Festivals (attending, etiquette, etc)

[queuebert]

Hello,

I am hoping to go to a festival or two while I am in Japan later this month. From the 27th to the 30th, I will be in Kyoto and this one caught my eye in particular: Fire Walking Ritual (http://raku.city.kyoto.jp/data/cssys/bulletin/gyojis_e.phtml?no=14).

I'm not clear on how this works, though. Do I need to make some sort of reservation or purchase tickets in advance, or can I just show up on the day of the event and take part in it? Even outside of this particular event, is there a general "way" these things work, or is each one different in policy? I've never tried to do anything like this before so any basic related information that might seem obvious, I might well not be aware of, so any help is greatly appreciated. :-)

Also, if anyone has any recommendations for a festival that I should go to, that sort of input is also welcome. The one I came across is very random indeed. My free nights there are July 27th, 28th and 29th.

Thanks!

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

A festival of July of Kyoto is the Gion festival.
http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/org/yasaka/gionmaturi.html#祇園祭ﾄｯﾌﾟ
However
A main event such as 山鉾巡行 (Yamahoko Junko) is July 17
http://mboogiedown-japan.blogspot.com/2005/07/gion-matsuri-yamahoko-junko.html

On July 27, 28, 29
A festival in the suburbs of Kyoto

伊根祭(Ine Festival Traditional Event)
http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/en/01/01-04-03.html
http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/kankou/gyoji/tango/05/index.html

あやべ水無月まつり
http://imedia-cs.net/~acci/minatsuki/

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

A festival except Kyoto
唐崎神社　みたらし祭 (karasaki jinjya mitarashi maturi)
place:Ootsu-shi, Shiga
July 28 /29 day
11:00 a.m. / 6:00 p.m.: kagura
28th evening : Hand pipe fireworks shinji
Traffic: JR Kosai Line "Karasaki station"
It is 10 minutes on foot from a station.
http://www6.ocn.ne.jp/~hiyoshi3/karasaki_mitarasi.html

大仏殿解除会(daibutuden kejoe)
July 28
Nara Todai-ji Temple
(Machine translation)
A ring of about 2m Japanese nutmegs made with Japanese nutmeg grass before great statue of Buddha is made, and a priest of Todai-ji Temple passes through this, and a Buddhist memorial service of good luck charm prayer is done.
It is believed that I do not do illness of this year if I evade a ring
http://www.rurubu.com/event/detail.asp?ID=13191

http://www.todaiji.or.jp/index/hoyo/kejoe.html

粉河祭(kokawa maturi)
One of three major festivals of Kii district.
A grand festival of Kokawa tutelary deity Shrine.
The DANJIRI decoration given glory to to a colorful lantern is a characteristic.
place:Wakayama kinokawa city
July 29
Traffic:JR Kokawa station
It is far from Kyoto
http://www.geocities.jp/tenpukucho/

http://www.wakayama-info.net/intl/archives/2005_06_001392.php

[epigene]

I'm not clear on how this works, though. Do I need to make some sort of reservation or purchase tickets in advance, or can I just show up on the day of the event and take part in it? Even outside of this particular event, is there a general "way" these things work, or is each one different in policy? I've never tried to do anything like this before so any basic related information that might seem obvious, I might well not be aware of, so any help is greatly appreciated. :-)

I found a Japanese tourist's report on the Fire Walk at Tanukidani Fudosan.
http://hstn.ld.infoseek.co.jp/event/kyoto/hiwatari/hiwatari01.htm
In his report, he says that you have to be really prepared for the trek up the mountain to the temple in the heat of summer! :blush:
You'll be able to see the sequence of what happens in his photos.
This person arrived at 5pm at the temple when things hadn't started.
The prayer chanting by the yamabushi begins at around 6pm.
The burning of the pyre starts around 7. Prayers are chant wildly throughout this.
The fire dies down around 8, and people start making a queue to walk across the fire. (There is no ticket, reservation, etc. You just get in line.)
The person did not get burned and says it wasn't really hot. According to him, you have to walk in long strides. If you become afraid and try to cross in short, quick steps, you feel the heat.
When you're done, you get a paper talisman that protects you from illness caused by the summer heat.

If you really get there and do it, good luck and have fun! :wave:

[queuebert]

Wow, thank you both a LOT for all the information, that was fantastic. :-) Now I'm even more excited about going, I didn't think that was possible.