoto prefectural offices are located in present-day Kamigyō-ku . Kyoto contains roughly 2,000 temples and shrines. The main business district is located to the south of the Kyoto Imperial Palace . In the center of the city, there are several covered shopping arcades only open to pedestrian traffic, such as Teramachi Street and Shinkyōgoku Street . The original city
2889-464: Is now very large and commercialized. About a dozen large sculptures are built for the festival along with around 100 smaller snow and ice sculptures . Several concerts and other events are also held. This lake festival is held in the beginning of February. Held in the town of Yasumiya, this festival is on the south side of Lake Towada (near the wooden statues). This festival is open all day, but at 5 pm one can enjoy activities such as going through
2996-502: Is offered up at Mimi Shrine in thanks for keeping their hunger at bay during famine, Miho Shrine because it was said to be a lucky charm in a book of the Edo period resulting in it being used as a talisman at New Year's, Suwa Shrine because it was traditionally used for its medicinal properties. Food prepared with oil is often given up as shinsen. Oil was traditionally made from ingredients such as sesame seeds , kaya or walnuts , but it
3103-406: Is said the method of using oil to fry foods came from China, leading to them being called tougashi, or Chinese sweets. Sweets called heso-dango , named as such because they look like a belly button ( heso ), are offered up at Kobe 's Ikuta Shrine . They are made by beating rice into rice flour, rolling them into balls, and then pressing a finger through the middle of it. When these are made into
3210-432: Is usually organized at the level of neighborhoods, or machi. Prior to these, the local kami may be ritually installed in mikoshi and paraded through the streets. One can always find in the vicinity of a matsuri booths selling souvenirs and food such as takoyaki , and games, such as Goldfish scooping . Karaoke contests, sumo matches, and other forms of entertainment are often organized in conjunction with matsuri. If
3317-455: Is welcome to purchase their own haneto costume that they may too join in on the fun (Mishima, Aomori Nebuta Festival). This event is held every year. Thousands of artists from all over Tohoku and even further regions come to Nango to perform. This is the largest open-air jazz concert held in Tohoku region. This festival began in 1989, in a small venue indoors. There was such a large response from
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3424-606: The Associated Kyoto Program runs a study-abroad academic program with a focus on cultural, language, and historical learning in and around the Kansai metropolitan area. Kyoto is served by rail transportation systems operated by several different companies and organizations. The city's main gateway terminal, Kyōto Station , connects the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line with five JR West lines,
3531-750: The Boshin War , such as the Ōnin War , the Honnō-ji Incident , the Kinmon incident , and the Battle of Toba–Fushimi . The capital was relocated from Kyoto to Tokyo after the Meiji Restoration . The modern municipality of Kyoto was established in 1889. The city was spared from large-scale destruction during World War II and, as a result, its prewar cultural heritage has mostly been preserved. Kyoto
3638-560: The Heian period of Japanese history . Although military rulers established their governments either in Kyoto ( Muromachi shogunate ) or in other cities such as Kamakura ( Kamakura shogunate ) and Edo ( Tokugawa shogunate ), Kyoto remained Japan's capital until the transfer of the imperial court to Tokyo in 1869 at the time of the Imperial Restoration . In the Sengoku period , the city suffered extensive destruction in
3745-836: The Liberal Democratic Party , Komeito , and the Democratic Civic Forum. Between the founding of the modern city and 1898, the governor of Kyoto Prefecture also acted as the mayor of the city of Kyoto. From 1898 through the Second World War, mayors were nominated by the Kyoto City Assembly and appointed by the Minister of Home Affairs . Since 1947, mayors of Kyoto have been chosen by direct election to four-year terms. As of 2024, there have been ten mayors elected using this system. While some mayors have resigned or died in office, no mayor has lost
3852-545: The Meiji period , the emperor's move from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1869 weakened the economy of Kyoto. The modern city of Kyoto was formed on April 1, 1889. The construction of Lake Biwa Canal in 1890 was one measure taken to revive the city. The population of the city exceeded one million in 1932. There was some consideration by the United States of targeting Kyoto with an atomic bomb at the end of World War II because of
3959-652: The Tokugawa Shogunate was established at Edo (present-day Tokyo), marking the beginning of the Edo period . Nevertheless, Kyoto flourished as one of three major cities in Japan , the others being Osaka and Edo. At the end of the period, the Hamaguri rebellion of 1864 burned down 28,000 houses in the city, which showed the rebels' dissatisfaction towards the Tokugawa Shogunate. At the start of
4066-581: The Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics , both part of the university, have been affiliated with influential mathematicians and physicists. Private universities such as Doshisha University and Ritsumeikan University are also located in the city. The Consortium of Universities in Kyoto is a Kyoto-based higher education network consisting of three national universities, three public (prefectural and municipal) universities, 45 private universities, five other organizations, and representatives from
4173-403: The kami are prayed to for a good harvest of rice and other crops. These festivals are divided into various types according to their significance and ritual practices, the most representative of which are as follows. Typical spring festival practices are minakuchi-sai ( 水口祭 ) and otaue-matsuri ( 御田植祭 ) . In minakuchi-sai , on the day of planting, soil is piled at the water intake of
4280-500: The kami of the rice fields and send the kami back to the mountains. The typical winter festival practices are sagichō or dondoyaki ( 左義長 or どんど焼き ) and taasobi ( 田遊び ) . In sagicho or dondoyaki , kadomatsu ( 門松 ) and other New Year's decorations are burned and mochi are roasted and eaten over the flames, and in tasaburi , farm work is simulated in the Shinto shrine hall ( 拝殿 , haiden ) to pray for
4387-502: The miyaza were the males of the household, but there were female positions, as well. It is not rare in the current day for rural shrines to struggle to find a successor. There are occasions where the amount of mochi needed is so large that it takes a lot of time and people to prepare them, so much so that it would be impossible for a single shrine priest to take all of that on by themselves. As such, they have to resort to buying already steamed and pounded mochi from stores, and only take on
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4494-460: The ninth-most populous city in Japan. More than half (56.8%) of Kyoto Prefecture's population resides in the city. The city is the cultural anchor of the substantially larger Greater Kyoto , a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) home to a census-estimated 3.8 million people. It is also part of the even larger Keihanshin metropolitan area , along with Osaka and Kobe . Kyoto is one of the oldest municipalities in Japan, having been chosen in 794 as
4601-450: The Ōnin War of 1467–1477, and did not really recover until the mid-16th century. During the war, battles between samurai factions spilled into the streets, and came to involve court nobility ( kuge ) and religious factions as well. Nobles' mansions were transformed into fortresses, deep trenches dug throughout the city for defense and as firebreaks, and numerous buildings burned. The city has not seen such widespread destruction since. In
4708-526: The 1880s and the present. The Tokaidō Shinkansen , operated by JR Central , provides high-speed rail service linking Kyoto with Nagoya , Yokohama , and Tokyo to the east and with nearby Osaka to the west. Beyond Osaka, many trains boarding at Kyoto continue on the San'yō Shinkansen route managed by JR West, providing access to cities including Kobe , Okayama , Hiroshima , Kitakyushu , and Fukuoka . The trip from Tokyo to Kyoto takes around 2.5 hours, and
4815-665: The Cherry. In some places flower viewing parties are held on traditionally fixed dates. This is one of the most popular events during spring. The subject of flower viewing has long held an important place in literature, dance, and fine arts. Ikebana (flower arrangement) is also a popular part of Japanese culture and is still practiced by many people today. Some main things people do during this event are games, folk songs, folk dance, flower displays, rides, parades, concerts, kimono shows, booths with food and other things, beauty pageant, and religious ceremonies. Families go out during weekends to see
4922-636: The Cowherd Star (Altair)-who were said to be lovers who could meet only once a year on the 7th night of the 7th month provided it did not rain and flood the Milky Way. It was named Tanabata after a weaving maiden from a Japanese legend, named Orihime who was believed to make clothes for the gods. People often write wishes and romantic aspirations on long, narrow strips of colored paper and hang them on bamboo branches along with other small ornaments. Date: July 19 Information: One traditional custom to mark
5029-502: The Heian period the city came to be widely referred to simply as "Kyōto" ( 京都 , "capital city"). After the seat of the emperor was moved to the city of Edo and that city was renamed " Tōkyō " ( 東京 , meaning "eastern capital"), Kyoto was briefly known as "Saikyō" ( 西京 , meaning "western capital"). As the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868, Kyoto is sometimes called the thousand-year capital ( 千年の都 ). Historically, foreign spellings for
5136-547: The Kasuga Festival held at the Kasuga Grand Shrine to prepare the offerings. Upon Emperor Meiji 's orders to revive the traditional ceremonies, the shinsen offered up returned to the unique kind given at festivals tied to the imperial family, but their preparation was carried out by regular Shinto priests. As there is an underlying concept of doing all one can with sincerity, there are many changes in
5243-745: The Transportation Bureau and Kintetsu jointly operate through services which continue to Kintetsu Nara Station in Nara , the capital city of Nara Prefecture . The Tōzai Line runs from the southeastern area of the city towards the center, then east to west ( tōzai in Japanese) through the Kyoto downtown area where trains run beneath the east–west streets of Sanjō Street , Oike Street , and Oshikōji Street [ ja ] . The Keihan Keishin Line has been integrated into this line, and thus Keihan provides through services to Hamaōtsu in
5350-497: The affairs of the imperial government, Emperor Kanmu chose to relocate the capital in order to distance it from the clerical establishment in Nara . His last choice for the site was the village of Uda, in the Kadono district of Yamashiro Province . The new city, Heian-kyō ( 平安京 , "tranquility and peace capital") , modeled after Chinese Tang dynasty capital Chang'an , became the seat of Japan's imperial court in 794, beginning
5457-530: The ancestor's spirits back to their permanent dwelling place. Date: October- Information: The Japanese tradition of going to visit scenic areas where leaves have turned red in the Autumn. The tradition is said to have originated in the Heian era as a cultured pursuit. Date: November 11 Information: The Japanese tradition of buying and eating Pocky sticks. Date: November 15 Information: Three- and seven-year-old girls and five-year-old boys are taken to
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#17327809653085564-427: The beginning. There were some shrines where even when one finally became tounin, they had to go through further strict training which required them to remain in a room with all impurities removed, and they were restricted from not only meeting women, but from meeting anyone, at all. This was how they gained respect from the villagers, and gained the authority to become tounin. As a general rule, those that were part of
5671-498: The central figure of that family was called the tounin. According to records detailing the system, the tounin was required to go through extreme fasting. There are shrines such as Miho Shrine that still retain the strict rules pertaining to this. For example, if someone is chosen to be the tounin, they must go through purification for four years without fail, and always ensure to pray at the shrine at midnight. If they meet with anyone during that time, they are required to restart from
5778-513: The cherry blossoms, and participate in the many festivals and activities. Date: April 8 Other Names: Flower Festival Information: Hanamatsuri celebrates the birth of the Buddha . On this day, all temples hold 降誕会 ( Gōtan-e ), 仏生会 ( Busshō-e ), 浴仏会 ( Yokubutsu-e ), 龍華会 ( Ryūge-e ) and 花会式 ( Hana-eshiki ). Japanese people pour ama-cha (a beverage prepared from a variety of hydrangea ) on small Buddha statues decorated with flowers, as if bathing
5885-448: The city center do not follow the same grid pattern, though streets throughout Kyoto are referred to by name, a practice that is rare in most regions of Japan. Kyoto was the largest city in Japan until the late 16th century, when its population was surpassed by those of Osaka and Edo . Before World War II, Kyoto vied with Kobe and Nagoya to rank as the fourth- or fifth-largest city in Japan. Having avoided most wartime destruction, it
5992-458: The city government announced that a record number of tourists had visited Kyoto. As a result of a sharp decline in tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic , the mayor acknowledged in 2021 "the possibility of bankruptcy in the next decade" and announced job cuts in the administration and cuts in social assistance, including reductions in funding for home care. Traditional Japanese crafts are also
6099-540: The city government. The Consortium does not offer degrees, but allows students of member universities to take courses at other member universities. In addition to Japanese universities and colleges, educational institutions from other countries operate programs in the city. The Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies (KCJS) is a group of 14 American universities that runs overseas academic programs in Japanese language and cultural studies for university students. Similarly,
6206-577: The city's name have included Kioto and Miaco or Meaco . Ample archeological evidence suggests human settlement in the area of Kyoto began as early as the Paleolithic period, although not much published material is retained about human activity in the region before the 6th century, around which time the Shimogamo Shrine is believed to have been established. During the 8th century, when powerful Buddhist clergy became involved in
6313-402: The contents of the shinsen depending on season or region. There are regions where the custom of offering up the first produce of the year before an altar without eating it remains, but there are also areas where offerings are selected from amongst the seasonal foods. Ever since Japan learned how to cultivate rice, spring being the season to plow the fields and autumn being the season to harvest
6420-427: The crops has become the foundation of Japanese society. It is believed that the kami of food and agriculture, Ukanomitama , resides within the rice, and so rice is deeply connected to their way of life. It is for this reason that food or drink made from rice such as mochi or sake in the form of omiki are a staple offering, so much so that there is even a saying that says, "There is no kami without sake." However, as
6527-574: The details tied to the offering up of shinsen are passed down from generation to generation among trusted family members, so as to not mindlessly spread the methods. As a result, any written records left are often personal memos with very few official records left behind. This is also the case with the preparation of shinsen, and so there are many shrines that no longer know why it is tradition to make certain offerings as no written records were left. However, there are also shrines which, upon realising that it would be difficult to pass down certain aspects of
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#17327809653086634-490: The end of the Bon Festival. Small paper lanterns containing a burning flame are either set afloat to a river, lake or sea or they are let go and float away into the night. Their light is intended to guide the way for deceased family members' spirits. Usually the person who lets the lantern go will write a message on the side. Date: August 13–16 Information: A Buddhist observance honoring the spirits of ancestors. Usually
6741-504: The enshrined kami. At the end of the ritual, the offered food is eaten together to gain a sense of unity with the kami, and to gain their blessing and protection. The rite is known as naorai. There are shrines that have buildings dedicated to preparing shinsen, but for the shrines that do not, they separate their shrine office from the outside using a shimenawa , and then priests or ujiko, someone who worships an ujigami , who have purified themselves by abstaining from meat prepare
6848-408: The fans that it was expanded into a large annual festival. One must purchase tickets for this event (Bernard, 2007). This summer jazz festival does not cost anything but potential members of the public still need to receive a ticket to enter the event. Japan celebrates the entire season of the cherry blossoms. There are festivals in nearly every region of Japan, and some locations, food is available or
6955-772: The festival is next to a lake, renting a boat is also an attraction. Favorite elements of the most popular matsuri, such as the Nada no Kenka Matsuri of Himeji or the Neputa Matsuri of Hirosaki , are often broadcast on television for the entire nation to enjoy. Sapporo Snow Festival is one of the largest festivals of the year in Sapporo , held in February for one week. It began in 1950 when high school students built snow statues in Odori Park, central Sapporo. The event
7062-478: The first full moon of the year (around January 15). The main events of Koshōgatsu are rites and practices praying for a bountiful harvest. Date: March 3 Other Names: Sangatsu Sekku (3rd month Festival), Momo Sekku (Peach Festival), Joshi no Sekku (Girls' Festival) Information: This is the day when families pray for the happiness and prosperity of their girls to help ensure that they grow up healthy and beautiful. The celebration takes place both inside
7169-645: The home and at the seashore. Both parts are meant to ward off evil spirits from girls and women. Young girls and women put on their best kimono and visit their friends' homes. Tiered platforms for hina ningyō ( hina dolls; a set of dolls representing the emperor, empress, attendants, and musicians in ancient court dress) are set up in the home, and the family celebrates with a special meal of hishimochi (diamond-shaped rice cakes) and shirozake (rice malt with sake). Date: April Other Names: Hanami (flower viewing), Cherry Blossom Festival Information: Various flower festivals are held at Shinto shrines during
7276-415: The late 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi reconstructed the city by building new streets to double the number of north–south streets in central Kyoto, creating rectangle blocks superseding ancient square blocks. Toyotomi also built earthwork walls called odoi ( 御土居 ) encircling the city. Teramachi Street in central Kyoto is a Buddhist temple quarter where Toyotomi gathered temples in the city. In 1603,
7383-568: The list as UNESCO World Heritage Sites . In 1997, Kyoto hosted the conference that resulted in the protocol on greenhouse gas emissions ( United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ). Kyoto is located in a valley, part of the Yamashiro (or Kyoto) Basin, in the eastern part of the mountainous region known as the Tamba highlands. The Yamashiro Basin is surrounded on three sides by mountains known as Higashiyama, Kitayama and Nishiyama, with
7490-544: The local shrine to pray for their safe and healthy future. This festival started because of the belief that children of certain ages were especially prone to bad luck and hence in need of divine protection. Children are usually dressed in traditional clothing for the occasion and after visiting the shrine many people buy chitose-ame ("thousand-year candy") sold at the shrine. Date: late December Other Names: Year-end ( 年の瀬 , toshi no se ) , Year-end Fair ( 年の市 , Toshi no Ichi ) Information: Preparations for seeing in
7597-464: The long noodles. Kyoto Kyoto ( / ˈ k j oʊ t oʊ / ; Japanese : 京都 , Kyōto [kʲoꜜːto] ), officially Kyoto City ( 京都市 , Kyōto-shi , [kʲoːtoꜜɕi] ) , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan 's largest and most populous island of Honshu . As of 2020 , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it
7704-481: The middle of June and lasts until the end of July, yielding to a hot and sunny latter half of the summer. Kyoto, like most of the Pacific coast and central areas of Japan, is prone to typhoons during the summer and autumn. In the 1870s, the city was divided into a northern ward (Kamigyō-ku) and a southern ward (Shimogyō-ku), each working as individual administrative divisions of Kyoto Prefecture. The modern municipality
7811-508: The month of April. Excursions and picnics for enjoying flowers, particularly cherry blossoms are also common, as well as many drinking parties often to be seen in and around auspicious parks and buildings. In some areas the peach blossom, the traditional flower of Japan (the Cherry being a symbol from the Edo period symbolizing the Samurai culture), is viewed as well though these flowers earlier than
7918-612: The neighboring city of Ōtsu , the capital of Shiga Prefecture . Within the city of Kyoto, the Tōzai Line also connects to the Keihan lines at Yamashina Station , Misasagi Station , and Sanjō Keihan Station , and to the Keifuku Electric Railroad at the terminal of Uzumasa Tenjingawa Station . Kyoto's municipal bus network is extensive. Private carriers also operate within the city. Many tourists join commuters on
8025-470: The new seat of Japan's imperial court by Emperor Kanmu . The original city, named Heian-kyō , was arranged in accordance with traditional Chinese feng shui following the model of the ancient Chinese capitals of Chang'an and Luoyang . The emperors of Japan ruled from Kyoto in the following eleven centuries until 1869. It was the scene of several key events of the Muromachi period , Sengoku period , and
8132-433: The new year were originally undertaken to greet the toshigami , or deity of the incoming year. These begin on December 13, when the house was given a thorough cleaning; the date is usually nearer the end of the month now. The house is then decorated in the traditional fashion: A sacred rope of straw (shimenawa) with dangling white paper strips (shide) is hung over the front door to prevent evil spirits from entering and to show
8239-425: The new year. Homes are decorated and the holidays are celebrated by family gatherings, visits to temples or shrines, and formal calls on relatives and friends. The first day of the year ( ganjitsu ) is usually spent with members of the family. People try to stay awake and eat toshikoshi soba , noodles to be eaten at midnight. People also visit Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Traditionally three are visited. This
8346-442: The next year's kami harvest. Matsuri ( 祭 ) is the Japanese word for a festival or holiday. In Japan, festivals are usually sponsored by a local shrine or temple , though they can be secular. Festivals are often based around one event, with food stalls, entertainment, and carnival games to keep people entertained. Some are based around temples or shrines, others hanabi ( fireworks ), and still others around contests where
8453-578: The occupation, the U.S. Sixth Army and I Corps were headquartered in Kyoto. As a result, Kyoto is one of the few Japanese cities that still have an abundance of prewar buildings, such as the traditional townhouses known as machiya . However, modernization is continually breaking down traditional Kyoto in favor of newer architecture, such as the Kyōto Station complex. Kyoto became a city designated by government ordinance on September 1, 1956. In 1994, 17 historic monuments in Kyoto were inscribed on
8560-463: The offerings. A purifying fire known as imibi is used, and to ensure no saliva or breath touches the shinsen, it is common for the priests to cover their mouths with paper. Such care is put into the preparation of the shinsen that even those whose relatives have recently been met with illness or death are not allowed to take part. Before the Meiji era , the imperial court would send out their chief steward to festivals held on imperial grounds such as
8667-433: The ones to prepare and offer up the shinsen , continuing on with their lives while purifying the spirits of the dead. Japanese festivals Japanese festivals are traditional festive occasions often celebrated with dance and music in Japan . In Japan, festivals are called matsuri ( 祭り ) , and the origin of the word matsuri is related to the kami ( 神 , Shinto deities) ; there are theories that
8774-502: The participants sport loin cloths (see: Hadaka Matsuri ). There are no specific matsuri days for all of Japan; dates vary from area to area, and even within a specific area, but festival days do tend to cluster around traditional holidays such as Setsubun or Obon . Almost every locale has at least one matsuri in late summer/early autumn, usually related to the paddy harvest . Notable matsuri often feature processions which may include elaborate floats . Preparation for these processions
8881-483: The possibility that the city's importance was great enough that its loss might persuade Japan to surrender. In the end, at the insistence of Henry L. Stimson , Secretary of War in the Roosevelt and Truman administrations, the city was removed from the list of targets and replaced by Nagasaki . The city was largely spared from conventional bombing as well, although small-scale air raids did result in casualties. During
8988-499: The preparation through traditional methods, chose to leave written records. In 1871, the Great Council of State issued a proclamation abolishing the hereditary system of Shinto priests in which each new generation succeeded the last. In an attempt to pass down the information, Katori Shrine noted down the details of the rituals in various documents. Amongst these were details and attached illustrations on how to light an imibi,
9095-407: The presence of the toshigami. It is also customary to place kadomatsu, an arrangement of tree sprigs, beside the entrance way. A special altar, known as toshidana ("year shelf"), is piled high with kagamimochi (flat, round rice cakes), sake (rice wine), persimmons, and other foods in honor of the toshigami. A fair is traditionally held in late December at shrines, temples or in local neighborhoods. This
9202-401: The priest. However, the priest taking on the preparation is not simply due to a lack of successors, but rather because the descendents of the followers of Sugawara no Michizane prepare the shinsen themselves. This is because of legends that after Sugawara no Michizane was sent to Dazaifu , and his followers returned to Kyoto with his belongings when Kitano Tenmangu Shrine was built, they were
9309-595: The public buses, or take tour buses. Kyoto's buses have announcements in English and electronic signs with stops written in the Latin alphabet. Buses operating on routes within the city, the region, and the nation stop at Kyōto Station . In addition to Kyōto Station, bus transfer is available at the intersection of Shijō Kawaramachi , Sanjō Keihan Station , and the intersection of Karasuma Kitaōji near Kitaōji Station . Because many older streets in Kyoto are narrow, there are
9416-419: The required tools, how to use them, how to cut and weave Manchurian wild rice which is used to make the vessels which hold the offerings, how to prepare and dry fish, and how to make purifying smoke. In areas where an ujiko prepared the shinsen, the methods were passed down by a group known as a miyaza. The family that took the leading role in the miyaza was known as the touya , or the head family, and
9523-463: The rice field , seasonal flowers and twigs are placed, and sake and baked rice are offered to the mountain kami . During otaue-matsuri , young women called saotome ( 早乙女 ) enter the rice field to plant rice seedlings and pray for a good harvest. Typical summer festival practices are mushi okuri ( 虫送り ) and amagoi ( 雨乞い ) . In mushi okuri , torches are lit at night and straw dolls with pests tied to them are floated or thrown into
9630-628: The ritual does not have a specific form, the specific offerings are not standardized, either. Aside from grains, it is also common for seafood and vegetables to be offered up, and there are some shrines that offer up fowl. However, it is rare for animal meat to be offered up as shinsen . The Engishiki lists many specific offerings other than sacred sake, such as various kinds of mochi, and also contains records of how to prepare dishes like simmered bonito , sweetfish boiled in brine , and crucian carp simmered in hishio. Although many shrines desire shinsen made up only of vegetables that do not emit
9737-437: The river to pray for the repulsion of pests, while in amagoi , dances are dedicated to kami and fires are lit to pray for rain. The typical fall festival practices are niiname-sai ( 新嘗祭 ) and aki-matsuri ( 秋祭り ) . In niiname-sai , new grains are offered to the kami at the imperial court and at Shinto shrines throughout Japan to thank them for the harvest, and in aki-matsuri , farmers in rural villages thank
9844-399: The shaping of the mochi. Originally, the head priest at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine would stay in their chambers for seven days before a ritual, and would not eat any food made by a woman. It would only be made by the man himself before he attended the ritual. But in 2012, the ritual was eased to only abstaining from meat for three days after taking into consideration the other duties required of
9951-520: The spring pray for a good harvest for the year, festivals held in the summer pray for rice and crops to be free from pests and storm damage, festivals held in the fall offer gratitude for the harvest, and festivals held in the winter pray for a good harvest in the new year. Many secular and modern festivals are also held, with the Sapporo Snow Festival attracting 2.73 million visitors in 2019. There are many Japanese festivals in which
10058-439: The streets near Aomori JR rail station. These floats are constructed of wooden bases and metal frames. Japanese papers, called washi, are painted onto the frames. These amazing floats are finished off with the historical figures or kabuki being painted on the paper. These floats can take up to a year to complete. There is a dance portion of this festival. There are haneto dancers and they wear special costumes for this dance. Everyone
10165-478: The temple bells rung 108 times at midnight ( joya no kane ). This is to announce the passing of the old year and the coming of the new. The reason they are rung 108 times is because of the Buddhist belief that human beings are plagued by 108 earthly desires or passions ( bonnō ). With each ring one desire is dispelled. It is also a custom to eat toshikoshi soba in the hope that one's family fortunes will extend like
10272-675: The terminal of Kokusaikaikan Station and Takeda Station , and takes its name from the fact that trains run beneath Karasuma Street between Kitaōji Station in Kita-ku and Jūjō Station in Minami-ku. The Karasuma Line connects to the Hankyu Kyoto Main Line at the intersection of Shijō Karasuma in Kyoto's central business district and to JR lines and the Kyoto Kintetsu Line at Kyōto Station. In addition,
10379-651: The three major festivals in Kyoto . Gion Matsuri attracts huge crowds to see the procession of huge dashi ( 山車 , matsuri floats) and mikoshi ( 神輿 , portable shrines) , while Aoi Matsuri and Jidai Matsuri attract crowds to see the procession of people dressed in period costumes. The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri and the Tokushima Awa Odori are large, historic festivals in local cities that attract more than 2 million visitors each year, and more than 1 million visitors each year, respectively. According to
10486-408: The three major festivals in Japan, worship the onryō of Gozu Tennō , Sugawara no Michizane , and Taira no Masakado , respectively, and pray for good health and protection from natural disasters. Since these festivals are held in urban areas, each attracts hundreds of thousands to over a million spectators each year. On the other hand, Gion Matsuri, Aoi Matsuri , and Jidai Matsuri are considered
10593-418: The total population of Kyoto Prefecture is concentrated in the city of Kyoto, which is the highest ratio among the prefectures of Japan. The city of Kyoto is governed by the mayor of Kyoto and the Kyoto City Assembly, a municipal council . The legislative city assembly has 67 elected members, and terms are four years in length. As of 2024, the assembly is controlled by a coalition of members affiliated with
10700-752: The trip from Hakata Station in Fukuoka to Kyoto takes just over three hours by the fastest train service Nozomi . All Shinkansen trains stop at Kyōto Station, including Hikari and Kodama trains. The Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau operates the Kyoto Municipal Subway consisting of two lines: the Karasuma Line and the Tōzai Line . The two lines are linked at Karasuma Oike Station near Kyoto's central business district. The Karasuma Line runs primarily north to south between
10807-598: The unique religious beliefs of the Japanese people, who worship onryō ( 怨霊 , vengeful spirits ) and violent kami , based on the background of Japan's frequent natural disasters. Based on the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism , Japanese people worship not only the spirits that inhabit all things and the souls of their ancestors, but also terrifying onryō and violent kami that protect people from epidemics and natural disasters. For example, Gion Matsuri , Tenjin Matsuri ( ja ), and Kanda Matsuri , which are considered
10914-1017: The word matsuri is derived from matsu ( 待つ ) meaning "to wait (for the kami to descend)", tatematsuru ( 献る ) meaning "to make offerings to the kami ", and matsurau ( 奉う ) meaning "to obey the kami ". The theory that it is derived from matsurau is the most popular. It is estimated that there are between 100,000 and 300,000 festivals across Japan, generating an annual economic impact of 530 billion yen as of 2019. As of 2024, 33 of these festivals have been registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists as "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan". Various folk dances, costume processions, kagura , dengaku , bugaku , and noh performed at festivals are also registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. For example, 41 folk dances including bon odori from various regions of Japan are registered as " Furyu-odori " and 10 costume processions including namahage are registered as " Raihō-shin ". Japanese festivals reflect
11021-498: The world and some American cities host matsuri such as Los Angeles, San Jose and Phoenix. Wales has adopted the term matsuri to name their yearly drift festival. It uses the Japanese name to show the sports Japanese heritage. The event takes place over 2 days at the Anglesey Track, and has been annual for 6 years. Date: January 1–3 (related celebrations take place throughout January) Other Names: Oshōgatsu (O
11128-468: The year. Exchanging New Year's greeting cards (similar to Christmas Cards ) is another important Japanese custom. Also special allowances are given to children, which are called otoshidama . They also decorate their entrances with kagami mochi (two mochi rice balls placed one on top of the other, with a tangerine on top), and kadomatsu (pine tree decorations). A later New Year's celebration, Koshōgatsu , literally means "Small New Year" and starts with
11235-430: Was again the third-largest city in 1947. By 1960 it had fallen to fifth again, and by 1990 it had fallen to seventh. As of January 2022 , it was the ninth-largest city in Japan by population and had led the country in population decrease for two consecutive years. However, the population of the city rises during standard working hours, and Kyoto ranks seventh in Japan in terms of daytime population . Approximately 55% of
11342-469: Was arranged in accordance with traditional Chinese feng shui following the model of the ancient Chinese capital of Chang'an / Luoyang . The Imperial Palace faced south, resulting in Ukyō (the right sector of the capital) being on the west, while Sakyō (the left sector) is on the east. The streets in the modern-day wards of Kamigyō-ku, Nakagyō-ku, and Shimogyō-ku still follow a grid pattern. Areas outside of
11449-460: Was created by the unification of these wards into the city of Kyoto in 1889. Due to the creation of new administrative districts and a number of municipal mergers that took place between the 1920s and the 1970s, the contemporary city of Kyoto is divided into eleven wards ( 区 , ku ) . The central wards, located to the west of the Kamo River, are small and densely populated. The city hall
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