Yamabushi-Yama: Gion Matsuri!, a set on Flickr. This float is called Yamabushi-yama because it displays a holy doll of a Yamabushi (a mountain priest) on its top. When the famous five-storied Yasaka pagoda of the Hokan-ji temple near Kiyomizu temple began to lean many centuries ago a renowned Yamabushi named Yozokisho reportedly set the tower straight with his spiritual powers. Continue reading «Yamabushi-Yama: Gion Matsuri!»
Read more ›Urade-Yama: Gion Matsuri!, a set on Flickr. This float portrays a famous story of when Empress Jingu, a more legendary than historical heroine of Japan, went fishing for Ayu (sweet fish) when she was in Hizen (present day Saga prefecture in northern Kyushu) in order to cast a horoscope about the victory or defeat of the Imperial campaign. For this Continue reading «Urade-Yama: Gion Matsuri!»
Read more ›Tsuki-Hoko: Gion Matsuri!, a set on Flickr. This float derives its name from the crescent moon mounted on the top of its pole. Halfway up the pole the deity of the moon known as Tsukiyomi-no-Mikoto is enshrined. The gorgeous pictures of flowers and grasses on the lower side of the eaves of this float were rendered in 1784 by Maruyama Continue reading «Tsuki-Hoko: Gion Matsuri!»
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Welcome to Kyoto and Nara Dream Trips, where you will be able to see a traditional and ancient part of Kyoto and Nara that not many travel guides offer. This is a community to share your experiences in Japan and to learn more about this often elusive culture. Here you will find information on popular tourist sites of Nara and Kyoto and also the not-so-popular sites which are often equally rewarding. You can also find information posted on the wall about famous Japanese peoples' birthdays, famous historical events, and different odd and widely unknown traditions. Discover a side of Japan which you never knew existed, here at Kyoto and Nara Dream Trips!
