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NOVEMBER 2008
PICK UP
Autumn Special Temple & Shrine Openings
Rakuhoku Northern Area
Obai-in Temple (11/11-12/7)
The famous samurai lord Oda Nobunaga built this temple for his father in 1551. The garden was designed by Japan's most famous tea ceremony master, Sen no Rikyu, when he was 16 years old; 600 yen; 10:00-16:00; Tel: 231-7015.
Soken-in Temple (until 12/6)
This temple was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583 to commemorate the one year anniversary of the death of Oda Nobunaga. The tea room is strongly connected to the early history of the Japanese tea ceremony; 600 yen; 10:00-16:00; Tel: 231-7015.
Jisso-in Temple (until 12/14)
Magnificent autumn garden views; 500 yen; accessible via Kyoto Bus #24 or #28 from Kokusai Kaikan on the Karasuma subway line, get off at Jisso-in; Tel: 781-5464.
Rakuto Eastern Area
Kodai-ji Temple (until 12/7)
This temple was built by Nene, the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, after his death to commemorate his spirit. Special temple treasures will be open to the public; 600 yen (including entry to Sho Museum); 9:00-21:00; Tel: 561-9966.
Eikan-do Temple (11/8-12/7)
National treasures and other important cultural properties, including screen paintings by painters of the Kano school; 8:30-16:30; 1,000 yen (including entry to the garden); Tel: 761-0007.
Joju-in Temple (11/17-12/7)
This temple's beautiful ''garden of the moon'' will be specially opened to the public; 600 yen; north of Kiyomizu Temple; Tel: 551-1234.
Reikan-ji Temple (11/22-26)
Imperial family treasures and garden; 10:00-15:30; 500 yen; Tel: 752-0236.
Rakuchu Central Area
Hokyo-ji Temple (11/1-30)
This temple is strongly connected with imperial princesses. It is known as the Doll Temple and holds a special doll exhibition every spring and autumn. A superb collection of antique dolls will be displayed; 10:00-16:00; 600 yen; Tel: 451-1550.
Rakusai Western Area
Kogen-ji Temple (until 12/7)
At this Tenryu-ji sub-temple in Arashiyama, visitors can see a fine borrowed scenery garden, temple treasures and an excellent art collection); 9:00-17:00; 500 yen; Tel: 881-1232.
Ninna-ji Temple (until 11/24)
National Treasure statues of Kujaku Myo and Amida Sanson, and a 5-story pagoda; 9:00-16:00; 500 yen; a 10-min. walk from Ryoan-ji Temple; Tel: 461-1155.
Seiryo-ji Temple (until 11/30)
Important Buddha statues, etc.; 9:00-17:00; 400 yen; Tel: 861-0343.
Rakunan Southern Area
Mampuku-ji Temple (until 11/30; except 11/10)
An exhibition of 300-year-old paintings and Japanese calligraphy by one of the temple's Chinese Zen abbots; near Obaku Stn. on the JR Nara line; 9:00-17:00; 700 yen; Tel: 0774-32-3900.
To-ji Temple (until 11/25)
To-ji's unrivalled collection of national treasures includes the famous Daishigon-in mandala; 9:00-16:30; 500 yen; Tel: 691-3325.
Special Temple Light-up Locations
Every autumn when the Old Capital of Kyoto is ablaze with the bright reds of the maple leaves at their finest, a number of temples artistically light up their beautiful gardens. To see the maple leaves in a night-time setting is indeed a wonderful sight. The following are the most important main temples that hold light-up events every year.
Eikan-do Temple (11/8-30): 17:30-21:00; 600 yen; south of Marutamachi and Shishigatani; Tel: 761-0007. Entoku-in: (until 12/7): sunset- 21:30; 500 yen; southeast of Higashioji/Shijo; Tel: 525-0101. Kiyomizu-dera Temple (11/13-12/7): 18:30-21:30; 600 yen; north-east of Higashioji/Gojo; Tel: 551-1234. Kodai-ji Temple (until 12/7): sunset-21:30; 600 yen (including entry to the Sho Museum); southeast of the Gion district; Tel: 561-9966. Shoren-in Temple (11/1-12/7): 18:00-21:30; 800 yen; southeast of Sanjo/Jingu-michi; Tel: 561-2345.
Other Highlights
Until 11/24
Nijo Castle Autumn Festa 2008
The special annual autumn festival is held at Nijo Castle, one of Kyoto's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Various events, from traditional to artistic, will be held in the castle's beautiful Japanese garden and cultural properties
11/1 & 3: Citizen's Tea Party: tea ceremony masters will offer green tea; 9:30-15:00; 2,500 yen (tea, soba noodles, entry to the castle included).
Until 11/6: Kyoto Art Walk 2008: at Ninomaru Palace, a variety of contemporary art works will be displayed.
11/13-24: Kazuko Hattori Kimono Collection Exhibition: Ms. Hattori's fabulous private kimono collection.
Until 11/16: Chrysanthemum Flower Exhibition: 470 large chrysanthemum flower pots will be displayed at the Kara-mon Gate.
Until 11/24: Kyoto Specialty Fair: a wide range of stalls selling Kyoto specialties (foods, drinks, crafts, arts, etc.); admission to the castle: 600 yen; open: 8:45-16:00; Tel: 841-0096.
10/30-11/3
Kyoto Antique Book Fair
In the precinct of Chion-ji Temple, a large number of Japanese book dealers sell all kinds of books and magazines (antiques and foreign language books too). About 200,000 books will be on display. Chion-ji Temple; Tel: 781-3352.
11/1-10
The Annual Gion Odori Dances
Among the gorgeous sights that lure visitors to Kyoto every autumn are the traditional performances featuring geiko and young maiko (apprentice geiko) dressed in richly decorated kimono. The exquisite Gion Odori dances have long been celebrated in every medium of Japanese art, from poetry to painting, from kabuki to film. At the Gion Kaikan Theater,; at 13:30 and 16:00. Tickets: 3,500 yen (4,000 yen with tea service); Tel: 561-0224.
11/3
Kyokusui no utage
In this elegant poetry game dating back to Heian times, men and women dressed as Heian aristocrats sit on the banks of the stream that flows through the Jonan-gu Shrine's Rakusui-en garden. A red sake cup is released upstream and before it reaches the next participant that person must compose a poem; free; 14:00-15:00; garden open 9:00-16:00; Tel: 611-0575.
11/8
Kanikakuni-sai, Poet of the ''Floating World''
This private memorial service is for the poet Yoshii Isamu (1886-1960) who loved the Gion pleasure quarters. Geiko and maiko perform a tea ceremony at a stone monument on which one of his poems is inscribed (this ceremony can not be viewed by the general public; however, at the beginning and at the end, this is an excellent opportunity to see geiko and maiko!); 11:00-13:00; Gion Shinbashi, just north of Shijo; Tel: 561-1115.
Ohitaki Festival
One of the more important ohitaki festivals or rice harvest thanksgiving festivals (generally featuring offerings, prayers and Shinto dance/music, and prayer stick burning bonfires) at Fushimi Inari Shrine. Three large bonfires are lit and about 100,000 goma prayer sticks are burned starting at 13:00. A kagura dance is also performed at the same time; west of Fushimi Inari Stn.; Tel: 641-7331.
11/12-16
Public Opening of the Old Imperial Palace
Foreigners can enter the Old Imperial Palace any weekday; however Japanese usually have to get special permission to enter. For these 5 days the grounds are thrown wide open to the public from 9:00-15:30. Free of charge; Kyoto Imperial Palace; Tel: 211-1211.
Temple & Shrine Flea Markets
11/2, Sun.
To-ji Temple: this market is focused on antiques of all kinds; usually not too crowded; 7:00-16:00
Taishogun Hachi Shrine: a small antique market; 9:00-15:00
11/12, Sat.
Hokoku Shrine: small antique market; 10:00-15:00
Inba Yakushi Temple: handicrafts; 9:00-15:00
11/9 & 11/23
Kyoto City Hall: a huge public flea market; 10:00-17:00
11/12, Wed.
Myoren-ji Temple: a lovely setting to find inexpensive kimono and antiques; 9:00-17:00
11/13, Thurs.
Fujinomori Shrine: handicrafts; a 5-min. walk west of Keihan Fujinomori Stn.
11/15, Sat.
Chion-ji Temple: Kyoto's biggest handicraft market; 8:00-16:00
11/21, Fri.
To-ji Temple: also known as Kobo-san, this market has everything and is extremely popular; 7:00-17:00
11/25, Tues.
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine: also known as Tenjin-san, this market sprawls in and around this major shrine; 7:00-19:00
2009 July
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The 233th issue, since 1987.