While playing “kemari” (an ancient ball-kicking game), Fujiwarano Kamatari, an aristocrat and Prince Nakano-oe discussed overthrowing the Soga clan, and later accomplished the Taika Reformation. The Kemari Festival has its origin in this historical episode of the 7th century.
The Festival is performed twice a year in spring and autumn. People in traditional costume play ancient “kemari” games.
Date: April 29th, 2010 (holiday Thursday) Time: about 11:00 – 12:00
Place: Tanzan Shrine (Tonomine, Sakurai City)
Admission: ￥500 for Adults,
￥250 for elementary school children
Access: Take a bus for Tanzan Jinja at Sakurai Station.
A 3-minute walk from the terminal.
※Access to Sakurai Station from JR Nara Station:
about thirty minutes by JR Sakurai Line train
Access to Sakurai Station from Kintetsu Kyoto/Nara
Station: Change trains at Yamato Saidaiji Station for
Kashiharajingu-mae and change trains again at
Yamato Yagi Station for an Osaka Line train.
Contact: 0744-49-0001 (Tanzan Shrine)
This event dates back to the Kamakura Period (1192-1333). Everything used in the ceremony is huge in size, such as a tea bowl 30cm in diameter and 7kg in weight, as well as a 35cm-long bamboo whisk. Tea made by a priest is served to visitors.
Dates: April 10th (Sat.) and 11th (Sun.), 2010 Time: 9:00-15:30
Place: Komyoden Hall of Saidaiji Temple
(Saidaiji Shiba-machi, Nara City)
Access: A 5-minute walk from the south exit of Kintetsu
Yamato Saidaiji Station
Fee: ￥3,000
Contact: 0742-45-4700 (Saidaiji Temple)
☆Useful tip☆
The temple will hold an Ochamori (big size) tea ceremony as requested by a group of 30 people or more at a fee of ￥1000 per person.
This Buddhist ceremony takes place to notify Zao Gongen, the principal statue of Zaodo Hall at Kinpusenji Temple, of the blooming of sacred wild cherry blossoms. The ceremony has 1,000 years of history.
Dates: April 10th (Sat.) – 12th (Mon.), 2010
※Schedule
April 10th: No Daimyo Procession (parade in old-style costume) From 13:00, rice cake pounding by a thousand people and Goma Fire Ceremony by women are held.
April 11th and 12th: From 10:00, Daimyo Procession marches from Chikurin-in Temple to Zaodo Hall and Grand Goma Fire Ceremony takes place. From 13:00, rice cakes are scattered and given to visitors.
Place: Yoshinoyama, Yoshino-cho
Access: Take a ropeway at Kintetsu Yoshino Station
for Yoshinoyama and walk ten minutes.
※To get to Kintetsu Yoshino Station from Kintetsu
Kyoto/Nara Station, change trains at Yamato Saidaiji
Station for Kashiharajingu-mae and at the terminal
(Kashiharajingu-mae), take a Yoshino Line train.
Contact: 0746-32-8371 (Kinpusenji Temple)
0746-32-1007 (Mt. Yoshino Tourist Association)
Commemorative events at Heijo Palace Site, the main venue of the 1300th Anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo Capital start on April 24. “Travel to Tempyo Period” reproduces lives of Nara Period so that visitors can get a vivid experience of the ancient time and “Heijo-kyo History Museum” introduces history and culture via video and exhibitions. These events as well as “Heijo Palace Site Tour” take place throughout the year (until November). As a special event for spring, places all over the palace site will be decorated with flowers.
International tourists can enjoy the three year-round events above free of charge by presenting a passport.
Dates: April 24th (Sat.) - May 9th (Sun.), 2010
※Year-round events will continue until November 7th (Sun.)
Place: Heijo Palace Site
Access: Shuttle buses run from Kintetsu Yamato Saidaiji
Station and JR Nara Station.
Contact: 0742-23-2010
(Association for Commemorative Events of
the 1300th Anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo Capital)