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NOVEMBER 2007
PICK UP 1
Special Temple Light-up Locations
Every autumn when the Ancient 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.
Enko-ji Temple (11/10-12/2): 17:30-20:30; 500 yen; northeast of Shirakawa and Manshuin; Tel: 781-8025.
Entoku-in: (until 12/9): sunset- 21:30; 500 yen; southeast of Higashioji/Shijo; Tel: 525-0101.
Jisso-in Temple (11/15-30): 18:00-21:00; 500 yen; take Kyoto Bus #28 from Kitaoji Stn., and get off at final stop; Tel: 781-5464.
Joju-in Temple (11/16-12/2): 18:00-21:00; 500 yen; northeast of Higashioji/Gojo; Tel: 551-1234.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple (11/15-12/9): 18:30-21:30; 400 yen; north-east of Higashioji/Gojo; Tel: 551-1234.
Kodai-ji Temple (until 12/9): sunset-21:30; 600 yen; southeast of the Gion district; Tel: 561-9966.
Shoren-in Temple (until 12/2): 18:00-21:30; 800 yen; southeast of Sanjo/Jingu-michi; Tel: 561-2345.
PICK UP 2
Nijo Castle Autumn Festa 2007
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 noodle, entry to the castle included); 11/16-25: Special public opening of Seiryu-en garden: this fine garden is known for its lovely maple trees and design: open: 9:00-15:30; until 11/18: Chrysanthemum flower exhibition: 470 large and beautiful chrysanthemums will be displayed at the Kara-mon Gate; until 11/25: Castle's Memorial Exhibition Hall Special Opening: to celebrate the 400th birth anniversary of Kano Naonobu, one of the prominent Japanese painters who painted the castle's gorgeous wall paintings, a number of restored original wall paintings will be open to the public; 100 yen; until 11/26: a wide range of stalls selling Kyoto specialties (foods, drinks, crafts, arts, etc.) will be open; 600 yen for entry to the castle. Tel: 841-0096
November Highlights
10/31-11/4
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 9:00-15:00. Free of charge. Kyoto Imperial Palace: Northeast of Marutamachi/Karasuma. Tel: 211-1211.
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.
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, southeast of Gion Corner; at 13:30 and 16:00. Tickets 3,500 yen (4,000 yen with tea service). Tel: 561-0224.
3
Kyokusui no Utage
An 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; a 10-min walk southwest of Takeda subway Stn; Tel: 611-0575.
4
Antique Market at Toji
This market at To-ji Temple on the first Sunday of every month is devoted to antiques and is usually not crowded and yet there is so much to see and buy.
8
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.
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.
15
Chion-ji Open-air Craft Market
Chion-ji's monthly market is an excellent place to buy all kinds of attractive and interesting handmade goods and crafts.
21
Kobo-san Flea Market
At To-ji Temple, antiques, old kimono & obi (great buys), ethnic goods, food, tools, and just about anything else you can imagine. A great place to see people! See page 1 for access details.
23
Memorial Service for Brushes
On this day at Shogaku-an Temple (a sub-temple in the exquisite Tofuku-ji Temple Zen complex), calligraphers and writers burn their old brushes (fude) in gratitude and in hopes of better penmanship ability; starts at 14:00; southeast of JR (Nara Line) and Keihan Railways' Tofuku-ji Stns; Tel: 561-8095.
25
Tenjin-san Shrine Market
Antiques, old kimono & obi (great buys), ethnic goods, food, tools, and just about anything else you can imagine at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. A great place to see people!
2008 July
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The 222th issue, since 1987.