Kansai Festivals

Toka Ebisu [January 9-11]

Thousands show respect for the welfare, businessmen and fishermen god, Ebisu, at the Imamiya Ebisu shrine in Osaka. Women also parade in superb kimono and sit high in bright palanquins.

Yamayaki (Grass Burning on Mt. Wakakusayama), January's 2nd Sunday

Marking ending competition between 2 10th-century shrines, dry grass is burned on the Wakakusayama hill, the Nara park. A noisy be-in with beautiful fireworks.

Setsubun Mantoro (Lantern Festival) [February 3 or 4]

They light 3,000 bronze and stone lanterns at the Kasuga Taisha shrine in Nara.

Omizutori (Water-Drawing Festival) [March 1-14]

At the Todai-ji shrine, Nara since the 9th century. The brightest day is the 12th - while water is drawn from the Vakasa well, porters wave lanterns to generate thousands of specks and monks blow in sea shells to blare.

Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Festival) [May 15]

The Shimogamo-jinja and Kamigamo-jinja shrines in Kyoto hold parades to render old palace processions.

Mifune Matsuri, May's 3rd Sunday

Poets, musicians and dancers in old costumes perform on boats on the Oi river in Arasiyama.

Takigi O-Noh (Bonfire Noh performance), Kyoto [June 1-2]

The Heian Jingu shrine holds a No theatre open-air performance in lantern light.

Otaue Rice Planting Festival [June 14]

12 pretty women lead the celebration at the Sumiyoshi shrine.

Kansai Festivals (from July to December)