The best parties Kansai

The "hollyhock festival" is one of the three largest festivals in Kyoto. On this occasion, dozens of floats parade through the streets of the city from the Imperial Palace, followed by a procession reenacting the Heian aristocracy in period costumes. The tradition, however, predates the Heian period and is thought to date from the 7th century. In order to avoid natural disasters, the emperor made offerings to the gods of the Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines, two of the oldest shrines in Kyoto. The official name remains "Kamo matsuri".

Setsubun in Nara is celebrated with great pomp to celebrate the transition from winter to spring. At Gangōji Gokurakubō Temple at noon, the Saitōgoma-e, a fire ceremony, is held. At Kōfuku-ji at 7:00 pm, small and large demons are chased around the Tô-Kondō by Bishamon-ten. In the evening, an impressive lantern festival with procession takes place at Kasuga Taisha Shrine. In summer, another lantern festival is held to commemorate the dead. It is usually held around August 15. Not to be missed!

During the Torch Festival, people gather at Yuki Shrine, and huge torches are carried by men in traditional costumes who parade and walk up the mountain. It is a festival that evokes another time, when, in 940, after a series of disasters and natural catastrophes, the god Uki Daimyōjin was ascended to the shrine that bears his name on the side of Mount Kurama. The festival takes place on exactly the same day as another important event at Heian Jingu, the historic Jidai Matsuri parade.