Annual festivals in Kyoto

FEBRUARY

Kyoto Restaurant Winter Special, 1-29 Feb 2016

February is the time when you can make the most of Kyoto without all the crowds and when you can enjoy amazing dining experiences that will not break the budget. Throughout February 180 highly reputed Kyoto restaurants are offering special menus using rich winter ingredients as special rates. Some traditional sweet shops have join for the first time this year. English Booklet outlining all of the special offers is available at Kyoto Tourist Information Centre, 2nd floor, JR Kyoto Station Building.
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Welcoming Happiness Daikon-daki Ceremony, 11-14 Feb 2016

The Sanzen-in Temple is nestled the Ohara region. In Winter visitors may make a prayer and then enjoy a serving of steaming hot white radish (daikon) for no additional fee.
Entry: 700 yen
Access: Kyoto Bus #17, 18 "Ohara"

Baika-sai – The Plum Festival heralding the start of Spring- 25 Feb 2016

To commemorate the memorial day of Michizane Sugawara, a Heian-period court officer who loved plum flower very much, a special ceremony is held to console his spirit. On this day, a large scale outdoor tea ceremony party is held here. Geiko and maiko from the nearby Kamishichiken district serve bowls of tea for visitors. Baika-sai heralds the beginning of spring to Kyoto.
This Shrine's treasury is also open to the public on this day as well as a huge monthly market.
Date: 25 Feb Tea ceremony held 10:00-15:00
Access: Kyoto City Bus #50 "Kitano Tenmangu-mae"
Tickets: 1,500 yen including tea ceremony

MARCH

Kyoto Higashiyama Hana Touro (Lighting Up) 12-21 Mar 2016

From Kiyomizu to Maruyama Park, through Yasaka Shrine to northern Shoren-in Temple around 2,500 of LED lights will light the 5km route and the streets will be lined with floral arrangements. Neighbouring shrines and temples open their gardens enriching the atmosphere of this spring festival.
Time: 18:00-21:30 (Light-up time)
Contact our office for further details of dates and times of various light ups in Kyoto.
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The 64th Kitano Dance performances

The Japanese dance performances commence on 25 March, the same day as the Kitano Tenman-gu monthly market.
Venue: Kamishichiken Kaburen-jo
Date: 25 Mar- 7 Apr 13:30- & 16:00
Access: Kyoto City Bus #50, 101 "Kitano Tenman-gu-mae"
Tickets: 4,800 yen (with tea), 4,300 yen (without tea) as of last year
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The 64th Kyoto Antique Fair- 25-27 Mar 2016

This is the largest antique market in western Japan. Over 330 antique shops and dealers gather from all over the world.
Venue: Pulse Plaza, Kyoto
Date: 25 -17 Mar 10:00-17:00 (until 16:00 on the last day)
Access: From Subway Karasuma Line "Takeda," take City Bus Minami # 1, 2, 3 and get off at "Pulse Plaza-mae". A free shuttle bus from Subway Karasuma Line "Takeda"

Activities

Make your own special soap or simply soak your feet at Kyoto Shabonya

Kyoto Shabonya offers handmade soap products created from organic material. With a long history of creating soap products in Kyoto Shabonya are reknowned for the quaility of their products. Now they let you join in and create your own hand soap.
They also have a rennovated traditional Japanese teahouse called “ashi-yu” café which is popular with vistors.
Experience: Making your hand soap
Time duration : about 40 minutes
Fee : 600 yen per person
Footbath Time duration : about 20 minutes
Fee: 1,000 yen including a drink and a towel.
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Kiyomizu Pottery Experience- 

create your own Kyoto souvenir at the Unraku kiln The area close to Kiyomizu Temple and Yasaka Shrine is known for pottery. You can experience making your own original cups, bowls and other tableware.
Fee : 2,100 yen
Time required : 60 minutes
Open: 9:00 -17:00
Bookings: Required 5 days in advance, essential by email or phone
Note: The items you make will be sent to you 1 month later
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NEW ATTRACTION

Love the Japanese trains? The Kyoto Railway Museum is opening this Spring

The Japanese railway system is reknowned as one of the most skillfully operated and well developed transportation networks in the world. Kyoto Railway Museum will open it’s doors on 29 April 2016 on the west side of Kyoto Station. Over 50 trains will be on display from functioning steam trains to Bullet trains. The well located new museum will be more than just a tourist attraction, avaiable as a venue for weddings, and group functions.
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Itinerary planning and other information: We are happy to assist in planning your itinerary in Kyoto, please contact our Sydney office on 02 8206 9312 or email alison@tourismgarden.com.au

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