YOSHIDA SHRINE Setsubun festival

In Japan, we celebrate "Setsubun" in every Feburary 3rd .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setsubun
Setasubun means seasonal division and from past it was believed that during the change of season there are evil spirits appears. To drive out these spirits there are many festivals and rituals held in all over Japan.

Most popular ritual is called Mamemaki, where throw roasted Soy Beans and call out "Oni ha Soto, Fuku ha Uchi!!" (Demons out! Luck in!).
It was believed that Japanise demons (Oni) brings evil sprits.

There are also rituals that literally exsorcise Oni.
It's called Tsuinashiki and it was believed it started from Yoshida shrine in Kyoto.
The festival in Yoshida shrine are held during 2nd to 4th of Feburary, and in 2nd Feb night this ritual are held.

This is whats it looks like

There are 3 Oni (people dressed up as) and one Oni looks like person called "Housoushi", but he is not evil he is the man with justice and exterminates Oni.
At the end the arrow shot from oracle purifies the field to finish the ritual.

To get to Yoshida Shrine, take Bus #17 from Kyoto Shiyakusho mae and get off Kyodai-Nougakubu-mae stop.

Lucky Taxi

This morning, a yasaka taxi with pattern of a four-leaf clover came to our ryokan. Most yasaka taxies are with a three-leaf clover. Taxies with a four-leaf clover are only 4 in Kyoto city. We cannot make a reservation, so this is very lucky. It is said that this taxi bring you a lucky. If you ride on it, you can get a special certificate and sticker. When youcome to Kyoto, let’s find yasaka taxi with pattern of a　four-leaf clover. May this picture bring you good luck!

Tea Ceremony 2023

we have tea ceremony in the morning(9:00 ~ 11:00)for free. NISHIYAMA RYOKAN

Travel to another city

I went to small trip to FUKUI prefecture last weekend. for Fukui I leave Kyoto at 11am I arrive there about 2pm by car. I have never been there before this is my first time. I live in kyoto city so I do not have so many chance to watch sea so I really enjoy driving the sea front . Fukui is very famous for sea food and hot spring. The weather is very cold when I was there so hot spring was really nice to keep me warm after the hot spring I had seafood. on the way hope I still feel warm because of the hot spring . I could really enjoy and relax on this small trip. From Kyoto station to Fukui station is 1hour and half by Shinkansen.

NISHIYAMA RYOKAN

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