Jōnangū Shrine in southern Kyoto holds the Kyokusui no Utage twice a year in spring and fall, with the fall Winding Stream Banquet held on November 3rd.
The Kyokusui-no-utage tradition is originally from China and it’s popularity peaked in Heian Period.
The banquet was not only a event that the old nobles were lavish in but a ritual that they purified their impurities to wish their health.
Local poets dressed as Heian period nobility in rich silk robes proceed into the garden and receive the year’s poetry theme from the shrine priests.
That scenery is as if you are in the Heian period.
The schedule for Kyokusui no Utage
【The schedule for Kyokusui no Utage】
First, Shirabyoshi (traditional dancer) dedicates a dance at the stage, then Sake for God is poured into small cups and sent sailing down the small stream on bird-shaped boats.
Seven poets compose a poet by the arrival of cups and they take the cups from the water, drinks the sake when they finish composing a poet.
The music of Japanese harp makes the banquet more elegant.
14:00~
Participants set at the shrine office and enter the main hall.
They head to the garden after praying to the god.
After this, they enter the garden and take their seats.
1.Receive the year’s poetry theme.
2.Participants take their seats and make a preparation.
Shirabyoshi dedicates a dance and musicians play the “Imayō”.
3.Sailing the cups down the stream.
4.Poets compose a poem and write down on a strip of paper.
5.Poets take the cups and drink sake for God.
The child collect the strip of paper.
6.Shrine priests read them and dedicate to the God.
7.Participants leave the garden.
The garden opens for free on the event day.
The small venue prevents observers from watching the banquet.
If you want to watch it closer, you should visit earlier.
Venue
Information
Venue:
Jōnangū Shrine
Address:
7, Nakashima Tobanorikyu chō, Fushimi ku, Kyoto 612-8459
Access:
15-minute walk from “Takeda” St. on the Karasuma subway line or Kintetsu line
3-minute walk from “Jōnangū Higashiguchi” bus stop on the Kyoto Bus at Kyoto Station
Date & Time:
November 3rd, 2019 14:00~
General Admission: 09:00 – 16:30 (last admission 16:00)
Admission Fee:
Free
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