Many of you know that my wife Yoko and I are hardcore summer festival revelers and this summer already has us feverish with so many festivals scheduled on our days off!
Never before have we been able to plan for so many festivals (22 to be exact !), and as a result this year I have decided to divide the event calendar I promised you into two parts: one for July and one for August, the latter being considerably longer!
The most number of festivals Yoko and I have actually been able to attend in one summer is 11, and we’ve done that twice. Our new goal is 12, not easy!
Our opinion is that the summer festival season sets off in earnest with Gion Matsuri. This famous, 1000-year-old celebration pretty much dominates all of July in Kyoto, but one particular day this month, and what many consider to be the climax of Gion Matsuri, takes place next weekend: on Saturday July 17th.
Sat July 17th : Gion Matsuri Parade 9:00 – 11:00am Shijo-Karasuma starting point, and the second part is in the evening around Yasaka-jinja to Teramachi. （ 祇園祭り )
Sat July 24th : Ashiya Fireworks Festival 5,000 rockets – nice setting!
Sat July 24th : Ayabe Fireworks, 4,000 rockets and Tohro-nagashi
Sat July 24th and Sun July 25th : Tenjin Matsuri 5,500 rockets and probably a turnout in excess of 500,000 people so if you can line up a roof-top to watch it from ……. Take care!
Stay tuned for the LONG August Festival Calendar coming later this month!
Martin Werner Zander, Smith’s School of English Corporate Partner
マーティン・ワーナー・ザンダー
Owner, Smith’s School of English Kotoen
月謝制のスミス英会話 甲東園校 仁川 逆瀬川 門戸厄神
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