Kamigamo Yasurai Matsuri around Ota Jinja Shrine, Kyoto on 15th May

We went to Ota (or, Ohta, O-ta) Jinja Shrine to see "かきつばた (water irides)" while waiting for the parade of "Aoi Matsuri" coming to Kamigamo Jinja Shrine. Ota Jinja is one of the auxiliary shrines of Kamigamo Jinja, and is to the east of and ten minutes walk from there. This shrine is famous for its water irides which have been grown since ancient times when Kyoto was in the bottom of big lake yet. Although the swamp is not so large, the irides were in full bloom that day.

There are a lot of priests' traditional houses
on the street from Kamigamo Jinja Shrine to Ota Jinja Shrine
This stream is "Myojingawa"

This is "Fujiki no Yashiro"
The tall tree behind the small shrine is the guardian deity
of the Myojingawa Stream just beside itself
This pair of shrine and tree is
one of the branches of Kamigamo Jinja Shrine, too

The gate of Ota Jinja Shrine

The main shrine

The water irides are in full bloom now

I think blue or purple flowers look very good
in early summer

The swamp of Ota Jinja Shrine proves very well
that Kyoto was a lake in ancient times.
These irides have been kept grown since then.

We were enough luckey to come across a small festival when we had left Ota Jinja Shrine. We did not know anything about it and we watched it for the first time. Some reports say it is "Kamigamo Yasurai Matsuri (上賀茂やすらい祭)" by the people of Kamigamo area. This festival is held for the repose of the flowers' souls. Once people thought that misfortune or some disease spread over towns when flowers were falling, so they walked around their town with dancing, singing and talking to flowers. That was the beginning of this festival.

You can notice that the costumes are quite different from those of "Aoi Matsuri". "Yasurai Matsuri" is the festival of ordinary people. Most of participants wear the ordinary and the samurai styles of kimono. The kids wear "happi (はっぴ)", or special vests for festival, and elder men wear "kamishimo (裃)", or the formal samurai suites whose sholders are very wide. Only younger men playing traditional flutes and some priests wear the aristocratic ones.

I was able to be shared the red parasol, too, so I may be very healthy through this year !!

Date of Kamigamo Yasurai Matsuri: 15th May
* The water irides are blooming in Ota Jinja Shrine in mid-May

Time of Kamigamo Yasurai Matsuri :
from about 10:30 a.m. to about 2:00 p.m.
it moves around Kamigamo area, from Yasurai Do through Ota Jinja Shrine, Kamigamo Jinja Shrine, Fujiki no Yashiro Shrine to Yasurai Do
(We came across it at the approach to Ota Jinja Shrine about 2:10 p.m.)

Fee:
Kamigamo Yasurai Matsuri: free
water irides in Ota Jinja Shrine: 300 yen (not duty)

More detailed for Kamigamo Yasurai Matsuri (Japanese):
http://kanko.city.kyoto.lg.jp/detail.php?InforKindCode=2&ManageCode=1000027
http://www7b.biglobe.ne.jp/~miyakonotukimairi/gyoji05/05yasurai07.html



Thank you for reading !
Sorry for my poor English.

Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto on 15th May (2) the ladies' parade

"Aoi Matsuri" is the festival of aristocrats. The participants attire the aristocratic styles of kimono. Japanese average people never wear them even when their wedding ceremony. We can usually see them only in Shinto shrines. However, the kimono of priests are sacred costumes which are not rich in variety. "Aoi Matsuri" is a very good chance to enjoy gazing at them, especially within the ladies' parade.

The messenger's parade is actually the main, but people usually regard the maiden's one as more importance because it is much more gorgeous and it becomes the focus of public attention who is selected to be the deputy of maiden every year.

In my opinion, there are another reason in addition to it. I think that people in Kyoto are very proud of "斎王 (サイオウ:Saio-)", or the Imperial maiden in the service of a Shinto shrine. There were only two "Saio-" allowed in only two shrines. One was in Ise Jingu Shrine and the other was in the pair of Kamigamo and Shimogamo Jinja Shrines (Kamigamo and Shimogamo Jinja Shrines have been regarded as one traditionally). Although the system of keeping "Saio-" was abolished a long time ago, once, Kamigamo and Shimogamo had been actually allowed to keep her. That may prove until now that these shrines hold the prime rank of all Shinto shrines not only in Kyoto but also in all over Japan except for Ise Jingu Shrine which is the center of all of Shinto deities.

The first participants of ladies' parade are
the court ladies of higher class

The same lady
She is followed by a boy attendant
with a parasol decorated with artificial flowers

Another lady

The heroine of this festival,
the deputy of an Imperial maiden
in the service of Kamigamo and Shimogamo Jinja Shrines
Only she rides on a traditional float

Her profile
She wears the white string accessory

Her float is followed by young girls

The lady cavalcade comes in
It is lead by ladies who wear aristocratic kimono suites
with designed of blue wave

This kind of layered sleeves are unique to aristocratic kimono
It means that she wears several kimono
so that we can admire her delicate feelings of colors

The ladies' parade is gorgeous

Mounted aristocratic ladies are rarely seen

except for in Aoi Matsuri

A walking lady
Her red pants are too, unique to the peeress style

The ladies' parade is followed by males

This drum was gifted by Tokugawa in Edo Period
The pattern like heart is a leaf of mallow
The design with three leaves of mallow is the crest of Tokugawa Family
and that of with two leaves of mallow is the crest of Kamigamo and Shimogamo Jinja Shrines
The lord of Tokugawa might feel some relations with this festival by his crest
Mallow is "Aoi" in Japanese and this festival was named of this plant

The traditional court gong is carried by boys

What is this?

The traditional car decorated with artificial pink wisteria
tells us the end of all parade

If you use public traffics to go anywhere of this parade, please pay attention to some station employees who stands with some pieces of paper. They distribute free maps with the timetable of parade to passengers. We got one at Sanjo Station of Keihan Line this time.

Shimogamo Jinja Shrine is located within five minutes walks from Demachi Yanagi Station of Keihan Line, but we could not do it this day. Every street, avenue or bridge was so crowded with a lot of people that it took us twenty minutes to get to. I would not like you to follow the fascinating steppingstones across the Kamo River for a shorter way. If you do so, you cannot exit the river before the parade passes. I reccomand you to select the Aoi Bridge.

Kamigamo Jinja Shrine is not easy to get to because we can go there only by bus. I think busses on festival days are some kinds of nightmare. However, if you have the patience to ride one or to reach there by taxi from Kitayama or Kitaoji Stations of Subway Karasuma Line (it takes us less than ten minutes and less than 1,000 yens), you can find that people are a little less crowded.

This year we were on the northern part of "Kamokaido" near Kamigamo Jinja Shrine. This road runs along the western bank of the Kamo River. It takes us ten minutes from Kitayama or Kitaoji Stations on foot. I could enjoy so much here because it was cool by thick roadside trees and the participants of parade looked relaxed. If you are enough lucky, you can talk to participants and take photos of you with them while the parade is waiting for traffic lights.

There are reserved seats at Kyoto Imperial Palace and Shimogamo Jinja Shrine for the other rituals, too. However, we enjoyed very much even just watching parades. If you can read the Japanese language very well, I recommend you to purchase a leaflet. It can help you understand this festival more.

Date: 15th May

Time:

10:30 a.m.: Kyoto Imperial Palace 

10:50 a.m.: the gate of the Palace at Marutamachi Dori St.

11:00 a.m.: the corner of Kawaramachi Dori Ave. and Marutamachi Dori St. 

11:30 a.m.: the corner of Kawaramachi Dori Ave. and Imadegawa Dori St. 

11:40 a.m.: the gate of Shimogamo Jinja Shrine at Mikage Ave. 

(some rituals are held there)

2:20 p.m. : it left the western gate of Shimogamo Jinja Shrine

2:40 p.m. : the corner of Shimogamo Hondori Ave. and Kitaoji Dori St.

2:55 p.m. : the corner of Kamokaido and Kitaoji Dori St.

(the parade goes along Kamokaido, or the western side of the Kamo River from here)

3:30 p.m. : the gate of Kamigamo Jinja Shrine

Fee:

every roadside: free (I was here)

reserved seat at the Palace or Shimogamo: 2,000 yen (included a leaflet)(it is easily sold out)

leaflet: 800 yen (maybe)

map with timetable: free (station employees distribute it)

Access:

Kyoto Imperial Palace:

* soon from Marutamachi Station of Subway Karasuma Line

Kamigamo Jinja Shrine:

* Kamigamo Jinja Mae Stop of Municipal Bus bound for Kamigamo Jinja, Line 4

* Kamigamo Misonobashi Stop of Municipal Bus bound for Nishigamo Shako, Line 9 or 37

Shimogamo Jinja Shrine:

* 5 minutes walk from Demachi Yanagi Station of Keihan Line

* Shimogamo Jinja Mae Stop or Tadasu no Mori Stop of Municipal Bus bound for Kamigamo Jinja, Line 4

More detailed:

Kyoto Tourism Association (Japanese)

http://www.kyokanko.or.jp/3dai/aoi_reserve.html

Kamigamo Jinja Shrine

http://www.kamigamojinja.jp/english/index.html

Shimogamo Jinja Shrine

http://www.shimogamo-jinja.or.jp/pg217.html

Thank you for reading my poor English !

Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto on 15th May (1) the main parade

I went watching "Aoi Matsuri (葵祭)" with my friend on 15th May. It is famous for one of the big three festivals in Kyoto. A legend says that its origin dates back to 567 when Emperor Kinmei (reigned 539-571) consulted a fortune-teller about the reason of very terrible storms all over Japan at that time. The fortune-teller told the Emperor that the anger of the Great Deities of Kamo caused those serious disasters and famines. Therefore, the hourse racing and the other rituals were held to appease the anger by an Imperial order and people could recover calm nature, good crops and health. That was the biginning of "Aoi Matsuri".

The Great Deities of Kamo are worshiped within Kamigamo and Shimogamo Jinja Shrines now. So, "Aoi Matsuri" was offered to these two Shrines. The deputies of an Imperial messenger and an Imperial maiden in the service of these shrines leave the Kyoto Imperial Palace for Kamigamo and Shimogamo Jinja Shrines with a lot of attendants and give the Imperial messages to the priests now. People can watch their long parade from every roadside.

We watched it twice at every front approach to Shimogamo and Kamigamo Jinja Shrines this year. The parade visits Shimogamo and performs rituals there before reaching Kamigamo. This parade consists of two parts:  the first one is the main parade by the deputy of an Imperial messenger and the second one is the ladies' parade by the deputy of an Imperial maiden.

I show the main one in this article.

All of the parade is lead by police

The first participants of main parade are
the same jockeys of Kamo Kurabeuma on 5th May 

The other participant on the horse, too,
is followed by attendants

Is he a fan of Hanshin Tigers?!

A parasol

Boxes are carried by young boys

Please look at his cap
It does not have any tassels but a long tall tail
"Bunkan (文官)", or a civil servant wears
this kind of cap

A horse

Look at his cap
It has a pair of black tassels on his ears
but its tail is not so long
Moreover, he has a few arrows on his back
This is "Bukan (武官)", or a military officer

A traditional car lead by an ox
decorated with artificial flowers of wisteria 

The side of the same car
at the approach to Shimogamo Jinja Shrine

An ox

The main person of this parade,
the deputy of Imperial messenger

 He is in all black, which means his high court rank
His horse is gorgeous, too

A flower basket

Fur ornaments were very precious

The main parade ends
with this flower basket of kerria

Thank you for reading!

Japanese expressions of colors (6) specific abstract nouns (1)

I believe you get to understand how to use concrete nouns which means colors. Almost all collor names belong to them and we sometimes create new one as we feel in our mind. If you make somothing new, too, the vocabulary may become much more rich!

However, as I mentioned before, these concrete nouns of collors except for several examples sound to be a little too poetic. We actually come across them in a novel or a poetry, but we prefer more abstract nouns not to be limited by their meanings or impressions of original things in daily conversation and a strict thesis.

Today, I will explain the third type of color names, specific abstract nouns. We usually use them more. They can be "noun + の" simply. Please see the following list;

緑（みどり：midori）	緑色（みどりいろ：midori iro）	green
紫（むらさき：murasaki）	紫色（むらさきいろ：murasaki iro）	purple
紺（コン：kon）	紺色（コンいろ：kon iro）	navy blue
臙脂（エンジ：enji）	臙脂色（エンジいろ：enji iro）	dark red
オレンジ（オレンジ：orenji）	オレンジ色（オレンジいろ：orenji iro）	orange
ピンク（ピンク：pinku）	* ピンク色（ピンクいろ：pinku iro）	pink
アイボリー／アイヴォリー（アイボリー：aibori-）	―	ivory-colored
グレー（グレー：gure-）	―	gray
グリーン（グリーン：guri-n）	―	green

* "ピンク色" is very rare.

You can see four Japanese words and four borrowed words from English.


Once the former nouns indicated other concrete things, but they do not remind us of their origins any more today. We need not distinguish these color names to their original things or matters.

Long time ago, "緑（みどり：midori：green）" meant to be fresh and young. It expressed new, young creatures to be fresh and vivid. We have a few elegant literary words remained today, "嬰児（みどりご)"** and "緑の黒髪（みどりのくろかみ）". "みどりご" means a new born infant. A baby changes green to red in Japan!? Ancient people appreciated the pretty baby and its life. Also, "緑の黒髪" is a praise for a young woman's beautiful hair. Her very black hair sometimes seems to be deep-green-glossed slightly, reflexed by light. It is the very proof of her youth and beauty.

I think that ancient people might have wanted to adapt this word to the color of fresh leaves, too, and moreover, they gradually forgot almost all of original meaning itself, "みどり" came to indicate only green at last instead. However, we can find out the みどり's nature within a new made word which only green is given among all colors in modern days. That is "新緑（シンリョク：shinryoku）"***, or new, fresh, green leaves. We often use it at the beginning of a letter in May now. We have forgetten the original meaning of "みどり" at all today, but green is always a good friend with new or fresh.

In my imagination, every process of them have relation with blue. As some people knows, actually "青い（あおい：aoi：blue）" used to have much more wide territory than today and it sometimes has not meant only blue but also green traditionally. I would like you to remember that "青い(blue)" meant some dull, not clear colors in ancient ages. People might have wanted to regard young leaves as more positive, better by borrowing another word, "みどり". Today, "青い" usually means blue and "緑" always means green.

"紫（むらさき：murasaki：purple）", "紺（コン：kon：navy blue）" and "臙脂（エンジ：enji：dark red）" are from the field of dyeing. They are based on dyeing materials or at least, their relative terms. Average people first recognize these nouns as names of colors before knowing their origins.

"紫" or "紫草（むらさきぐさ／むらさきソウ：murasaki gusa/murasaki so-）" is the name of dyer's-weed. A dyer uses its powdered rout to make his materials purple.

"紺" is the deepest blue of those dyed with indigo and the most popular colors of school uniforms, but I do not know the original meaning because even if my dictionary does not tell me the truth! All the fact I understand is that the left side part of "紺" shows us "糸（いと：ito：thread or yarn）", which means clearly that "紺" is from something dyeing or textile.

"臙脂" is very difficult Kanji, isn't it? I got to know the strict spelling just now. We usually write "えんじ" or "エンジ". I have read that "臙脂" was from the name of mountain, "燕支山（エンジサン／エンジザン：enjisan/enjizan）"**** in China, which was famous for a safflower-producing area.

"緑", "紫", "紺" and "えんじ" actually have the other meanings, but we are rarely consious of it.  They do not always remind us their origins. In this sense, these are abstract words which suggest only each colors. We never mistake these color names for their concrete origins themselves, so, we often skip "色" to use them more simply. Of course, "緑色", "紫色", "紺色" and "えんじ色" are not wrong and we sometimes use them actually. However, we often prefer "緑", "紫", "紺" and "えんじ" especially in daily conversation.


** This is a very special way of reading of Kanji. We usually read "えいじ(eiji/e-ji)" for "嬰児" with the Chinese style pronunciation, but the Japanese style one is "みどりご". The Kanji is not the same to "緑" but the meaning is actually "みどり", to be fresh.
*** "リョク" is on'yomi, the Chinese style pronunciation of "緑".
**** "エンジサン" and "エンジザン" are actually Chinese style pronunciations but are not the same as modern Chinese ones themselves. Please remember the Chinese STYLE pronunciations are Japanese pronunciations, too. They were translated to Japanese sounds in ancient days. Only styles are Chinese.



Thank you very much for reading my poor English!
If you have a question, ask me!

Japanese expressions of colors (1) four adjectives (1)
Japanese expressions of colors (5) specific concrete nouns (3)
Japanese expressions of colors (7) specific abstract nouns (2)

Japanese expressions of colors (5) specific concrete nouns (3)

I explained how to make the nouns of colors and what kind of auxiliary verbs or a particle can be added to them in the former articles.


We conjoin a specific noun and "色(iro:color)" to make the name of color. Of course, what we made by doing so is not an adjective but a new conpound noun, so, we must deal with the color name as well as we do usual nouns. We add "の(no:resembles an "of")" to it when we modify some nouns and we use some auxiliary verbs like だ(da)／だった(datta), である(dearu)／であった(deatta) and です(desu)／でした(deshita) with the color name when we explain what kind of colors something is/was. You can use these color names perfectly with the same way to the other nouns.


Today, I will show you actual examples. Please remember the following list;

	present tense	past tense
standard mood (casual conversation and standard writing)	だ	だった
standard mood of literary style (only strict writing)	である	であった
respectful mood (formal conversation and gentle writing)	です	でした

You can add them to the color noun as you like.

noun of color	の ex) 本(book(s))	だ だった	である であった	です でした
クリーム色／ クリームいろ kuri-mu iro	クリーム色の本	クリーム色だ クリーム色だった	クリーム色である クリーム色であった	クリーム色です クリーム色でした
cream-colored from cream	cream-colored book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) cream-colored
レモン色／レモンいろ remon iro	レモン色の本	レモン色だ レモン色だった	レモン色である レモン色であった	レモン色です レモン色でした
lemon yellow from lemon	lemon yellow book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) lemon yellow
山吹色／やまぶきいろ yamabuki iro	山吹色の本	山吹色だ 山吹色だった	山吹色である 山吹色であった	山吹色です 山吹色でした
golden yellow from kerria	golden yellow book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) golden yellow
橙色／だいだいいろ daidai iro	橙色の本	橙色だ 橙色だった	橙色である 橙色であった	橙色です 橙色でした
orange from bitter orange	orange book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) orange
オレンジ色／ オレンジいろ orenji iro	オレンジ色の本	オレンジ色だ オレンジ色だった	オレンジ色である オレンジ色であった	オレンジ色です オレンジ色でした
orange from orange	orange book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) orange
黄土色／オウドいろ o-do iro	黄土色の本	黄土色だ 黄土色だった	黄土色である 黄土色であった	黄土色です 黄土色でした
yellow ocher from loess	yellow ocher book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) yellow ocher
*狐色／きつねいろ kitsune iro	―	狐色だ 狐色だった	狐色である 狐色であった	狐色です 狐色でした
yellow brown from fox	yellow ocher book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) yellow brown
紅色／べにいろ beni iro	紅色の本	紅色だ 紅色だった	紅色である 紅色であった	紅色です 紅色でした
deep red from safflower or rouge	deep red book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) deep red
桃色／ももいろ momo iro	桃色の本	桃色だ 桃色だった	桃色である 桃色であった	桃色です 桃色でした
pink from peach blossom	pink book(s))	It is/was (They are/were) pink
桜色／さくらいろ sakura iro	桜色の本	桜色だ 桜色だった	桜色である 桜色であった	桜色です 桜色でした
pale pink from cherry blossom	pale pink book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) pale pink
菫色／すみれいろ sumire iro	菫色の本	菫色だ 菫色だった	菫色である 菫色であった	菫色です 菫色でした
violet from violet	violet book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) violet book
藤色／ふじいろ fuji iro	藤色の本	藤色だ 藤色だった	藤色である 藤色であった	藤色です 藤色でした
light purple from wisteria	light purple book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) light purple
水色／みずいろ mizu iro	水色の本	水色だ 水色だった	水色である 水色であった	水色です 水色でした
pale blue from water	pale blue book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) pale blue
空色／そらいろ sora iro	空色の本	空色だ 空色だった	空色である 空色であった	空色です 空色でした
sky blue from sky	sky blue book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) sky blue
藍色／アイいろ ai iro	藍色の本	藍色だ 藍色だった	藍色である 藍色であった	藍色です 藍色でした
indigo-blue from indigo	indigo-blue book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) indigo-blue
灰色／ハイいろ hai iro	灰色の本	灰色だ 灰色だった	灰色である 灰色であった	灰色です 灰色でした
gray from ash	gray book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) gray
鼠色／ねずみいろ hai iro	鼠色の本	鼠色だ 鼠色だった	鼠色である 鼠色であった	鼠色です 鼠色でした
dark gray from mouse	dark gray book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) dark gray
金色／キンいろ kin iro	金色の本	金色だ 金色だった	金色である 金色であった	金色です 金色でした
golden from gold	golden book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) golden
銀色／ギンいろ gin iro	銀色の本	銀色だ 銀色だった	銀色である 銀色であった	銀色です 銀色でした
silvery from silver	silvery book(s)	It is/was (They are/were) silvery

We usually do not distinguish the singular to the plural, as you know. You can use the list above for both.



Thank you for reading !

P.S.

I have corrected the way of reading a few words from Hiragana to Katakana, on 13rd June 2011：

藍　あい → アイ

灰　はい → ハイ

Japanese expressions of colors (1) four adjectives (1)
Japanese expressions of colors (4) specific concrete nouns (2)
Japanese expressions of colors (6) specific abstract nouns (1)

Kamo Kurabeuma at Kamigamo Jinja Shrine, Kyoto on 5th May

I went watching "Kamo Kurabeuma (賀茂競馬)" with my friend at Kamigamo Jinja Shrine (上賀茂神社) on 5th May. "Kurabeuma" means horse racing. It is a very important Shinto ritual whose result tells us how the year may pass or if we can be happy through the year. People in Kyoto love this festival very much and find the beginning of early summer out from it, too.

This is my video.

The jockey of left team in red

The jockey of right team in black

The praying supporter of left team gives a signal
with a drum to inform the judges
about a jockey running to the end

The right and left team run six races. The jockeys of left team attires in red and the right jockeys, in black. Every team have two gardians, a praying supporter and his boy helper. Judges are only from the left gardians, while assistant judges are only from the right gardians. The praying supporters are given court ranks temporarily, but the left supporter is higher than the right. Moreover, the left team is to win the first race by the rule. The jockeys do not start to run at the same time, but the right jockey run after the left jockey finishes. In addition, at the last race this year, the right jockey was youngest and lacked an experience, although the left jockey was the eldest and most experienced expert.

What a terrible foul play!?

No. It is good. Because the left team must win. The year when the left team wins will be a good year, filled with good harvests. It means various kinds of happiness.

Koinobori at Dam Park Ohno on 17th April
Families who have a boy begin to raise them
near 5th May

By the way, 5th May is the date of "Tango no sekku (端午の節句)" and we usually pray for boys' health and bravery on that day. We often take a bath with the leaves of iris floated every year. In "Kamo Kurabeuma", all priests and the other participants wore them on their waists. This flower sometimes means a military spirit. Also, the families who have a boy usually raise carp-shaped wind socks called "鯉幟 (koinobori)" and display "五月人形 (gogatsu ningyo-)", or a doll of healthy brave boy every year. We often regard carp as the symbol of success in life because they are enough courageous to jump up the waterfall. Today it is a national holiday called "Kodomo no hi (子供の日)", or the Children's Day.

Those are Japanese ways of celebration, however, "Tango no sekku" itself was originally from ancient China (of course, the Chinese pronunciation is different to the Japanese one). This word means the beginning of May and May is the month of horse in Chinese zodiac. In my imagination, the horse racing at Kamigamo Jinja Shrine on 5th May might have some relation with it.


After horse racing, we saw the inner part of Shrine opened specially with a Shinto purifying ritual.



You can watch "Kamo Kurabeuma" free, however, you can enjoy it more at a closer area for 500 yens (I was here), and reserved seats maybe need 1000 yens. If you read the Japanese descriptions well, I recommand to purchase the leaflet. It is very thin but can help you understand this traditional horse racing.

Also, if you have more time and do not mind religious matters, I recommend you to see the speceially opened Shrine.



Date: 5th May

Time:
previous rituals: 10:00 a.m.
horse racing:  2:00 p.m. (I watched this)

Fee:
leftwing: free
closer standing area: 500 yen (I was here)
closest sitting seat: about 1000 yen (sorry, I cannot research well)
leaflet: 500 yen

inner part of Shrine: about 1000 yen (sorry, I have forgot)

Access:
Kamigamo Jinja Mae Stop of Municipal Bus bound for Kamigamo Jinja, Line 4
* 15 minutes ride from Kitayama Station #2 of Subway Karasuma Line
* 30 minutes ride from Demachi Yanagi Station of Keihan Line
* 60 minutes ride from Kyoto Station

Kamigamo Misonobashi Stop of Municipal Bus bound for Nishigamo Shako, Line 37
* 20 minutes ride from Kitaoji Station of Subway Karasuma Line

Kamigamo Misonobashi Stop of Municipal Bus bound for Nishigamo Shako, Line 9

* 60 minutes ride from Kyoto Station

More detailed
http://www.kamigamojinja.jp/english/index.html

Thank you for reading !
Sorry for my poor English, please tell me my errors if you like !