The
Wonders & Attractions of Northern Kyoto PrefectureTwo summer festivals and so much more!
This month we would like to introduce two of unique festivals that place in northern Kyoto Prefecture. Kyoto is well known all over the world for its rich historical heritage. However, Kyoto is also blessed with much natural and scenic beauty. The northern part of Kyoto is especially rich in this way. Both of the following festivals are held in areas that are basically in the middle of great areas of natural beauty.
Ayabe
Minazuki FestivalAyabe City is located in northwestern Kyoto Prefecture. Every year on July 24, an extremely important and exciting festival takes place here. The festival is called the Ayabe Minazuki Festival. Minazuki is the old name for the month of June, which was also known as “the month of no water.” Actually, according to the lunar calendar, Minazuki was the month of July, a time when rain was scarce.
The festival got started in the Taisho period (1912-1926) and developed in an area along the Yura River that runs through Ayabe City. For many, the highlight of the event is the fireworks display and the Manto-nagashi both of which are held at night. The main theme of the festival is peace.
The more than 4000 of colorful fire work display that decorate the summer sky above the city are splendid and amazing. Manto-nagashi is a special event in which more than 10,000 colorful paper lanterns are floated down the Yura River. These lanterns are lit to guide the spirits of dead ancestors back to heaven. At the same time people are also praying for peace.
During the day, mikoshi (portable shrines) are marched around the town to the sound of special drum music. The festival is very lively and highly popular with people of all ages.
Access: Take the JR San-in Line from Kyoto Stn. to Sonobe Stn. (about 40 min.) and transfer to another train for Ayabe Stn. (about 1 hour). The festival takes place about 10-min. from the station. Tel: 0773-42-0701
Kanabiki-no-takiMiyazu City is in northwestern Kyoto Prefecture. It has a long, colorful history. The city faces Miyazu Bay and Aso Bay which are on the Sea of Japan. The city is very famous in Japan because it is where Amanohashidate is located. A huge 3-km long sand land bridge covered with many beautiful pine trees, Amanohashidate is one of the three most beautiful sights in Japan. The area is also well-known for Kanabiki-no-taki (Kanabiki Waterfall) which is 20 meters wide in places and over 40 meters in height. The waterfall is a sacred Buddhist sight and also one of the Japan’s 100 best waterfalls. Here, in the fresh air, surrounded by lush green, listening to the waterfall is very relaxing.
Every year on the last Sunday of July (the 25th this year), the exciting Kanabiki-no-taki fire festival is held in Miyazu City. On this day, miko (sacred Shrine maidens) march from Takiuma Shrine to the waterfall carrying firebrands while special drum music is played in the background. The most exotic scene is when they put the fire into the river and it runs down over the falls. According to legend, long long ago, a maiden (who was actually Fudomyo-o; a Buddhism diety) got rid of an evil red goblin living near the waterfall. She killed the goblin with a sacred arrow and changed the waterfall for an instant into a wall of fire. On the right side of the falls stands a statue of Fudomyo-o who appears to be watching for evil.
Access: Take a JR Sanin Line from Kyoto Stn. to Fukuchiyama Stn. then take another train (Kita-kinki Tango Railway Miyafuku Line) to Miyazu Stn. (about 95 minutes). From the station, the Kanabiki-no-taki is a 5-min taxi ride or a 15-min. walk from the Miyazu-koko-mae bus stop. Tel: 0772-22-0670